Затерянный мир
To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown
Withinwewereseatedroundthecanetable,onwhichlayasealedenvelope.Inscribeduponit,inthejaggedhandwritingofProfessorChallenger,werethewords:—
"InstructionstoLordJohnRoxtonandparty.TobeopenedatManaosuponJuly15th,at12o’clockprecisely."
LordJohnhadplacedhiswatchuponthetablebesidehim.
"Wehavesevenmoreminutes,"saidhe."Theolddearisveryprecise."
ProfessorSummerleegaveanacidsmileashepickeduptheenvelopeinhisgaunthand.
"Whatcanitpossiblymatterwhetherweopenitnoworinsevenminutes?"saidhe."Itisallpartandparcelofthesamesystemofquackeryandnonsense,forwhichIregrettosaythatthewriterisnotorious."
"Oh,come,wemustplaythegameaccordin’torules,"saidLordJohn."It’soldmanChallenger’sshowandweareherebyhisgoodwill,soitwouldberottenbadformifwedidn’tfollowhisinstructionstotheletter."
"Aprettybusinessitis!"criedtheProfessor,bitterly."ItstruckmeaspreposterousinLondon,butI’mboundtosaythatitseemsevenmoresouponcloseracquaintance.Idon’tknowwhatisinsidethisenvelope,but,unlessitissomethingprettydefinite,Ishallbemuchtemptedtotakethenextdown-riverboatandcatchtheBoliviaatPara.Afterall,Ihavesomemoreresponsibleworkintheworldthantorunaboutdisprovingtheassertionsofalunatic.Now,Roxton,surelyitistime."
