Отравленный пояс
Chapter II. The Tide Of Death
Thus,whenmywifecamedownstairsandIwasimpelledtoslipbehindthedoorandalarmherbysomewildcryassheentered,Iwasabletostifletheimpulseandtogreetherwithdignityandrestraint.Anoverpoweringdesiretoquacklikeaduckwasmetandmasteredinthesamefashion.
"Later,whenIdescendedtoorderthecarandfoundAustinbendingoveritabsorbedinrepairs,IcontrolledmyopenhandevenafterIhadlifteditandrefrainedfromgivinghimanexperiencewhichwouldpossiblyhavecausedhimtofollowinthestepsofthehousekeeper.Onthecontrary,Itouchedhimontheshoulderandorderedthecartobeatthedoorintimetomeetyourtrain.AtthepresentinstantIammostforciblytemptedtotakeProfessorSummerleebythatsillyoldbeardofhisandtoshakehisheadviolentlybackwardsandforwards.Andyet,asyousee,Iamperfectlyrestrained.Letmecommendmyexampletoyou."
"I’lllookoutforthatbuffalo,"saidLordJohn.
"AndIforthefootballmatch."
"Itmaybethatyouareright,Challenger,"saidSummerleeinachastenedvoice."IamwillingtoadmitthatmyturnofmindiscriticalratherthanconstructiveandthatIamnotareadyconverttoanynewtheory,especiallywhenithappenstobesounusualandfantasticasthisone.However,asIcastmymindbackovertheeventsofthemorning,andasIreconsiderthefatuousconductofmycompanions,Ifinditeasytobelievethatsomepoisonofanexcitingkindwasresponsiblefortheirsymptoms."
Challengerslappedhiscolleaguegood-humouredlyupontheshoulder."Weprogress,"saidhe."Decidedlyweprogress.
