Certain First Principles

           "What'sthematter?"askedKemp,whentheInvisibleManadmittedhim. 

           "Nothing,"wastheanswer. 

           "But,confoundit!Thesmash?" 

           "Fitoftemper,"saidtheInvisibleMan."Forgotthisarm;andit'ssore." 

           "You'reratherliabletothatsortofthing." 

           "Iam." 

           Kempwalkedacrosstheroomandpickedupthefragmentsofbrokenglass. "Allthefactsareoutaboutyou,"saidKemp,standingupwiththeglassinhishand;"allthathappenedinIping,anddownthehill. Theworldhasbecomeawareofitsinvisiblecitizen. Butnooneknowsyouarehere." 

           TheInvisibleManswore. 

           "Thesecret'sout.Igatheritwasasecret. Idon'tknowwhatyourplansare,butofcourseI'manxioustohelpyou." 

           TheInvisibleMansatdownonthebed. 

           "There'sbreakfastupstairs,"saidKemp,speakingaseasilyaspossible,andhewasdelightedtofindhisstrangeguestrosewillingly.Kempledthewayupthenarrowstaircasetothebelvedere. 

           "Beforewecandoanythingelse,"saidKemp,"Imustunderstandalittlemoreaboutthisinvisibilityofyours." Hehadsatdown,afteronenervousglanceoutofthewindow,withtheairofamanwhohastalkingtodo. HisdoubtsofthesanityoftheentirebusinessflashedandvanishedagainashelookedacrosstowhereGriffinsatatthebreakfast-table—aheadless,handlessdressing-gown,wipingunseenlipsonamiraculouslyheldserviette. 

           "It'ssimpleenough—andcredibleenough,"saidGriffin,puttingtheservietteasideandleaningtheinvisibleheadonaninvisiblehand.