Человек-невидимка
The Unveiling of the Stranger
"Keepoff!"saidthefigure,startingback.
Abruptlyhewhippeddownthebreadandcheese,andMr.Halljustgraspedtheknifeonthetableintimetosaveit.Offcamethestranger'sleftgloveandwasslappedinJaffers'face. InanothermomentJaffers,cuttingshortsomestatementconcerningawarrant,hadgrippedhimbythehandlesswristandcaughthisinvisiblethroat. Hegotasoundingkickontheshinthatmadehimshout,buthekepthisgrip. HallsenttheknifeslidingalongthetabletoWadgers,whoactedasgoal-keeperfortheoffensive,sotospeak,andthensteppedforwardasJaffersandthestrangerswayedandstaggeredtowardshim,clutchingandhittingin.Achairstoodintheway,andwentasidewithacrashastheycamedowntogether.
"Getthefeet,"saidJaffersbetweenhisteeth.
Mr.Hall,endeavouringtoactoninstructions,receivedasoundingkickintheribsthatdisposedofhimforamoment,andMr.Wadgers,seeingthedecapitatedstrangerhadrolledoverandgottheuppersideofJaffers,retreatedtowardsthedoor,knifeinhand,andsocollidedwithMr.HuxterandtheSidderbridgecartercomingtotherescueoflawandorder. Atthesamemomentdowncamethreeorfourbottlesfromthechiffonnierandshotawebofpungencyintotheairoftheroom.
"I'llsurrender,"criedthestranger,thoughhehadJaffersdown,andinanothermomenthestooduppanting,astrangefigure,headlessandhandless—forhehadpulledoffhisrightglovenowaswellashisleft. "It'snogood,"hesaid,asifsobbingforbreath.
Itwasthestrangestthingintheworldtohearthatvoicecomingasifoutofemptyspace,buttheSussexpeasantsareperhapsthemostmatter-of-factpeopleunderthesun. Jaffersgotupalsoandproducedapairofhandcuffs. Thenhestared.
