Людина-невидимка
In the Emporium
Andthenanumberofbriskyoungmenbeganwithremarkablealacritytotidyupthegoodsthatremaineddisturbed. Ileftmylairasthecrowdsdiminished,andprowledcautiouslyoutintothelessdesolatepartsoftheshop. Iwasreallysurprisedtoobservehowrapidlytheyoungmenandwomenwhippedawaythegoodsdisplayedforsaleduringtheday. Alltheboxesofgoods,thehangingfabrics,thefestoonsoflace,theboxesofsweetsinthegrocerysection,thedisplaysofthisandthat,werebeingwhippeddown,foldedup,slappedintotidyreceptacles,andeverythingthatcouldnotbetakendownandputawayhadsheetsofsomecoarsestufflikesackingflungoverthem. Finallyallthechairswereturnedupontothecounters,leavingthefloorclear. Directlyeachoftheseyoungpeoplehaddone,heorshemadepromptlyforthedoorwithsuchanexpressionofanimationasIhaverarelyobservedinashopassistantbefore. Thencamealotofyoungstersscatteringsawdustandcarryingpailsandbrooms. Ihadtododgetogetoutoftheway,andasitwas,myanklegotstungwiththesawdust. Forsometime,wanderingthroughtheswathedanddarkeneddepartments,Icouldhearthebroomsatwork. Andatlastagoodhourormoreaftertheshophadbeenclosed,cameanoiseoflockingdoors. Silencecameupontheplace,andIfoundmyselfwanderingthroughthevastandintricateshops,galleries,show-roomsoftheplace,alone. Itwasverystill;inoneplaceIrememberpassingnearoneoftheTottenhamCourtRoadentrancesandlisteningtothetappingofboot-heelsofthepassers-by.
