Отруєний пояс
Chapter II. The Tide Of Death
"Well,gentlemen,"hesaid,inavoiceasifhewasaddressingapublicmeeting,"thisisindeedaninterestingreunion,andittakesplaceunderextraordinary—Imaysayunprecedented—circumstances.MayIaskifyouhaveobservedanythinguponyourjourneyfromtown?"
"TheonlythingwhichIobserved,"saidSummerleewithasoursmile,"wasthatouryoungfriendherehasnotimprovedinhismannersduringtheyearsthathavepassed.IamsorrytostatethatIhavehadtoseriouslycomplainofhisconductinthetrain,andIshouldbewantinginfranknessifIdidnotsaythatithasleftamostunpleasantimpressioninmymind."
"Well,well,weallgetabitprosysometimes,"saidLordJohn."Theyoungfellahmeantnorealharm.Afterall,he’sanInternational,soifhetakeshalfanhourtodescribeagameoffootballhehasmorerighttodoitthanmostfolk."
"Halfanhourtodescribeagame!"Icriedindignantly."Why,itwasyouthattookhalfanhourwithsomelong-windedstoryaboutabuffalo.ProfessorSummerleewillbemywitness."
"Icanhardlyjudgewhichofyouwasthemostutterlywearisome,"saidSummerlee."Ideclaretoyou,Challenger,thatIneverwishtohearoffootballorofbuffaloessolongasIlive."
"Ihaveneversaidonewordto-dayaboutfootball,"Iprotested.
LordJohngaveashrillwhistle,andSummerleeshookhisheadsadly.
"Soearlyinthedaytoo,"saidhe."Itisindeeddeplorable.AsIsatthereinsadbutthoughtfulsilence——"
"Insilence!"criedLordJohn."Why,youweredoin’amusic-hallturnofimitationsalltheway—morelikearunawaygramophonethanaman.
