Отруєний пояс

           Surelyyouhavelearnedsomethingfromwhatwehaveundergone."

           Hetut-tuttedandshookhisbig,obstinatehead.

           "Apoisonousbreed!Eh,Malone?Theworstweedinmoderncivilization,thereadytoolofthequackandthehindranceoftheself-respectingman!Whendidtheyeversayagoodwordforme?"

           "Whendidyoueversayagoodwordtothem?"Ianswered."Come,sir,thisisastrangerwhohasmadeajourneytoseeyou.Iamsurethatyouwon’tberudetohim."

           "Well,well,"hegrumbled,"youcomewithmeanddothetalking.Iprotestinadvanceagainstanysuchoutrageousinvasionofmyprivatelife."Mutteringandmumbling,hecamerollingaftermelikeanangryandratherill-conditionedmastiff.

           ThedapperyoungAmericanpulledouthisnotebookandplungedinstantlyintohissubject.

           "Icamedown,sir,"saidhe,"becauseourpeopleinAmericawouldverymuchliketohearmoreaboutthisdangerwhichis,inyouropinion,pressingupontheworld."

           "Iknowofnodangerwhichisnowpressingupontheworld,"Challengeransweredgruffly.

           Thepressmanlookedathiminmildsurprise.

           "Imeant,sir,thechancesthattheworldmightrunintoabeltofpoisonousether."

           "Idonotnowapprehendanysuchdanger,"saidChallenger.

           Thepressmanlookedevenmoreperplexed.

           "YouareProfessorChallenger,areyounot?"heasked.

           "Yes,sir;thatismyname."

           "Icannotunderstand,then,howyoucansaythatthereisnosuchdanger.Iamalludingtoyourownletter,publishedaboveyournameintheLondonTimesofthismorning."

           ItwasChallenger’sturntolooksurprised.

           "Thismorning?"saidhe.