The Purchase of the North Pole / A sequel to "From the earth to the moon"

by Jules Verne

And after the interview J. T. Maston fled from the house in New Park. He went back to Ballistic Cottage. He strode about his workroom saying to himself,—

“Now I am good for nothing in the world!”

“Not even if you were to marry?” said a voice which emotion made heartrending.

It was Mrs. Scorbitt.

Tearful and distracted she had followed J. T. Maston.

“Dear Maston!” said she.

“Well! Yes!” said he; “on one condition—that I never again touch mathematics.”

“I abominate them!” said the widow.

And thus it was that Mrs. Scorbitt became Mrs. J. T. Maston.

As to Alcide Pierdeux, what honour, what celebrity that letter brought both him and his old school! Translated into all languages, copied into all newspapers, it made his name known throughout the world.