Отравленный пояс

           "It’sprettyawful,"mutteredLordJohn,moreimpressedthanIhadeverseenhim.

           "Well,afterall,whatdoesitmatter?"Iremarked."Theworldisdead.Cremationissurelythebestburial."

           "Itwouldshortenusupifthishousewentablaze."

           "Iforesawthedanger,"saidChallenger,"andaskedmywifetoguardagainstit."

           "Everythingisquitesafe,dear.Butmyheadbeginstothrobagain.Whatadreadfulatmosphere!"

           "Wemustchangeit,"saidChallenger.Hebentoverhiscylinderofoxygen.

           "It’snearlyempty,"saidhe."Ithaslastedussomethreeandahalfhours.Itisnowcloseoneighto’clock.Weshallgetthroughthenightcomfortably.Ishouldexpecttheendaboutnineo’clockto-morrowmorning.Weshallseeonesunrise,whichshallbeallourown."

           Heturnedonhissecondtubeandopenedforhalfaminutethefanlightoverthedoor.Thenastheairbecameperceptiblybetter,butourownsymptomsmoreacute,hecloseditonceagain.

           "Bytheway,"saidhe,"mandoesnotliveuponoxygenalone.It’sdinnertimeandover.Iassureyou,gentlemen,thatwhenIinvitedyoutomyhomeandtowhatIhadhopedwouldbeaninterestingreunion,Ihadintendedthatmykitchenshouldjustifyitself.However,wemustdowhatwecan.Iamsurethatyouwillagreewithmethatitwouldbefollytoconsumeourairtoorapidlybylightinganoil-stove.Ihavesomesmallprovisionofcoldmeats,bread,andpickleswhich,withacoupleofbottlesofclaret,mayserveourturn.Thankyou,mydear—nowaseveryouarethequeenofmanagers.