Человек-невидимка
In the Emporium
Icontrivedtoenter,andwalkingdowntheshop—itwasadepartmentwheretheyweresellingribbonsandglovesandstockingsandthatkindofthing—cametoamorespaciousregiondevotedtopicnicbasketsandwickerfurniture.
"Ididnotfeelsafethere,however;peopleweregoingtoandfro,andIprowledrestlesslyaboutuntilIcameuponahugesectioninanupperfloorcontainingmultitudesofbedsteads,andovertheseIclambered,andfoundaresting-placeatlastamongahugepileoffoldedflockmattresses. Theplacewasalreadylitupandagreeablywarm,andIdecidedtoremainwhereIwas,keepingacautiouseyeonthetwoorthreesetsofshopmenandcustomerswhoweremeanderingthroughtheplace,untilclosingtimecame. ThenIshouldbeable,Ithought,torobtheplaceforfoodandclothing,anddisguised,prowlthroughitandexamineitsresources,perhapssleeponsomeofthebedding. Thatseemedanacceptableplan. Myideawastoprocureclothingtomakemyselfamuffledbutacceptablefigure,togetmoney,andthentorecovermybooksandparcelswheretheyawaitedme,takealodgingsomewhereandelaborateplansforthecompleterealisationoftheadvantagesmyinvisibilitygaveme(asIstillimagined)overmyfellow-men.
"Closingtimearrivedquicklyenough. ItcouldnothavebeenmorethananhourafterItookupmypositiononthemattressesbeforeInoticedtheblindsofthewindowsbeingdrawn,andcustomersbeingmarcheddoorward.
