Затерянный мир

           Ihaveheardto-nightsimilar,butevenmoreoffensive,sentimentsfromthepersonwhohasjustsatdown,andthoughitisaconsciouseffortofself-effacementtocomedowntothatperson’smentallevel,Iwillendeavortodoso,inordertoallayanyreasonabledoubtwhichcouldpossiblyexistinthemindsofanyone.’(Laughterandinterruption.)‘Ineednotremindthisaudiencethat,thoughProfessorSummerlee,astheheadoftheCommitteeofInvestigation,hasbeenputuptospeakto-night,stillitisIwhoamtherealprimemoverinthisbusiness,andthatitismainlytomethatanysuccessfulresultmustbeascribed.Ihavesafelyconductedthesethreegentlementothespotmentioned,andIhave,asyouhaveheard,convincedthemoftheaccuracyofmypreviousaccount.Wehadhopedthatweshouldfinduponourreturnthatnoonewassodenseastodisputeourjointconclusions.Warned,however,bymypreviousexperience,Ihavenotcomewithoutsuchproofsasmayconvinceareasonableman.AsexplainedbyProfessorSummerlee,ourcamerashavebeentamperedwithbytheape-menwhentheyransackedourcamp,andmostofournegativesruined.’(Jeers,laughter,and‘Tellusanother!’fromtheback.)‘Ihavementionedtheape-men,andIcannotforbearfromsayingthatsomeofthesoundswhichnowmeetmyearsbringbackmostvividlytomyrecollectionmyexperienceswiththoseinterestingcreatures.’(Laughter.)