Затерянный мир
A Procession! A Procession!
ThereaderwillrememberhowImetLordJohnRoxtonupontheveryoccasionwhen,inhisprotectivecrinoline,hehadgonetobringthe"Devil’schick"ashecalledit,forProfessorChallenger.IhavehintedalsoatthetroublewhichtheProfessor’sbaggagegaveuswhenwelefttheplateau,andhadIdescribedourvoyageImighthavesaidagooddealoftheworrywehadtocoaxwithputridfishtheappetiteofourfilthycompanion.IfIhavenotsaidmuchaboutitbefore,itwas,ofcourse,thattheProfessor’searnestdesirewasthatnopossiblerumoroftheunanswerableargumentwhichwecarriedshouldbeallowedtoleakoutuntilthemomentcamewhenhisenemiesweretobeconfuted.
OnewordastothefateoftheLondonpterodactyl.Nothingcanbesaidtobecertainuponthispoint.ThereistheevidenceoftwofrightenedwomenthatitperchedupontheroofoftheQueen’sHallandremainedtherelikeadiabolicalstatueforsomehours.ThenextdayitcameoutintheeveningpapersthatPrivateMiles,oftheColdstreamGuards,ondutyoutsideMarlboroughHouse,haddesertedhispostwithoutleave,andwasthereforecourtmartialed.PrivateMiles’account,thathedroppedhisrifleandtooktohisheelsdowntheMallbecauseonlookinguphehadsuddenlyseenthedevilbetweenhimandthemoon,wasnotacceptedbytheCourt,andyetitmayhaveadirectbearinguponthepointatissue.TheonlyotherevidencewhichIcanadduceisfromthelogoftheSS.
