human
But, said Nicholl,
gpt
At the terrestrial poles they last six months,
human
An argument of little value, since the poles are not inhabited.
gpt
Let us observe, my friends, continued Barbicane,
human
Astonish us?
gpt
I firmly believe that at the period when the moon was inhabited, the nights and days did not last 354 hours!
human
And why?
gpt
Because most probably then the rotary motion of the moon upon her axis was not equal to her revolution, an equality which presents each part of her disc during fifteen days to the action of the solar rays.
human
Granted, replied Nicholl,
gpt
Because that equality has only been determined by terrestrial attraction. And who can say that this attraction was powerful enough to alter the motion of the moon at that period when the earth was still fluid?
human
Just so, replied Nicholl;
gpt
And who can say, exclaimed Michel Ardan,
human
Those speculations are too high, said he;
gpt
And so, asked Michel Ardan,
human
Yes, replied Barbicane,
gpt
By cooling?
human
Certainly, replied Barbicane;
gpt
And you say that the same fate is in store for the earth?
human
Most probably.
gpt
But when?
human
When the cooling of its crust shall have made it uninhabitable.
gpt
And have they calculated the time which our unfortunate sphere will take to cool?
human
Certainly.
gpt
And you know these calculations?
human
Perfectly.
gpt
But speak, then, my clumsy savant, exclaimed Michel Ardan,
human
Very well, my good Michel, replied Barbicane quietly,
gpt
Four hundred thousand years! exclaimed Michel.
human
Ah! I breathe again. Really I was frightened to hear you; I imagined that we had not more than 50,000 years to live.