Человек-невидимка
Dr. Kemp’s Visitor
"I'llseewhatthereistoeatdownstairs,"saidKemp."Notmuch,I'mafraid."
Afterhehaddoneeating,andhemadeaheavymeal,theInvisibleMandemandedacigar. HebittheendsavagelybeforeKempcouldfindaknife,andcursedwhentheouterleafloosened. Itwasstrangetoseehimsmoking; hismouth,andthroat,pharynxandnares,becamevisibleasasortofwhirlingsmokecast.
"Thisblessedgiftofsmoking!"hesaid,andpuffedvigorously. "I'mluckytohavefallenuponyou,Kemp. Youmusthelpme. Fancytumblingonyoujustnow!I'minadevilishscrape—I'vebeenmad,Ithink.ThethingsIhavebeenthrough! Butwewilldothingsyet.Letmetellyou—"
Hehelpedhimselftomorewhiskeyandsoda.Kempgotup,lookedabouthim,andfetchedaglassfromhisspareroom. "It'swild—butIsupposeImaydrink."
"Youhaven'tchangedmuch,Kemp,thesedozenyears. Youfairmendon't.Coolandmethodical—afterthefirstcollapse. Imusttellyou.Wewillworktogether!"
"Buthowwasitalldone?"saidKemp,"andhowdidyougetlikethis?"
"ForGod'ssake,letmesmokeinpeaceforalittlewhile!AndthenIwillbegintotellyou."
Butthestorywasnottoldthatnight. TheInvisibleMan'swristwasgrowingpainful;hewasfeverish,exhausted,andhismindcameroundtobrooduponhischasedownthehillandthestruggleabouttheinn. HespokeinfragmentsofMarvel,hesmokedfaster,hisvoicegrewangry. Kemptriedtogatherwhathecould.