Таємничий острів

           Thoughyoungandpossessedofeverypersonaladvantage,hewasevergrave—sombereven—devouredbyanunquenchablethirstforknowledge,andcherishingintherecessesofhisheartthehopethathemightbecomeagreatandpowerfulrulerofafreeandenlightenedpeople.

           Still,forlongtheloveofsciencetriumphedoverallotherfeelings.Hebecameanartistdeeplyimpressedbythemarvelsofart,aphilosophertowhomnooneofthehigherscienceswasunknown,astatesmanversedinthepolicyofEuropeancourts.Totheeyesofthosewhoobservedhimsuperficiallyhemighthavepassedforoneofthosecosmopolitans,curiousofknowledge,butdisdainingaction;oneofthoseopulenttravelers,haughtyandcynical,whomoveincessantlyfromplacetoplace,andareofnocountry.

           ThehistoryofCaptainNemohas,infact,beenpublishedunderthetitleof"TwentyThousandLeaguesUndertheSea."Here,therefore,willapplytheobservationalreadymadeastotheadventuresofAyrtonwithregardtothediscrepancyofdates.Readersshouldthereforerefertothenotealreadypublishedonthispoint.

           Thisartist,thisphilosopher,thismanwas,however,stillcherishingthehopeinstilledintohimfromhisearliestdays.

           PrinceDakkarreturnedtoBundelkundintheyear1849.HemarriedanobleIndianlady,whowasimbuedwithanambitionnotlessardentthanthatbywhichhewasinspired.Twochildrenwereborntothem,whomtheytenderlyloved.Butdomestichappinessdidnotpreventhimfromseekingtocarryouttheobjectatwhichheaimed.Hewaitedanopportunity.