Человек-невидимка

           Hecarriedhishatinhishand. Shestoodbehindthedoor,lookingattheopendooroftheparlour. Thensheheardthestrangerlaughingquietly,andthenhisfootstepscameacrosstheroom. Shecouldnotseehisfacewhereshestood. Theparlourdoorslammed,andtheplacewassilentagain. 

           CusswentstraightupthevillagetoBuntingthevicar."AmImad?"Cussbeganabruptly,asheenteredtheshabbylittlestudy."DoIlooklikeaninsaneperson?" 

           "What'shappened?"saidthevicar,puttingtheammoniteontheloosesheetsofhisforth-comingsermon. 

           "Thatchapattheinn—" 

           "Well?" 

           "Givemesomethingtodrink,"saidCuss,andhesatdown. 

           Whenhisnerveshadbeensteadiedbyaglassofcheapsherry—theonlydrinkthegoodvicarhadavailable—hetoldhimoftheinterviewhehadjusthad. "Wentin,"hegasped,"andbegantodemandasubscriptionforthatNurseFund. He'dstuckhishandsinhispocketsasIcamein,andhesatdownlumpilyinhischair. Sniffed.ItoldhimI'dheardhetookaninterestinscientificthings.Hesaidyes.Sniffedagain. Keptonsniffingallthetime;evidentlyrecentlycaughtaninfernalcold. Nowonder,wrappeduplikethat!Idevelopedthenurseidea,andallthewhilekeptmyeyesopen. Bottles—chemicals—everywhere. Balance,test-tubesinstands,andasmellof—eveningprimrose. Wouldhesubscribe? Saidhe'dconsiderit. Askedhim,point-blank,washeresearching.Saidhewas. Alongresearch?Gotquitecross.'Adamnablelongresearch,'saidhe,blowingthecorkout,sotospeak.