Людина-невидимка
Mr. Thomas Marvel
"WhatIwanttosayatpresentisthis:Ineedhelp.Ihavecometothat—Icameuponyousuddenly. Iwaswandering,madwithrage,naked,impotent.Icouldhavemurdered.AndIsawyou—"
"Lord!"saidMr.Marvel.
"Icameupbehindyou—hesitated—wenton—"
Mr.Marvel'sexpressionwaseloquent.
"—thenstopped.'Here,'Isaid,'isanoutcastlikemyself.Thisisthemanforme.'SoIturnedbackandcametoyou—you.And—"
"Lord!"saidMr.Marvel."ButI'mallinatizzy.MayIask—Howisit?Andwhatyoumayberequiringinthewayofhelp?—Invisible!"
"Iwantyoutohelpmegetclothes—andshelter—andthen,withotherthings.I'veleftthemlongenough. Ifyouwon't—well!Butyouwill—must."
"Lookhere,"saidMr.Marvel."I'mtooflabbergasted. Don'tknockmeaboutanymore.Andleavemego.Imustgetsteadyabit. Andyou'veprettynearbrokenmytoe.It'sallsounreasonable.Emptydowns,emptysky. NothingvisibleformilesexceptthebosomofNature.Andthencomesavoice.Avoiceoutofheaven!Andstones!Andafist—Lord!"
"Pullyourselftogether,"saidtheVoice,"foryouhavetodothejobI'vechosenforyou."
Mr.Marvelblewouthischeeks,andhiseyeswereround.
"I'vechosenyou,"saidtheVoice."Youaretheonlymanexceptsomeofthosefoolsdownthere,whoknowsthereissuchathingasaninvisibleman.