Отравленный пояс
Chapter V. The Dead World
"IfearedthatIwasabandonedhereforever,"saidshe,"forIamaninvalidandcannotstir."
"Well,madam,"Challengeranswered,"itisaluckychancethatwehappenedtopass."
"Ihaveoneall-importantquestiontoaskyou,"saidshe."Gentlemen,Ibegthatyouwillbefrankwithme.WhateffectwilltheseeventshaveuponLondonandNorth-WesternRailwayshares?"
Weshouldhavelaughedhaditnotbeenforthetragiceagernesswithwhichshelistenedforouranswer.Mrs.Burston,forthatwashername,wasanagedwidow,whosewholeincomedependeduponasmallholdingofthisstock.Herlifehadbeenregulatedbytheriseandfallofthedividend,andshecouldformnoconceptionofexistencesaveasitwasaffectedbythequotationofhershares.Invainwepointedouttoherthatallthemoneyintheworldwashersforthetakingandwasuselesswhentaken.Heroldmindwouldnotadaptitselftothenewidea,andsheweptloudlyoverhervanishedstock."ItwasallIhad,"shewailed."IfthatisgoneImayaswellgotoo."
Amidherlamentationswefoundouthowthisfrailoldplanthadlivedwherethewholegreatforesthadfallen.Shewasaconfirmedinvalidandanasthmatic.Oxygenhadbeenprescribedforhermalady,andatubewasinherroomatthemomentofthecrisis.Shehadnaturallyinhaledsomeashadbeenherhabitwhentherewasadifficultywithherbreathing.Ithadgivenherrelief,andbydolingouthersupplyshehadmanagedtosurvivethenight.Finallyshehadfallenasleepandbeenawakenedbythebuzzofourmotor-car.
