Renouard assented and changed his position a little; the other, after a short silence, administered unexpectedly a question which, like the blow of a club on the head, deprived Renouard of the power of speech and even thought, but, more cruel, left him quivering with apprehension, not of death but of everlasting torment.

Yet the words were extremely simple.
"Something will have to be done soon.

We can't remain in a state of suspended expectation for ever.

Tell me what do you think of our chances ?" Renouard, speechless, produced a faint smile.

The professor confessed in a jocular tone his impatience to complete the circuit of the globe and be done with it.