Людина-невидимка
The Unveiling of the Stranger
Andinside,intheartificialdarknessoftheparlour,intowhichonlyonethinjetofsunlightpenetrated,thestranger,hungrywemustsuppose,andfearful,hiddeninhisuncomfortablehotwrappings,poredthroughhisdarkglassesuponhispaperorchinkedhisdirtylittlebottles,andoccasionallysworesavagelyattheboys,audibleifinvisible,outsidethewindows. Inthecornerbythefireplacelaythefragmentsofhalfadozensmashedbottles,andapungenttwangofchlorinetaintedtheair. Somuchweknowfromwhatwasheardatthetimeandfromwhatwassubsequentlyseenintheroom.
Aboutnoonhesuddenlyopenedhisparlourdoorandstoodglaringfixedlyatthethreeorfourpeopleinthebar. "Mrs.Hall,"hesaid. SomebodywentsheepishlyandcalledforMrs.Hall.
Mrs.Hallappearedafteraninterval,alittleshortofbreath,butallthefiercerforthat. Hallwasstillout. Shehaddeliberatedoverthisscene,andshecameholdingalittletraywithanunsettledbilluponit. "Isityourbillyou'rewanting,sir?"shesaid.
"Whywasn'tmybreakfastlaid? Whyhaven'tyoupreparedmymealsandansweredmybell? DoyouthinkIlivewithouteating?"
"Whyisn'tmybillpaid?"saidMrs.Hall. "That'swhatIwanttoknow."
"ItoldyouthreedaysagoIwasawaitingaremittance—"
