Людина-невидимка
The Thousand and One Bottles
Butoncetherewasaconcussionandasoundofbottlesringingtogetherasthoughthetablehadbeenhit,andthesmashofabottleflungviolentlydown,andthenarapidpacingathwarttheroom. Fearing"somethingwasthematter,"shewenttothedoorandlistened,notcaringtoknock.
"Ican'tgoon,"hewasraving. "Ican'tgoon.Threehundredthousand,fourhundredthousand!Thehugemultitude!Cheated!Allmylifeitmaytakeme! ...Patience!Patienceindeed!...Fool!fool!"
Therewasanoiseofhobnailsonthebricksinthebar,andMrs.Hallhadveryreluctantlytoleavetherestofhissoliloquy. Whenshereturnedtheroomwassilentagain,saveforthefaintcrepitationofhischairandtheoccasionalclinkofabottle. Itwasallover;thestrangerhadresumedwork.
Whenshetookinhisteashesawbrokenglassinthecorneroftheroomundertheconcavemirror,andagoldenstainthathadbeencarelesslywiped. Shecalledattentiontoit.
"Putitdowninthebill,"snappedhervisitor. "ForGod'ssakedon'tworryme. Ifthere'sdamagedone,putitdowninthebill,"andhewentontickingalistintheexercisebookbeforehim.
"I'lltellyousomething,"saidFearenside,mysteriously. Itwaslateintheafternoon,andtheywereinthelittlebeer-shopofIpingHanger.
"Well?"saidTeddyHenfrey.
"Thischapyou'respeakingof,whatmydogbit. Well—he'sblack. Leastways,hislegsare. Iseedthroughthetearofhistrousersandthetearofhisglove.
