The things we do!

About two o'clock, I was in the drawing-room, busied in arranging
my notes, when the Captain opened the door and appeared. I bowed.
He made a slight inclination in return, without speaking.
I resumed my work, hoping that he would perhaps give me some
explanation of the events of the preceding night. He made none.
I looked at him. He seemed fatigued; his heavy eyes had not
been refreshed by sleep; his face looked very sorrowful.
He walked to and fro, sat down and got up again, took a
chance book, put it down, consulted his instruments without
taking his habitual notes, and seemed restless and uneasy.
At last, he came up to me, and said:
"Are you a doctor, M. Aronnax?"
I so little expected such a question that I stared some time
at him without answering.
"Are you a doctor?" he repeated. "Several of your colleagues
have studied medicine."
"Well," said I, "I am a doctor and resident surgeon to the hospital.
I practised several years before entering the museum."
"Very well, sir."
My answer had evidently satisfied the Captain.


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