Затерянный мир
Try Your Luck with Professor Challenger
Ienteredtheclub.Itwasjustaftereleven,andthebigroomwasfairlyfull,thoughtherushhadnotyetsetin.Inoticedatall,thin,angularmanseatedinanarm-chairbythefire.HeturnedasIdrewmychairuptohim.ItwasthemanofallotherswhomIshouldhavechosen—TarpHenry,ofthestaffofNature,athin,dry,leatherycreature,whowasfull,tothosewhoknewhim,ofkindlyhumanity.Iplungedinstantlyintomysubject.
"WhatdoyouknowofProfessorChallenger?"
"Challenger?"Hegatheredhisbrowsinscientificdisapproval."Challengerwasthemanwhocamewithsomecock-and-bullstoryfromSouthAmerica."
"Whatstory?"
"Oh,itwasranknonsenseaboutsomequeeranimalshehaddiscovered.Ibelievehehasretractedsince.Anyhow,hehassuppresseditall.HegaveaninterviewtoReuter’s,andtherewassuchahowlthathesawitwouldn’tdo.Itwasadiscreditablebusiness.Therewereoneortwofolkwhowereinclinedtotakehimseriously,buthesoonchokedthemoff."
"How?"
"Well,byhisinsufferablerudenessandimpossiblebehavior.TherewaspooroldWadley,oftheZoologicalInstitute.Wadleysentamessage:‘ThePresidentoftheZoologicalInstitutepresentshiscomplimentstoProfessorChallenger,andwouldtakeitasapersonalfavorifhewoulddothemthehonortocometotheirnextmeeting.’Theanswerwasunprintable."
"Youdon’tsay?"
"Well,abowdlerizedversionofitwouldrun:‘ProfessorChallengerpresentshiscomplimentstothePresidentoftheZoologicalInstitute,andwouldtakeitasapersonalfavorifhewouldgotothedevil.’"
