登陆注册
5188300000019

第19章

Next he exposed them to sunlight in a south window for from two to four months.When the tubes were opened Dr.Bastian found organisms in them which differed in no way from real bacteria.They grew and multiplied.He contends that he has proved the possibility of spontaneous generation of life.

Then there were the experiments of John Butler Burke of Cambridge, who claimed that he had developed "radiobes" in tubes of sterilised bouillon by means of radium emanations.Daniel Berthelot in France last year announced that he had used the ultra-violet rays to duplicate nature's own process of chlorophyll assimilation.He has broken up carbon dioxide and water-vapour in the air in precisely the same way that the green cells of plants do it.

Leduc at Nantes has made crystals grow from an artificial egg composed of certain chemicals.These crystals show all the apparent vital phenomena without being actually alive.His work is interesting, for it shows the physical forces that probably control minute life cells, once they are created.

"What do you make of it?" asked Kennedy, noting the puzzled look on my face as I finished reading.

"Well, recent research in the problem of the origin of life may be very interesting," I replied."There are a good many chemicals mentioned here - I wonder if any of them is poisonous? But I am of the opinion that there is something more to this manuscript than a mere scientific paper.""Exactly, Walter," said Kennedy in half raillery."What I wanted to know was how you would suggest getting at that something."Study as I might, I could make nothing out of it.Meanwhile Craig was busily figuring with a piece of paper and a pencil.

"I give it up, Craig," I said at last."It is late.Perhaps we had better both turn in, and we may have some ideas on it in the morning."For answer he merely shook his head and continued to scribble and figure on the paper.With a reluctant good-night I shut my door, determined to be up early in the morning and go for the tubes that Kharkoff was to prepare.

But in the morning Kennedy was gone.I dressed hastily, and was just about to go out when he hurried in, showing plainly the effects of having spent a sleepless night.He flung an early edition of a newspaper on the table.

"Too late," he exclaimed."I tried to reach Kharkoff, but it was too late.""Another East Side Bomb Outrage," I read."While returning at a late hour last night from a patient, Dr.Nicholas Kharkoff, of - East Broadway, was severely injured by a bomb which had been placed in his hallway earlier in the evening.Dr.Kharkoff, who is a well-known physician on the East Side, states that he has been constantly shadowed by some one unknown for the past week or two.

He attributes his escape with his life to the fact that since he was shadowed he has observed extreme caution.Yesterday his cook was poisoned and is now dangerously ill.Dr.Kharkoff stands high in the Russian community, and it is thought by the police that the bomb was placed by a Russian political agent, as Kharkoff has been active in the ranks of the revolutionists.""But what made you anticipate it?" I asked of Kennedy, considerably mystified.

"The manuscript," he replied.

"The manuscript? How? Where is it?"

"After I found that it was too late to save Kharkoff and that he was well cared for at the hospital, I hurried to Saratovsky's.

Kharkoff had fortunately left the tubes there, and I got them.Here they are.As for the manuscript in the letter, I was going to ask you to slip upstairs by some strategy and return it where I found it, when you went for the tubes this morning.Kazanovitch was out, and I have returned it myself, so you need not go, now.""He's coming to see you to-day, isn't he?""I hope so.I left a note asking him to bring Miss Nevsky, if possible, too.Come, let us breakfast and go over to the laboratory.

They may arrive at any moment.Besides, I'm interested to see what the tubes disclose."Instead of Kazanovitch awaiting us at the laboratory, however, we found Miss Nevsky, haggard and worn.She was a tall, striking girl with more of the Gaul than the Slav in her appearance.There was a slightly sensuous curve to her mouth, but on the whole her face was striking and intellectual.I felt that if she chose she could fascinate a man so that he would dare anything.I never before understood why the Russian police feared the women revolutionists so much.It was because they were themselves, plus every man they could influence.

Nevsky appeared very excited.She talked rapidly, and fire flashed from her grey eyes."They tell me at the club," she began, " that you are investigating the terrible things that are happening to us.

Oh, Professor Kennedy, it is awful! Last night I was staying with some friends on East Broadway.Suddenly we heard a terrific explosion up the street.It was in front of Dr.Kharkoff's house.

Thank Heaven, he is still alive! But I was so unnerved I could not sleep.I fancied I might be the next to go.

"Early this morning I hastened to return to Fifth Avenue.As Ientered the door of my room I could not help thinking of the horrible fate of Dr.Kharkoff.For some unknown reason, just as I was about to push the door farther open, I hesitated and looked - I almost fainted.There stood another bomb just inside.If Ihad moved the door a fraction of an inch it would have exploded.

I screamed, and Olga, sick as she was, ran to my assistance - or perhaps she thought something had happened to Boris.It is standing there yet.None of us dares touch it.Oh, Professor Kennedy, it is dreadful, dreadful.And I cannot find Boris - Mr.

Kazanovitch, I mean.Saratovsky, who is like a father to us all, is scarcely able to speak.Dr.Kharkoff is helpless in the hospital.Oh, what are we to do, what are we to do?"She stood trembling before us, imploring.

"Calm yourself, Miss Nevsky," said Kennedy in a reassuring tone.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 不死魔修

    不死魔修

    【2018火热玄幻连载】万年前,石峰纵横九天十地,剑下从未沾过一个无辜之人的血,却被人陷害,坠入魔道,人人喊杀。万年后,石峰一道魔念重生,以魔噬魔,魔主天下!“既然你们说我是魔,我石峰从此立誓入魔,神挡杀神,佛挡杀佛!”
  • 太极毒王

    太极毒王

    大风泱泱,大潮滂滂。苍穹虽可仰望,日月不见莹光;英雄绝伦,举世无双。看世间谁主沉浮,品江湖太极毒王。易经传人,太极宗师,又得唐门不传秘法,如果得知这一切是命中注定,是顺应天命,还是逆天反抗?换做是你,是选择平庸富贵且平安的度过一生,还是选择危难与机会并存,忍常人所不能忍的痛苦傲世巅峰?吾等不甘为人后,揭竿斩木露锋芒。万丈风潮平地起,血雨腥风杀戮狂。数年征战复荣光,身死沙场又何妨。一朝留名千古史,短短人生亦辉煌。
  • 昙无德律部杂羯磨

    昙无德律部杂羯磨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 考拉

    考拉

    在这本并不厚重的书里,贝尔福斯探讨了世间最为厚重的话题:生与死。自杀,是对生命不负责任的终结,还是生命进程的另一种选择?这个被朋友称为“考拉”的人,平静地结束了自己的生命,并把他剩余的一切留给了生者,生者的情感因此变得复杂。就在这里,一切戛然而止,贝尔福斯转而探究仅存澳大利亚的考拉的历史——殖民者的到来改变了这一无欲无求的物种的命运。两个毫不相干的故事,两个“考拉”,这其中又有怎样的联系?
  • 前汉纪

    前汉纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上洞渊三昧神咒斋忏谢仪

    太上洞渊三昧神咒斋忏谢仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 控诉集

    控诉集

    这是巴金在国家和民族遭受外敌侵略的时刻所发出的痛切控诉,收录的是1932年“一·二八”事变到1937年淞沪抗战爆发激战正酣这段时间的诗文。他说:“这里面自然有呐喊,但主要的却是控诉。对于危害正义、危害人道的暴力,我发出了我的呼声:‘我控诉!’”
  • 晓初妆

    晓初妆

    如你所言,天下苍生,任何一样都摆在你前面,只有我,在你后面。————————————幼年骄横,明家大小姐明珠因为得罪小皇帝朱胤被父亲放逐扬州,成了一匹脱缰野马。六年后,明珠以显赫的外戚之女准皇后的身份荣耀回归,凤榻后冠,岂料眨眼成为他人的囊中物。不久太后新丧,家道中落,明珠一度沦为阶下囚,无端结识了神秘男子苏颜,牵扯出的竟是二十年前的一桩宫廷秘密。与此同时,昔日深爱她的王爷倒戈逼宫,幼年密友投身敌营,难道真的只是一怒为红颜那么简单吗?战火燎起,一时国仇家恨,情难由己,她该手刃仇人,还是和他执手共瞰这如画江山?那个指点江山,风华盖世的英俊男子,她永远站在他身后,从未知晓他眼里一直看到的人是谁。可是他知道,第一眼就知道,她是他想要的那个人,明眸善睐,齿如瓠犀,如花笑靥总是狡黠而张扬,那一刻让骄阳艳日也为之黯淡。————————————————其他的完结作品:《皇后殇》http://m.wkkk.net/a/85303/喜欢红嬷嬷的话,欢迎加群111722525!
  • 北京:城与人

    北京:城与人

    《北京:城与人》中经由城市文化性格而探索人,经由人那些久居其中的人们,和那些以特殊方式与城联系,即把城作为审美对象的人们搜寻城,我更感兴趣于其间的联结,城与人的多种形式的精神联系和多种精神联系的形式。当我试图讲述城对于人的塑造,和对于创造其形象者艺术思维的干预时,不能不暗自怀着兴奋。
  • 五亿个善解人意的洛奇

    五亿个善解人意的洛奇

    在你的内心深处,是否从未有过一段难以忘怀的爱情记忆?在你的内心深处,是否始终期盼着一场轰轰烈烈的爱情之旅?29次分手,演绎29段不同的别离,上演29次不同的爱情童话。那些从未被爱情女神眷顾过的人,这是送给你们的29滴眼泪,29颗真心,29次微笑,29段幸福……