Part 30 (1/2)
”As much as he pleases,” replied the American. ”And now for Miss Bluett's witnesses.”
”Quite so.”
”Do you think Major Nolt.i.tz would consent?”
”A Russian is too gallant to refuse. I will ask him, if you like.”
”Thank you in advance. As to the second witness, I am rather in a difficulty. This Englishman, Sir Francis Trevellyan--”
”A shake of the head is all you will get from him.”
”Baron Weissschnitzerdorfer?”
”Ask that of a man who is doing a tour of the globe, and who would never get through a signature of a name of that length!”
”Then I can only think of Pan-Chao, unless we try Popof--”
”Either would do it with pleasure. But there is no hurry, Mr.
Ephrinell, and when you get to Pekin you will have no difficulty in finding a fourth witness.”
”What! to Pekin? It is not at Pekin that I hope to marry Miss Bluett!”
”Where, then? At Sou Tcheou or Lan Tcheou, while we stop a few hours?”
”Wait a bit, Monsieur Bombarnac! Can a Yankee wait?”
”Then it is to be--”
”Here.”
”In the train?”
”In the train.”
”Then it is for me to say, Wait a bit!”
”Not twenty-four hours.”
”But to be married you require--”
”An American minister, and we have the Reverend Nathaniel Morse.”
”He consents?”
”As if he would not! He would marry the whole train if it asked him!”
”Bravo, Mr. Ephrinell! A wedding in a train will be delightful.”
”We should never put off until to-morrow what we can do to-day.”