The world was in blessed tranquillity when the boat left port.

Only the whites and half-breeds of Mexico were exterminating each other in conflicts in order that nobody might believe that man is an animal degenerated by peace.

On the rest of the planet, the people were displaying unusual prudence.

Even aboard the transatlantic liner, the little world of passengers of most diverse nationalities appeared a fragment of future society implanted by way of experiment in modern times--a sketch of the hereafter, without frontiers or race antagonisms.
One morning the ship band which every Sunday had sounded the Choral of Luther, awoke those sleeping in the first-class cabins with the most unheard-of serenade.

Desnoyers rubbed his eyes believing himself under the hallucinations of a dream.