human
Why should we not succeed? said Michel Ardan;
gpt
It _will_ attain it,
human
If only to do honour to the Americans, added Michel Ardan,
gpt
But I have provided for the contingency, my friends, replied Michel;
human
What! exclaimed Barbicane;
gpt
Certainly, replied Michel,
human
My friend, said Barbicane,
gpt
What! said Michel;
human
Yes.
gpt
Poets like Homer, Virgil, Milton, Lamartine, and Hugo?
human
I am sure of it.
gpt
Philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant?
human
I have no doubt of it.
gpt
Scientific men like Archimedes, Euclid, Pascal, Newton?
human
I could swear it.
gpt
Comic writers like Arnal, and photographers like—like Nadar?
human
Certain.
gpt
Then, friend Barbicane, if they are as strong as we are, and even stronger—these Selenites—why have they not tried to communicate with the earth? why have they not launched a lunar projectile to our terrestrial regions?
human
Who told you that they have never done so?
gpt
Indeed, added Nicholl,
human
Then, continued Michel,
gpt
I repeat it, why have they not done it?
human
And I repeat, said Barbicane;
gpt
When?
human
Thousands of years before man appeared on earth.
gpt
And the projectile—where is the projectile? I demand to see the projectile.
human
My friend, replied Barbicane,
gpt
Old Barbicane, said Michel,
human
Ah! said Michel Ardan,
gpt
Do you see, Barbicane, said Michel,
human
I dare say; but room would have failed us.
gpt
Oh! said Michel,
human
The fact is, replied Nicholl,
gpt
Well, we might at least have brought a donkey, only a little donkey; that courageous beast which old Silenus loved to mount. I love those old donkeys; they are the least favoured animals in creation; they are not only beaten while alive, but even after they are dead.
human
How do you make that out?
gpt
Why, said Michel,