Отравленный пояс
Chapter IV. A Diary Of The Dying
Hehadcertainlyastrangeaudiencetoharangue:hiswifeperfectlyacquiescentandabsolutelyignorantofhismeaning,Summerleeseatedintheshadow,querulousandcriticalbutinterested,LordJohnlounginginacornersomewhatboredbythewholeproceeding,andmyselfbesidethewindowwatchingthescenewithakindofdetachedattention,asifitwerealladreamorsomethinginwhichIhadnopersonalinterestwhatever.Challengersatatthecentretablewiththeelectriclightilluminatingtheslideunderthemicroscopewhichhehadbroughtfromhisdressingroom.Thesmallvividcircleofwhitelightfromthemirrorlefthalfofhisrugged,beardedfaceinbrilliantradianceandhalfindeepestshadow.Hehad,itseems,beenworkingoflateuponthelowestformsoflife,andwhatexcitedhimatthepresentmomentwasthatinthemicroscopicslidemadeupthedaybeforehefoundtheamoebatobestillalive.
"Youcanseeitforyourselves,"hekeptrepeatingingreatexcitement."Summerlee,willyoustepacrossandsatisfyyourselfuponthepoint?Malone,willyoukindlyverifywhatIsay?Thelittlespindle-shapedthingsinthecentrearediatomsandmaybedisregardedsincetheyareprobablyvegetableratherthananimal.Buttheright-handsideyouwillseeanundoubtedamoeba,movingsluggishlyacrossthefield.Theupperscrewisthefineadjustment.Lookatitforyourselves."
Summerleedidsoandacquiesced.SodidIandperceivedalittlecreaturewhichlookedasifitweremadeofgroundglassflowinginastickywayacrossthelightedcircle.LordJohnwaspreparedtotakehimontrust.
