The paper told me nothing new.

It dropped idly from my hand; and I remained deep in thought.
What most frequently recurred to me was the suggestion of Mr.Ward that perhaps the automobile and the boat which had attracted our attention were in reality one and the same.

Very probably, at least, the two machines had been built by the same hand.

And beyond doubt, these were similar engines, which generated this remarkable speed, more than doubling the previous records of earth and sea.
"The same inventor!" repeated I.
Evidently this hypothesis had strong grounds.

The fact that the two machines had not yet appeared at the same time added weight to the idea.