Doctor Moreau Explains.

           "Andnow,Prendick,Iwillexplain,"saidDoctorMoreau,sosoonaswehadeatenanddrunk."ImustconfessthatyouarethemostdictatorialguestIeverentertained.IwarnyouthatthisisthelastIshalldotoobligeyou.Thenextthingyouthreatentocommitsuicideabout,Ishan’tdo,—evenatsomepersonalinconvenience."

           Hesatinmydeckchair,acigarhalfconsumedinhiswhite,dexterous-lookingfingers.Thelightoftheswinginglampfellonhiswhitehair;hestaredthroughthelittlewindowoutatthestarlight.Isatasfarawayfromhimaspossible,thetablebetweenusandtherevolverstohand.Montgomerywasnotpresent.Ididnotcaretobewiththetwooftheminsuchalittleroom.

           "Youadmitthatthevivisectedhumanbeing,asyoucalledit,is,afterall,onlythepuma?"saidMoreau.Hehadmademevisitthathorrorintheinnerroom,toassuremyselfofitsinhumanity.

           "Itisthepuma,"Isaid,"stillalive,butsocutandmutilatedasIprayImayneverseelivingfleshagain.Ofallvile—"

           "Nevermindthat,"saidMoreau;"atleast,sparemethoseyouthfulhorrors.Montgomeryusedtobejustthesame.Youadmitthatitisthepuma.Nowbequiet,whileIreeloffmyphysiologicallecturetoyou."

           Andforthwith,beginninginthetoneofamansupremelybored,butpresentlywarmingalittle,heexplainedhisworktome.Hewasverysimpleandconvincing.