Людина-невидимка
The Invisible Man Sleeps
Hismeditationbecameprofound. Thebulkofthreecigarshadpassedintotheinvisibleordiffusedasawhiteashoverthecarpetbeforehespokeagain. Thenitwasmerelyanexclamation. Heturnedaside,walkedoutoftheroom,andwentintohislittleconsulting-roomandlitthegasthere. Itwasalittleroom,becauseDr.Kempdidnotlivebypractice,andinitweretheday'snewspapers. Themorning'spaperlaycarelesslyopenedandthrownaside. Hecaughtitup,turneditover,andreadtheaccountofa"StrangeStoryfromIping"thatthemarineratPortStowehadspeltoversopainfullytoMr.Marvel. Kempreaditswiftly.
"Wrappedup!"saidKemp."Disguised!Hidingit!'Nooneseemstohavebeenawareofhismisfortune.'Whatthedevilishisgame?"
Hedroppedthepaper,andhiseyewentseeking."Ah!"hesaid,andcaughtuptheSt.James'Gazette,lyingfoldedupasitarrived. "Nowweshallgetatthetruth,"saidDr.Kemp.Herentthepaperopen;acoupleofcolumnsconfrontedhim. "AnEntireVillageinSussexgoesMad"wastheheading.
"GoodHeavens!"saidKemp,readingeagerlyanincredulousaccountoftheeventsinIping,ofthepreviousafternoon,thathavealreadybeendescribed. Overtheleafthereportinthemorningpaperhadbeenreprinted.
Here-readit. "Ranthroughthestreetsstrikingrightandleft. Jaffersinsensible. Mr.Huxteringreatpain—stillunabletodescribewhathesaw. Painfulhumiliation—vicar.Womanillwithterror!Windowssmashed. Thisextraordinarystoryprobablyafabrication.Toogoodnottoprint—cumgrano!"
Hedroppedthepaperandstaredblanklyinfrontofhim. "Probablyafabrication!"