Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Height of Civilization
"Butofwhatvaluearetheseimprints,"askedTarzan,"when,afterafewyearsthelinesuponthefingersareentirelychangedbythewearingoutoftheoldtissueandthegrowthofnew?"
"Thelinesneverchange,"repliedtheofficial."Frominfancytosenilitythefingerprintsofanindividualchangeonlyinsize,exceptasinjuriesaltertheloopsandwhorls.Butifimprintshavebeentakenofthethumbandfourfingersofbothhandsonemustneedsloseallentirelytoescapeidentification."
"Itismarvelous,"exclaimedD’Arnot."Iwonderwhatthelinesuponmyownfingersmayresemble."
"Wecansoonsee,"repliedthepoliceofficer,andringingabellhesummonedanassistanttowhomheissuedafewdirections.
Themanlefttheroom,butpresentlyreturnedwithalittlehardwoodboxwhichheplacedonhissuperior’sdesk.
"Now,"saidtheofficer,"youshallhaveyourfingerprintsinasecond."
Hedrewfromthelittlecaseasquareofplateglass,alittletubeofthickink,arubberroller,andafewsnowywhitecards.
Squeezingadropofinkontotheglass,hespreaditbackandforthwiththerubberrolleruntiltheentiresurfaceoftheglasswascoveredtohissatisfactionwithaverythinanduniformlayerofink.
"Placethefourfingersofyourrighthandupontheglass,thus,"hesaidtoD’Arnot."Nowthethumb.Thatisright.
