Instantly a great stir was created.
The savants all pushed forward. All knew Gaston well and favorably.
“Hear, hear!” was the cry.
At once the chairman rapped to order, and then addressed Gaston:
“How do you propose to reach the Poles?” he asked.
The professor looked around as if challenging denial, and said:
“By airship.”
For a moment a pin could have been heard to drop in the hall. Then there was a murmur, and the members began to laugh.
“Did you hear that?”
“Proposes to go to the Poles by airship!”