Mr. Marvel Discusses His Resignation

           WhentheduskwasgatheringandIpingwasjustbeginningtopeeptimorouslyforthagainupontheshatteredwreckageofitsBankHoliday,ashort,thick-setmaninashabbysilkhatwasmarchingpainfullythroughthetwilightbehindthebeechwoodsontheroadtoBramblehurst. Hecarriedthreebooksboundtogetherbysomesortofornamentalelasticligature,andabundlewrappedinabluetable-cloth. Hisrubicundfaceexpressedconsternationandfatigue;heappearedtobeinaspasmodicsortofhurry. Hewasaccompaniedbyavoiceotherthanhisown,andeverandagainhewincedunderthetouchofunseenhands. 

           "Ifyougivemetheslipagain,"saidtheVoice,"ifyouattempttogivemetheslipagain—" 

           "Lord!"saidMr.Marvel."Thatshoulder'samassofbruisesasitis." 

           "Onmyhonour,"saidtheVoice,"Iwillkillyou." 

           "Ididn'ttrytogiveyoutheslip,"saidMarvel,inavoicethatwasnotfarremotefromtears. "IswearIdidn't.Ididn'tknowtheblessedturning,thatwasall!HowthedevilwasItoknowtheblessedturning? Asitis,I'vebeenknockedabout—" 

           "You'llgetknockedaboutagreatdealmoreifyoudon'tmind,"saidtheVoice,andMr.Marvelabruptlybecamesilent. Heblewouthischeeks,andhiseyeswereeloquentofdespair. 

           "It'sbadenoughtolettheseflounderingyokelsexplodemylittlesecret,withoutyourcuttingoffwithmybooks. It'sluckyforsomeofthemtheycutandranwhentheydid!HereamI... NooneknewIwasinvisible!AndnowwhatamItodo?"