Затерянный мир
For once I was the Hero
"Ifyourlordshipwillgraciouslypermitmetoopenmymouth,Ishallbehappytoexpressmysentiments,"saidhe,withelaboratesarcasm."Iamnotinthehabitofbeingtakentotaskinthefashionwhichseemstobecustomarywithyourlordship.Iwasnotawarethatitwasnecessarytoaskyourpermissionbeforesmilingataharmlesspleasantry."
Itwasnotuntilhehadreceivedhisapologythatourtouchyfriendwouldsufferhimselftobeappeased.Whenatlasthisruffledfeelingswereatease,headdressedusatsomelengthfromhisseatuponafallentree,speaking,ashishabitwas,asifhewereimpartingmostpreciousinformationtoaclassofathousand.
"Withregardtothemarking,"saidhe,"Iaminclinedtoagreewithmyfriendandcolleague,ProfessorSummerlee,thatthestainsarefromasphalt.Asthisplateauis,initsverynature,highlyvolcanic,andasasphaltisasubstancewhichoneassociateswithPlutonicforces,Icannotdoubtthatitexistsinthefreeliquidstate,andthatthecreaturesmayhavecomeincontactwithit.Amuchmoreimportantproblemisthequestionastotheexistenceofthecarnivorousmonsterwhichhasleftitstracesinthisglade.WeknowroughlythatthisplateauisnotlargerthananaverageEnglishcounty.Withinthisconfinedspaceacertainnumberofcreatures,mostlytypeswhichhavepassedawayintheworldbelow,havelivedtogetherforinnumerableyears.
