Людина-невидимка
Mr. Cuss Interviews the Stranger
Herarelywentabroadbydaylight,butattwilighthewouldgooutmuffledupinvisibly,whethertheweatherwerecoldornot,andhechosetheloneliestpathsandthosemostovershadowedbytreesandbanks. Hisgogglingspectaclesandghastlybandagedfaceunderthepenthouseofhishat,camewithadisagreeablesuddennessoutofthedarknessupononeortwohome-goinglabourers,andTeddyHenfrey,tumblingoutofthe"ScarletCoat"onenight,athalf-pastnine,wasscaredshamefullybythestranger'sskull-likehead(hewaswalkinghatinhand)litbythesuddenlightoftheopenedinndoor. Suchchildrenassawhimatnightfalldreamtofbogies,anditseemeddoubtfulwhetherhedislikedboysmorethantheydislikedhim,orthereverse;buttherewascertainlyavividenoughdislikeoneitherside.
ItwasinevitablethatapersonofsoremarkableanappearanceandbearingshouldformafrequenttopicinsuchavillageasIping. Opinionwasgreatlydividedabouthisoccupation. Mrs.Hallwassensitiveonthepoint. Whenquestioned,sheexplainedverycarefullythathewasan"experimentalinvestigator,"goinggingerlyoverthesyllablesasonewhodreadspitfalls. Whenaskedwhatanexperimentalinvestigatorwas,shewouldsaywithatouchofsuperioritythatmosteducatedpeopleknewsuchthingsasthat,andwouldthusexplainthathe"discoveredthings." Hervisitorhadhadanaccident,shesaid,whichtemporarilydiscolouredhisfaceandhands,andbeingofasensitivedisposition,hewasaversetoanypublicnoticeofthefact.
Outofherhearingtherewasaviewlargelyentertainedthathewasacriminaltryingtoescapefromjusticebywrappinghimselfupsoastoconcealhimselfaltogetherfromtheeyeofthepolice. ThisideasprangfromthebrainofMr.TeddyHenfrey.
