“Hold your tongue, sir!” bellowed the captain again, as if his anger was uncontrollable.
“Not I,” said the professor.
“Hold your tongue!” repeated Servadac.
“Just because the mass is altered you think the velocity is altered?”
“Hold your tongue!” cried the captain, louder than ever.
“What has mass to do with the orbit? Of how many comets do you know the mass, and yet you know their movements? Ignorance!” shouted Rosette.
“Insolence!” retorted Servadac.
Ben Zoof, really thinking that his master was angry, made a threatening movement towards the professor.
“Touch me if you dare!” screamed Rosette, drawing himself up to the fullest height his diminutive figure would allow. “You shall answer for your conduct before a court of justice!”
“Where? On Gallia?” asked the captain.