“I do indeed， Sir，” said Caspian. “I was wishing that I came of a more honourable lineage.”
“You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve，” said Aslan. “And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar， and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.”
Caspian bowed.
“And now，” said Aslan， “you men and women of Telmar， will you go back to that island in the world of men from which your fathers first came？ It is no bad place. The race of those pirates who first found it has died out， and it is without inhabitants. There are good wells of fresh water， and fruitful soil， and timber for building， and fish in the lagoons； and the other men of that world have not yet discovered it. The chasm is open for your return； but this I must warn you， that once you have gone through， it will close behind you for ever. There will be no more commerce between the worlds by that door.”
There was silence for a moment. Then a burly， decent. looking fellow among the Telmarine soldiers pushed forward and said：
“Well， I‘ll take the offer.”
