"The two bold navigators ascended, on the 21st of November, 1783, from the gardens of La Muette, which the Dauphin had placed at their disposal. The aerostat rose majestically, passed the Isle des Cygnes, crossed the Seine at the Barriere de la Conference, and, directing its way between the dome of the Invalides and L' Ecole Militaire, approached St. Sulpice; then the aeronauts increased the fire, ascended, cleared the Boulevard, and descended beyond the Barriere d' Enfer. As it touched the ground, the collapsed, and buried Pilatre des Rosiers beneath its folds."
"Unfortunate presage! " said I, interested in these details, which so nearly concerned me.
"Presage of his catastrophe, " replied the unknown, with sadness. "You have experienced nothing similar? "
"Nothing! "
"Bah! Misfortunes often arrive without presage." And he remained silent.
We were advancing towards the south; the magnetic needle pointed in the direction of Frankfort, which was flying beneath our feet.
"Perhaps we shall have a storm, " said the young man.
"We will descend first."
"Indeed! it will be better to ascend; we shall escape more surely;" and two bags of sand were thrown overboard.
The balloon rose rapidly, and stopped at twelve hundred metres. The cold was now intense, and there was a slight buzzing in my ears. Nevertheless, the rays of the sun fell hotly on the globe, and, dilating the gas it contained, gave it a greater ascensional force. I was stupid.
"Fear nothing, " said the young man to me. "We have three thousand five hundred toises of respirable air. You need not trouble yourself about my proceedings."
I would have risen, but a vigorous hand detained me on my seat.
"Your name? " asked I.
"My name! how does it concern you? "
"I have the honour to ask your name."