Journey Through the Impossible Read Online Free PDF Page B

to.
    George: Ah! Nothing will ever stop me now.
    Mme de Traventhal: Alas! All is lost.
    Eva: This man is the evil genius of our family.
    Ox (aside): Now he is mine!
    (Enter Master Volsius)
    Master Volsius: Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, am I at the home
of Mme de Traventhal?
    Mme de Traventhal: You are, sir. May I know ... ?
    Volsius: Madam, as I was leaving the cathedral I happened to find this
prayer book. Thinking it belonged to someone in the castle, I
took the liberty.... Perhaps it is yours, madam?

    Mme de Traventhal: No.
    Volsius (to Ox): Is it yours, then, sir? Yes, it must be yours.
    Ox (drawing back): Mine?
    Volsius: Take it, sir, do take it.
    Ox (still drawing back): Mine? This book? No, I tell you, no!
    Volsius: Oh! Don't be afraid. It won't burn your fingers.
    Eva (approaching): It's my prayer book. I left it behind in church this
morning. Thank you for bringing it back to me.
    Ox: But who are you, sir?
    Volsius: I, sir? I am the organist at the cathedral.
    Eva: Master Volsius!
    All: Master Volsius!
    George: Volsius, the great musician!
    Volsius: Volsius, the humble organist, sir.
    Ox (aside): What's he doing here?
    Eva: Ah, sir, we have heard you many times in the cathedral, and been
thrilled by your sublime harmonies!
    Volsius: I am only a poor musician, miss.
    Mme de Traventhal: The doors of Andernak Castle will always be
open to you.
    Ox (aside): We'll see about that.
    Mme de Traventhal (introducing): My granddaughter Eva.
    Volsius: How do you do?
    Mme de Traventhal (introducing George): Her fiance, George....
    George (hastily): George Hatteras.

    Volsius: The son of the famous Captain Hatteras?
    George (excitedly): Yes, yes, he's my father, and I'm going to equal his
achievements, and even surpass his discoveries, thanks to the
learned Dr. Ox.
    Volsius (turning to Ox): Dr. Ox! I have heard a great deal about Dr.
Ox. I hope I find you well, Dr. Ox?
    Ox (turning his back on him): Very well ... Master ... Volsius.
    Volsius: They say, doctor, that you have the power to make the
human body capable of going through the impossible.
    Ox: And what they say is true, Master Volsius.
    Volsius: Even capable of understanding those mysteries that God
seems to have reserved for Himself alone.
    Ox: Yes, we shall penetrate those impenetrable mysteries.
    Volsius: And you are offering the son of Captain Hatteras an opportunity to carry on in his own name the attempts that failed, even
in mythology-an opportunity to repeat the experiments of
Icarus?
    Ox: Yes, but without destroying his wings.
    Volsius: The adventures of Prometheus?
    Ox: Yes, but with no danger from the vulture's talons.
    Volsius: And the efforts of the Titans?"
    Ox: Yes, but with no danger of being struck by Jupiter's thunderbolt.
    Volsius: In fact, then, you are very strong.
    Tartelet (aside): My goodness, it seems to me that the organist is the
cleverest of them all.
    Ox: I think, Master Volsius, that you are making fun of the power this
potion bestows. Well, drink a few drops of it, and you will have no
more doubts.

    Volsius: Thank you, doctor, but I have no need of it.
    George (reaching for the vial): Give it to me, then. Give it to me.
    Volsius (stopping his arm): Young man, the vain attempts I have just
mentioned may not have touched your soul. No one believes in
this fictitious mythology. But open the holy scriptures and there
you will find more ambitious arrogance, more audacious rebellions-and more dreadful punishments. And they are real, and so
terrible that Dr. Ox himself would be afraid to face them.
    Ox (angrily): What punishments? Tell me. Answer me!
    Volsius (gently): Excuse me, doctor. A thousand pardons. I am not
expressing myself.... I can only speak clearly, they say, with my
fingers. I'll try to make myself understood. (He goes to the organ
and sits down.) I'll try to show you to what abysmal depths sacrilegious pride can sink.
    Ox: What is he going to do?
    Eva: 0 Lord, inspire him. Save George. 0 Lord, Lord, save us