VERNANIA: The Celebrated Works of Jules Verne in One Edition. Жюль Верн

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      “I am quite certain Robert is perfectly happy,” interrupted Paganel, eager to insure one partisan at least.

      “Yes, that I am!” exclaimed Robert, in a joyous tone.

      “At his age it is quite natural,” replied Glenarvan.

      “And at mine, too,” returned the geographer. “The fewer one’s comforts, the fewer one’s needs; and the fewer one’s needs, the greater one’s happiness.”

      “Now, now,” said the Major, “here is Paganel running a tilt against riches and gilt ceilings.”

      “No, McNabbs,” replied the SAVANT, “I’m not; but if you like, I’ll tell you a little Arabian story that comes into my mind, very APROPOS this minute.”

      “Oh, do, do,” said Robert.

      “And what is your story to prove, Paganel?” inquired the Major.

      “Much what all stories prove, my brave comrade.”

      “Not much then,” rejoined McNabbs. “But go on, Scheherazade, and tell us the story.”

      “There was once,” said Paganel, “a son of the great Haroun-al-Raschid, who was unhappy, and went to consult an old Dervish. The old sage told him that happiness was a difficult thing to find in this world. ‘However,’ he added, ‘I know an infallible means of procuring your happiness.’ ‘What is it?’ asked the young Prince. ‘It is to put the shirt of a happy man on your shoulders.’ Whereupon the Prince embraced the old man, and set out at once to search for his talisman. He visited all the capital cities in the world. He tried on the shirts of kings, and emperors, and princes and nobles; but all in vain: he could not find a man among them that was happy. Then he put on the shirts of artists, and warriors, and merchants; but these were no better. By this time he had traveled a long way, without finding what he sought. At last he began to despair of success, and began sorrowfully to retrace his steps back to his father’s palace, when one day he heard an honest peasant singing so merrily as he drove the plow, that he thought, ‘Surely this man is happy, if there is such a thing as happiness on earth.’ Forthwith he accosted him, and said, ‘Are you happy?’ ‘Yes,’ was the reply. ‘There is nothing you desire?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘You would not change your lot for that of a king?’ ‘Never!’ ‘Well, then, sell me your shirt.’ ‘My shirt! I haven’t one!’”