Війна світів
The Man On Putney Hill
"Onenightlastweek,"hesaid,"somefoolsgottheelectriclightinorder,andtherewasallRegentStreetandtheCircusablaze,crowdedwithpaintedandraggeddrunkards,menandwomen,dancingandshoutingtilldawn. Amanwhowastheretoldme. Andasthedaycametheybecameawareofafighting-machinestandingnearbytheLanghamandlookingdownatthem. Heavenknowshowlonghehadbeenthere.Itmusthavegivensomeofthemanastyturn. Hecamedowntheroadtowardsthem,andpickedupnearlyahundredtoodrunkorfrightenedtorunaway."
Grotesquegleamofatimenohistorywilleverfullydescribe!
Fromthat,inanswertomyquestions,hecameroundtohisgrandioseplansagain. Hegrewenthusiastic. Hetalkedsoeloquentlyofthepossibilityofcapturingafighting-machinethatImorethanhalfbelievedinhimagain. ButnowthatIwasbeginningtounderstandsomethingofhisquality,Icoulddivinethestresshelaidondoingnothingprecipitately. AndInotedthatnowtherewasnoquestionthathepersonallywastocaptureandfightthegreatmachine.
Afteratimewewentdowntothecellar. Neitherofusseemeddisposedtoresumedigging,andwhenhesuggestedameal,Iwasnothingloath. Hebecamesuddenlyverygenerous,andwhenwehadeatenhewentawayandreturnedwithsomeexcellentcigars. Welitthese,andhisoptimismglowed. Hewasinclinedtoregardmycomingasagreatoccasion.
"There’ssomechampagneinthecellar,"hesaid.
"WecandigbetteronthisThames-sideburgundy,"saidI.
