Остров доктора Моро

           "

           "Chance,"heanswered."Justchance."

           "Iprefertomakemythankstotheaccessibleagent."

           "Thanknoone.Youhadtheneed,andIhadtheknowledge;andIinjectedandfedyoumuchasImighthavecollectedaspecimen.Iwasboredandwantedsomethingtodo.IfI’dbeenjadedthatday,orhadn’tlikedyourface,well—it’sacuriousquestionwhereyouwouldhavebeennow!"

           Thisdampedmymoodalittle."Atanyrate,"Ibegan.

           "It’schance,Itellyou,"heinterrupted,"aseverythingisinaman’slife.Onlytheasseswon’tseeit!WhyamIherenow,anoutcastfromcivilisation,insteadofbeingahappymanenjoyingallthepleasuresofLondon?Simplybecauseelevenyearsago—Ilostmyheadfortenminutesonafoggynight."

           Hestopped."Yes?"saidI.

           "That’sall."

           Werelapsedintosilence.Presentlyhelaughed."There’ssomethinginthisstarlightthatloosensone’stongue.I’manass,andyetsomehowIwouldliketotellyou."

           "Whateveryoutellme,youmayrelyuponmykeepingtomyself—ifthat’sit."

           Hewasonthepointofbeginning,andthenshookhishead,doubtfully.

           "Don’t,"saidI."Itisallthesametome.Afterall,itisbettertokeepyoursecret.There’snothinggainedbutalittlereliefifIrespectyourconfidence.