And I was not astonished when the Caternas, who would not miss this
opportunity of setting foot in China, were rather disappointed.
"Monsieur Claudius," said the actor to me, "there is not a single scene
here that would suit the _Prise de Pekin!_"
"But we are not at Pekin, my dear Caterna."
"That is true, and it has to be remembered, if we are to be thankful
for little."
"'Thankful for very little,' as the Italians say."
"Well, if they say that, they are no fools."
As we were about to board the car again, I saw Popof running toward me,
shouting:
"Monsieur Bombarnac!"
"What is the matter, Popof?"
"A telegraph messenger asked me if there was any one belonging to the
_Twentieth Century_ in the train."
"A telegraph messenger?"
"Yes, on my replying in the affirmative, he gave me this telegram for
you."
"Give it me! give it me!"
I seize the telegram, which has been waiting for me for some days. Is
it a reply to my wire sent from Merv, relative to the mandarin Yen Lou?
I open it. I read it. And it falls from my hand.
This is what it said:
"Claudius Bombarnac,
"Correspondent,
"_Twentieth Century.
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