Although he says not a word and does not lift his eyes from the plate, his long face flushes a little.
"Well, gentlemen," said I, "what we see is nothing to what our nephews will see.

We are traveling to-day on the Grand Transasiatic.

But what will it be when the Grand Transasiatic is in connection with the Grand Transafrican." "And how is Asia to be united by railway with Africa ?" asked Major Noltitz.
"Through Russia, Turkey, Italy, France and Spain.

Travelers will go from Pekin to the Cape of Good Hope without change of carriage." "And the Straits of Gibraltar ?" asked Pan Chao.
At this Sir Francis Trevellyan raised his ears.
"Yes, Gibraltar ?" said the major.
"Go under it!" said I."A tunnel fifteen kilometres long is a mere nothing! There will be no English Parliament to oppose it as there is to oppose that between Dover and Calais! It will all be done some day, all--and that will justify the vein: "_Omnia jam fieri quae posse negabam_." My sample of Latin erudition was only understood by Major Noltitz, and I heard Caterna say to his wife: "That is volapuk." "There is no doubt," said Pan Chap, "that the Emperor of China has been well advised in giving his hand to the Russians instead of the English.
Instead of building strategic railways in Manchouria, which would never have had the approbation of the czar, the Son of Heaven has preferred to continue the Transcaspian across China and Chinese Turkestan." "And he has done wisely," said the major.

"With the English it is only the trade of India that goes to Europe, with the Russians it is that of the whole Asiatic continent." I look at Sir Francis Trevellyan.