Отруєний пояс
Chapter I. The Blurring Of Lines
"Nodoubtitwasveryeccentric,andyettheperformancestruckmeasextraordinarilycleverandamusing.
Whilstthiswasgoingon,LordJohnleanedforwardandtoldmesomeinterminablestoryaboutabuffaloandanIndianrajahwhichseemedtometohaveneitherbeginningnorend.ProfessorSummerleehadjustbeguntochirruplikeacanary,andLordJohntogettotheclimaxofhisstory,whenthetraindrewupatJarvisBrook,whichhadbeengivenusasthestationforRotherfield.
AndtherewasChallengertomeetus.Hisappearancewasglorious.Notalltheturkey-cocksincreationcouldmatchtheslow,high-steppingdignitywithwhichheparadedhisownrailwaystationandthebenignantsmileofcondescendingencouragementwithwhichheregardedeverybodyaroundhim.Ifhehadchangedinanythingsincethedaysofold,itwasthathispointshadbecomeaccentuated.Thehugeheadandbroadsweepofforehead,withitsplasteredlockofblackhair,seemedevengreaterthanbefore.Hisblackbeardpouredforwardinamoreimpressivecascade,andhiscleargreyeyes,withtheirinsolentandsardoniceyelids,wereevenmoremasterfulthanofyore.
Hegavemetheamusedhand-shakeandencouragingsmilewhichtheheadmasterbestowsuponthesmallboy,and,havinggreetedtheothersandhelpedtocollecttheirbagsandtheircylindersofoxygen,hestowedusandthemawayinalargemotor-carwhichwasdrivenbythesameimpassiveAustin,themanoffewwords,whomIhadseeninthecharacterofbutlerupontheoccasionofmyfirsteventfulvisittotheProfessor.
