an tell you it
would have caught up your bit of a comet and worn it like a feather in a
cap."

The professor looked angry, and Servadac having imposed silence upon
his orderly, explained the worthy soldier's sensitiveness on all that
concerned Montmartre. Always obedient to his master, Ben Zoof held his
tongue; but he felt that he could never forgive the slight that had been
cast upon his beloved home.

It was now all-important to learn whether the astronomer had been able
to continue his observations, and whether he had learned sufficient of
Gallia's path through space to make him competent to determine, at least
approximately, the period of its revolution round the sun. With as much
tact and caution as he could, Lieutenant Procope endeavored to intimate
the general desire for some information on this point.

"Before the shock, sir," answered the professor, "I had conclusively
demonstrated the path of the comet; but, in consequence of the
modifications which that shock has entailed upon my comet's orbit, I
have been compelled entirely to recommence my calculations."

The lieutenant looked disappointed.

"Although the orbit of the earth was unaltered," continued the
professor, "the result of the collision was the projection of the comet
into a new orbit altogether."

"And may I ask," said Procope, deferentially, "whether you have got the
elements of the fresh orbit?"

"Yes."

"Then perhaps you know--"

"I know this, sir, that at 47 minutes 35.6 seconds after two o'clock on
the morning of the 1st of January last, Gallia, in passing its ascending
node, came in contact with the earth; that on the 10th of January it
crossed the orbit of Venus; that it reached its perihelion on the 15th;
that it re-crossed the orbit of Venus; that on the 1st of February
it passed its descending node; on the 13th crossed the orbit of Mars;
entered the zone of the telescopic planets on the 10th of March, and,
attracting Nerina, carried it off as a satellite."

Servadac interposed:

"We are already acquainted with well-nigh all these extraordinary facts;
many of them, moreover, we have learned from documents which we have
picked up, and which, although unsigned, we cannot entertain a doubt
have originated with you."

Professor Rosette drew himself up proudly and said: "Of course, they
originated with me. I sent them off by hundreds. From whom else could
they come?"

"From no one but yourself, certainly," rejoined the count, wi