Человек-невидимка
The Plan That Failed
"Certainly,"saidKemp,alittlenervously,wonderingifheheardfootstepsoutside. "Certainlywemustgetthosebooks. Butthatwon'tbedifficult,ifhedoesn'tknowthey'reforyou."
"No,"saidtheInvisibleMan,andthought.
Kemptriedtothinkofsomethingtokeepthetalkgoing,buttheInvisibleManresumedofhisownaccord.
"Blunderingintoyourhouse,Kemp,"hesaid,"changesallmyplans. Foryouareamanthatcanunderstand. Inspiteofallthathashappened,inspiteofthispublicity,ofthelossofmybooks,ofwhatIhavesuffered,therestillremaingreatpossibilities,hugepossibilities—"
"YouhavetoldnooneIamhere?"heaskedabruptly.
Kemphesitated."Thatwasimplied,"hesaid.
"Noone?"insistedGriffin.
"Notasoul."
"Ah!Now—"TheInvisibleManstoodup,andstickinghisarmsakimbobegantopacethestudy.
"Imadeamistake,Kemp,ahugemistake,incarryingthisthingthroughalone.Ihavewastedstrength,time,opportunities. Alone—itiswonderfulhowlittleamancandoalone! Torobalittle,tohurtalittle,andthereistheend.
"WhatIwant,Kemp,isagoal-keeper,ahelper,andahiding-place,anarrangementwherebyIcansleepandeatandrestinpeace,andunsuspected. Imusthaveaconfederate.Withaconfederate,withfoodandrest—athousandthingsarepossible.
"HithertoIhavegoneonvaguelines. Wehavetoconsiderallthatinvisibilitymeans,allthatitdoesnotmean. Itmeanslittleadvantageforeavesdroppingandsoforth—onemakessounds.
