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It follows, then, that the general curve of the bottom of these circles gives a sphere of a smaller diameter than that of the moon." "And why this peculiar disposition?" asked Nicholl. "We do not know," replied Barbicane. "What splendid radiation!" said Michel. "One could hardly see a finer spectacle, I think."
"But," said Michel, "the cone of shadow thrown by the earth into space extends beyond the moon." "Much beyond if you do not take the atmospheric refraction into account," said Barbicane. "But when the moon is enveloped in that shadow the centres of the three heavenly bodies the sun, the earth, and the moon are in a straight line. Then the nodes coincide with the full moon and there is an eclipse.
"I think we cannot answer," said Barbicane, "but in my opinion the question ought not to be stated in that form. I ask to be allowed to state it differently." "State it as you like," answered Michel. "This is it," resumed Barbicane. "The problem is double, and requires a double solution. Is the moon habitable? Has it been inhabited?" "Right," said Nicholl.
The Merrimac, Monitor, ram Tennessee, and Wechhausen shot enormous projectiles after having made themselves proof against the projectiles of other ships. They did to others what they would not have others do to them, an immoral principle upon which the whole art of war is based. Now Barbicane was a great caster of projectiles, and Nicholl was an equally great forger of plate-armour.
"That might happen certainly," answered Barbicane, "but the consequences would not be so redoubtable as you would suppose." "How so?" "Because heat and cold would still be pretty well balanced upon our globe.
There was no longer any one in the inclosure, and each superintendent took his place near the aperture of the run. Barbicane and his colleagues, installed on a neighbouring eminence, assisted at the operation. Before them a cannon was planted ready to be fired as a sign from the engineer.
Barbicane, having with a rapid gesture firmly fixed his hat on his head, continued his speech in a calm tone: "There is not one of you, brave colleagues, who has not seen the moon, or, at least, heard of It. Do not be astonished if I wish to speak to you about the Queen of Night. It is, perhaps, our lot to be the Columbuses of this unknown world.
"Nicholl," said Barbicane, after a moment's reflection, "I do not know what that object is, but I know perfectly why it keeps on a level with the projectile." "Why, pray?" "Because we are floating in the void where bodies fall or move which is the same thing with equal speed whatever their weight or form may be. It is the air which, by its resistance, creates differences in weight.
And as seriously and phlegmatically as if he had been in his counting-house, President Barbicane drew out his memorandum-book and tore out a clear page, wrote a receipt in pencil, dated it, signed it, and gave it to the captain, who put it carefully into his pocket-book. Michel Ardan took off his hat and bowed to his two companions without speaking a word.
If I answered from a natural philosophy point of view I should do the same I should say to myself that nothing useless exists in this world, and, answering your question by another, friend Barbicane, I should affirm that if the planets are inhabitable, either they are inhabited, they have been, or they will be."
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