Загублений світ
I was the Flail of the Lord
Infrontofthemaporterpushesatrolleypiledhighwithtrunks,wraps,andgun-cases.ProfessorSummerlee,along,melancholyfigure,walkswithdraggingstepsanddroopinghead,asonewhoisalreadyprofoundlysorryforhimself.LordJohnRoxtonstepsbriskly,andhisthin,eagerfacebeamsforthbetweenhishunting-capandhismuffler.Asformyself,Iamgladtohavegotthebustlingdaysofpreparationandthepangsofleave-takingbehindme,andIhavenodoubtthatIshowitinmybearing.Suddenly,justaswereachthevessel,thereisashoutbehindus.ItisProfessorChallenger,whohadpromisedtoseeusoff.Herunsafterus,apuffing,red-faced,irasciblefigure.
"Nothankyou,"sayshe;"Ishouldmuchprefernottogoaboard.Ihaveonlyafewwordstosaytoyou,andtheycanverywellbesaidwhereweare.IbegyounottoimaginethatIaminanywayindebtedtoyouformakingthisjourney.Iwouldhaveyoutounderstandthatitisamatterofperfectindifferencetome,andIrefusetoentertainthemostremotesenseofpersonalobligation.Truthistruth,andnothingwhichyoucanreportcanaffectitinanyway,thoughitmayexcitetheemotionsandallaythecuriosityofanumberofveryineffectualpeople.Mydirectionsforyourinstructionandguidanceareinthissealedenvelope.YouwillopenitwhenyoureachatownupontheAmazonwhichiscalledManaos,butnotuntilthedateandhourwhichismarkedupontheoutside.HaveImademyselfclear?Ileavethestrictobservanceofmyconditionsentirelytoyourhonor.No,Mr.Malone,Iwillplacenorestrictionuponyourcorrespondence,sincetheventilationofthefactsistheobjectofyourjourney;butIdemandthatyoushallgivenoparticularsastoyourexactdestination,andthatnothingbeactuallypublisheduntilyourreturn.Good-bye,sir.Youhavedonesomethingtomitigatemyfeelingsfortheloathsomeprofessiontowhichyouunhappilybelong.Good-bye,LordJohn.
