" Sir, do you know how they were used to fill balloons, and how they now do it?”

“No,” said Alverstoke. “I’ve no doubt, however, that I soon shall.”

He was right. From then on Felix, who had acquired a tattered copy of the History and Practice of Aerostation, maintained a flow of conversation, largely informative, but interspersed with eager questions. "

― Georgette Heyer , Frederica