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Off on a Comet-Part30_JULES VERNE(1828-1905)_Translated Works(翻译文学)-第2页

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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.

Hitherto the conversation had thrown no light upon the future movements



of Gallia, and Rosette was disposed apparently to evade, or at least

to postpone, the subject. When, therefore, Lieutenant Procope was about



to press his inquiries in a more categorical form, Servadac, thinking it

advisable not prematurely to press the little _savant_ too far,



interrupted him by asking the professor how he accounted for the earth

having suffered so little from such a formidable concussion.



"I account for it in this way," answered Rosette: "the earth

was traveling at the rate of 28,000 leagues an hour, and Gallia



at the rate of 57,000 leagues an hour, therefore the result

was the same as though a train rushing along at a speed of about



86,000 leagues an hour had suddenly encountered some obstacle.

The nucleus of the comet, being excessively hard, has done exactly



what a ball would do fired with that velocity close to a pane of glass.

It has crossed the earth without cracking it."



"It is possible you may be right," said Servadac, thoughtfully.

"Right! of course I am right!" replied the snappish professor.



Soon, however, recovering his equanimity, he continued:

"It is fortunate that the earth was only touched obliquely;



if the comet had impinged perpendicularly, it must have plowed

its way deep below the surface, and the disasters it might have



caused are beyond reckoning. Perhaps," he added, with a smile,

"even Montmartre might not have survived the calamity."



"Sir!" shouted Ben Zoof, quite unable to bear the unprovoked attack.

"Quiet, Ben Zoof!" said Servadac sternly.



Fortunately for the sake of peace, Isaac Hakkabut, who at length

was beginning to realize something of the true condition of things,



came forward at this moment, and in a voice trembling with eagerness,

implored the professor to tell him when they would all be back again



upon the earth.




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