Затерянный мир
A Sight which I shall Never Forget
Alldayweheardtheexcitedcallingoftheape-meninthedirectionofouroldcamp,butnoneofthemcameourway,andthetiredfugitives,redandwhite,hadalong,deepsleep.Iwasdozingmyselfintheeveningwhensomeonepluckedmysleeve,andIfoundChallengerkneelingbesideme.
"Youkeepadiaryoftheseevents,andyouexpecteventuallytopublishit,Mr.Malone,"saidhe,withsolemnity.
"IamonlyhereasaPressreporter,"Ianswered.
"Exactly.YoumayhaveheardsomeratherfatuousremarksofLordJohnRoxton’swhichseemedtoimplythattherewassome—someresemblance——"
"Yes,Iheardthem."
"Ineednotsaythatanypublicitygiventosuchanidea—anylevityinyournarrativeofwhatoccurred—wouldbeexceedinglyoffensivetome."
"Iwillkeepwellwithinthetruth."
"LordJohn’sobservationsarefrequentlyexceedinglyfanciful,andheiscapableofattributingthemostabsurdreasonstotherespectwhichisalwaysshownbythemostundevelopedracestodignityandcharacter.Youfollowmymeaning?"
"Entirely."
"Ileavethemattertoyourdiscretion."Then,afteralongpause,headded:"Thekingoftheape-menwasreallyacreatureofgreatdistinction—amostremarkablyhandsomeandintelligentpersonality.Diditnotstrikeyou?"
"Amostremarkablecreature,"saidI.
AndtheProfessor,mucheasedinhismind,settleddowntohisslumberoncemore.
