Человек-невидимка
In Drury Lane
Iturnedabout,nolongeraimless,andwent—circuitouslyinordertoavoidthebusyways,towardsthebackstreetsnorthoftheStrand; forIremembered,thoughnotverydistinctlywhere,thatsometheatricalcostumiershadshopsinthatdistrict.
"Thedaywascold,withanippingwinddownthenorthwardrunningstreets. Iwalkedfasttoavoidbeingovertaken. Everycrossingwasadanger,everypassengerathingtowatchalertly. OnemanasIwasabouttopasshimatthetopofBedfordStreet,turneduponmeabruptlyandcameintome,sendingmeintotheroadandalmostunderthewheelofapassinghansom. Theverdictofthecab-rankwasthathehadhadsomesortofstroke. IwassounnervedbythisencounterthatIwentintoCoventGardenMarketandsatdownforsometimeinaquietcornerbyastallofviolets,pantingandtrembling. IfoundIhadcaughtafreshcold,andhadtoturnoutafteratimelestmysneezesshouldattractattention.
"AtlastIreachedtheobjectofmyquest,adirty,fly-blownlittleshopinaby-waynearDruryLane,withawindowfulloftinselrobes,shamjewels,wigs,slippers,dominoesandtheatricalphotographs. Theshopwasold-fashionedandlowanddark,andthehouseroseaboveitforfourstoreys,darkanddismal. Ipeeredthroughthewindowand,seeingnoonewithin,entered. Theopeningofthedoorsetaclankingbellringing. Ileftitopen,andwalkedroundabarecostumestand,intoacornerbehindachevalglass. Foraminuteorsonoonecame. ThenIheardheavyfeetstridingacrossaroom,andamanappeareddowntheshop.
