Людина-невидимка
At the House in Great Portland Street
AfeelingofextraordinaryelationtooktheplaceofmyangerasIsatoutsidethewindowandwatchedthesefourpeople—fortheoldladycamein,glancingsuspiciouslyaboutherlikeacat,tryingtounderstandtheriddleofmybehaviour.
"Theoldman,sofarasIcouldunderstandhispatois,agreedwiththeoldladythatIwasavivisectionist. ThesonsprotestedingarbledEnglishthatIwasanelectrician,andappealedtothedynamosandradiators. Theywereallnervousaboutmyarrival,althoughIfoundsubsequentlythattheyhadboltedthefrontdoor. Theoldladypeeredintothecupboardandunderthebed,andoneoftheyoungmenpusheduptheregisterandstaredupthechimney.Oneofmyfellowlodgers,acoster-mongerwhosharedtheoppositeroomwithabutcher,appearedonthelanding,andhewascalledinandtoldincoherentthings.
"Itoccurredtomethattheradiators,iftheyfellintothehandsofsomeacutewell-educatedperson,wouldgivemeawaytoomuch,andwatchingmyopportunity,Icameintotheroomandtiltedoneofthelittledynamosoffitsfellowonwhichitwasstanding,andsmashedbothapparatus. Then,whiletheyweretryingtoexplainthesmash,Idodgedoutoftheroomandwentsoftlydownstairs.
"Iwentintooneofthesitting-roomsandwaiteduntiltheycamedown,stillspeculatingandargumentative,allalittledisappointedatfindingno'horrors,'andallalittlepuzzledhowtheystoodlegallytowardsme. ThenIslippedupagainwithaboxofmatches,firedmyheapofpaperandrubbish,putthechairsandbeddingthereby,ledthegastotheaffair,bymeansofanindia-rubbertube,andwavingafarewelltotheroomleftitforthelasttime."
