The name of "Michel Ardan" was not altogether unknown in America.

It belonged to a European much talked about for his audacious enterprises.

Then the telegram sent all across the depths of the Atlantic, the designation of the ship upon which the Frenchman had declared he had taken his passage, the date assigned for his arrival--all these circumstances gave to the proposition a certain air of probability.

They were obliged to disburden their minds about it.
Soon these isolated individuals formed into groups, the groups became condensed under the action of curiosity like atoms by virtue of molecular attraction, and the result was a compact crowd going towards President Barbicane's dwelling.
The president, since the arrival of the message, had not said what he thought about it; he had let J.T.Maston express his opinions without manifesting either approbation or blame.

He kept quiet, proposing to await events, but he had not taken public impatience into consideration, and was not very pleased at the sight of the population of Tampa Town assembled under his windows.