Отравленный пояс
Chapter IV. A Diary Of The Dying
Iaminclinedtoagreewithyou,Roxton,thatthisoneisdefective."
"Sowearetobecheatedoutofthelasthourofourlives,"Summerleeremarkedbitterly."Anexcellentfinalillustrationofthesordidageinwhichwehavelived.Well,Challenger,nowisyourtimeifyouwishtostudythesubjectivephenomenaofphysicaldissolution."
"Sitonthestoolatmykneeandgivemeyourhand,"saidChallengertohiswife."Ithink,myfriends,thatafurtherdelayinthisinsufferableatmosphereishardlyadvisable.Youwouldnotdesireit,dear,wouldyou?"
Hiswifegavealittlegroanandsankherfaceagainsthisleg.
"I’veseenthefolkbathin’intheSerpentineinwinter,"saidLordJohn."Whentherestarein,youseeoneortwoshiverin’onthebank,envyin’theothersthathavetakentheplunge.It’sthelastthathavetheworstofit.I’mallforaheaderandhavedonewithit."
"Youwouldopenthewindowandfacetheether?"
"Betterbepoisonedthanstifled."
SummerleenoddedhisreluctantacquiescenceandheldouthisthinhandtoChallenger.
"We’vehadourquarrelsinourtime,butthat’sallover,"saidhe."Weweregoodfriendsandhadarespectforeachotherunderthesurface.Good-by!"
"Good-by,youngfellah!"saidLordJohn."Thewindow’splasteredup.Youcan’topenit."
Challengerstoopedandraisedhiswife,pressinghertohisbreast,whileshethrewherarmsroundhisneck.
"Givemethatfield-glass,Malone,"saidhegravely.
Ihandedittohim
