Затерянный мир
Try Your Luck with Professor Challenger
"Tojustifymylife,Sir."
"Dearme,Mr.Malone,thisisvery—veryexalted.I’mafraidthedayforthissortofthingisratherpast.Theexpenseofthe‘specialmeesion’businesshardlyjustifiestheresult,and,ofcourse,inanycaseitwouldonlybeanexperiencedmanwithanamethatwouldcommandpublicconfidencewhowouldgetsuchanorder.Thebigblankspacesinthemapareallbeingfilledin,andthere’snoroomforromanceanywhere.Waitabit,though!"headded,withasuddensmileuponhisface."Talkingoftheblankspacesofthemapgivesmeanidea.Whataboutexposingafraud—amodernMunchausen—andmakinghimrideeculous?Youcouldshowhimupastheliarthatheis!Eh,man,itwouldbefine.Howdoesitappealtoyou?"
"Anything—anywhere—Icarenothing."
McArdlewasplungedinthoughtforsomeminutes.
"Iwonderwhetheryoucouldgetonfriendly—oratleastontalkingtermswiththefellow,"hesaid,atlast."Youseemtohaveasortofgeniusforestablishingrelationswithpeople—seempathy,Isuppose,oranimalmagnetism,oryouthfulvitality,orsomething.Iamconsciousofitmyself."
"Youareverygood,sir."
"SowhyshouldyounottryyourluckwithProfessorChallenger,ofEnmorePark?"
IdaresayIlookedalittlestartled.
"Challenger!"Icried."ProfessorChallenger,thefamouszoologist!Wasn’thethemanwhobroketheskullofBlundell,oftheTelegraph?"
Thenewseditorsmiledgrimly.
