human
You are indeed a brave man!
gpt
And a kindhearted one!
human
Michel Ardan! cried the captain.
gpt
Why are you here?
human
To press your hand, Nicholl, and to prevent you from either killing Barbicane or being killed by him.
gpt
Barbicane! returned the captain.
human
I have been looking for him for the last two hours in vain. Where is he hiding?
gpt
Nicholl! said Michel Ardan,
human
Between President Barbicane and myself, gravely replied Nicholl,
gpt
Pooh, pooh! said Ardan.
human
Brave fellows like you indeed! you shall not fight!
gpt
I will fight, sir!
human
No!
gpt
Captain, said J. T. Maston, with much feeling,
human
I am a friend of the president's, his _alter ego_, his second self; if you really must kill some one, _shoot me!_ it will do just as well!
gpt
Sir, Nicholl replied, seizing his rifle convulsively,
human
Our friend Maston is not joking, replied Ardan.
gpt
I fully understand his idea of being killed himself in order to save his friend. But neither he nor Barbicane will fall before the balls of Captain Nicholl. Indeed I have so attractive a proposal to make to the two rivals, that both will be eager to accept it.
human
What is it?
gpt
Patience! exclaimed Ardan.
human
I can only reveal it in the presence of Barbicane.
gpt
Let us go in search of him then!