England, I fear, has suffered grievously by the late catastrophe.

Not only has Malta been entirely lost, but of the Ionian Islands that were under England's protection, there seems to be but little left." "Ay, you may depend upon it," said Servadac, breaking in upon the conversation petulantly, "your grand resident lord high commissioner has not much to congratulate himself about in the condition of Corfu." The Englishmen were mystified.
"Corfu, did you say ?" asked Major Oliphant.
"Yes, Corfu; I said Corfu," replied Servadac, with a sort of malicious triumph.
The officers were speechless with astonishment.
The silence of bewilderment was broken at length by Count Timascheff making inquiry whether nothing had been heard from England, either by telegraph or by any passing ship.
"No," said the colonel; "not a ship has passed; and the cable is broken." "But do not the Italian telegraphs assist you ?" continued the count.
"Italian! I do not comprehend you.

You must mean the Spanish, surely." "How ?" demanded Timascheff.
"Confound it!" cried the impatient Servadac.

"What matters whether it be Spanish or Italian?
Tell us, have you had no communication at all from Europe ?--no news of any sort from London ?" "Hitherto, none whatever," replied the colonel; adding with a stately emphasis, "but we shall be sure to have tidings from England before long." "Whether England is still in existence or not, I suppose," said Servadac, in a tone of irony.
The Englishmen started simultaneously to their feet.
"England in existence ?" the colonel cried.

"England! Ten times more probable that France--" "France!" shouted Servadac in a passion.