登陆注册
19656500000094

第94章 CHAPTER XIX A MEMORABLE LESSON(4)

That will do, if I can have the run of it. But the laboratory is a sanctum reserved for the use of the sixth form. No one sets foot in it except the professor and his pupils preparing for their degree. For me, the outsider, to enter that tabernacle with my band of young imps would be most unseemly; the rightful occupant would never think of allowing it. I feel it myself: elementary teaching dare not aspire to such familiarity with the higher culture. Very well, we will not go there, so long as they will lend me the things.

I confide my plan to the principal, the supreme dispenser of those riches. He is a classics man, knows hardly anything of science, at that time held in no great esteem, and he does not quite understand the object of my request. I humbly insist and exert my powers of persuasion. I discreetly emphasize the real point of the matter.

My group of pupils is a numerous one. It takes more meals at the schoolhouse--the real concern of a principal--than any other section of the college. This group must be encouraged, lured on, increased if possible. The prospect of disposing of a few more platefuls of soup wins the battle for me; my request is granted.

Poor science! All that diplomacy to gain your entrance among the despised ones, who have not been nourished on Cicero and Demosthenes!

I am authorized to move, once a week, the material required for my ambitious plans. From the first floor, the sacred dwelling of the scientific things, I shall take them down to a sort of cellar where I give my lessons. The troublesome part is the pneumatic trough.

It has to be emptied before it is carried downstairs and to be filled again afterwards. A day scholar, a zealous acolyte, hurries over his dinner and comes to lend me a hand an hour or two before the class begins. We effect the move between us.

What I am after is oxygen, the gas which I once saw fail so lamentably. I thought it all out at my leisure, with the help of a book. I will do this, I will do that, I will go to work in this or the other fashion. Above all, we will run no risks, perhaps of blinding ourselves; for it is once more a question of heating manganese dioxide with sulfuric acid. I am filled with misgivings at the recollection of my old school fellow yelling like mad. Who cares? Let us try for all that: fortune favors the brave! Besides, we will make one prudent condition, from which I shall never depart: no one but myself shall come near the table. If an accident happen, I shall be the only one to suffer; and, in my opinion, it is worth a burn or two to make acquaintance with oxygen.

Two o'clock strikes; and my pupils enter the classroom. Ipurposely exaggerate the likelihood of danger. They are all to stay on their benches and not stir. This is agreed. I have plenty of elbow room. There is no one by me, except my acolyte, standing by my side, ready to help me when the time comes. The others look on in profound silence, reverent towards the unknown.

Soon the gaseous bubbles come "gloo-glooing" through the water in the bell jar. Can it be my gas? My heart beats with excitement.

Can I have succeeded without any trouble at the first attempt? We will see. A candle blown out that moment and still retaining a red tip to its wick is lowered by a wire into a small test jar filled with my product. Capital! The candle lights with a little explosion and burns with extraordinary brilliancy. It is oxygen right enough.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 万事不求人手册(中国民间文化丛书)

    万事不求人手册(中国民间文化丛书)

    本书主要以下几方面告诉大家一些日常生活琐事的处理注意事项:居家建造、理财购物、机械购用、安保防护、权益保护、法律咨询、家庭医疗、喜庆辞令、实用文书等。
  • 区域经济发展难点问题研究

    区域经济发展难点问题研究

    本书内容包括:我国区域经济发展差距评估、区域经济发展的理论设计、区域经济发展的模式选择、区域经济发展的结构调整、区域经济发展的政策构建等。
  • 高层会议

    高层会议

    《高层会议》这本书是一部职场长篇小说,讲述的是一个饮料企业高层领导班子在改革中的变迁,重大决议要集体投票表决。在改革之艰难和市场变化莫测的风险中,饮料集团高层带领员工走出困局的故事。小说情节跌宕,丝丝入扣。
  • 痞少追爱:预定小小妻

    痞少追爱:预定小小妻

    据说阮氏的大少爷有了一个未婚妻,对于这段灰姑娘与王子的“爱情”,很多人都是抱着看戏的态度,这不,刚订婚不久,一个自称阮少高中同学的女人就跑到公司公然勾引他。我去……阮家那本《阮王氏打击小三大全》她是白读的吗?与小三斗争,绝不手下留情,为了自己的幸福着想,该出手时就出手,一场好戏开始了……
  • 妾惊华

    妾惊华

    她冷酷无情,是暗夜的杀手,是这个世界的主宰。却抵挡不住可笑的命运!一朝穿越而来的她,秉持人不为己天诛地灭的原则而活!京都因她的到来,自此掀起了一轮腥风血雨!洞房花烛夜,凤冠红衣,龙凤红烛,却独独缺了新郎。红纱之下的她,那双清澈的犹如泉水般的凤目,闪烁着一抹寒光,今日之辱,他日必当百倍奉还。恶奴欺主,乱棍打走。嫡妹陷害,一掌打你站不起来。一个绵里藏针,带着复仇之心刻意靠近。一个笑里藏刀,怀着探寻之意曲意接纳。天下动荡,皇权之争,她助他除奸佞,破阴谋,解危难,平四方。本以为可以幸福的生活下去,才发现,他爱的另有其人……【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 一生只做你的骑士

    一生只做你的骑士

    陌菲和蓝雨枫长大后的相遇是否注定了一生的缘分。爱恨情仇,谁才是最后的人生赢家?
  • 抢个美男做相公

    抢个美男做相公

    女汉子相亲三十五次失败,穿越一哈成了香饽饽,抢了美男关家里,招惹首富之子欢喜闹腾出感情,太子殿下一见她得了相思病。喂喂,她只是想好好创业的好不好,世子殿下别闹,一边玩去。宅斗宫斗商场斗!智斗婆婆,恶斗宫妃,生死交加,爱恨情仇,阴谋误会,轮番上阵。女汉子的世界,你懂?且看女汉子抱得美男归,挣钱养家养包子。等等,他的美男相公不是花瓶吗?怎么那么多秘密?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 与你最后的夏天

    与你最后的夏天

    那个夏天,他们相识,他们同居,可最后,他们会在一起吗?与你最后的夏天,抹不去的思念......
  • 极品农民三国游

    极品农民三国游

    为钱财小农民盗墓,无意中穿越到英雄辈出的三国,面对狡诈的曹操,满嘴仁义的刘备和勇武过人的小霸王,还有娇美如花的貂蝉、大乔、小乔,他能在这乱世中存活吗?看当代农民耕种三国,最终抱得美人归的另样穿越!
  • 帝王姬:红颜倾城

    帝王姬:红颜倾城

    洛阳白家有一朵牡丹,才情不输曹子建,姿容更甚魏紫姚黄。却连决定自己爱情的权利都没有。两朝帝皇对她倾城绝恋潇洒不羁的凤九公子为了她宁可负了家族可被爱情背叛的她却不敢再爱,更没有资格去爱。“我会让你幸福的,一辈子”洞房花烛夜,他对她许下诺言,却真的是他的一辈子;“为了护你周全,我宁可忍受世人唾骂双手接过母后抢来的江山。”她是他无法言语的伤;“只要你过的幸福就好。”哪怕他只远远的驻足看着,也是一种幸福;“他未足月就出生,你觉得他是谁的孩子?”被仇恨蒙蔽双眼的他差点量成大祸;当一切已成定局,她站在皇权之上,却找不回曾经的自己。