“Yes, yes; now it is all clear, now it is all unravelled; and I see why Saknussemm, put into the Index Expurgatorius , and compelled to hide the discoveries made by his genius, was obliged to bury in an incomprehensible cryptogram the secret⁠—”

“What secret?” asked M. Fridrikssen, starting.

“Oh, just a secret which⁠—” my uncle stammered.

“Have you some private document in your possession?” asked our host.

“No; I was only supposing a case.”

“Oh, very well,” answered M. Fridrikssen, who was kind enough not to pursue the subject when he had noticed the embarrassment of his friend. “I hope you will not leave our island until you have seen some of its mineralogical wealth.”