Людина-невидимка
At the House in Great Portland Street
Itceased,footstepswentawayandreturned,andtheknockingwasresumed. Therewasanattempttopushsomethingunderthedoor—abluepaper. TheninafitofirritationIroseandwentandflungthedoorwideopen.'Nowthen?'saidI.
"Itwasmylandlord,withanoticeofejectmentorsomething. Hehelditouttome,sawsomethingoddaboutmyhands,Iexpect,andliftedhiseyestomyface.
"Foramomenthegaped.Thenhegaveasortofinarticulatecry,droppedcandleandwrittogether,andwentblunderingdownthedarkpassagetothestairs. Ishutthedoor,lockedit,andwenttothelooking-glass. ThenIunderstoodhisterror....Myfacewaswhite—likewhitestone.
"Butitwasallhorrible.Ihadnotexpectedthesuffering. Anightofrackinganguish,sicknessandfainting. Isetmyteeth,thoughmyskinwaspresentlyafire,allmybodyafire;butIlaytherelikegrimdeath. IunderstoodnowhowitwasthecathadhowleduntilIchloroformedit. LuckyitwasIlivedaloneanduntendedinmyroom. ThereweretimeswhenIsobbedandgroanedandtalked. ButIstucktoit....Ibecameinsensibleandwokelanguidinthedarkness.
"Thepainhadpassed.IthoughtIwaskillingmyselfandIdidnotcare. Ishallneverforgetthatdawn,andthestrangehorrorofseeingthatmyhandshadbecomeascloudedglass,andwatchingthemgrowclearerandthinnerasthedaywentby,untilatlastIcouldseethesicklydisorderofmyroomthroughthem,thoughIclosedmytransparenteyelids.
