"The feasibility, you mean to say," replied Barbican, "not exactly of sending a bullet to the Moon, but of sending it to the neutral point between the Earth and the Moon, which lies at about nine-tenths of the journey, where the two attractions counteract each other. Because that point once passed, the Projectile would reach the Moon's surface by virtue of its own weight."
"Well, reaching that neutral point be it;" replied Ardan, "but, once more, I should like to know how they have been able to come at the necessary initial velocity of 12,000 yards a second?"
"Nothing simpler," answered Barbican.
"Could you have done it yourself?" asked the Frenchman.
"Without the slightest difficulty. The Captain and myself could have readily solved the problem, only the reply from the University saved us the trouble."
"Well, Barbican, dear boy," observed Ardan, "all I've got to say is, you might chop the head off my body, beginning with my feet, before you could make me go through such a calculation."
"Simply because you don't understand Algebra," replied Barbican, quietly.
"Oh! that's all very well!" cried Ardan, with an ironical smile. "You great x+y men think you settle everything by uttering the word Algebra!"
"Ardan," asked Barbican, "do you think people could beat iron without a hammer, or turn up furrows without a plough?"
"Hardly."