Человек-невидимка
Mr. Cuss Interviews the Stranger
'Oh,'saidI.Andoutcamethegrievance. Themanwasjustontheboil,andmyquestionboiledhimover. Hehadbeengivenaprescription,mostvaluableprescription—whatforhewouldn'tsay. Wasitmedical?'Damnyou!Whatareyoufishingafter?'Iapologised. Dignifiedsniffandcough.Heresumed.He'dreadit.Fiveingredients. Putitdown;turnedhishead. Draughtofairfromwindowliftedthepaper.Swish,rustle. Hewasworkinginaroomwithanopenfireplace,hesaid.Sawaflicker,andtherewastheprescriptionburningandliftingchimneyward. Rushedtowardsitjustasitwhiskedupthechimney. So!Justatthatpoint,toillustratehisstory,outcamehisarm."
"Well?"
"Nohand—justanemptysleeve. Lord!Ithought,that'sadeformity!Gotacorkarm,Isuppose,andhastakenitoff. Then,Ithought,there'ssomethingoddinthat.Whatthedevilkeepsthatsleeveupandopen,ifthere'snothinginit? Therewasnothinginit,Itellyou.Nothingdownit,rightdowntothejoint. Icouldseerightdownittotheelbow,andtherewasaglimmeroflightshiningthroughatearofthecloth. 'GoodGod!'Isaid.Thenhestopped. Staredatmewiththoseblackgogglesofhis,andthenathissleeve."
"Well?"
"That'sall.Heneversaidaword;justglared,andputhissleevebackinhispocketquickly. 'Iwassaying,'saidhe,'thattherewastheprescriptionburning,wasn'tI?'Interrogativecough. 'Howthedevil,'saidI,'canyoumoveanemptysleevelikethat?''Emptysleeve?''Yes,'saidI,'anemptysleeve.'
