noon
But as a rule , in Mars as on Earth , the gifts and the career of the discoverer , and the inventor are distinct . It is , however , from the purely theoretical labours of the men of science that the inventions useful in manufactures , in communication , in every department of life and business , are generally derived ; and the prejudice or judgment of this strange people has laid it down that those who devote their lives to work in itself unremunerative , but indirectly most valuable to the public , should be at least as well off as the subordinate servants of the State . In society they are perhaps more honoured than any but the highest public authorities ; and my audience was the most distinguished , according to the ideas of that world , that it could furnish . At noon each day I entered the hall , which was crowded with benches rising on five sides from the centre to the walls , the sixth being occupied by a platform where the lecturer and the members of the Academy sat . After each lecture , which occupied some two hours , questions more or less perplexing were put by the latter . Only , however , on the first occasion , when I reserved , as before the Zinta and the Court , all information that could enable my hearers to divine the nature of the apergic force , was incredulity so plainly insinuated as to amount to absolute insult . `` If , '' I said , `` you choose to disbelieve what I tell you , you are welcome to do so .