Человек-невидимка
The Strange Man’s Arrival
Sheputonsomemorecoal,unfoldedtheclothes-horse,andextendedthetraveller'scoatuponthis. "Andtheygoggles!Why,helookedmorelikeadivin'helmetthanahumanman!" Shehunghismuffleronacornerofthehorse. "Andholdingthathandkerchiefoverhismouthallthetime.Talkin'throughit!...Perhapshismouthwashurttoo—maybe."
Sheturnedround,asonewhosuddenlyremembers."Blessmysoulalive!"shesaid,goingoffatatangent;"ain'tyoudonethemtatersyet,Millie?"
WhenMrs.Hallwenttoclearawaythestranger'slunch,herideathathismouthmustalsohavebeencutordisfiguredintheaccidentshesupposedhimtohavesuffered,wasconfirmed,forhewassmokingapipe,andallthetimethatshewasintheroomheneverloosenedthesilkmufflerhehadwrappedroundthelowerpartofhisfacetoputthemouthpiecetohislips. Yetitwasnotforgetfulness,forshesawheglancedatitasitsmoulderedout. Hesatinthecornerwithhisbacktothewindow-blindandspokenow,havingeatenanddrunkandbeingcomfortablywarmedthrough,withlessaggressivebrevitythanbefore. Thereflectionofthefirelentakindofredanimationtohisbigspectaclestheyhadlackedhitherto.
"Ihavesomeluggage,"hesaid,"atBramblehurststation,"andheaskedherhowhecouldhaveitsent. Hebowedhisbandagedheadquitepolitelyinacknowledgmentofherexplanation."To-morrow?"hesaid."Thereisnospeedierdelivery?"andseemedquitedisappointedwhensheanswered,"No." Wasshequitesure?Nomanwithatrapwhowouldgoover?
Mrs.Hall,nothingloath,answeredhisquestionsanddevelopedaconversation. "It'sasteeproadbythedown,sir,"shesaidinanswertothequestionaboutatrap;andthen,snatchingatanopening,said,"Itwasthereacarriagewasupsettled,ayearagoandmore.Agentlemankilled,besideshiscoachman.Accidents,sir,happeninamoment,don'tthey?"
