Первые люди на Луне
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
Hestammeredsomethingaboutindifferencetowealth,butIbrushedallthataside.Hehadgottoberich,anditwasnogoodhisstammering.IgavehimtounderstandthesortofmanIwas,andthatIhadhadveryconsiderablebusinessexperience.IdidnottellhimIwasanundischargedbankruptatthetime,becausethatwastemporary,butIthinkIreconciledmyevidentpovertywithmyfinancialclaims.Andquiteinsensibly,inthewaysuchprojectsgrow,theunderstandingofaCavoritemonopolygrewupbetweenus.Hewastomakethestuff,andIwastomaketheboom.
Istucklikealeechtothe“we”—“you”and“I”didn’texistforme.
HisideawasthattheprofitsIspokeofmightgotoendowresearch,butthat,ofcourse,wasamatterwehadtosettlelater.“That’sallright,”Ishouted,“that’sallright.”Thegreatpoint,asIinsisted,wastogetthethingdone.
“Hereisasubstance,”Icried,“nohome,nofactory,nofortress,noshipcandaretobewithout—moreuniversallyapplicableeventhanapatentmedicine.Thereisn’tasolitaryaspectofit,notoneofitstenthousandpossibleusesthatwillnotmakeusrich,Cavor,beyondthedreamsofavarice!”
“No!”hesaid.“Ibegintosee.It’sextraordinaryhowonegetsnewpointsofviewbytalkingoverthings!”
“Andasithappensyouhavejusttalkedtotherightman!”
“Isupposenoone,”hesaid,“isabsolutelyaversetoenormouswealth.Ofcoursethereisonething—”
Hepaused.Istoodstill
