Section 91. A Curious Instrument. IV

Father. “These instruments are not so uncommon as you suppose; I myself happen to know several individuals⁠ who⁠ are possessed of one or two of⁠ them.”

Charles. “How large are they, father? Could I hold one in my hand?”

Father. “You⁠ might; but⁠ I should be very sorry to trust⁠ mine to you.”

George. “You must take⁠ very great care of it, then⁠?”

Father. “Indeed⁠ I must. I intend every night to envelop⁠ it in⁠ the light curtain I mentioned; it must, besides, occasionally be washed in⁠ a certain colourless liquid kept⁠ for the purpose; but this is such a delicate⁠ operation, that⁠ persons, I find, are generally reluctant to perform it. But notwithstanding the tenderness⁠ of this instrument, you⁠ will be surprised to hear that⁠ it may be darted to a great distance, without⁠ suffering the least injury, and without any danger of losing it.”

individuals = persons.

who — one = who possess one.

of them = of the same.

Das könntest du wohl.

but — sorry = but I should be very unwilling.

to trust anything to a person, einem etwas an´vertrauen.

to take great care of a thing, etwas sehr inacht nehmen.

then = thus, also, which place after the object.

Gewiß muß ich das!

umhül´len.

in — mentioned = with the above-mentioned light curtain.

in = with.

die man sich zu diesem Zwecke hält.

delicate = critical, bedenklich or gefährlich.

that — it = that one, as I have found, performs (vollzie´hen) the same generally but (nur) very unwillingly (ungerne).

Empfindlichkeit.

you — hear = you will hear with astonishment.

that — distance, daß man es in weite Fernen werfen kann.

Say ‘without that it suffers the least injury, and without that one runs any danger of losing [to lose] it.’ Comp. S. 1, N. 3.