Людина-невидимка
Mr. Thomas Marvel
"What,reallike?"
"Yes,real."
"Let'shaveahandofyou,"saidMarvel,"ifyouarereal. Itwon'tbesodarnout-of-the-waylike,then—Lord!"hesaid,"howyoumademejump!—grippingmelikethat!"
Hefeltthehandthathadclosedroundhiswristwithhisdisengagedfingers,andhisfingerswenttimorouslyupthearm,pattedamuscularchest,andexploredabeardedface. Marvel'sfacewasastonishment.
"I'mdashed!"hesaid."Ifthisdon'tbeatcock-fighting! Mostremarkable!—AndthereIcanseearabbitcleanthroughyou,'arfamileaway!Notabitofyouvisible—except—"
Hescrutinisedtheapparentlyemptyspacekeenly. "You'aven'tbeeneatin'breadandcheese?"heasked,holdingtheinvisiblearm.
"You'requiteright,andit'snotquiteassimilatedintothesystem."
"Ah!"saidMr.Marvel."Sortofghostly,though."
"Ofcourse,allthisisn'thalfsowonderfulasyouthink."
"It'squitewonderfulenoughformymodestwants,"saidMr.ThomasMarvel. "Howjermanageit!Howthedooceisitdone?"
"It'stoolongastory.Andbesides—"
"Itellyou,thewholebusinessfairlybeatsme,"saidMr.Marvel.