Thrust and Parry
- This guy in the crowd just won't shut up. He argues that "men of science" (20.6) would disagree with every point that Ardan is making.
- They get into a heated back-and-forth that culminates with the mysterious man calling Barbicane an "ignoramus" (20.79).
- Barbicane confronts the dude after the meeting. In case you haven't guessed, this is Captain Nicholl—Barbicane's arch-rival.
- The two men decide to settle their disagreement with a duel to the death: Each will enter a forest the following day at 5:00AM and only one will walk away. Cue up some suspense music.