Затерянный мир
Question!
"WhatisYOURname,sir?"thechairmanaskedofmytallrival.
"IamLordJohnRoxton.IhavealreadybeenuptheAmazon,Iknowalltheground,andhavespecialqualificationsforthisinvestigation."
"LordJohnRoxton’sreputationasasportsmanandatraveleris,ofcourse,world-famous,"saidthechairman;"atthesametimeitwouldcertainlybeaswelltohaveamemberofthePressuponsuchanexpedition."
"ThenImove,"saidProfessorChallenger,"thatboththesegentlemenbeelected,asrepresentativesofthismeeting,toaccompanyProfessorSummerleeuponhisjourneytoinvestigateandtoreportuponthetruthofmystatements."
Andso,amidshoutingandcheering,ourfatewasdecided,andIfoundmyselfborneawayinthehumancurrentwhichswirledtowardsthedoor,withmymindhalfstunnedbythevastnewprojectwhichhadrisensosuddenlybeforeit.AsIemergedfromthehallIwasconsciousforamomentofarushoflaughingstudents—downthepavement,andofanarmwieldingaheavyumbrella,whichroseandfellinthemidstofthem.Then,amidamixtureofgroansandcheers,ProfessorChallenger’selectricbroughamslidfromthecurb,andIfoundmyselfwalkingunderthesilverylightsofRegentStreet,fullofthoughtsofGladysandofwonderastomyfuture.
Suddenlytherewasatouchatmyelbow.Iturned,andfoundmyselflookingintothehumorous,masterfuleyesofthetall,thinmanwhohadvolunteeredtobemycompaniononthisstrangequest.
"Mr.Malone,Iunderstand,"saidhe."Wearetobecompanions—what?Myroomsarejustovertheroad,intheAlbany.
