Путешествие на Луну
How a Frenchman Manages an Affair
MichelArdanthentoldthepresidenthowthecaptainhadbeenfoundoccupied.
"Iputittoyounow,"saidheinconclusion,"aretwosuchgoodfellowsasyouaremadeonpurposetosmasheachother’sskullswithshot?"
Therewasin"thesituation"somewhatoftheridiculous,somethingquiteunexpected;MichelArdansawthis,anddeterminedtoeffectareconciliation.
"Mygoodfriends,"saidhe,withhismostbewitchingsmile,"thisisnothingbutamisunderstanding.Nothingmore!well!toprovethatitisalloverbetweenyou,acceptfranklytheproposalIamgoingtomaketoyou."
"Makeit,"saidNicholl.
"OurfriendBarbicanebelievesthathisprojectilewillgostraighttothemoon?"
"Yes,certainly,"repliedthepresident.
"AndourfriendNichollispersuadeditwillfallbackupontheearth?"
"Iamcertainofit,"criedthecaptain.
"Good!"saidArdan."Icannotpretendtomakeyouagree;butIsuggestthis:Gowithme,andsoseewhetherwearestoppedonourjourney."
"What?"exclaimedJ.T.Maston,stupefied.
Thetworivals,onthissuddenproposal,lookedsteadilyateachother.Barbicanewaitedforthecaptain’sanswer.Nichollwatchedforthedecisionofthepresident.
"Well?"saidMichel."Thereisnownofearoftheshock!"
"Done!"criedBarbicane.
Butquicklyashepronouncedtheword,hewasnotbeforeNicholl.
"Hurrah!bravo!hip!hip!hurrah!"criedMichel,givingahandtoeachofthelateadversaries
