Отруєний пояс
Chapter I. The Blurring Of Lines
"YouhadascraponcebeforewitholdmanChallenger,"saidhesternly,"andyouweredownandoutinsidetenseconds.Itseemstome,ProfessorSummerlee,he’sbeyondyourclass,andthebestyoucandowithhimistowalkwideandleavehimalone."
"Besides,"saidI,"hehasbeenagoodfriendtoeveryoneofus.Whateverhisfaultsmaybe,heisasstraightasaline,andIdon’tbelieveheeverspeaksevilofhiscomradesbehindtheirbacks."
"Wellsaid,youngfellah-my-lad,"saidLordJohnRoxton.Then,withakindlysmile,heslappedProfessorSummerleeuponhisshoulder."Come,HerrProfessor,we’renotgoingtoquarrelatthistimeofday.We’veseentoomuchtogether.ButkeepoffthegrasswhenyougetnearChallenger,forthisyoungfellahandIhaveabitofaweaknessfortheolddear."
ButSummerleewasinnohumourforcompromise.Hisfacewasscrewedupinrigiddisapproval,andthickcurlsofangrysmokerolledupfromhispipe.
"Astoyou,LordJohnRoxton,"hecreaked,"youropinionuponamatterofscienceisofasmuchvalueinmyeyesasmyviewsuponanewtypeofshot-gunwouldbeinyours.Ihavemyownjudgment,sir,andIuseitinmyownway.Becauseithasmisledmeonce,isthatanyreasonwhyIshouldacceptwithoutcriticismanything,howeverfar-fetched,whichthismanmaycaretoputforward?ArewetohaveaPopeofscience,withinfallibledecreeslaiddownexcathedra,andacceptedwithoutquestionbythepoorhumblepublic?Itellyou,sir,thatIhaveabrainofmyownandthatIshouldfeelmyselftobeasnobandaslaveifIdidnotuseit.
