The Plan That Failed

           "Butnow,"saidKemp,withasideglanceoutofthewindow,"whatarewetodo?" 

           Hemovednearerhisguestashespokeinsuchamannerastopreventthepossibilityofasuddenglimpseofthethreemenwhowereadvancingupthehillroad—withanintolerableslowness,asitseemedtoKemp. 

           "WhatwereyouplanningtodowhenyouwereheadingforPortBurdock? Hadyouanyplan?" 

           "Iwasgoingtoclearoutofthecountry. ButIhavealteredthatplanrathersinceseeingyou. Ithoughtitwouldbewise,nowtheweatherishotandinvisibilitypossible,tomakefortheSouth. Especiallyasmysecretwasknown,andeveryonewouldbeonthelookoutforamaskedandmuffledman. YouhavealineofsteamersfromheretoFrance. Myideawastogetaboardoneandruntherisksofthepassage. ThenceIcouldgobytrainintoSpain,orelsegettoAlgiers. Itwouldnotbedifficult. Thereamanmightalwaysbeinvisible—andyetlive.Anddothings. Iwasusingthattrampasamoneyboxandluggagecarrier,untilIdecidedhowtogetmybooksandthingssentovertomeetme." 

           "That'sclear." 

           "Andthenthefilthybrutemustneedstryandrobme!Hehashiddenmybooks,Kemp.Hiddenmybooks!IfIcanlaymyhandsonhim!" 

           "Bestplantogetthebooksoutofhimfirst." 

           "Butwhereishe?Doyouknow?" 

           "He'sinthetownpolicestation,lockedup,byhisownrequest,inthestrongestcellintheplace." 

           "Cur!"saidtheInvisibleMan. 

           "Butthathangsupyourplansalittle." 

           "Wemustgetthosebooks;thosebooksarevital."