Путешествие на Луну
Attack and Riposte
"Then,"continuedArdan,withacarelessair,"sinceweareinaccordregardingthepresenceofacertainatmosphere,weareforcedtoadmitthepresenceofacertainquantityofwater.Thisisahappyconsequenceforme.Moreover,myamiablecontradictor,permitmetosubmittoyouonefurtherobservation.Weonlyknowonesideofthemoon’sdisc;andifthereisbutlittleaironthefacepresentedtous,itispossiblethatthereisplentyontheoneturnedawayfromus."
"Andforwhatreason?"
"Becausethemoon,undertheactionoftheearth’sattraction,hasassumedtheformofanegg,whichwelookatfromthesmallerend.Henceitfollows,byHausen’scalculations,thatitscenterofgravityissituatedintheotherhemisphere.Henceitresultsthatthegreatmassofairandwatermusthavebeendrawnawaytotheotherfaceofoursatelliteduringthefirstdaysofitscreation."
"Purefancies!"criedtheunknown.
"No!Puretheories!whicharebaseduponthelawsofmechanics,anditseemsdifficulttometorefutethem.Iappealthentothismeeting,andIputittothemwhetherlife,suchasexistsupontheearth,ispossibleonthesurfaceofthemoon?"
Threehundredthousandauditorsatonceapplaudedtheproposition.Ardan’sopponenttriedtogetinanotherword,buthecouldnotobtainahearing.Criesandmenacesfelluponhimlikehail.
"Enough!enough!"criedsome.
"Drivetheintruderoff!"shoutedothers.
"Turnhimout!"roaredtheexasperatedcrowd.
