Chapter 50 Fifty Ayrton's Exchange

The escort withdrew as soon as the sailor came before him. Do you want to speak to me, Ayrton?Greenervan said. yes sir. Are you talking to me alone? Yes, but I think it would be better if both the major and M. Paganel were there. For whom is it better? for me. Ayrton spoke calmly.Glenarvan fixed his eyes on him, then called for the major and Paganel to be called at once. Now we all listen to you.Glenarvan said when his two friends sat down at the table as soon as they arrived in the quad. Ayrton collected himself, and said: Sir, it is a general practice that when both parties sign a contract or negotiate conditions, there are witnesses signing the contract.That is why I asked for the gentlemen Paganel and the Major.Because, strictly speaking, I have come to you to propose a quid pro quo negotiation.

Glenarvan was accustomed to bear with Ayrton's ignorance, so he didn't even frown, although he felt that it was a bit outrageous for such a person to come to ask him to negotiate with him. What is the exchange?he asks. The condition is that you want some useful facts from me, and I want something from you.We pay and deliver, sir, will you or not? What facts can you say?asked Paganel. I'm not asking about the facts, I'm asking about the benefits you want first.Greenervan corrected. Ayrton nodded, showing that he understood what Glenarvan meant. The benefit I want is this, don't you want to hand me over to the British government?Jazz?

Yes, Ayrton, that's a fair thing to do. I don't mean that it's unfair, replied Ayrton quietly, so if I ask you to let me go like this, you won't? Glenarvan hesitated before answering such a straightforward question.Harry.Grant's fate depends on his answer this time!However, he felt that he was responsible to the law, and this sense of duty finally got the better of him, so he said: I will not, Ayrton, I cannot let you go like this. I don't ask you to let me go just like that.He replied proudly. So, what benefits do you want to get? I want a middle way, sir, while the hanger is waiting for me to hang me.The other side is to restore my freedom, and you refuse.The solution lies somewhere in between.

what way? Put me on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean, and give me the most necessary things.I will try my best to live on the desert island, and if time permits, I will repent my actions there! Glenarvan was caught off guard by such a suggestion, and looked at his two friends, who were also silent.He thought for a while, and replied: Ayrton, if I grant your request, will you tell me all I need to know? Yes, sir, that is, to tell you all I know about Captain Grant and the Britannia. Tell the whole truth? Say it all. Who can vouch for it? ah!I see you are worried about me, sir, and you ought to trust my personality, the personality of a villain, but what can you do?In fact, I can only vouch for it with my personality.It's up to you whether you want to.

I'll just trust you, Ayrton.Greenervan said it bluntly. You can't be wrong, sir.Besides, if I cheat you, you will always have a way to get back at me. How can I take revenge on you? I can't escape on the deserted island, so come and catch me again.Ayrton answered fluently.The other party's difficulties need not be mentioned by the other party. He first brought it up and devised his own method for the other party to deal with it, which is irrefutable.He pretended to be negotiating terms with someone with absolute sincerity, how could the other party not trust him completely?However, he has a further way to gain the trust of the other party.

Listen sir and gentlemen, I beg you to believe this truth with all your heart: that is to say, I have everything on the table.I do not intend to deceive you at all, and in this negotiation I want to offer you a new proof of my honesty.I'm speaking frankly because I need your sincerity myself. Go ahead, Ayrton.Glenarvan replied. Sir, I haven't got a word from you to agree with my suggestion, but I can tell you in advance without hesitation, about Harry.Grant, I don't know many facts.Yes, sir, I can give you some details about myself, all about my own situation, which will not be of much help to the clues you are looking for.

A look of great disappointment was shown on the faces of Glenarvan and the major.They had supposed that Ayrton was keeping a great secret, and he now admitted in advance that the material he could furnish would be of little use to the search.As for Paganel, he remained impassive. In any case, although Ayrton's words were not guaranteed by anyone, his frank attitude had already touched the listeners very much, especially when he added this sentence as a conclusion: Therefore, I stated in advance, sir, that our exchange of terms this time is less beneficial to you and more beneficial to me.

Regardless, I accept your proposal, Ayrton.I promise to put you on a deserted island in the Pacific Ocean. good sir. Is Ayrton grateful for this decision?Hard to say.Because his expressionless face did not show any news, as if he was negotiating conditions for others. I am now ready to answer questions.He said. We have no more questions to ask, so tell us what you know, Ayrton, and tell us who you are. Gentlemen, I am indeed Tom.Ayrton, bosun of the Britannia.I am the twelfth of March, 1861, by Harry.Grant's ship leaves Glasgow.Together we traveled the Pacific for fourteen months, seeking a favorable spot for the establishment of a Scotch colony.Harry.Grant was a man of great things, but there were often heated arguments between the two of us.His temperament doesn't suit me.I refused to accommodate him.Sir, you know, Harry.As for Grant, once he decides to do something, no force can stop him.That man was literally made of steel, steel to himself and steel to others.But even so, I still dare to betray.I want the crew to join me in mutiny and take the ship.Whether I should do this is another question.I'm right or wrong, Harry.Grant did not hesitate to disembark me on the 8th of April, 1862, off the west coast of Australia.

is in Australia.The major interrupted him to say, so you left the Britannia before she anchored in Callao?It has not been heard since it arrived in Callao. Yes, for the Britannia did not anchor at Callao while I was on board.I'm in Paddy.Callao is mentioned in Omor Farm because you first told me the fact that it anchored in Callao. You go on.Greenervan said. I said I had been dumped on an almost deserted coast, but only thirty kilometers from the convict detention center in Perth, the capital of Western Australia.While wandering around the seashore, I met a group of exiles who had just escaped from prison.I joined the gang.Sir, please don't ask me about my two and a half years of life.I just want to tell you that I later changed my name to Peng.Jues became the leader of the exiles.In September, 1864, I was at the Irishman's farm.I am hired as a servant under Ayrton's real name.I just waited there for my chance to rob a ship.This is my greatest purpose.Two months later, the Duncan came.When you came to the farm, you, sir, gave you the history of Captain Grant.Thus I learned many facts I did not know, the anchorage of the Britannia at Callao, its last message two months after I left the ship in June, 1862, how the paper was found, the ship was wrecked on the thirty-seventh parallel, and you're going across Oceania to find Harry.Many solid reasons for Grant, etc.I didn't hesitate.I'm determined to get the Duncan, and she's a fine sea-going ship, outmatched by the fastest warships in England.But the boat was badly damaged and needed repairs.I will therefore let it sail to Melbourne, and I myself will follow you as a real sailor, and lead you to my imaginary shipwreck on the east coast of Australia.In this way I lead you through the province of Victoria, with my band of convicts sometimes following at a distance, sometimes running ahead.My men did a case at Camden Bridge, it was really unnecessary, because the Duncan couldn't escape my hand once it got to the east coast, I have this ship, I'm the king of the sea, why do those things What about small cases?In this way I have led you assiduously to the Snowy River.The cows and horses were almost killed by me poisoning with stomach bean grass.I led the ox cart into the mud of the Snowy Marshes, on my earnest advice But you know all the rest, sir, and you can be sure if M. Paganel hadn't made a careless typo. I have written, and now the Duncan is under my command.That's my history, gentlemen, and unfortunately my statements don't give you any clues.You should be able to see that you are at a disadvantage by exchanging terms with me.

Ayrton stopped talking, and waited there with his arms folded habitually.Both Glenarvan and his two friends remained silent.They felt that the whole truth had been told by the rascal.The reason why the Duncan was not hijacked by him was only because of a reason that he never thought of.His helpers had all been to the shores of Tuff Bay, as evidenced by the prison uniform Glenarvan had found.They had faithfully waited for the Duncan there, and must have gone to the New South Wales countryside to do their robbery and arson after a long wait.The major was the first to continue the cross-examination in order to establish some dates concerning the Britannia.

So it was indeed April 8th, 1862, when you were thrown off the ship on the west coast of Australia.he asks. Absolutely.Ayrton replied. At that time Harry.What is Grant's plan, do you know? Only vaguely know a little bit. Tell me, Ayrton, that a little sign may lead us to a clue. All I can tell you is this, sir, Captain Grant wants to see New Zealand.This part of his plan was not carried out while I was on board.It is not improbable, therefore, that the Britannia, after leaving Callao, made reconnaissance on many lands near New Zealand.This fits well with the 27th of June, 1862, the date of the wreck of the three-masted ship stated in the document. Of course it does.Paganel said, however, that there was nothing like New Zealand written on the document. On this point, I cannot answer.Ayrton said. Well, Ayrton, you have kept your promise, and I will keep mine.We're going to discuss which island in the Pacific Ocean we're going to drop you on. ah!Any island, sir.Ayrton replied. You go back to your room and wait for our decision. Ayrton withdrew, guarded by two sailors. The big bad guy could have been a human being.said the major. Yes, I have a strong disposition and a cleverness: how can such a good material be used for evil?Glenarvan replied. Harry.How is Grant? I'm afraid it's over!Poor two children, who can tell where their father is? I can tell them!Paganel then replied, yes!I can tell them. We must have noticed!The geographer, who is usually so talkative and impatient, was almost silent when he questioned Ayrton.He just listened without opening his mouth, but his words were a blockbuster, and Glenarvan was startled at first. you!You, Paganel, do you know where Captain Grant is? Yes, as others know. From whom? Still from that old file. ah!The major expressed his absolute disbelief. You listen to me first, Major, and then you shrug your shoulders.I didn't say it a long time ago, just because I was afraid that you would not believe me.And, that said, it's of no use.I am determined to speak today because Ayrton's meaning just confirms my opinion. So what about New Zealand?Greenervan said. Listen to me first, and judge later.I saved everyone's lives by writing a wrong word, and that word was written wrong for no reason, or rather not without a reason.The word Sealand was troubling my mind as Greenervan recounted the letter I had ghostwritten.The reason is this: Do you remember the scene when we ran into the bullock cart to avoid the criminals?The major had just finished telling Mrs. Helen about the exile.He handed her the copy of the Australia and New Zealand Daily that had the Camden Bridge tragedy in it.While I was writing the letter, the paper fell to the floor and folded in half, just exposing the back half of the paper.The second half is exactly aland.My heart seemed to suddenly light up! Aland is exactly the aland written on the English document. We always think that this word means Shanglu, but actually it should be Zealand [Note: zealand. ] The remnants of this word. Um!Glenarvan snorted. Yes, continued Paganel, with firm confidence, an explanation that never occurred to me, and you know why?It was because the French documents were more complete, so I naturally focused on the French documents, and this important word happened to be missing in the French documents. Ah!Ah!You are too subjective, Paganel, and you forget your original two explanations a little too easily.said the major. Rebuttal, Major, I'm going to reply. If you do this, how does Austral explain it? This is the original explanation.Just the guide hemisphere [Note: australes. 】The region. All right.What about indi?You first thought it was an Indian [Note: indiens. ], and later interpreted as local natives [Note: indigens. 】? This word, for the third and last time, I interpret it as a Jedi [Note: indigence. 】!Paganel replied. And the word contin!The major shouted, but it was always the mainland [Note: continent. 】Bar? Since New Zealand is just an island, it is not a mainland. So what is it?Glenarvan asked. My dear sir, I will read you the full explanation of the document, and then you shall judge.I just want to raise two points for your attention: first, try to forget the two original explanations, and free your minds from all preconceived prejudices.Second, there are certain places that you may find a bit far-fetched, maybe I didn’t explain them well, but these places are irrelevant, especially gonie, I explained that the wind and waves are dangerous, and I always feel wrong in my heart, but I want to There is no other explanation.Moreover, my explanation is based on a French document, and you must not forget that the author of the document is an Englishman, and he may not be very fluent in French.Having said that, I began to read my explanation. Then Paganel read slowly, word for word, the following: On June 27, 1862, the three-masted ship Britannia, belonging to the port of Glasgow, sank in the rough seas of the southern hemisphere, near New Zealand. This is the landing on the English document.Two sailors and Captain Grant arrive on this island.Unfortunately, after a long time, he became a wild and desperate person.Zit dropped this document at latitude and longitude thirty-seven degrees and eleven minutes.Please rescue quickly, or you will die here. Paganel finished.His explanation is acceptable.However, because this explanation seems to be equally correct as the previous two, it is also likely to be equally wrong as the previous two.Therefore, neither Greenarvan nor the major wanted to bring it up for discussion.However, since no trace of the Britannia was found at the 37th parallel, nor off the coast of Patagonia, nor off the coast of Australia, New Zealand had better chances.Paganel brought this up, and it particularly attracted the attention of two of his friends. Paganel, why have you kept this new explanation secret for almost two months?You should be able to tell me why by now, right? Because I don't want to give you another joy in vain.And we were going to Oakland at that time, exactly at the point indicated by the thirty-seventh parallel on the document. But then we got dragged off the route to Auckland, why didn't you say it? That's because the document, though correctly interpreted, is not conducive to Captain Grant's safety. And why, Paganel? Because, if Harry.Grant's hypothesis of a shipwreck in New Zealand was established. There was no news for two years, which means that he died either in the shipwreck or in the hands of New Zealanders. So what do you think?Glenarvan asked. My opinion is: some traces of the sunken ship may be found, and the victims of the Britannia must be finished! Let's not talk about all this for now, friends!Let me find a suitable opportunity to deliver this sad news to Captain Grant's sons and daughters!Greenervan said.