The Invisible Man Sleeps
ExhaustedandwoundedastheInvisibleManwas,herefusedtoacceptKemp'swordthathisfreedomshouldberespected. Heexaminedthetwowindowsofthebedroom,drewuptheblindsandopenedthesashes,toconfirmKemp'sstatementthataretreatbythemwouldbepossible. Outsidethenightwasveryquietandstill,andthenewmoonwassettingoverthedown. Thenheexaminedthekeysofthebedroomandthetwodressing-roomdoors,tosatisfyhimselfthatthesealsocouldbemadeanassuranceoffreedom. Finallyheexpressedhimselfsatisfied. HestoodonthehearthrugandKempheardthesoundofayawn.
"I'msorry,"saidtheInvisibleMan,"ifIcannottellyouallthatIhavedoneto-night. ButIamwornout. It'sgrotesque,nodoubt.It'shorrible!Butbelieveme,Kemp,inspiteofyourargumentsofthismorning,itisquiteapossiblething. Ihavemadeadiscovery.Imeanttokeepittomyself.Ican't.Imusthaveapartner. Andyou....Wecandosuchthings...Butto-morrow. Now,Kemp,IfeelasthoughImustsleeporperish."
Kempstoodinthemiddleoftheroomstaringattheheadlessgarment. "IsupposeImustleaveyou,"hesaid."It's—incredible. Threethingshappeninglikethis,overturningallmypreconceptions—wouldmakemeinsane. Butit'sreal!IsthereanythingmorethatIcangetyou?"
"Onlybidmegood-night,"saidGriffin.
"Good-night,"saidKemp,andshookaninvisiblehand. Hewalkedsidewaystothedoor. Suddenlythedressing-gownwalkedquicklytowardshim. "Understandme!"saidthedressing-gown."Noattemptstohamperme,orcaptureme!Or—"
Kemp'sfacechangedalittle. "IthoughtIgaveyoumyword,"hesaid.