But, try as he would, he could not succeed in rising above the floor.
After two or three trials, always with the same result, he sent for the mechanic once more.
"Master," said he, "I have tried your wings, but they won't work."
"How did you try them?"
Master Georgio described his repeated experiments in detail. The mechanic listened with a sober face, and said, when he had concluded:—
"I am not surprised; as you lay on the floor, you hadn't a sufficient quantity of air under your wings. You must go to the top of the castle of San Angelo, and boldly launch yourself into space."
"And you think that in that way I can fly?"
"I am sure of it."
"If you are so sure of it, would it not be as well to make the experiment yourself?"
"The wings are proportioned to the weight of your body and not of mine," replied the machinist. "Wings to carry my weight would need to measure a foot and a half more from tip to tip."