Человек-невидимка
The Siege of Kemp’s House
Hegotupslowly,leavinghislunchunfinished—theletterhadcomebytheoneo'clockpost—andwentintohisstudy. Herangforhishousekeeper,andtoldhertogoroundthehouseatonce,examineallthefasteningsofthewindows,andclosealltheshutters. Heclosedtheshuttersofhisstudyhimself. Fromalockeddrawerinhisbedroomhetookalittlerevolver,examineditcarefully,andputitintothepocketofhisloungejacket. Hewroteanumberofbriefnotes,onetoColonelAdye,gavethemtohisservanttotake,withexplicitinstructionsastoherwayofleavingthehouse. "Thereisnodanger,"hesaid,andaddedamentalreservation,"toyou." Heremainedmeditativeforaspaceafterdoingthis,andthenreturnedtohiscoolinglunch.
Heatewithgapsofthought. Finallyhestruckthetablesharply. "Wewillhavehim!"hesaid;"andIamthebait.Hewillcometoofar."
Hewentuptothebelvedere,carefullyshuttingeverydoorafterhim. "It'sagame,"hesaid,"anoddgame—butthechancesareallforme,Mr.Griffin,inspiteofyourinvisibility. Griffincontramundum...withavengeance."
Hestoodatthewindowstaringatthehothillside. "Hemustgetfoodeveryday—andIdon'tenvyhim. Didhereallysleeplastnight? Outintheopensomewhere—securefromcollisions. Iwishwecouldgetsomegoodcoldwetweatherinsteadoftheheat.
"Hemaybewatchingmenow."
Hewentclosetothewindow. Somethingrappedsmartlyagainstthebrickworkovertheframe,andmadehimstartviolentlyback.
