Человек-невидимка
The Unveiling of the Stranger
Itwasworsethananything.Mrs.Hall,standingopen-mouthedandhorror-struck,shriekedatwhatshesaw,andmadeforthedoorofthehouse. Everyonebegantomove. Theywerepreparedforscars,disfigurements,tangiblehorrors,butnothing! Thebandagesandfalsehairflewacrossthepassageintothebar,makingahobbledehoyjumptoavoidthem. Everyonetumbledoneveryoneelsedownthesteps.Forthemanwhostoodthereshoutingsomeincoherentexplanation,wasasolidgesticulatingfigureuptothecoat-collarofhim,andthen—nothingness,novisiblethingatall!
Peopledownthevillageheardshoutsandshrieks,andlookingupthestreetsawthe"CoachandHorses"violentlyfiringoutitshumanity. TheysawMrs.HallfalldownandMr.TeddyHenfreyjumptoavoidtumblingoverher,andthentheyheardthefrightfulscreamsofMillie,who,emergingsuddenlyfromthekitchenatthenoiseofthetumult,hadcomeupontheheadlessstrangerfrombehind. Theseincreasedsuddenly.
Forthwitheveryonealldownthestreet,thesweetstuffseller,cocoanutshyproprietorandhisassistant,theswingman,littleboysandgirls,rusticdandies,smartwenches,smockedeldersandapronedgipsies—beganrunningtowardstheinn,andinamiraculouslyshortspaceoftimeacrowdofperhapsfortypeople,andrapidlyincreasing,swayedandhootedandinquiredandexclaimedandsuggested,infrontofMrs.Hall'sestablishment. Everyoneseemedeagertotalkatonce,andtheresultwasBabel. AsmallgroupsupportedMrs.Hall,whowaspickedupinastateofcollapse. Therewasaconference,andtheincredibleevidenceofavociferouseye-witness. "OBogey!" "What'shebeendoin',then?" "Ain'thurtthegirl,'as'e?" "Runatenwithaknife,Ibelieve." "No'ed,Itellye.Idon'tmeannomannerofspeaking. Imeanmarn'ithouta'ed!" "Narnsense!'tissomeconjuringtrick." "Fetchedoff'iswrapping,'edid—"
