Людина-невидимка

           "I'llseewhatthereistoeatdownstairs,"saidKemp."Notmuch,I'mafraid." 

           Afterhehaddoneeating,andhemadeaheavymeal,theInvisibleMandemandedacigar. HebittheendsavagelybeforeKempcouldfindaknife,andcursedwhentheouterleafloosened. Itwasstrangetoseehimsmoking; hismouth,andthroat,pharynxandnares,becamevisibleasasortofwhirlingsmokecast. 

           "Thisblessedgiftofsmoking!"hesaid,andpuffedvigorously. "I'mluckytohavefallenuponyou,Kemp. Youmusthelpme. Fancytumblingonyoujustnow!I'minadevilishscrape—I'vebeenmad,Ithink.ThethingsIhavebeenthrough! Butwewilldothingsyet.Letmetellyou—" 

           Hehelpedhimselftomorewhiskeyandsoda.Kempgotup,lookedabouthim,andfetchedaglassfromhisspareroom. "It'swild—butIsupposeImaydrink." 

           "Youhaven'tchangedmuch,Kemp,thesedozenyears. Youfairmendon't.Coolandmethodical—afterthefirstcollapse. Imusttellyou.Wewillworktogether!" 

           "Buthowwasitalldone?"saidKemp,"andhowdidyougetlikethis?" 

           "ForGod'ssake,letmesmokeinpeaceforalittlewhile!AndthenIwillbegintotellyou." 

           Butthestorywasnottoldthatnight. TheInvisibleMan'swristwasgrowingpainful;hewasfeverish,exhausted,andhismindcameroundtobrooduponhischasedownthehillandthestruggleabouttheinn. HespokeinfragmentsofMarvel,hesmokedfaster,hisvoicegrewangry. Kemptriedtogatherwhathecould.