Chapter II. The Tide Of Death

           Aswecrossedthehallthetelephone-bellrang,andweweretheinvoluntaryauditorsofProfessorChallenger’sendoftheensuingdialogue.Isay"we,"butnoonewithinahundredyardscouldhavefailedtoheartheboomingofthatmonstrousvoice,whichreverberatedthroughthehouse.Hisanswerslingeredinmymind.

           "Yes,yes,ofcourse,itisI....Yes,certainly,theProfessorChallenger,thefamousProfessor,whoelse?...Ofcourse,everywordofit,otherwiseIshouldnothavewrittenit....Ishouldn’tbesurprised....Thereiseveryindicationofit....Withinadayorsoatthefurthest....Well,Ican’thelpthat,canI?...Veryunpleasant,nodoubt,butIratherfancyitwillaffectmoreimportantpeoplethanyou.Thereisnousewhiningaboutit....No,Icouldn’tpossibly.Youmusttakeyourchance....That’senough,sir.Nonsense!Ihavesomethingmoreimportanttodothantolistentosuchtwaddle."

           Heshutoffwithacrashandledusupstairsintoalargeairyapartmentwhichformedhisstudy.Onthegreatmahoganydesksevenoreightunopenedtelegramswerelying.

           "Really,"hesaidashegatheredthemup,"Ibegintothinkthatitwouldsavemycorrespondents’moneyifIweretoadoptatelegraphicaddress.Possibly’Noah,Rotherfield,’wouldbethemostappropriate."

           Asusualwhenhemadeanobscurejoke,heleanedagainstthedeskandbellowedinaparoxysmoflaughter,hishandsshakingsothathecouldhardlyopentheenvelopes.