Загублений світ

           "Hence,ladiesandgentlemen,"headded,"thatfrightfulbroodofsaurianswhichstillaffrightoureyeswhenseenintheWealdenorintheSolenhofenslates,butwhichwerefortunatelyextinctlongbeforethefirstappearanceofmankinduponthisplanet."

           "Question!"boomedavoicefromtheplatform.

           Mr.Waldronwasastrictdisciplinarianwithagiftofacidhumor,asexemplifieduponthegentlemanwiththeredtie,whichmadeitperiloustointerrupthim.Butthisinterjectionappearedtohimsoabsurdthathewasatalosshowtodealwithit.SolookstheShakespeareanwhoisconfrontedbyarancidBaconian,ortheastronomerwhoisassailedbyaflat-earthfanatic.Hepausedforamoment,andthen,raisinghisvoice,repeatedslowlythewords:"Whichwereextinctbeforethecomingofman."

           "Question!"boomedthevoiceoncemore.

           WaldronlookedwithamazementalongthelineofprofessorsupontheplatformuntilhiseyesfelluponthefigureofChallenger,wholeanedbackinhischairwithclosedeyesandanamusedexpression,asifheweresmilinginhissleep.

           "Isee!"saidWaldron,withashrug."ItismyfriendProfessorChallenger,"andamidlaughterherenewedhislectureasifthiswasafinalexplanationandnomoreneedbesaid.

           Buttheincidentwasfarfrombeingclosed.Whateverpaththelecturertookamidthewildsofthepastseemedinvariablytoleadhimtosomeassertionastoextinctorprehistoriclifewhichinstantlybroughtthesamebulls’bellowfromtheProfessor.Theaudiencebegantoanticipateitandtoroarwithdelightwhenitcame.