Людина-невидимка
At the House in Great Portland Street
"It'sveryprobablybeenkilled,"saidtheInvisibleMan. "Itwasalivefourdaysafter,Iknow,anddownagratinginGreatTitchfieldStreet;becauseIsawacrowdroundtheplace,tryingtoseewhencethemiaowingcame."
Hewassilentforthebestpartofaminute.Thenheresumedabruptly:
"Irememberthatmorningbeforethechangeveryvividly. ImusthavegoneupGreatPortlandStreet. IrememberthebarracksinAlbanyStreet,andthehorsesoldierscomingout,andatlastIfoundthesummitofPrimroseHill. ItwasasunnydayinJanuary—oneofthosesunny,frostydaysthatcamebeforethesnowthisyear. Mywearybraintriedtoformulatetheposition,toplotoutaplanofaction.
"Iwassurprisedtofind,nowthatmyprizewaswithinmygrasp,howinconclusiveitsattainmentseemed. AsamatteroffactIwasworkedout;theintensestressofnearlyfouryears'continuousworkleftmeincapableofanystrengthoffeeling. Iwasapathetic,andItriedinvaintorecovertheenthusiasmofmyfirstinquiries,thepassionofdiscoverythathadenabledmetocompasseventhedownfallofmyfather'sgreyhairs. Nothingseemedtomatter. Isawprettyclearlythiswasatransientmood,duetooverworkandwantofsleep,andthateitherbydrugsorrestitwouldbepossibletorecovermyenergies.
"AllIcouldthinkclearlywasthatthethinghadtobecarriedthrough;thefixedideastillruledme. Andsoon,forthemoneyIhadwasalmostexhausted.
