Possibly the very great difference in
temperature between the external air in contact with their skin and the
blood coursing through their veins, had given rise to magnetic currents
as potential in their effects as a superabundant supply of oxygen. At
all events, the language they soon began to employ in the enforcement of
their arguments fairly made the Frenchman's hair stand on end.
"You probably forget the important difference between a _directrix_ and
an _axis_," hotly observed Barbican.
"I know what an _abscissa_ is, any how!" cried the Captain. "Can you say
as much?"
"Did you ever understand what is meant by a _double ordinate_?" asked
Barbican, trying to keep cool.
"More than you ever did about a _transverse_ and a _conjugate!_" replied
the Captain, with much asperity.
"Any one not convinced at a glance that this _eccentricity_ is equal to
_unity_, must be blind as a bat!" exclaimed Barbican, fast losing his
ordinary urbanity.
"_Less_ than _unity_, you mean! If you want spectacles, here are mine!"
shouted the Captain, angrily tearing them off and offering them to his
adversary.
"Dear boys!" interposed Ardan--
--"The _eccentricity_ is _equal_ to _unity_!" cried Barbican.
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