Людина-невидимка
The Thousand and One Bottles
Thestrangerglancedswiftlyathistorngloveandathisleg,madeasifhewouldstooptothelatter,thenturnedandrushedswiftlyupthestepsintotheinn. Theyheardhimgoheadlongacrossthepassageanduptheuncarpetedstairstohisbedroom.
"Youbrute,you!"saidFearenside,climbingoffthewaggonwithhiswhipinhishand,whilethedogwatchedhimthroughthewheel. "Comehere,"saidFearenside—"You'dbetter."
Hallhadstoodgaping. "Hewuzbit,"saidHall."I'dbettergoandseetoen,"andhetrottedafterthestranger.HemetMrs.Hallinthepassage."Carrier'sdarg,"hesaid"biten."
Hewentstraightupstairs,andthestranger'sdoorbeingajar,hepusheditopenandwasenteringwithoutanyceremony,beingofanaturallysympatheticturnofmind.
Theblindwasdownandtheroomdim.Hecaughtaglimpseofamostsingularthing,whatseemedahandlessarmwavingtowardshim,andafaceofthreehugeindeterminatespotsonwhite,verylikethefaceofapalepansy. Thenhewasstruckviolentlyinthechest,hurledback,andthedoorslammedinhisfaceandlocked. Itwassorapidthatitgavehimnotimetoobserve. Awavingofindecipherableshapes,ablow,andaconcussion. Therehestoodonthedarklittlelanding,wonderingwhatitmightbethathehadseen.
Acoupleofminutesafter,herejoinedthelittlegroupthathadformedoutsidethe"CoachandHorses." TherewasFearensidetellingaboutitalloveragainforthesecondtime;therewasMrs.Hallsayinghisdogdidn'thavenobusinesstobiteherguests;therewasHuxter,thegeneraldealerfromovertheroad,interrogative;andSandyWadgersfromtheforge,judicial; besideswomenandchildren,allofthemsayingfatuities:
