Человек-невидимка
The Unveiling of the Stranger
"Isay!"saidJaffers,broughtupshortbyadimrealizationoftheincongruityofthewholebusiness, "Darnit!Can'tuse'emasIcansee."
Thestrangerranhisarmdownhiswaistcoat,andasifbyamiraclethebuttonstowhichhisemptysleevepointedbecameundone. Thenhesaidsomethingabouthisshin,andstoopeddown. Heseemedtobefumblingwithhisshoesandsocks.
"Why!"saidHuxter,suddenly,"that'snotamanatall. It'sjustemptyclothes. Look!Youcanseedownhiscollarandtheliningsofhisclothes. Icouldputmyarm—"
Heextendedhishand;itseemedtomeetsomethinginmid-air,andhedrewitbackwithasharpexclamation. "Iwishyou'dkeepyourfingersoutofmyeye,"saidtheaerialvoice,inatoneofsavageexpostulation. "Thefactis,I'mallhere—head,hands,legs,andalltherestofit,butithappensI'minvisible. It'saconfoundednuisance,butIam. That'snoreasonwhyIshouldbepokedtopiecesbyeverystupidbumpkininIping,isit?"
Thesuitofclothes,nowallunbuttonedandhanginglooselyuponitsunseensupports,stoodup,armsakimbo.
Severalotherofthemenfolkshadnowenteredtheroom,sothatitwascloselycrowded. "Invisible,eh?"saidHuxter,ignoringthestranger'sabuse. "Whoeverheardthelikesofthat?"
"It'sstrange,perhaps,butit'snotacrime. WhyamIassaultedbyapolicemaninthisfashion?"
