Людина-невидимка
In Drury Lane
"OfcourseIwasinafix—aninfernalfix. Andhemademewildtoo—huntingmeaboutthehouse,foolingaboutwithhisrevolver,lockingandunlockingdoors. Hewassimplyexasperating. Youdon'tblameme,doyou?Youdon'tblameme?"
"Ineverblameanyone,"saidKemp. "It'squiteoutoffashion.Whatdidyoudonext?"
"Iwashungry.DownstairsIfoundaloafandsomerankcheese—morethansufficienttosatisfymyhunger. Itooksomebrandyandwater,andthenwentuppastmyimpromptubag—hewaslyingquitestill—totheroomcontainingtheoldclothes. Thislookedoutuponthestreet,twolacecurtainsbrownwithdirtguardingthewindow. Iwentandpeeredoutthroughtheirinterstices. Outsidethedaywasbright—bycontrastwiththebrownshadowsofthedismalhouseinwhichIfoundmyself,dazzlinglybright. Abrisktrafficwasgoingby,fruitcarts,ahansom,afour-wheelerwithapileofboxes,afishmonger'scart.Iturnedwithspotsofcolourswimmingbeforemyeyestotheshadowyfixturesbehindme. Myexcitementwasgivingplacetoaclearapprehensionofmypositionagain. Theroomwasfullofafaintscentofbenzoline,used,Isuppose,incleaningthegarments.
"Ibeganasystematicsearchoftheplace. Ishouldjudgethehunchbackhadbeenaloneinthehouseforsometime. Hewasacuriousperson. EverythingthatcouldpossiblybeofservicetomeIcollectedintheclothesstoreroom,andthenImadeadeliberateselection. IfoundahandbagIthoughtasuitablepossession,andsomepowder,rouge,andsticking-plaster.
