Человек-невидимка
Mr. Marvel’s Visit to Iping
Inthecourseofafewminuteshereappeared,wipinghislipswiththebackofhishandwithanairofquietsatisfactionthatsomehowimpressedMr.Huxterasassumed. Hestoodlookingabouthimforsomemoments,andthenMr.Huxtersawhimwalkinanoddlyfurtivemannertowardsthegatesoftheyard,uponwhichtheparlourwindowopened. Thestranger,aftersomehesitation,leantagainstoneofthegate-posts,producedashortclaypipe,andpreparedtofillit. Hisfingerstrembledwhiledoingso. Helititclumsily,andfoldinghisarmsbegantosmokeinalanguidattitude,anattitudewhichhisoccasionalglancesuptheyardaltogetherbelied.
AllthisMr.Huxtersawoverthecanistersofthetobaccowindow,andthesingularityoftheman'sbehaviourpromptedhimtomaintainhisobservation.
Presentlythestrangerstoodupabruptlyandputhispipeinhispocket.Thenhevanishedintotheyard. ForthwithMr.Huxter,conceivinghewaswitnessofsomepettylarceny,leaptroundhiscounterandranoutintotheroadtointerceptthethief. Ashedidso,Mr.Marvelreappeared,hishataskew,abigbundleinabluetable-clothinonehand,andthreebookstiedtogether—asitprovedafterwardswiththeVicar'sbraces—intheother. DirectlyhesawHuxterhegaveasortofgasp,andturningsharplytotheleft,begantorun. "Stop,thief!"criedHuxter,andsetoffafterhim. Mr.Huxter'ssensationswerevividbutbrief. Hesawthemanjustbeforehimandspurtingbrisklyforthechurchcornerandthehillroad. Hesawthevillageflagsandfestivitiesbeyond,andafaceorsoturnedtowardshim. Hebawled,"Stop!"again. Hehadhardlygonetenstridesbeforehisshinwascaughtinsomemysteriousfashion,andhewasnolongerrunning,butflyingwithinconceivablerapiditythroughtheair.
