Затерянный мир

           Iputforwardthisobviousreflection,notoutofanydesiretodisparageMr.Waldroninparticular,butthatyoumaynotloseyoursenseofproportionandmistaketheacolyteforthehighpriest."(AtthispointMr.Waldronwhisperedtothechairman,whohalfroseandsaidsomethingseverelytohiswater-carafe.)"Butenoughofthis!"(Loudandprolongedcheers.)"Letmepasstosomesubjectofwiderinterest.WhatistheparticularpointuponwhichI,asanoriginalinvestigator,havechallengedourlecturer’saccuracy?Itisuponthepermanenceofcertaintypesofanimallifeupontheearth.Idonotspeakuponthissubjectasanamateur,nor,Imayadd,asapopularlecturer,butIspeakasonewhosescientificconsciencecompelshimtoadherecloselytofacts,whenIsaythatMr.Waldronisverywronginsupposingthatbecausehehasneverhimselfseenaso-calledprehistoricanimal,thereforethesecreaturesnolongerexist.Theyareindeed,ashehassaid,ourancestors,buttheyare,ifImayusetheexpression,ourcontemporaryancestors,whocanstillbefoundwithalltheirhideousandformidablecharacteristicsifonehasbuttheenergyandhardihoodtoseektheirhaunts.CreatureswhichweresupposedtobeJurassic,monsterswhowouldhuntdownanddevourourlargestandfiercestmammals,stillexist."(Criesof"Bosh!""Proveit!""HowdoYOUknow?""Question!")"HowdoIknow,youaskme?IknowbecauseIhavevisitedtheirsecrethaunts.IknowbecauseIhaveseensomeofthem."(Applause,uproar,andavoice,"Liar!")"AmIaliar?"(Generalheartyandnoisyassent.)"DidIhearsomeonesaythatIwasaliar?WillthepersonwhocalledmealiarkindlystandupthatImayknowhim?"(Avoice,"Hereheis,sir!"andaninoffensivelittlepersoninspectacles,strugglingviolently,washeldupamongagroupofstudents.)"Didyouventuretocallmealiar?"("No,sir,no!"shoutedtheaccused,anddisappearedlikeajack-inthe-box.)"Ifanypersoninthishalldarestodoubtmyveracity,Ishallbegladtohaveafewwordswithhimafterthelecture."