Людина-невидимка
In Oxford Street
"ThenIbecameawareofablareofmusic,andlookingalongthestreetsawanumberofpeopleadvancingoutofRussellSquare,redshirts,andthebanneroftheSalvationArmytothefore. Suchacrowd,chantingintheroadwayandscoffingonthepavement,Icouldnothopetopenetrate,anddreadingtogobackandfartherfromhomeagain,anddecidingonthespurofthemoment,Iranupthewhitestepsofahousefacingthemuseumrailings,andstoodthereuntilthecrowdshouldhavepassed. Happilythedogstoppedatthenoiseofthebandtoo,hesitated,andturnedtail,runningbacktoBloomsburySquareagain.
"Oncametheband,bawlingwithunconsciousironysomehymnabout'WhenshallweseeHisface?'anditseemedaninterminabletimetomebeforethetideofthecrowdwashedalongthepavementbyme. Thud,thud,thud,camethedrumwithavibratingresonance,andforthemomentIdidnotnoticetwourchinsstoppingattherailingsbyme. 'See'em,'saidone.'Seewhat?'saidtheother.'Why—themfootmarks—bare.Likewhatyoumakesinmud.'
"IlookeddownandsawtheyoungstershadstoppedandweregapingatthemuddyfootmarksIhadleftbehindmeupthenewlywhitenedsteps. Thepassingpeopleelbowedandjostledthem,buttheirconfoundedintelligencewasarrested. 'Thud,thud,thud,when,thud,shallwesee,thud,hisface,thud,thud.' 'There'sabarefootmangoneupthemsteps,orIdon'tknownothing,'saidone.'Andheain'tnevercomedownagain.Andhisfootwasa-bleeding.'
