The Floating Island (41 page)

“A cataract of liquid gold
flowing from rocks of diamonds,” exclaimed Pinchinat.

“No,” replied Yvernès, “a
cantata.”

“A cantata?” asked Frascolin.

“Undoubtedly,” said Yvernès; “there
will be music, we shall play our most favourite pieces, appropriate to the
circumstances, but if there is no cantata, no nuptial song, no epithalamium in
honour of the young couple
—
”

“Why not?” said Frascolin. “If
you, Yvernès, will throw together a few lines of unequal length with a rhyme
here and there, Sebastien Zorn, who has had experience as a composer, can
easily set your words to music.”

“Excellent idea!” said Pinchinat.

“That will suit you, old growler!
Something matrimonial, you know, with plenty of
spiccatos
and
allegros
and
molto agitatos
and a delirious
coda
—
at five dollars a note.”

“No; for nothing this time,” said
Frascolin.

“It shall be the Quartette Party’s
offering to the nabobs of Floating Island.”

It was agreed upon, and the
violoncellist declared himself ready to implore the inspiration of the God of
Music if the God of Poetry would pass his inspiration into the heart of Yvernès.

And it was from this noble
collaboration that there originated the Cantata of Cantatas, in imitation of
the Song of Songs, in honour of the union of the Tankerdons and the Coverleys.

During the afternoon of the 10th,
a report got about that a large steamer was in sight, coming from the
north-east. Its nationality was unknown, as it was still ten miles off when the
shades of twilight sank upon the sea.

The steamer seemed to be coming
at full speed, and there was no doubt it was making for Floating Island.
Probably it would not come alongside until sunrise.

The news produced an
indescribable effect. All the feminine imaginations were excited at the thought
of the marvels of jewellery and fashion brought by this ship, which had been
transformed into a huge wedding basket, of five or six hundred horse power.

There was no mistake as to the
steamer being bound for Floating Island. Early in the morning she had rounded
the jetty of Starboard Harbour, and displayed the flag of the Floating Island
Company.

Suddenly another item of news
came through the telephones to Milliard City. The flag of this vessel was
awaft.

What then had happened? An
accident
—
a
death on board? That would be a sorry omen for the marriage that was to assure
the future of Floating Island.

But there was something else. The
steamer in question was not the one expected, and it did not come from Europe.
It came from America, from Madeleine Bay. Besides, the steamer laden with the
nuptial treasures was not behind time. The wedding was fixed for the 27th, and
it was now only the 11th.

What, then, did this ship mean?
What news did it bring? Why was its flag awaft? Why had the Company sent it off
to the New Hebrides, where they knew it would fall in with Floating Island?

Had they to communicate any
message of exceptional gravity to the Milliardites?

Yes, and this was soon to be
known.

The steamer had hardly come
alongside than a passenger landed.

He was one of the superior
officers of the Company, who declined to reply to the questions of the numerous
and impatient crowd that had assembled on the pier of Starboard Harbour.

A tram was ready to start, and
without losing a moment, the man jumped into one of the cars.

Ten minutes later he had reached
the town hall, and demanded an audience of the Governor “on urgent business”
—
an audience which
was immediately granted.

Cyrus Bikerstaff received the
visitor in his office, the door of which was closed.

A quarter of an hour had not
elapsed before each of the members of the council of thirty notables was
summoned telephonically to a meeting of urgency in the assembly room.

Meanwhile, imagination ran riot
in the harbour and the town, and apprehension, following on curiosity, was at
its height

At twenty minutes to eight the
council had assembled under the presidency of the Governor. The visitor then
made the following declaration;
—

“On the 23rd of January, the
Floating Island Company, Limited, stopped payment, and William T. Pomering was
appointed liquidator, with full powers to do his best for the interests of the
said Company.”

William T. Pomering, on whom
these functions had devolved, was the new arrival.

The news spread, and, in truth,
did not provoke as much excitement as it had produced in Europe. Why should it?
Floating Island, as Pinchinat said, was a detached piece of the United States
of America. There was nothing in a failure to astonish Americans, still less to
overwhelm them. Was it not one of the phases natural to business, an incident
acceptable and accepted? The Milliardites looked at the matter with their
habitual coolness. The Company had gone under. Well? That might happen to the
most respectable financial companies. Were its liabilities considerable? Very
considerable; for, according to the liquidator, they amounted to five hundred
million dollars. And what had caused this failure? Speculations
—
insane, if you
please, as they had turned out badly
—
but which might have succeeded
—
an
immense undertaking for founding a new town on land in Arkansas, which had been
swallowed up in a geological depression that no one could have foreseen. After
all, it was not the Company’s fault, and if the land came up again, the
shareholders might come up again at the same time. Solid as Europe appeared, it
might go down some day in a similar way. But there was nothing of that sort to
be feared with regard to Floating Island, and did not that triumphantly show
its superiority over estates on the continents or terrestrial islands!

The pressing point was to act.
The assets of the Company consisted of the value of Floating Island, hull,
works, hotels, houses, country, flotilla
—
in
a word, all that was borne by the floating apparatus designed by William Tersen,
all that was connected with it, and the establishments at Madeleine Bay into
the bargain. Was it advisable for a new company to be formed to take over the
assets by arrangement? Yes. There was no hesitation on this point, and the
proceeds of the sale would be applied to the liquidation of the Company’s
debts. But in forming this new company, would it be necessary to apply to
outside sources? Were not the Milliardites rich enough to pay for Floating
Island out of their own pockets? From mere tenants would it not be preferable
to become owners of this Pearl of the Pacific?

That there were millions in the
pocket-books of the members of the council of notables we know. And so they
were of opinion that it was advisable to buy Floating Island, and without
delay. Had the liquidator power to treat? He had. If the Company could realize
without delay the sum required for its liquidation, the money must come from
the notables of Milliard City, among whom were some of the largest
shareholders. Now that the rivalry had ceased between the two principal
families and the two sections of the town, the matter could be easily managed.
Among the Anglo-Saxons of the United States there is no delay in business
matters. The money was at once forthcoming. In the opinion of the notables
there was no need to appeal to the public. Jem Tankerdon, Nat Coverley, and a
few others offered four hundred million dollars. There was no discussion as to
the price. It could be taken or left
—
and
the liquidator took it.

The council met at thirteen
minutes past eight in the room at the town hall. When it separated at forty-seven
minutes past nine, the ownership of Floating Island had passed into the hands
of the two richest Milliardites and a few of their friends under the name of
Jem Tankerdon, Nat Coverley & Co.

Just as the news of the Company’s
failure had caused no emotion among the population of Floating Island, neither
did the news of its acquisition by the chief notables. It seemed only natural,
and if it had been necessary to raise a more considerable sum, the money would
have been there in a moment. It was a great satisfaction to the Milliardites to
feel that they were at home, or at least that they were no longer dependent on
an outside company. And so the Pearl of the Pacific, as represented by all
classes, conveyed its thanks to the two heads of the families who had so well
understood the general feeling.

That very day a meeting was held
in the park, and a motion to this effect carried amid a triple round of cheers.
Delegates were nominated, and a deputation sent to the Coverley and Tankerdon
mansions.

The deputation was graciously
received, and departed with the assurance that nothing would be changed with
regard to the regulations, usages, and customs of Floating Island. The
administration would remain as it was. All the functionaries would be retained
in their functions, and all the employés in their employ.

And how could it be otherwise?

Hence it resulted that Commodore
Ethel Simcoe remained in charge of the navigating branch, having the chief
direction of the movements of Floating Island, conformably to the itineraries
decided on by the council of notables. The same as regards Colonel Stewart and
the command of the militia. There was no change in the observatory, and the
King of Malecarlie continued to be astronomer. Nobody was discharged from the
place he occupied at the ports, at the works, or in the municipal
administration. Athanase Dorémus was not even relieved of his useless
functions, although pupils obstinately declined to attend the classes in
dancing and deportment.

There was no change in the
arrangements with the Quartette Party, who, to the end of the voyage, would
continue to draw the unheard-of salary that had been promised at their
engagement.

“These people are extraordinary,”
said Frascolin, when he learnt that matters had been arranged to the general
satisfaction.

“That is because they have plenty
of money.” said Pinchinat.

“Perhaps we might take advantage
of this change of proprietors to withdraw from our engagement,” observed
Sebastien Zorn, who could not shake off his absurd prejudice against Floating
Island.

“Withdraw!” exclaimed his
Highness. “Let me see you try!”

And with his left hand, opening
and closing his fingers as if he were stopping the fourth string, he threatened
to give the violoncellist one of those blows of the fist which attain a speed
of eight metres and a half in a second.

But a change had to take place in
the position of the Governor. Cyrus Bikerstaff, being the direct representative
of the
Floating Island Company
, considered that he ought to resign, and
under the circumstances the determination appeared reasonable. His resignation
was accepted, but in terms most flattering to the Governor. His two assistants,
Barthélemy Ruge and Hubley Harcourt, half ruined by the failure of the company,
in which they were large shareholders, intended to leave Floating Island by one
of the next steamers.

At the same time Cyrus Bikerstaff
agreed to remain at the head of the municipal administration until the end of
the voyage.

Thus was accomplished without
noise, without discussion, without trouble, without rivalry, this important
financial transformation, and the business was so wisely, so quickly completed,
that that very day the liquidator was able to re-embark, taking with him the
signatures of the principal purchasers and the guarantee of the council of
notables.

As to the personage of such
prodigious consideration known as Calistus Munbar, superintendent of the fine
arts and amusements of the incomparable Pearl of the Pacific, he was simply
confirmed in his office and emoluments, and, really, could a successor have
been found to this irreplaceable man?

“Come!” said Frascolin, “everything
is for the best, the future of Floating Island is assured; there is nothing
more to fear.”

“We shall see!” murmured the
obstinate violoncellist. Under these conditions, then, the marriage of Walter
Tankerdon and Miss Coverley would take place. The two families would be united
by pecuniary interests, which in America, as elsewhere, form the strongest
social ties. What assurance of prosperity for the citizens of Floating Island!
Now it belonged to the Milliardites, it would seem more independent than ever,
more mistress of its destinies. Before, a cable had attached it to Madeleine
Bay, in the United States
—
now
the cable was broken! At present everything was flourishing. Is it necessary to
insist on the happiness of the parties in question, to express the
inexpressible, to depict the happiness that radiated around them? What appeared
but a marriage of policy was really a love match. Both Walter and Di loved each
other with an affection into which interest in no way entered. They both had
the qualities which would assure them the happiest of lives. This Walter had a
soul of gold, and Miss Di’s was of the same metal
—
figuratively
speaking, be it understood, and not in the sense that their millions might
justify. They were made for one another, and never was this somewhat hackneyed
phrase more strictly true. They counted the days, they counted the hours, which
separated them from this longed-for date of the 27th of February. They
regretted one thing, that Floating Island did not move towards the hundred and
eightieth meridian, when, coming from the west, it would have to eliminate
twenty-four hours from its calendar. Their happiness might be advanced a day.
No! It was in sight of the New Hebrides that the ceremony was to take place,
and all they could do was to resign themselves to it.