Человек-невидимка
In Drury Lane
"Ihadthoughtofpaintingandpowderingmyfaceandallthattherewastoshowofme,inordertorendermyselfvisible,butthedisadvantageofthislayinthefactthatIshouldrequireturpentineandotherappliancesandaconsiderableamountoftimebeforeIcouldvanishagain. FinallyIchoseamaskofthebettertype,slightlygrotesquebutnotmoresothanmanyhumanbeings,darkglasses,greyishwhiskers,andawig. Icouldfindnounderclothing,butthatIcouldbuysubsequently,andforthetimeIswathedmyselfincalicodominoesandsomewhitecashmerescarfs. Icouldfindnosocks,butthehunchback'sbootswereratheraloosefitandsufficed. Inadeskintheshopwerethreesovereignsandaboutthirtyshillings'worthofsilver,andinalockedcupboardIburstintheinnerroomwereeightpoundsingold. Icouldgoforthintotheworldagain,equipped.
"Thencameacurioushesitation.Wasmyappearancereallycredible? Itriedmyselfwithalittlebedroomlooking-glass,inspectingmyselffromeverypointofviewtodiscoveranyforgottenchink,butitallseemedsound. Iwasgrotesquetothetheatricalpitch,astagemiser,butIwascertainlynotaphysicalimpossibility. Gatheringconfidence,Itookmylooking-glassdownintotheshop,pulleddowntheshopblinds,andsurveyedmyselffromeverypointofviewwiththehelpofthechevalglassinthecorner.
"Ispentsomeminutesscrewingupmycourageandthenunlockedtheshopdoorandmarchedoutintothestreet,leavingthelittlemantogetoutofhissheetagainwhenheliked.Infiveminutesadozenturningsintervenedbetweenmeandthecostumier'sshop. Nooneappearedtonoticemeverypointedly. Mylastdifficultyseemedovercome."
