Путешествие на Луну

           "Allright!howd’yedo,Barbicane?howareyougettingon—prettywell?that’sright."

           "So,"saidBarbicanewithoutfurtherpreliminary,"youarequitedeterminedtogo."

           "Quitedecided."

           "Nothingwillstopyou?"

           "Nothing.Haveyoumodifiedyourprojectileaccordingtomytelegram."

           "Iwaitedforyourarrival.But,"askedBarbicaneagain,"haveyoucarefullyreflected?"

           "Reflected?haveIanytimetospare?Ifindanopportunityofmakingatourinthemoon,andImeantoprofitbyit.Thereisthewholegistofthematter."

           Barbicanelookedhardatthismanwhospokesolightlyofhisprojectwithsuchcompleteabsenceofanxiety."But,atleast,"saidhe,"youhavesomeplans,somemeansofcarryingyourprojectintoexecution?"

           "Excellent,mydearBarbicane;onlypermitmetoofferoneremark:Mywishistotellmystoryonceforall,toeverybody,andthenhavedonewithit;thentherewillbenoneedforrecapitulation.So,ifyouhavenoobjection,assembleyourfriends,colleagues,thewholetown,allFlorida,allAmericaifyoulike,andto-morrowIshallbereadytoexplainmyplansandansweranyobjectionswhateverthatmaybeadvanced.YoumayrestassuredIshallwaitwithoutstirring.Willthatsuityou?"

           "Allright,"repliedBarbicane.

           Sosaying,thepresidentleftthecabinandinformedthecrowdoftheproposalofMichelArdan.Hiswordswerereceivedwithclappingsofhandsandshoutsofjoy.Theyhadremovedalldifficulties.To-morroweveryonewouldcontemplateathiseasethisEuropeanhero