Page:The Poison Belt - Conan Doyle, 1913.djvu/155

 124  hang number one among the family portraits. Got a fine big shirt-stud on him!"

"The dark object is his nucleus," said Challenger, with the air of a nurse teaching letters to a baby.

"Well, we needn't feel lonely," said Lord John, laughing. "There's somebody livin' besides us on the earth." "You seem to take it for granted. Challenger," said Summerlee, "that the object for which this world was created was that it should produce and sustain human life."

"Well, sir, and what object do you suggest?" asked Challenger, bristling at the least hint of contradiction.

"Sometimes I think that it is only the monstrous conceit of mankind which makes him think that all this stage was erected for him to strut upon."

"We cannot be dogmatic about it, but at least without what you have ventured to call monstrous conceit we can surely