Людина-невидимка

           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!"