Загублений світ
Try Your Luck with Professor Challenger
"GoodLord!"
"Yes,Iexpectthat’swhatoldWadleysaid.Irememberhiswailatthemeeting,whichbegan:‘Infiftyyearsexperienceofscientificintercourse——’Itquitebroketheoldmanup."
"AnythingmoreaboutChallenger?"
"Well,I’mabacteriologist,youknow.Iliveinanine-hundred-diametermicroscope.IcanhardlyclaimtotakeseriousnoticeofanythingthatIcanseewithmynakedeye.I’mafrontiersmanfromtheextremeedgeoftheKnowable,andIfeelquiteoutofplacewhenIleavemystudyandcomeintotouchwithallyougreat,rough,hulkingcreatures.I’mtoodetachedtotalkscandal,andyetatscientificconversazionesIHAVEheardsomethingofChallenger,forheisoneofthosemenwhomnobodycanignore.He’sascleverastheymake’em—afull-chargedbatteryofforceandvitality,butaquarrelsome,ill-conditionedfaddist,andunscrupulousatthat.HehadgonethelengthoffakingsomephotographsovertheSouthAmericanbusiness."
"Yousayheisafaddist.Whatishisparticularfad?"
"Hehasathousand,butthelatestissomethingaboutWeissmannandEvolution.HehadafearfulrowaboutitinVienna,Ibelieve."
"Can’tyoutellmethepoint?"
"Notatthemoment,butatranslationoftheproceedingsexists.Wehaveitfiledattheoffice.Wouldyoucaretocome?"
"It’sjustwhatIwant.Ihavetointerviewthefellow,andIneedsomeleaduptohim.It’sreallyawfullygoodofyoutogivemealift.I’llgowithyounow,ifitisnottoolate."
