Путешествие на Луну
How a Frenchman Manages an Affair
Ardanwentforwardcrying:
"Barbicane!Barbicane!"
Noanswer!Ardanrushedtowardhisfriend;butintheactofseizinghisarms,hestoppedshortandutteredacryofsurprise.
Barbicane,pencilinhand,wastracinggeometricalfiguresinamemorandumbook,whilehisunloadedriflelaybesidehimontheground.
Absorbedinhisstudies,Barbicane,inhisturnforgetfuloftheduel,hadseenandheardnothing.
WhenArdantookhishand,helookedupandstaredathisvisitorinastonishment.
"Ah,itisyou!"hecriedatlast."Ihavefoundit,myfriend,Ihavefoundit!"
"What?"
"Myplan!"
"Whatplan?"
"Theplanforcounteringtheeffectoftheshockatthedepartureoftheprojectile!"
"Indeed?"saidMichelArdan,lookingatthecaptainoutofthecornerofhiseye.
"Yes!water!simplywater,whichwillactasaspring—ah!Maston,"criedBarbicane,"youherealso?"
"Himself,"repliedArdan;"andpermitmetointroducetoyouatthesametimetheworthyCaptainNicholl!"
"Nicholl!"criedBarbicane,whojumpedupatonce."Pardonme,captain,Ihadquiteforgotten—Iamready!"
MichelArdaninterfered,withoutgivingthetwoenemiestimetosayanythingmore.
"Thankheaven!"saidhe."Itisahappythingthatbravemenlikeyoutwodidnotmeetsooner!weshouldnowhavebeenmourningforoneorotherofyou.But,thankstoProvidence,whichhasinterfered,thereisnownofurthercauseforalarm.Whenoneforgetsone’sangerinmechanicsorincobwebs,itisasignthattheangerisnotdangerous."
