Таємничий острів

           "Heandhistwocompanionsdidnotthenperishinthemaelstrom,inthemidstofwhichthe‘Nautilus’wasstruggling?"

           "Theyescaped,andabookhasappearedunderthetitleof‘TwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSea,’whichcontainsyourhistory."

           "Thehistoryofafewmonthsonlyofmylife!"interruptedthecaptainimpetuously.

           "Itistrue,"answeredCyrusHarding,"butafewmonthsofthatstrangelifehavesufficedtomakeyouknown."

           "Asagreatcriminal,doubtless!"saidCaptainNemo,ahaughtysmilecurlinghislips."Yes,arebel,perhapsanoutlawagainsthumanity!"

           Theengineerwassilent.

           "Well,sir?"

           "Itisnotformetojudgeyou,CaptainNemo,"answeredCyrusHarding,"atanyrateasregardsyourpastlife.Iam,withtherestoftheworld,ignorantofthemotiveswhichinducedyoutoadoptthisstrangemodeofexistence,andIcannotjudgeofeffectswithoutknowingtheircauses;butwhatIdoknowis,thatabeneficenthandhasconstantlyprotectedussinceourarrivalonLincolnIsland,thatwealloweourlivestoagood,generous,andpowerfulbeing,andthatthisbeingsopowerful,goodandgenerous,CaptainNemo,isyourself!"

           "ItisI,"answeredthecaptainsimply.

           Theengineerandthereporterrose.Theircompanionshaddrawnnear,andthegratitudewithwhichtheirheartswerechargedwasabouttoexpressitselfintheirgesturesandwords.

           CaptainNemostoppedthembyasign,andinavoicewhichbetrayedmoreemotionthanhedoubtlessintendedtoshow.