“I knew,” I answered, “that they value money held in suspension in these waters at two millions.” “Doubtless; but to extract this money the expense would be greater than the profit. Here, on the contrary, I have but to pick up what man has lost—and not only in Vigo Bay, but in a thousand other ports where shipwrecks have happened, and which are marked on my submarine map. Can you understand now the source of the millions I am worth?” “I understand, Captain. But allow me to tell you that in exploring Vigo Bay you have only been beforehand with a rival society.” “And which?” “A society which has received from the Spanish Government the privilege of seeking those buried galleons. The shareholders are led on by the allurement of an enormous bounty, for they value these rich shipwrecks at five hundred millions.” “Five hundred millions they were,” answered Captain Nemo, “but they are so no longer.” “Just so,” said I; “and a warning to those shareholders would be an act of charity. But who knows if it would be well received? What gamblers usually regret above all is less the loss of their money than of their foolish hopes. After all, I pity them less than the thousands of unfortunates to whom so much riches well-distributed would have been profitable, whilst for them they will be for ever barren.” I had no sooner expressed this regret than I felt that it must have wounded Captain Nemo.