第73章

No, gentlemen, I repeat it, we have nothing to regret."And as the professor spoke, he seemed to kindle with the emotion of such supreme contentment that no one had the heart to gainsay his assertion.

Ben Zoof alone ventured an unlucky remark to the effect that if the comet had happened to strike against Montmartre, instead of a bit of Africa, it would have met with some resistance.

"Pshaw!" said Rosette, disdainfully. "A mole-hill like Montmartre would have been ground to powder in a moment.""Mole-hill!" exclaimed Ben Zoof, stung to the quick.

"I can tell you it would have caught up your bit of a comet and worn it like a feather in a cap."The professor looked angry, and Servadac having imposed silence upon his orderly, explained the worthy soldier's sensitiveness on all that concerned Montmartre. Always obedient to his master, Ben Zoof held his tongue; but he felt that he could never forgive the slight that had been cast upon his beloved home.

It was now all-important to learn whether the astronomer had been able to continue his observations, and whether he had learned sufficient of Gallia's path through space to make him competent to determine, at least approximately, the period of its revolution round the sun.

With as much tact and caution as he could, Lieutenant Procope endeavored to intimate the general desire for some information on this point.

"Before the shock, sir," answered the professor, "I had conclusively demonstrated the path of the comet; but, in consequence of the modifications which that shock has entailed upon my comet's orbit, I have been compelled entirely to recommence my calculations."The lieutenant looked disappointed.

"Although the orbit of the earth was unaltered," continued the professor, "the result of the collision was the projection of the comet into a new orbit altogether.""And may I ask," said Procope, deferentially, "whether you have got the elements of the fresh orbit?""Yes."

"Then perhaps you know--"

" I know this, sir, that at 47 minutes 35.6 seconds after two o'clock on the morning of the 1st of January last, Gallia, in passing its ascending node, came in contact with the earth;that on the 10th of January it crossed the orbit of Venus;that it reached its perihelion on the 15th; that it re-crossed the orbit of Venus; that on the 1st of February it passed its descending node; on the 13th crossed the orbit of Mars;entered the zone of the telescopic planets on the 10th of March, and, attracting Nerina, carried it off as a satellite."Servadac interposed:

"We are already acquainted with well-nigh all these extraordinary facts;many of them, moreover, we have learned from documents which we have picked up, and which, although unsigned, we cannot entertain a doubt have originated with you."Professor Rosette drew himself up proudly and said:

"Of course, they originated with me. I sent them off by hundreds.

From whom else could they come?"

"From no one but yourself, certainly," rejoined the count, with grave politeness.