Jules Verne

“ In this respect he no longer possesses either comprehension or responsibility. His genius as an inventor, however, remains intact; it has survived his moral degeneracy, and, had his insensate demands been complied with, I have no doubt he would have produced a new war engine--which the world can get along very well without."
"Very well without, as you say, sir," re-echoed the Count d'Artigas, and Captain Spade nodded approval.
"But you will be able to judge for yourself, Count, for here is the pavilion occupied by Thomas Roch. ”

“ The bastion is blown to pieces! My explosive has destroyed everything at one blow!" he shouted, the light of triumph flashing in his eyes.
"You see," said the director, addressing the Count d'Artigas. "The idea of his invention never leaves him."
"And it will die with him," affirmed the attendant.
"Couldn't you, Gaydon, get him to talk about his fulgurator?" asked his chief. ”

“ Or perhaps the Count had been inspired by curiosity to meet Thomas Roch? This curiosity would have been legitimate and natural enough in view of the universal renown of the French inventor. Fancy--a mad genius who claimed that his discoveries were destined to revolutionize the methods of modern military art!
As he had notified the director he would do, the Count d'Artigas presented himself in the afternoon at the door of Healthful House, accompanied by Captain Spade, the commander of the Ebba. ”

“ He was not the kind of man to give anything away or compromise himself in the slightest degree, even when interviewed by American reporters.
All that was known about him was what was published in the papers when the arrival of the Ebba was reported in some port, and particularly in the ports of the east coast of the United States, where the schooner was accustomed to put in at regular periods to lay in provisions and stores for a lengthy voyage. ”