Ужас в музее
Chapter 1
AndI’mnotafraidofyourfigures,either,muchasIadmireyourskill. Butwe’rebothabitnervoustonight,andIfancysomerestwilldousgood.”
AgainRogerscheckedhisguest’sdeparture.“
Notafraid,eh?—thenwhyareyousoanxioustogo? Lookhere—doyouordon’tyoudaretostayalonehereinthedark? What’syourhurryifyoudon’tbelieveinIt?”
SomenewideaseemedtohavestruckRogers,andJoneseyedhimclosely.“
Why,I’venospecialhurry—butwhatwouldbegainedbymystayingherealone? Whatwoulditprove? Myonlyobjectionisthatitisn’tverycomfortableforsleeping. Whatgoodwoulditdoeitherofus?”
ThistimeitwasJoneswhowasstruckwithanidea.Hecontinuedinatoneofconciliation.“
Seehere,Rogers—I’vejustaskedyouwhatitwouldproveifIstayed,whenwebothknow. Itwouldprovethatyoureffigiesarejusteffigies,andthatyououghtn’ttoletyourimaginationgothewayit’sbeengoinglately. SupposeIdostay. IfIstickitouttillmorning,willyouagreetotakeanewviewofthings—goonavacationforthreemonthsorsoandletOrabonadestroythatnewthingofyours? Come,now—isn’tthatfair?”
Theexpressionontheshowman’sfacewashardtoread. Itwasobviousthathewasthinkingquickly,andthatofsundryconflictingemotions,maligntriumphwasgettingtheupperhand. Hisvoiceheldachokingqualityashereplied.“
Fairenough! Ifyoudostickitout,I’lltakeyouradvice. Butstickyoumust. We’llgooutfordinnerandcomeback.
