The reservoirs were made by Cail & Co. at Paris, the engine by Krupp in Prussia, its beak in Motala’s workshop in Sweden, its mathematical instruments by Hart Brothers, of New York, etc.; and each of these people had my orders under different names.” “But these parts had to be put together and arranged?” “Professor, I had set up my workshops upon a desert island in the ocean. There my workmen, that is to say, the brave men that I instructed and educated, and myself have put together our Nautilus. Then when the work was finished, fire destroyed all trace of our proceedings on this island, that I could have jumped over if I had liked.” “Then the cost of this vessel is great?” “M. Aronnax, an iron vessel costs £45 per ton. Now the Nautilus weighed 1500. It came therefore to £67,500, and £80,000 more for fitting it up, and about £200,000 with the works of art and the collections it contains.” “One last question, Captain Nemo.” “Ask it, Professor.” “You are rich?” “Immensely rich, sir; and I could, without missing it, pay the national debt of France.” I stared at the singular person who spoke thus. Was he playing upon my credulity? The future would decide that.