Ox backs away at first, then returns upstage and watches.

Ox: It's the angel falling.

Volsius (going up to him): This is the punishment for pride.

Ox: You're a wonderful musician, Master Volsius, but the fallen angel fell gloriously. The grandeur of his fall lent almost as much brilliance to his name as did his daring rebellion. He won glory. Glory above all!

George: Yes, yes. Glory, glory!

Ox: That's where I will lead you.

Volsius: Yes, to glory, or to madness.

Mme de Traventhal: Madness!

Volsius: But wherever he goes, he will find me in his way.

(Exit Volsius and Eva)

Ox: Come, George Hatteras, take this vial and drink!

(George drinks)

Eva (snatching the vial from him): Well, I won't desert you, George. I'll share the dangers.

(She drinks, too, and throws away the vial.)

George: Eva, what have you done?

Ox: Both of them! All right, so be it!

Tartelet (picks up the vial): What? Just with this potion, you could.... (He drinks) Let's go, then.

The terrace of an Italian inn, with vine-covered pillars. On the right, an inn with doors and windows. Pergola and benches on the terrace. In the left background can be seen Vesuvius,13 its crater wreathed in smoke. To the right extends the beginning of the Bay of Naples.14 It is daytime.

(Enter George, Eva, Ox, and Tartelet)

Tartelet: Where are we? I don't see the town of Aalborg, or the spires of the cathedral.

George (to Ox): Where are we, doctor?

Ox: In Naples, not far from Vesuvius. You can see its summit.

George: Vesuvius! That's the crater where Professor Lidenbrok came out.

Ox: And the crater through which we will penetrate to the center of our globe.

Eva: Right to the fiery lake! George! It's time for you to stop.

George: Don't be afraid, Eva.

Tartelet: Dear me, I seem to be hungry. You can't travel six hundred leagues without a little something to eat.

Ox: Here's an inn. Call out, and someone will serve you. Meanwhile, we'll get ready for our dangerous descent.

Tartelet: Get ready! But why? After all, you can cover hundreds of leagues in one leap.

Ox (to George): Are we simply going to reach our goal without seeing or understanding or studying anything?

George: No, of course not.

Ox: Do you want to remain in ignorance of all the secrets and mysteries in order to avoid all the dangers?

George: No, no!

Ox: Come on, then.

Tartelet: Go ahead, you'll meet me back here. (Exit George, Eva, and Ox.) Now, let's call out. Hello! Waiter!

(Enter the innkeeper)

Innkeeper (watching the three disappear): Well, well. A traveler.

Tartelet: Yes indeed. Come over here, waiter. You look surprised.

Innkeeper: Yes sir, very surprised.

Tartelet: Are you all alone here, then, waiter?

Innkeeper: Yes, except for a Dane who arrived yesterday.

Tartelet: A Dane. I once knew a Dane, a Great Dane he was, very tall and handsome, with splendid ears and a long snout. A beautiful dog.

Innkeeper: No, no. This one is a young man.

Tartelet: Oh, I see. A two-legged Dane. Tell me, waiter, what can you bring me to eat?

Innkeeper: There's nothing left at the moment. The Dane ate it all.

Tartelet: That's all right. Give me some anyway-and not too well done.

Innkeeper: Right away, sir. (Exit.)

(Enter Valdemar, followed by the innkeeper)

Valdemar (nodding to Tartelet): Ah, that was a good lunch I had! Maybe even a little too good.

Tartelet: It's the Dane. And he doesn't have a long snout.

Valdemar: Well, well. A foreigner.