It happened that there had been a long drought, during the latter part of
which prayers had been vainly offered up in all the temples of the air
god. When I first told her Majesty that I wanted a balloon, I said my
intention was to go up into the sky and prevail upon the air god by means
of a personal interview. I own that this proposition bordered on the
idolatrous, but I have long since repented of it, and am little likely
ever to repeat the offence. Moreover the deceit, serious though it was,
will probably lead to the conversion of the whole country.
When the Queen told his Majesty of my proposal, he at first not only
ridiculed it, but was inclined to veto it. Being, however, a very
uxorious husband, he at length consented--as he eventually always did to
everything on which the Queen had set her heart. He yielded all the more
readily now, because he did not believe in the possibility of my ascent;
he was convinced that even though the balloon should mount a few feet
into the air, it would collapse immediately, whereon I should fall and
break my neck, and he should be rid of me. He demonstrated this to her
so convincingly, that she was alarmed, and tried to talk me into giving
up the idea, but on finding that I persisted in my wish to have the
balloon made, she produced an order from the King to the effect that all
facilities I might require should be afforded me.
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