Человек-невидимка
At the House in Great Portland Street
"Itossedtogethersomeloosepaper,straw,packingpaperandsoforth,inthemiddleoftheroom,andturnedonthegas. Heavyblowsbegantorainuponthedoor. Icouldnotfindthematches. Ibeatmyhandsonthewallwithrage. Iturneddownthegasagain,steppedoutofthewindowonthecisterncover,verysoftlyloweredthesash,andsatdown,secureandinvisible,butquiveringwithanger,towatchevents. Theysplitapanel,Isaw,andinanothermomenttheyhadbrokenawaythestaplesoftheboltsandstoodintheopendoorway.Itwasthelandlordandhistwostep-sons,sturdyyoungmenofthreeorfourandtwenty. Behindthemflutteredtheoldhagofawomanfromdownstairs.
"Youmayimaginetheirastonishmenttofindtheroomempty. Oneoftheyoungermenrushedtothewindowatonce,flungitupandstaredout. Hisstaringeyesandthick-lippedbeardedfacecameafootfrommyface. Iwashalfmindedtohithissillycountenance,butIarrestedmydoubledfist. Hestaredrightthroughme.Sodidtheothersastheyjoinedhim. Theoldmanwentandpeeredunderthebed,andthentheyallmadearushforthecupboard. TheyhadtoargueaboutitatlengthinYiddishandCockneyEnglish. TheyconcludedIhadnotansweredthem,thattheirimaginationhaddeceivedthem.
