Людина-невидимка
The Unveiling of the Stranger
Thatseemedtoannoythestrangerverymuch. Hestampedhisfoot. "Whatdoyoumean?"hesaid.
"ThatIwonderwhereyoufoundit,"saidMrs.Hall. "AndbeforeItakeanybillsorgetanybreakfasts,ordoanysuchthingswhatsoever,yougottotellmeoneortwothingsIdon'tunderstand,andwhatnobodydon'tunderstand,andwhateverybodyisveryanxioustounderstand. Iwanttoknowwhatyoubeendoingt'mychairupstairs,andIwanttoknowhow'tisyourroomwasempty,andhowyougotinagain. Themasstopsinthishousecomesinbythedoors—that'stheruleofthehouse,andthatyoudidn'tdo,andwhatIwanttoknowishowyoudidcomein.AndIwanttoknow—"
Suddenlythestrangerraisedhisglovedhandsclenched,stampedhisfoot,andsaid,"Stop!"withsuchextraordinaryviolencethathesilencedherinstantly.
"Youdon'tunderstand,"hesaid,"whoIamorwhatIam. I'llshowyou.ByHeaven!I'llshowyou." Thenheputhisopenpalmoverhisfaceandwithdrewit. Thecentreofhisfacebecameablackcavity. "Here,"hesaid.HesteppedforwardandhandedMrs.Hallsomethingwhichshe,staringathismetamorphosedface,acceptedautomatically. Then,whenshesawwhatitwas,shescreamedloudly,droppedit,andstaggeredback. Thenose—itwasthestranger'snose!pinkandshining—rolledonthefloor.
Thenheremovedhisspectacles,andeveryoneinthebargasped. Hetookoffhishat,andwithaviolentgesturetoreathiswhiskersandbandages. Foramomenttheyresistedhim. Aflashofhorribleanticipationpassedthroughthebar. "Oh,myGard!"saidsomeone. Thenofftheycame.
