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A Monster Meeting
"Formyself,Ifeelcertainofit,"saidMichelArdan.
"Nevertheless,"retortedoneoftheaudience,"therearemanyargumentsagainstthehabitabilityoftheworlds.Theconditionsoflifemustevidentlybegreatlymodifieduponthemajorityofthem.Tomentiononlytheplanets,weshouldbeeitherbroiledaliveinsome,orfrozentodeathinothers,accordingastheyaremoreorlessremovedfromthesun."
"Iregret,"repliedMichelArdan,"thatIhavenotthehonorofpersonallyknowingmycontradictor,forIwouldhaveattemptedtoanswerhim.Hisobjectionhasitsmerits,Iadmit;butIthinkwemaysuccessfullycombatit,aswellasallotherswhichaffectthehabitabilityofotherworlds.IfIwereanaturalphilosopher,Iwouldtellhimthatiflessofcaloricweresetinmotionupontheplanetswhicharenearesttothesun,andmore,onthecontrary,uponthosewhicharefarthestremovedfromit,thissimplefactwouldalonesufficetoequalizetheheat,andtorenderthetemperatureofthoseworldssupportablebybeingsorganizedlikeourselves.
