A Monster Meeting

           OnthefollowingdayBarbicane,fearingthatindiscreetquestionsmightbeputtoMichelArdan,wasdesirousofreducingthenumberoftheaudiencetoafewoftheinitiated,hisowncolleaguesforinstance.HemightaswellhavetriedtochecktheFallsofNiagara!hewascompelled,therefore,togiveuptheidea,andlethisnewfriendrunthechancesofapublicconference.Theplacechosenforthismonstermeetingwasavastplainsituatedintherearofthetown.Inafewhours,thankstothehelpoftheshippinginport,animmenseroofingofcanvaswasstretchedovertheparchedprairie,andprotecteditfromtheburningraysofthesun.TherethreehundredthousandpeoplebravedformanyhoursthestiflingheatwhileawaitingthearrivaloftheFrenchman.Ofthiscrowdofspectatorsafirstsetcouldbothseeandhear;asecondsetsawbadlyandheardnothingatall;andasforthethird,itcouldneitherseenorhearanythingatall.Atthreeo’clockMichelArdanmadehisappearance,accompaniedbytheprincipalmembersoftheGunClub.HewassupportedonhisrightbyPresidentBarbicane,andonhisleftbyJ.T.Maston,moreradiantthanthemiddaysun,andnearlyasruddy.Ardanmountedaplatform,fromthetopofwhichhisviewextendedoveraseaofblackhats.

           Heexhibitednottheslightestembarrassment;hewasjustasgay,familiar,andpleasantasifhewereathome.