“Monsieur, I salute you,”
“By what right—”
“Am I here? By the right which the impossibility of your getting rid of me confers.”
I was amazed! His calmness put me out of countenance, and I had nothing to reply. I looked at the intruder, but he took no notice of my astonishment.
“Does my weight disarrange your equilibrium, monsieur?” he asked. “You will permit me—”
And without waiting for my consent, he relieved the balloon of two bags, which he threw into space.
“Monsieur,” said I, taking the only course now possible, “you have come; very well, you will remain; but to me alone belongs the management of the balloon.”
“Monsieur,” said he, “your urbanity is French all over: it comes from my own country. I morally press the hand you refuse me. Make all precautions, and act as seems best to you. I will wait till you have done—”
“For what?”
“To talk with you.”