Headmittedthatthethingwasdifficultbutnotimpossible，awordwhichheneveruttered。
Theconversationpassedfromthissubjecttoanother，notfailinghimforaninstant。Itseemedtothethreefriendsasthough，underpresentconditions，ideasshotupintheirbrainsasleavesshootatthefirstwarmthofspring。Theyfeltbewildered。Inthemiddleofthequestionsandanswerswhichcrossedeachother，Nichollputonequestionwhichdidnotfindanimmediatesolution。
\"Ah，indeed！\"saidhe;\"itisallverywelltogotothemoon，buthowtogetbackagain？\"
Histwointerlocutorslookedsurprised。Onewouldhavethoughtthatthispossibilitynowoccurredtothemforthefirsttime。
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythat，Nicholl？\"askedBarbicanegravely。