Людина-невидимка

           Hegotupslowly,leavinghislunchunfinished—theletterhadcomebytheoneo'clockpost—andwentintohisstudy. Herangforhishousekeeper,andtoldhertogoroundthehouseatonce,examineallthefasteningsofthewindows,andclosealltheshutters. Heclosedtheshuttersofhisstudyhimself. Fromalockeddrawerinhisbedroomhetookalittlerevolver,examineditcarefully,andputitintothepocketofhisloungejacket. Hewroteanumberofbriefnotes,onetoColonelAdye,gavethemtohisservanttotake,withexplicitinstructionsastoherwayofleavingthehouse. "Thereisnodanger,"hesaid,andaddedamentalreservation,"toyou." Heremainedmeditativeforaspaceafterdoingthis,andthenreturnedtohiscoolinglunch. 

           Heatewithgapsofthought. Finallyhestruckthetablesharply. "Wewillhavehim!"hesaid;"andIamthebait.Hewillcometoofar." 

           Hewentuptothebelvedere,carefullyshuttingeverydoorafterhim. "It'sagame,"hesaid,"anoddgame—butthechancesareallforme,Mr.Griffin,inspiteofyourinvisibility. Griffincontramundum...withavengeance." 

           Hestoodatthewindowstaringatthehothillside. "Hemustgetfoodeveryday—andIdon'tenvyhim. Didhereallysleeplastnight? Outintheopensomewhere—securefromcollisions. Iwishwecouldgetsomegoodcoldwetweatherinsteadoftheheat. 

           "Hemaybewatchingmenow." 

           Hewentclosetothewindow. Somethingrappedsmartlyagainstthebrickworkovertheframe,andmadehimstartviolentlyback.