Затерянный мир
To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown
"Timeitis,"saidLordJohn."Youcanblowthewhistle."Hetookuptheenvelopeandcutitwithhispenknife.Fromithedrewafoldedsheetofpaper.Thishecarefullyopenedoutandflattenedonthetable.Itwasablanksheet.Heturneditover.Againitwasblank.Welookedateachotherinabewilderedsilence,whichwasbrokenbyadiscordantburstofderisivelaughterfromProfessorSummerlee.
"Itisanopenadmission,"hecried."Whatmoredoyouwant?Thefellowisaself-confessedhumbug.Wehaveonlytoreturnhomeandreporthimasthebrazenimposterthatheis."
"Invisibleink!"Isuggested.
"Idon’tthink!"saidLordRoxton,holdingthepapertothelight."No,youngfellahmylad,thereisnousedeceivingyourself.I’llgobailforitthatnothinghaseverbeenwrittenuponthispaper."
"MayIcomein?"boomedavoicefromtheveranda.
Theshadowofasquatfigurehadstolenacrossthepatchofsunlight.Thatvoice!Thatmonstrousbreadthofshoulder!WesprangtoourfeetwithagaspofastonishmentasChallenger,inaround,boyishstraw-hatwithacoloredribbon—Challenger,withhishandsinhisjacket-pocketsandhiscanvasshoesdaintilypointingashewalked—appearedintheopenspacebeforeus.Hethrewbackhishead,andtherehestoodinthegoldenglowwithallhisoldAssyrianluxurianceofbeard,allhisnativeinsolenceofdroopingeyelidsandintoleranteyes.
"Ifear,"saidhe,takingouthiswatch,"thatIamafewminutestoolate.WhenIgaveyouthisenvelopeImustconfessthatIhadneverintendedthatyoushouldopenit,forithadbeenmyfixedintentiontobewithyoubeforethehour.
