Путешествие на Луну
President Barbicane’s Communication
Trophiesofblunderbuses,matchlocks,arquebuses,carbines,allkindsoffirearms,ancientandmodern,werepicturesquelyinterlacedagainstthewalls.Thegaslitupinfullglaremyriadsofrevolversgroupedintheformoflustres,whilegroupsofpistols,andcandelabraformedofmusketsboundtogether,completedthismagnificentdisplayofbrilliance.Modelsofcannon,bronzecastings,sightscoveredwithdents,platesbatteredbytheshotsoftheGunClub,assortmentsoframmersandsponges,chapletsofshells,wreathsofprojectiles,garlandsofhowitzers—inshort,alltheapparatusoftheartillerist,enchantedtheeyebythiswonderfularrangementandinducedakindofbeliefthattheirrealpurposewasornamentalratherthandeadly.
Atthefurtherendofthesaloonthepresident,assistedbyfoursecretaries,occupiedalargeplatform.Hischair,supportedbyacarvedgun-carriage,wasmodeledupontheponderousproportionsofa32-inchmortar.Itwaspointedatanangleofninetydegrees,andsuspendedupontruncheons,sothatthepresidentcouldbalancehimselfuponitasuponarocking-chair,averyagreeablefactintheveryhotweather.Uponthetable(ahugeironplatesupporteduponsixcarronades)stoodaninkstandofexquisiteelegance,madeofabeautifullychasedSpanishpiece,andasonnette,which,whenrequired,couldgiveforthareportequaltothatofarevolver.Duringviolentdebatesthisnovelkindofbellscarcelysufficedtodrowntheclamoroftheseexcitableartillerists.
