Перші люди на Місяці
Chapter 1 — Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
InfutureIwill.CouldItroubleyou—onceagain?Thatnoise?”
“Somethinglikethis,”Isaid.“Zuzzoo,zuzzoo.Butreally,youknow—”
“Iamgreatlyobligedtoyou.Infact,IknowIamgettingabsurdlyabsent-minded.Youarequitejustified,sir—perfectlyjustified.Indeed,Iamindebtedtoyou.Thethingshallend.Andnow,sir,IhavealreadybroughtyoufartherthanIshouldhavedone.”
“Idohopemyimpertinence—”
“Notatall,sir,notatall.”
Weregardedeachotherforamoment.Iraisedmyhatandwishedhimagoodevening.Herespondedconvulsively,andsowewentourways.
AtthestileIlookedbackathisrecedingfigure.Hisbearinghadchangedremarkably,heseemedlimp,shrunken.Thecontrastwithhisformergesticulating,zuzzoingselftookmeinsomeabsurdwayaspathetic.Iwatchedhimoutofsight.ThenwishingveryheartilyIhadkepttomyownbusiness,Ireturnedtomybungalowandmyplay.
ThenexteveningIsawnothingofhim,northenext.Buthewasverymuchinmymind,andithadoccurredtomethatasasentimentalcomiccharacterhemightserveausefulpurposeinthedevelopmentofmyplot.Thethirddayhecalleduponme.
ForatimeIwaspuzzledtothinkwhathadbroughthim.Hemadeindifferentconversationinthemostformalway,thenabruptlyhecametobusiness.Hewantedtobuymeoutofmybungalow.
“Yousee,”hesaid,“Idon’tblameyouintheleast,butyou’vedestroyedahabit,anditdisorganisesmyday.I’vewalkedpasthereforyears—years.NodoubtI’vehummed....
