ponhimafterthelecture,hewouldbegladtoseesuchacuriosity.(Laughter.)Itwasstrangetothinkthattheclimaxofalltheage-longprocessofNaturehadbeenthecreationofthatgentlemanintheredtie.Buthadtheprocessstopped?Wasthisgentlemantobetakenasthefinaltype—thebe-allandend-allofdevelopment?Hehopedthathewouldnothurtthefeelingsofthegentlemanintheredtieifhemaintainedthat,whatevervirtuesthatgentlemanmightpossessinprivatelife,stillthevastprocessesoftheuniversewerenotfullyjustifiediftheyweretoendentirelyinhisproduction.Evolutionwasnotaspentforce,butonestillworking,andevengreaterachievementswereinstore.
Havingthus,amidageneraltitter,playedveryprettilywithhisinterrupter,thelecturerwentbacktohispictureofthepast,thedryingoftheseas,theemergenceofthesand-bank,thesluggish,viscouslifewhichlayupontheirmargins,theovercrowdedlagoons,thetendencyoftheseacreaturestotakerefugeuponthemud-flats,theabundanceoffoodawaitingthem,theirconsequentenormousgrowth."Hence,ladiesandgentlemen,"headded,"thatfrightfulbroodofsaurianswhichstillaffrightoureyeswhenseenintheWealdenorintheSolenhofenslates,butwhichwerefortunatelyextinctlongbeforethefirstappearanceofmankinduponthisplanet."
"Question!"boomedavoicefromtheplatform.
Mr.Waldronwasastrictdisciplinarianwithagiftofacidhumor,asexemplifieduponthegentlemanwiththeredtie,whichmadeitperiloustointerrupthim.Butthisinterjectionappearedtohimsoabsurdthathewasatalosshowtodealwithit.SolookstheShakespeareanwhoisconfrontedbyarancidBaconian,ortheastronomerwhoisassailedbyaflat-earthfanatic.Hepausedforamoment,andthen,raisinghisvoice,repeatedslowlythewords:"Whichwereextinctbeforethecomingofman."
"Question!"boomedthevoiceoncemore.
WaldronlookedwithamazementalongthelineofprofessorsupontheplatformuntilhiseyesfelluponthefigureofChallenger,wholeanedbackinhischairwithclosedeyesandanamusedexpression,asifheweresmilinginhissleep.
"Isee!"saidWaldron,withashrug."ItismyfriendProfessorChallenger,"andamidlaughterherenewedhislectureasifthiswasafinalexplanationandnomoreneedbesaid.
Buttheincidentwasfarfrombeingclosed.Whateverpaththelecturertookamidthewildsofthepastseemedinvariablytoleadhimtosomeassertio