Человек-невидимка
In Drury Lane
"Iwaitedinthelittleparlourforanage,andatlasthecameupandopenedtheupstairsdoor. Ijustmanagedtogetbyhim.
"Onthestaircasehestoppedsuddenly,sothatIverynearlyblunderedintohim. Hestoodlookingbackrightintomyfaceandlistening. 'Icouldhavesworn,'hesaid.Hislonghairyhandpulledathislowerlip. Hiseyewentupanddownthestaircase. Thenhegruntedandwentonupagain.
"Hishandwasonthehandleofadoor,andthenhestoppedagainwiththesamepuzzledangeronhisface. Hewasbecomingawareofthefaintsoundsofmymovementsabouthim. Themanmusthavehaddiabolicallyacutehearing. Hesuddenlyflashedintorage. 'Ifthere'sanyoneinthishouse—'hecriedwithanoath,andleftthethreatunfinished.Heputhishandinhispocket,failedtofindwhathewanted,andrushingpastmewentblunderingnoisilyandpugnaciouslydownstairs. ButIdidnotfollowhim.Isatontheheadofthestaircaseuntilhisreturn.
"Presentlyhecameupagain,stillmuttering. Heopenedthedooroftheroom,andbeforeIcouldenter,slammeditinmyface.
"Iresolvedtoexplorethehouse,andspentsometimeindoingsoasnoiselesslyaspossible. Thehousewasveryoldandtumble-down,dampsothatthepaperintheatticswaspeelingfromthewalls,andratinfested. SomeofthedoorhandleswerestiffandIwasafraidtoturnthem. SeveralroomsIdidinspectwereunfurnished,andotherswerelitteredwiththeatricallumber,boughtsecond-hand,Ijudged,fromitsappearance.
