The multitude, half deceived, showed not a little ill-humour. I did not hesitate to ascend alone. In order to re-establish the equilibrium between the specific gravity of the balloon and the weight which had thus proved wanting, I replaced my companions by more sacks of sand, and got into the car. The twelve men who held the balloon by twelve cords fastened to the equatorial circle, let them slip a little between their fingers, and the balloon rose several feet higher. There was not a breath of wind, and the atmosphere was so leaden that it seemed to forbid the ascent. “Is everything ready?” I cried. The men put themselves in readiness. A last glance told me that I might go. “Attention!” There was a movement in the crowd, which seemed to be invading the enclosure. “Let go!” The balloon rose slowly, but I experienced a shock which threw me to the bottom of the car. When I got up, I found myself face to face with an unexpected fellow-voyager,—the pale young man. “Monsieur, I salute you,” said he, with the utmost coolness. [Illustration: “Monsieur, I salute you,”] “By what right—” “Am I here? By the right which the impossibility of your getting rid of me confers.” I was amazed! His calmness put me out of countenance, and I had nothing to reply. I looked at the intruder, but he took no notice of my astonishment. “Does my weight disarrange your equilibrium, monsieur?” he asked. “You will permit me—” And without waiting for my consent, he relieved the balloon of two bags, which he threw into space. “Monsieur,” said I, taking the only course now possible, “you have come; very well, you will remain; but to me alone belongs the management of the balloon.” “Monsieur,” said he, “your urbanity is French all over: it comes from my own country. I morally press the hand you refuse me. Make all precautions, and act as seems best to you. I will wait till you have done—” “For what?” “To talk with you.” The barometer had fallen to twenty-six inches. We were nearly six hundred yards above the city; but nothing betrayed the horizontal displacement of the balloon, for the mass of air in which it is enclosed goes forward with it. A sort of confused glow enveloped the objects spread out under us, and unfortunately obscured their outline. I examined my companion afresh. He was a man of thirty years, simply clad. The sharpness of his features betrayed an indomitable energy, and he seemed very muscular. Indifferent to the astonishment he created, he remained motionless, trying to distinguish the objects which were vaguely confused below us. “Miserable mist!” said he, after a few moments. I did not reply. “You owe me a grudge?” he went on. “Bah! I could not pay for my journey, and it was necessary to take you by surprise.” “Nobody asks you to descend, monsieur!”