Человек-невидимка
In Oxford Street
InamomentIshouldbewedgedintoacrowdandinevitablydiscovered. Ipushedbyabutcherboy,wholuckilydidnotturntoseethenothingnessthatshovedhimaside,anddodgedbehindthecab-man'sfour-wheeler. Idonotknowhowtheysettledthebusiness. Ihurriedstraightacrosstheroad,whichwashappilyclear,andhardlyheedingwhichwayIwent,inthefrightofdetectiontheincidenthadgivenme,plungedintotheafternoonthrongofOxfordStreet.
"Itriedtogetintothestreamofpeople,buttheyweretoothickforme,andinamomentmyheelswerebeingtroddenupon. Itooktothegutter,theroughnessofwhichIfoundpainfultomyfeet,andforthwiththeshaftofacrawlinghansomdugmeforciblyundertheshoulderblade,remindingmethatIwasalreadybruisedseverely. Istaggeredoutofthewayofthecab,avoidedaperambulatorbyaconvulsivemovement,andfoundmyselfbehindthehansom. Ahappythoughtsavedme,andasthisdroveslowlyalongIfollowedinitsimmediatewake,tremblingandastonishedattheturnofmyadventure. Andnotonlytrembling,butshivering. ItwasabrightdayinJanuaryandIwasstarknakedandthethinslimeofmudthatcoveredtheroadwasfreezing. Foolishasitseemstomenow,Ihadnotreckonedthat,transparentornot,Iwasstillamenabletotheweatherandallitsconsequences.
"Thensuddenlyabrightideacameintomyhead. Iranroundandgotintothecab.
