Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 21 — Mr. Bedford at Littlestone
Itwasfairlyevidentthathewouldgravitatewithmybalestosomewherenearthemiddleofthesphereandremainthere,andsoceasetobealegitimateterrestrialinterest,howeverremarkablehemightseemtotheinhabitantsofsomeremotequarterofspace.Iveryspeedilyconvincedmyselfonthatpoint.AndasforanyresponsibilityImighthaveinthematter,themoreIreflecteduponthat,thecleareritbecamethatifonlyIkeptquietaboutthings,Ineednottroublemyselfaboutthat.IfIwasfacedbysorrowingparentsdemandingtheirlostboy,Ihadmerelytodemandmylostsphere—oraskthemwhattheymeant.AtfirstIhadhadavisionofweepingparentsandguardians,andallsortsofcomplications;butnowIsawthatIsimplyhadtokeepmymouthshut,andnothinginthatwaycouldarise.And,indeed,themoreIlayandsmokedandthought,themoreevidentbecamethewisdomofimpenetrability.
ItiswithintherightofeveryBritishcitizen,providedhedoesnotcommitdamagenorindecorum,toappearsuddenlywhereverhepleases,andasraggedandfilthyashepleases,andwithwhateveramountofvirgingoldheseesfittoencumberhimself,andnoonehasanyrightatalltohinderanddetainhiminthisprocedure.Iformulatedthatatlasttomyself,andrepeateditoverasasortofprivateMagnaChartaofmyliberty.
OnceIhadputthatissueononeside,IcouldtakeupandconsiderinanequablemannercertainconsiderationsIhadscarcelydaredtothinkofbefore,namely,thosearisingoutofthecircumstancesofmybankruptcy.
