Таємничий острів

           "No,Pencroft,"answeredtheengineer,"itisuselesstoattemptit.Besides,CaptainNemowouldneverconsenttoleavehisvessel.Hehaslivedforadozenyearsonboardthe‘Nautilus,’andonboardthe‘Nautilus’hedesirestodie."

           WithoutdoubtCaptainNemoheardCyrusHarding’sreply,forheraisedhimselfslightly,andinavoicemorefeeble,butalwaysintelligible,—

           "Youareright,sir,"hesaid."Ishalldiehere—itismywish;andthereforeIhavearequesttomakeofyou."

           CyrusHardingandhiscompanionshaddrawnnearthedivan,andnowarrangedthecushionsinsuchamannerastobettersupportthedyingman.

           Theysawhiseyeswanderoverallthemarvelsofthissaloon,lightedbytheelectricrayswhichfellfromthearabesquesoftheluminousceiling.Hesurveyed,oneaftertheother,thepictureshangingfromthesplendidtapestriesofthepartitions,thechef-d’oeuvresoftheItalian,Flemish,French,andSpanishmasters;thestatuesofmarbleandbronzeontheirpedestals;themagnificentorgan,leaningagainsttheafter-partition;theaquarium,inwhichbloomedthemostwonderfulproductionsofthesea—marineplants,zoophytes,chapletsofpearlsofinestimablevalue;and,finally,hiseyesrestedonthisdevice,inscribedoverthepedimentofthemuseum—themottoofthe"Nautilus"—

           "Mobilisinmobile."

           Hisglanceseemedtorestfondlyforthelasttimeonthesemasterpiecesofartandofnature,towhichhehadlimitedhishorizonduringasojournofsomanyyearsintheabyssesoftheseas.