Копи царя Соломона
I Meet Sir Henry Curtis
"Thatpendulum’swrong; itisnotproperlyweighted,"suddenlysaidasomewhattestyvoiceatmyshoulder. LookingroundIsawthenavalofficerwhomIhadnoticedwhenthepassengerscameaboard.
"Indeed,nowwhatmakesyouthinkso?"Iasked.
"Thinkso. Idon’tthinkatall. Whythere"—assherightedherselfafteraroll—"iftheshiphadreallyrolledtothedegreethatthingpointedto,thenshewouldneverhaverolledagain,that’sall. Butitisjustlikethesemerchantskippers,theyarealwayssoconfoundedlycareless."
Justthenthedinner-bellrang,andIwasnotsorry,foritisadreadfulthingtohavetolistentoanofficeroftheRoyalNavywhenhegetsontothatsubject. Ionlyknowoneworsething,andthatistohearamerchantskipperexpresshiscandidopinionofofficersoftheRoyalNavy.
CaptainGoodandIwentdowntodinnertogether,andtherewefoundSirHenryCurtisalreadyseated. HeandCaptainGoodwereplacedtogether,andIsatoppositetothem. ThecaptainandIsoonfellintotalkaboutshootingandwhatnot; heaskingmemanyquestions,forheisveryinquisitiveaboutallsortsofthings,andIansweringthemaswellasIcould. Presentlyhegotontoelephants.
"Ah,sir,"calledoutsomebodywhowassittingnearme,"you’vereachedtherightmanforthat; HunterQuatermainshouldbeabletotellyouaboutelephantsifanybodycan."
SirHenry,whohadbeensittingquitequietlisteningtoourtalk,startedvisibly.
