Человек-невидимка
Mr. Teddy Henfrey’s First Impressions
Mrs.Hallwasabouttoleavetheroom—shemadenoconversationaladvancesthistime,becauseshedidnotwanttobesnubbedinfrontofMr.Henfrey—whenhervisitoraskedherifshehadmadeanyarrangementsabouthisboxesatBramblehurst. Shetoldhimshehadmentionedthemattertothepostman,andthatthecarriercouldbringthemoveronthemorrow. "Youarecertainthatistheearliest?"hesaid.
Shewascertain,withamarkedcoldness.
"Ishouldexplain,"headded,"whatIwasreallytoocoldandfatiguedtodobefore,thatIamanexperimentalinvestigator."
"Indeed,sir,"saidMrs.Hall,muchimpressed.
"Andmybaggagecontainsapparatusandappliances."
"Veryusefulthingsindeedtheyare,sir,"saidMrs.Hall.
"AndI'mverynaturallyanxioustogetonwithmyinquiries."
"Ofcourse,sir."
"MyreasonforcomingtoIping,"heproceeded,withacertaindeliberationofmanner,"was...adesireforsolitude. Idonotwishtobedisturbedinmywork. Inadditiontomywork,anaccident—"
"Ithoughtasmuch,"saidMrs.Halltoherself.
"—necessitatesacertainretirement. Myeyes—aresometimessoweakandpainfulthatIhavetoshutmyselfupinthedarkforhourstogether.Lockmyselfup.Sometimes—nowandthen. Notatpresent,certainly.
