Людина-невидимка
The Thousand and One Bottles
"Wouldn'tletenbiteme,Iknows";"'Tasn'trighthavesuchdargs";"Whad'ebite'nfor,then?"andsoforth.
Mr.Hall,staringatthemfromthestepsandlistening,founditincrediblethathehadseenanythingsoveryremarkablehappenupstairs. Besides,hisvocabularywasaltogethertoolimitedtoexpresshisimpressions.
"Hedon'twantnohelp,hesays,"hesaidinanswertohiswife'sinquiry."We'dbetterbea-takin'ofhisluggagein."
"Heoughttohaveitcauterisedatonce,"saidMr.Huxter;"especiallyifit'satallinflamed."
"I'dshooten,that'swhatI'ddo,"saidaladyinthegroup.
Suddenlythedogbegangrowlingagain.
"Comealong,"criedanangryvoiceinthedoorway,andtherestoodthemuffledstrangerwithhiscollarturnedup,andhishat-brimbentdown. "ThesooneryougetthosethingsinthebetterI'llbepleased." Itisstatedbyananonymousbystanderthathistrousersandgloveshadbeenchanged.
"Wasyouhurt,sir?"saidFearenside."I'mraresorrythedarg—"
"Notabit,"saidthestranger."Neverbroketheskin.Hurryupwiththosethings."
Hethensworetohimself,soMr.Hallasserts.
Directlythefirstcratewas,inaccordancewithhisdirections,carriedintotheparlour,thestrangerflunghimselfuponitwithextraordinaryeagerness,andbegantounpackit,scatteringthestrawwithanutterdisregardofMrs.Hall'scarpet.
