When the curtain of mist was drawn aside there lay below them an immense city, with palaces, villas, gardens, and parks.

Even without seeing it Robur had recognized it by the barking of the innumerable dogs, the cries of the birds of prey, and above all, by the cadaverous odor which the bodies of its executed criminals gave off into space.
The two colleagues were out on the deck while the engineer was taking his observations in case he thought it best to continue his course through the fog.
"Gentlemen," said he, "I have no reason for concealing from you that this town is Tokyo, the capital of Japan." Uncle Prudent did not reply.

In the presence of the engineer he was almost choked, as if his lungs were short of air.
"This view of Tokyo," continued Robur, "is very curious." "Curious as it may be--" replied Phil Evans.
"It is not as good as Peking ?" interrupted the engineer.
"That is what I think, and very shortly you shall have an opportunity of judging." Impossible to be more agreeable! The "Albatross" then gliding southeast, had her course changed four points, so as to head to the eastward..