Отруєний пояс
Chapter II. The Tide Of Death
"OurworthySummerleeis,notforthefirsttime,somewhatoutoftouchwiththefactsofthesituation,"saidheatlast,moppinghisheatedbrow."Now,gentlemen,IcannotmakemypointbetterthanbydetailingtoyouwhatIhavemyselfdonethismorning.YouwillthemoreeasilycondoneanymentalaberrationuponyourownpartwhenyourealizethatevenIhavehadmomentswhenmybalancehasbeendisturbed.Wehavehadforsomeyearsinthishouseholdahousekeeper—oneSarah,withwhosesecondnameIhaveneverattemptedtoburdenmymemory.Sheisawomanofasevereandforbiddingaspect,primanddemureinherbearing,veryimpassiveinhernature,andneverknownwithinourexperiencetoshowsignsofanyemotion.AsIsataloneatmybreakfast—Mrs.Challengerisinthehabitofkeepingherroomofamorning—itsuddenlyenteredmyheadthatitwouldbeentertainingandinstructivetoseewhetherIcouldfindanylimitstothiswoman’sinperturbability.Idevisedasimplebuteffectiveexperiment.Havingupsetasmallvaseofflowerswhichstoodinthecentreofthecloth,Irangthebellandslippedunderthetable.Sheenteredand,seeingtheroomempty,imaginedthatIhadwithdrawntothestudy.AsIhadexpected,sheapproachedandleanedoverthetabletoreplacethevase.Ihadavisionofacottonstockingandanelastic-sidedboot.Protrudingmyhead,Isankmyteethintothecalfofherleg.Theexperimentwassuccessfulbeyondbelief.Forsomemomentsshestoodparalyzed,staringdownatmyhead.Thenwithashriekshetoreherselffreeandrushedfromtheroom.
