As soon as I was dressed, I made my way to the main lounge. It was deserted. I dove into studying the conchological treasures amassed inside the glass cases. I also investigated the huge plant albums that were filled with the rarest marine herbs, which, although they were pressed and dried, still kept their wonderful colors. Among these valuable water plants, I noted various seaweed: some Cladostephus verticillatus, peacock's tails, fig-leafed caulerpa, grain-bearing beauty bushes, delicate rosetangle tinted scarlet, sea colander arranged into fan shapes, mermaid's cups that looked like the caps of squat mushrooms and for years had been classified among the zoophytes; in short, a complete series of algae.
Toen ik aangekleed was ging ik naar de zaal, maar er was niemand. Ik ging aan het bestudeeren van alle schatten, welke onder de glazen ramen lagen opgestapeld; ik doorbladerde de groote herbariums, die opgevuld waren met de zeldzaamste zeeplanten welke hoewel gedroogd, toch hare schoone kleuren hadden behouden.