Людина-невидимка
In Oxford Street
Andso,shivering,scared,andsniffingwiththefirstintimationsofacold,andwiththebruisesinthesmallofmybackgrowinguponmyattention,IdroveslowlyalongOxfordStreetandpastTottenhamCourtRoad. MymoodwasasdifferentfromthatinwhichIhadsalliedforthtenminutesagoasitispossibletoimagine. Thisinvisibilityindeed! Theonethoughtthatpossessedmewas—howwasItogetoutofthescrapeIwasin.
"WecrawledpastMudie's,andthereatallwomanwithfiveorsixyellow-labelledbookshailedmycab,andIsprangoutjustintimetoescapeher,shavingarailwayvannarrowlyinmyflight. ImadeoffuptheroadwaytoBloomsburySquare,intendingtostrikenorthpasttheMuseumandsogetintothequietdistrict. Iwasnowcruellychilled,andthestrangenessofmysituationsounnervedmethatIwhimperedasIran. AtthenorthwardcorneroftheSquarealittlewhitedogranoutofthePharmaceuticalSociety'soffices,andincontinentlymadeforme,nosedown.
"Ihadneverrealiseditbefore,butthenoseistothemindofadogwhattheeyeistothemindofaseeingman. Dogsperceivethescentofamanmovingasmenperceivehisvision. Thisbrutebeganbarkingandleaping,showing,asitseemedtome,onlytooplainlythathewasawareofme. IcrossedGreatRussellStreet,glancingovermyshoulderasIdidso,andwentsomewayalongMontagueStreetbeforeIrealisedwhatIwasrunningtowards.
