Людина-невидимка
Mr. Teddy Henfrey’s First Impressions
"Looksabitlikeadisguise,don'tit?I'dliketoseeaman'sfaceifIhadhimstoppinginmyplace,"saidHenfrey. "Butwomenarethattrustful—wherestrangersareconcerned. He'stookyourroomsandheain'tevengivenaname,Hall."
"Youdon'tsayso!"saidHall,whowasamanofsluggishapprehension.
"Yes,"saidTeddy."Bytheweek.Whateverheis,youcan'tgetridofhimundertheweek. Andhe'sgotalotofluggagecomingto-morrow,sohesays. Let'shopeitwon'tbestonesinboxes,Hall."
HetoldHallhowhisauntatHastingshadbeenswindledbyastrangerwithemptyportmanteaux.AltogetherheleftHallvaguelysuspicious. "Getup,oldgirl,"saidHall."Is'poseImustsee'boutthis."
Teddytrudgedonhiswaywithhismindconsiderablyrelieved.
Insteadof"seeing'boutit,"however,HallonhisreturnwasseverelyratedbyhiswifeonthelengthoftimehehadspentinSidderbridge,andhismildinquirieswereansweredsnappishlyandinamannernottothepoint. ButtheseedofsuspicionTeddyhadsowngerminatedinthemindofMr.Hallinspiteofthesediscouragements. "Youwim'don'tknoweverything,"saidMr.Hall,resolvedtoascertainmoreaboutthepersonalityofhisguestattheearliestpossibleopportunity. Andafterthestrangerhadgonetobed,whichhedidabouthalf-pastnine,Mr.Hallwentveryaggressivelyintotheparlourandlookedveryhardathiswife'sfurniture,justtoshowthatthestrangerwasn'tmasterthere,andscrutinisedcloselyandalittlecontemptuouslyasheetofmathematicalcomputationsthestrangerhadleft. WhenretiringforthenightheinstructedMrs.Halltolookverycloselyatthestranger'sluggagewhenitcamenextday.
