Отруєний пояс
Chapter II. The Tide Of Death
Ipursuedherwithsomethoughtsofanexplanation,butsheflewdownthedrive,andsomeminutesafterwardsIwasabletopickheroutwithmyfield-glassestravellingveryrapidlyinasouth-westerlydirection.Itellyoutheanecdoteforwhatitisworth.Idropitintoyourbrainsandawaititsgermination.Isitilluminative?Hasitconveyedanythingtoyourminds?Whatdoyouthinkofit,LordJohn?"
LordJohnshookhisheadgravely.
"You’llbegettin’intoserioustroublesomeofthesedaysifyoudon’tputabrakeon,"saidhe.
"Perhapsyouhavesomeobservationtomake,Summerlee?"
"Youshoulddropallworkinstantly,Challenger,andtakethreemonthsinaGermanwatering-place,"saidhe.
"Profound!Profound!"criedChallenger."Now,myyoungfriend,isitpossiblethatwisdommaycomefromyouwhereyourseniorshavesosignallyfailed?"
Anditdid.Isayitwithallmodesty,butitdid.Ofcourse,itallseemsobviousenoughtoyouwhoknowwhatoccurred,butitwasnotsoveryclearwheneverythingwasnew.Butitcameonmesuddenlywiththefullforceofabsoluteconviction.
"Poison!"Icried.
Then,evenasIsaidtheword,mymindflashedbackoverthewholemorning’sexperiences,pastLordJohnwithhisbuffalo,pastmyownhystericaltears,pasttheoutrageousconductofProfessorSummerlee,tothequeerhappeningsinLondon,therowinthepark,thedrivingofthechauffeur,thequarrelattheoxygenwarehouse.Everythingfittedsuddenlyintoitsplace.
"Ofcourse,"Icriedagain."Itispoison.Weareallpoisoned."
"Exactly,"saidChallenger,rubbinghishands,"weareallpoisoned.
