Людина-невидимка

           Onthecounterpanewasamessofblood,andthesheethadbeentorn. Hehadnotnoticedthisbeforebecausehehadwalkedstraighttothedressing-table. Onthefurthersidethebedclothesweredepressedasifsomeonehadbeenrecentlysittingthere. 

           Thenhehadanoddimpressionthathehadheardalowvoicesay,"GoodHeavens!—Kemp!"ButDr.Kempwasnobelieverinvoices. 

           Hestoodstaringatthetumbledsheets. Wasthatreallyavoice? Helookedaboutagain,butnoticednothingfurtherthanthedisorderedandblood-stainedbed. Thenhedistinctlyheardamovementacrosstheroom,nearthewash-handstand. Allmen,howeverhighlyeducated,retainsomesuperstitiousinklings. Thefeelingthatiscalled"eerie"cameuponhim. Heclosedthedooroftheroom,cameforwardtothedressing-table,andputdownhisburdens. Suddenly,withastart,heperceivedacoiledandblood-stainedbandageoflinenraghanginginmid-air,betweenhimandthewash-handstand. 

           Hestaredatthisinamazement. Itwasanemptybandage,abandageproperlytiedbutquiteempty. Hewouldhaveadvancedtograspit,butatoucharrestedhim,andavoicespeakingquiteclosetohim. 

           "Kemp!"saidtheVoice. 

           "Eh?"saidKemp,withhismouthopen. 

           "Keepyournerve,"saidtheVoice."I'manInvisibleMan." 

           Kempmadenoanswerforaspace,simplystaredatthebandage. "InvisibleMan,"hesaid. 

           "IamanInvisibleMan,"repeatedtheVoice.