按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
into space。 The next moment they were slowly； but tranquilly； sailing to
the earth。
〃A parasol and a parachute are distinct； but not different。 Be not
alarmed； he will get his dinner at some farm…house。〃
〃Where are we now？〃
〃That opaque spot you see is London fog。 Those twin clouds are North
and South America。 Jerusalem and Madagascar are those specks to the
right。〃
Lady Caroline moved nearer； she was becoming interested。 Then she
recalled herself and said freezingly； 〃How are we going to descend？〃
〃By opening the valve。〃
〃Why don't you open it then？〃
〃BECAUSE THE VALVE…STRING IS BROKEN！〃
11
… Page 12…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER IX。
Lady Caroline fainted。 When she revived it was dark。 They were
apparently cleaving their way through a solid block of black marble。 She
moaned and shuddered。
〃I wish we had a light。〃
〃I have no lucifers；〃 said Little。 〃I observe； however； that you wear a
necklace of amber。 Amber under certain conditions becomes highly
electrical。 Permit me。〃
He took the amber necklace and rubbed it briskly。 Then he asked her to
present her knuckle to the gem。 A bright spark was the result。 This was
repeated for some hours。 The light was not brilliant； but it was enough for
the purposes of propriety； and satisfied the delicately minded girl。
Suddenly there was a tearing； hissing noise and a smell of gas。 Little
looked up and turned pale。 The balloon； at what I shall call the pointed end
of the Bologna sausage； was evidently bursting from increased pressure。
The gas was escaping； and already they were beginning to descend。 Little
was resigned but firm。
〃If the silk gives way； then we are lost。 Unfortunately I have no rope
nor material for binding it。〃
The woman's instinct had arrived at the same conclusion sooner than
the man's reason。 But she was hesitating over a detail。
〃Will you go down the rope for a moment？〃 she said； with a sweet
smile。
Little went down。 Presently she called to him。 She held something in
her hand；a wonderful invention of the seventeenth century； improved and
perfected in this： a pyramid of sixteen circular hoops of light yet strong
steel； attached to each other by cloth bands。
With a cry of joy Little seized them； climbed to the balloon； and fitted
the elastic hoops over its conical end。 Then he returned to the car。
〃We are saved。〃
Lady Caroline； blushing； gathered her slim but antique drapery against
the other end of the car。
12
… Page 13…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER X。
They were slowly descending。 Presently Lady Caroline distinguished
the outlines of Raby Hall。 〃I think I will get out here；〃 she said。
Little anchored the balloon and prepared to follow her。
〃Not so； my friend；〃 she said； with an arch smile。 〃We must not be
seen together。 People might talk。 Farewell。〃
Little sprang again into the balloon and sped away to America。 He
came down in California； oddly enough in front of Hardin's door； at Dutch
Flat。 Hardin was just examining a specimen of ore。
〃You are a scientist； can you tell me if that is worth anything？〃 he said；
handing it to Little。
Little held it to the light。 〃It contains ninety per cent of silver。〃
Hardin embraced him。 〃Can I do anything for you； and why are you
here？〃
Little told his story。 Hardin asked to see the rope。 Then he examined it
carefully。
〃Ah； this was cut； not broken！〃
〃With a knife？〃 asked Little。
〃No。 Observe both sides are equally indented。 It was done with a
SCISSORS！〃
〃Just Heaven！〃 gasped Little。 〃Therese！〃
13
… Page 14…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER XI。
Little returned to London。 Passing through London one day he met a
dog…fancier。 〃Buy a nice poodle； sir？〃
Something in the animal attracted his attention。 〃Fido！〃 he gasped。
The dog yelped。
Little bought him。 On taking off his collar a piece of paper rustled to
the floor。 He knew the handwriting and kissed it。 It ran：
〃TO THE HON。 AUGUSTUS RABYI cannot marry you。 If I marry
any one〃 （sly puss） 〃it will be the man who has twice saved my life；
Professor Little。
〃CAROLINE COVENTRY。〃
And she did。
14
… Page 15…
CONDENSED NOVELS
LOTHAW；OR； THE
ADVENTURES OF A YOUNG
GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OF A
RELIGION。
BY MR。 BENJAMINS。
15
… Page 16…
CONDENSED NOVELS
CHAPTER I。
〃I remember him a little boy；〃 said the Duchess。 〃His mother was a
dear friend of mine； you know she was one of my bridesmaids。〃
〃And you have never seen him since； mamma？〃 asked the oldest
married daughter； who did not look a day older than her mother。
〃Never； he was an orphan shortly after。 I have often reproached myself；
but it is so difficult to see boys。〃
This simple yet first…class conversation existed in the morning… room
of Plusham； where the mistress of the palatial mansion sat involved in the
sacred privacy of a circle of her married daughters。 One dexterously
applied golden knitting…needles to the fabrication of a purse of floss silk of
the rarest texture； which none who knew the almost fabulous wealth of the
Duke would believe was ever destined to hold in its silken meshes a less
sum than L1；000；000； another adorned a slipper exclusively with seed
pearls； a third emblazoned a page with rare pigments and the finest quality
of gold leaf。 Beautiful forms leaned over frames glowing with embroidery；
and beautiful frames leaned over forms inlaid with mother…of…pearl。 Others；
more remote； occasionally burst into melody as they tried the passages of
a new and exclusive air given to them in MS。 by some titled and devoted
friend； for the private use of the aristocracy alone； and absolutely
prohibited for publication。
The Duchess； herself the superlative of beauty； wealth； and position；