I am, besides, oppressed by the feeling that I am cut off from the world, as effectually as though I were no longer upon our planet,--for I know nothing of what is going on outside.
Ah! if it were only possible to escape through that submarine tunnel, or through the hole in the dome and slide to the base of the mountain! On the morning of the 25th I at last encounter Thomas Roch.

He is alone on the other side of the lagoon, and I wonder, inasmuch as I have not seen them since the previous day, whether Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko, and Captain Spade have not gone off on some expedition.
I walk round towards Thomas Roch, and before he can see me I examine him attentively.
His serious, thoughtful physiognomy is no longer that of a madman.

He walks slowly, with his eyes bent on the ground, and under his arm a drawing-board upon which is stretched a sheet of paper covered with designs.
Suddenly he raises his head, advances a step and recognizes me.
"Ah! Gaydon, it is you, is it ?" he cries, "I have then escaped from you! I am free!" He can, indeed, regard himself as being free--a good deal more at liberty in Back Cup than he was in Healthful House.

But maybe my presence evokes unpleasant memories, and will bring on another fit, for he continues with extraordinary animation: "Yes, I know you, Gaydon .-- Do not approach me! Stand off! stand off! You would like to get me back in your clutches, incarcerate me again in your dungeon! Never! I have friends here who will protect me.

They are powerful, they are rich.