"Hans Phaall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Poe Edgar Allan)

gazed on it with earnest, direct and undeviating attention, as when
I suffered my eye only to glance in its vicinity alone. I was not,
of course, at that time aware that this apparent paradox was
occasioned by the center of the visual area being less susceptible
of feeble impressions of light than the exterior portions of the
retina. This knowledge, and some of another kind, came afterwards in
the course of an eventful five years, during which I have dropped
the prejudices of my former humble situation in life, and forgotten
the bellows-mender in far different occupations. But at the epoch of
which I speak, the analogy which a casual observation of a star
offered to the conclusions I had already drawn, struck me with the
force of positive conformation, and I then finally made up my mind
to the course which I afterwards pursued.
It was late when I reached home, and I went immediately to bed. My
mind, however, was too much occupied to sleep, and I lay the whole
night buried in meditation. Arising early in the morning, and
contriving again to escape the vigilance of my creditors, I repaired
eagerly to the bookseller's stall, and laid out what little ready
money I possessed, in the purchase of some volumes of Mechanics and
Practical Astronomy. Having arrived at home safely with these, I
devoted every spare moment to their perusal, and soon made such
proficiency in studies of this nature as I thought sufficient for
the execution of my plan. In the intervals of this period, I made
every endeavor to conciliate the three creditors who had given me so
much annoyance. In this I finally succeeded- partly by selling enough
of my household furniture to satisfy a moiety of their claim, and
partly by a promise of paying the balance upon completion of a
little project which I told them I had in view, and for assistance
in which I solicited their services. By these means- for they were
ignorant men- I found little difficulty in gaining them over to my
purpose.
Matters being thus arranged, I contrived, by the aid of my wife
and with the greatest secrecy and caution, to dispose of what property
I had remaining, and to borrow, in small sums, under various
pretences, and without paying any attention to my future means of
repayment, no inconsiderable quantity of ready money. With the means
thus accruing I proceeded to procure at intervals, cambric muslin,
very fine, in pieces of twelve yards each; twine; a lot of the varnish
of caoutchouc; a large and deep basket of wicker-work, made to order;
and several other articles necessary in the construction and equipment
of a balloon of extraordinary dimensions. This I directed my wife to
make up as soon as possible, and gave her all requisite information as
to the particular method of proceeding. In the meantime I worked up
the twine into a net-work of sufficient dimensions; rigged it with a
hoop and the necessary cords; bought a quadrant, a compass, a
spy-glass, a common barometer with some important modifications, and
two astronomical instruments not so generally known. I then took
opportunities of conveying by night, to a retired situation east of
Rotterdam, five iron-bound casks, to contain about fifty gallons each,
and one of a larger size; six tinned ware tubes, three inches in