“A wretched time we have had for the last seven months,” said the orderly one day to his master; “but what a comfort little Nina has been to us all!”
“Yes, indeed,” replied Servadac; “she is a charming little creature. I hardly know how we should have got on without her.”
“What is to become of her when we arrive back at the earth?”
“Not much fear, Ben Zoof, but that she will be well taken care of. Perhaps you and I had better adopt her.”
“Ay, yes,” assented8 the orderly. “You can be her father, and I can be her mother.”
Servadac laughed. “Then you and I shall be man and wife.”
“We have been as good as that for a long time,” observed Ben Zoof, gravely.
By the beginning of October, the temperature had so far moderated that it could scarcely be said to be intolerable. The comet’s distance was scarcely three times as great from the sun as the earth from the sun, so that the thermometer rarely sunk beyond 35 degrees below zero. The whole party began to make almost daily visits to the Hive, and frequently proceeded to the shore, where they resumed their skating exercise, rejoicing in their recovered freedom like prisoners liberated9 from a dungeon10. Whilst the rest were enjoying their recreation, Servadac and the count would hold long conversations with Lieutenant11 Procope about their present position and future prospects12, discussing all manner of speculations13 as to the results of the anticipated collision with the earth, and wondering whether any measures could be devised for mitigating14 the violence of a shock which might be terrible in its consequences, even if it did not entail15 a total annihilation of themselves.
There was no visitor to the Hive more regular than Rosette. He had already directed his telescope to be moved back to his former observatory16, where, as much as the cold would permit him, he persisted in making his all-absorbing studies of the heavens.
The result of these studies no one ventured to inquire; but it became generally noticed that something was very seriously disturbing the professor’s equanimity18. Not only would he be seen toiling19 more frequently up the arduous20 way that lay between his nook below and his telescope above, but he would be heard muttering in an angry tone that indicated considerable agitation21.
One day, as he was hurrying down to his study, he met Ben Zoof, who, secretly entertaining a feeling of delight at the professor’s manifest discomfiture22, made some casual remark about things not being very straight. The way in which his advance was received the good orderly never divulged23, but henceforward he maintained the firm conviction that there was something very much amiss up in the sky.
To Servadac and his friends this continual disquietude and ill-humor on the part of the professor occasioned no little anxiety. From what, they asked, could his dissatisfaction arise? They could only conjecture24 that he had discovered some flaw in his reckonings; and if this were so, might there not be reason to apprehend25 that their anticipations26 of coming into contact with the earth, at the settled time, might all be falsified?
Day followed day, and still there was no cessation of the professor’s discomposure. He was the most miserable27 of mortals. If really his calculations and his observations were at variance28, this, in a man of his irritable29 temperament30, would account for his perpetual perturbation. But he entered into no explanation; he only climbed up to his telescope, looking haggard and distressed31, and when compelled by the frost to retire, he would make his way back to his study more furious than ever. At times he was heard giving vent17 to his vexation. “Confound it! what does it mean? what is she doing? All behind! Is Newton a fool? Is the law of universal gravitation the law of universal nonsense?” And the little man would seize his head in both his hands, and tear away at the scanty32 locks which he could ill afford to lose.
Enough was overheard to confirm the suspicion that there was some irreconcilable33 discrepancy34 between the results of his computation and what he had actually observed; and yet, if he had been called upon to say, he would have sooner insisted that there was derangement35 in the laws of celestial36 mechanism37, than have owned there was the least probability of error in any of his own calculations. Assuredly, if the poor professor had had any flesh to lose he would have withered38 away to a shadow.
But this state of things was before long to come to an end. On the 12th, Ben Zoof, who was hanging about outside the great hall of the cavern39, heard the professor inside utter a loud cry. Hurrying in to ascertain40 the cause, he found Rosette in a state of perfect frenzy41, in which ecstasy42 and rage seemed to be struggling for the predominance.
“Eureka! Eureka!” yelled the excited astronomer43.
“What, in the name of peace, do you mean?” bawled44 Ben Zoof, in open-mouthed amazement45.
“Eureka!” again shrieked46 the little man.
“How? What? Where?” roared the bewildered orderly.
“Eureka! I say,” repeated Rosette; “and if you don’t understand me, you may go to the devil!”
Without availing himself of this polite invitation, Ben Zoof betook himself to his master. “Something has happened to the professor,” he said; “he is rushing about like a madman, screeching47 and yelling ‘Eureka!’”
“Eureka?” exclaimed Servadac. “That means he has made a discovery;” and, full of anxiety, he hurried off to meet the professor.
But, however great was his desire to ascertain what this discovery implied, his curiosity was not yet destined48 to be gratified. The professor kept muttering in incoherent phrases: “Rascal49! he shall pay for it yet. I will be even with him! Cheat! Thrown me out!” But he did not vouchsafe50 any reply to Servadac’s inquiries51, and withdrew to his study.
From that day Rosette, for some reason at present incomprehensible, quite altered his behavior to Isaac Hakkabut, a man for whom he had always hitherto evinced the greatest repugnance52 and contempt. All at once he began to show a remarkable53 interest in the Jew and his affairs, paying several visits to the dark little storehouse, making inquiries as to the state of business and expressing some solicitude54 about the state of the exchequer55.
The wily Jew was taken somewhat by surprise, but came to an immediate56 conclusion that the professor was contemplating57 borrowing some money; he was consequently very cautious in all his replies.
It was not Hakkabut’s habit ever to advance a loan except at an extravagant58 rate of interest, or without demanding far more than an adequate security. Count Timascheff, a Russian nobleman, was evidently rich; to him perhaps, for a proper consideration, a loan might be made: Captain Servadac was a Gascon, and Gascons are proverbially poor; it would never do to lend any money to him; but here was a professor, a mere59 man of science, with circumscribed60 means; did he expect to borrow? Certainly Isaac would as soon think of flying, as of lending money to him. Such were the thoughts that made him receive all Rosette’s approaches with a careful reservation.
It was not long, however, before Hakkabut was to be called upon to apply his money to a purpose for which he had not reckoned. In his eagerness to effect sales, he had parted with all the alimentary61 articles in his cargo62 without having the precautionary prudence63 to reserve enough for his own consumption. Amongst other things that failed him was his stock of coffee, and as coffee was a beverage64 without which he deemed it impossible to exist, he found himself in considerable perplexity.
He pondered the matter over for a long time, and ultimately persuaded himself that, after all, the stores were the common property of all, and that he had as much right to a share as anyone else. Accordingly, he made his way to Ben Zoof, and, in the most amiable65 tone he could assume, begged as a favor that he would let him have a pound of coffee.
The orderly shook his head dubiously66.
“A pound of coffee, old Nathan? I can’t say.”
“Why not? You have some?” said Isaac.
“Oh yes! plenty — a hundred kilogrammes.”
“Then let me have one pound. I shall be grateful.”
“Hang your gratitude67!”
“Only one pound! You would not refuse anybody else.”
“That’s just the very point, old Samuel; if you were anybody else, I should know very well what to do. I must refer the matter to his Excellency.”
“Oh, his Excellency will do me justice.”
“Perhaps you will find his justice rather too much for you.” And with this consoling remark, the orderly went to seek his master.
Rosette meanwhile had been listening to the conversation, and secretly rejoicing that an opportunity for which he had been watching had arrived. “What’s the matter, Master Isaac? Have you parted with all your coffee?” he asked, in a sympathizing voice, when Ben Zoof was gone.
“Ah! yes, indeed,” groaned68 Hakkabut, “and now I require some for my own use. In my little black hole I cannot live without my coffee.”
“Of course you cannot,” agreed the professor.
“And don’t you think the governor ought to let me have it?”
“No doubt.”
“Oh, I must have coffee,” said the Jew again.
“Certainly,” the professor assented. “Coffee is nutritious69; it warms the blood. How much do you want?”
“A pound. A pound will last me for a long time.”
“And who will weigh it for you?” asked Rosette, scarcely able to conceal70 the eagerness that prompted the question.
“Why, they will weigh it with my steelyard, of course. There is no other balance here.” And as the Jew spoke71, the professor fancied he could detect the faintest of sighs.
“Good, Master Isaac; all the better for you! You will get your seven pounds instead of one!”
“Yes; well, seven, or thereabouts — thereabouts,” stammered72 the Jew with considerable hesitation73.
Rosette scanned his countenance74 narrowly, and was about to probe him with further questions, when Ben Zoof returned. “And what does his Excellency say?” inquired Hakkabut.
“Why, Nehemiah, he says he shan’t give you any.”
“Merciful heavens!” began the Jew.
“He says he doesn’t mind selling you a little.”
“But, by the holy city, why does he make me pay for what anybody else could have for nothing?”
“As I told you before, you are not anybody else; so, come along. You can afford to buy what you want. We should like to see the color of your money.”
“Merciful heavens!” the old man whined75 once more.
“Now, none of that! Yes or no? If you are going to buy, say so at once; if not, I shall shut up shop.”
Hakkabut knew well enough that the orderly was not a man to be trifled with, and said, in a tremulous voice, “Yes, I will buy.”
The professor, who had been looking on with much interest, betrayed manifest symptoms of satisfaction.
“How much do you want? What will you charge for it?” asked Isaac, mournfully, putting his hand into his pocket and chinking his money.
“Oh, we will deal gently with you. We will not make any profit. You shall have it for the same price that we paid for it. Ten francs a pound, you know.”
The Jew hesitated.
“Come now, what is the use of your hesitating? Your gold will have no value when you go back to the world.”
“What do you mean?” asked Hakkabut, startled.
“You will find out some day,” answered Ben Zoof, significantly.
Hakkabut drew out a small piece of gold from his pocket, took it close under the lamp, rolled it over in his hand, and pressed it to his lips. “Shall you weigh me the coffee with my steelyard?” he asked, in a quavering voice that confirmed the professor’s suspicions.
“There is nothing else to weigh it with; you know that well enough, old Shechem,” said Ben Zoof. The steelyard was then produced; a tray was suspended to the hook, and upon this coffee was thrown until the needle registered the weight of one pound. Of course, it took seven pounds of coffee to do this.
“There you are! There’s your coffee, man!” Ben Zoof said.
“Are you sure?” inquired Hakkabut, peering down close to the dial. “Are you quite sure that the needle touches the point?”
“Yes; look and see.”
“Give it a little push, please.”
“Why?”
“Because — because —”
“Well, because of what?” cried the orderly, impatiently.
“Because I think, perhaps — I am not quite sure — perhaps the steelyard is not quite correct.”
The words were not uttered before the professor, fierce as a tiger, had rushed at the Jew, had seized him by the throat, and was shaking him till he was black in the face.
“Help! help!” screamed Hakkabut. “I shall be strangled.”
“Rascal! consummate76 rascal! thief! villain77!” the professor reiterated78, and continued to shake the Jew furiously.
Ben Zoof looked on and laughed, making no attempt to interfere79; he had no sympathy with either of the two.
The sound of the scuffling, however, drew the attention of Servadac, who, followed by his companions, hastened to the scene. The combatants were soon parted. “What is the meaning of all this?” demanded the captain.
As soon as the professor had recovered his breath, exhausted80 by his exertions81, he said, “The old reprobate82, the rascal has cheated us! His steelyard is wrong! He is a thief!”
Captain Servadac looked sternly at Hakkabut.
“How is this, Hakkabut? Is this a fact?”
“No, no — yes — no, your Excellency, only —”
“He is a cheat, a thief!” roared the excited astronomer. “His weights deceive!”
“Stop, stop!” interposed Servadac; “let us hear. Tell me, Hakkabut —”
“The steelyard lies! It cheats! it lies!” roared the irrepressible Rosette.
“Tell me, Hakkabut, I say,” repeated Servadac.
The Jew only kept on stammering83, “Yes — no — I don’t know.”
But heedless of any interruption, the professor continued, “False weights! That confounded steelyard! It gave a false result! The mass was wrong! The observations contradicted the calculations; they were wrong! She was out of place! Yes, out of place entirely84.”
“What!” cried Servadac and Procope in a breath, “out of place?”
“Yes, completely,” said the professor.
“Gallia out of place?” repeated Servadac, agitated85 with alarm.
“I did not say Gallia,” replied Rosette, stamping his foot impetuously; “I said Nerina.”
“Oh, Nerina,” answered Servadac. “But what of Gallia?” he inquired, still nervously86.
“Gallia, of course, is on her way to the earth. I told you so. But that Jew is a rascal!”
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1
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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6
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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12
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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14
mitigating
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| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的现在分词 ) | |
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15
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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observatory
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| n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台 | |
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17
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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18
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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19
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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20
arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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21
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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divulged
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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25
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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28
variance
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| n.矛盾，不同 | |
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irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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32
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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irreconcilable
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| adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的 | |
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34
discrepancy
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| n.不同；不符；差异；矛盾 | |
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35
derangement
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| n.精神错乱 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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38
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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41
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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astronomer
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| n.天文学家 | |
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44
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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46
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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48
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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49
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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50
vouchsafe
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| v.惠予，准许 | |
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51
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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52
repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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53
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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54
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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55
exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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56
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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57
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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58
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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59
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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60
circumscribed
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| adj.[医]局限的：受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；划定…范围；限制；限定 | |
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61
alimentary
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| adj.饮食的，营养的 | |
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62
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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63
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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64
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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65
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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66
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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67
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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68
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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69
nutritious
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| adj.有营养的，营养价值高的 | |
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70
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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71
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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72
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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74
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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75
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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80
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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81
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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reprobate
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| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
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83
stammering
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的现在分词 ) | |
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84
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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85
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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