Человек-невидимка
Mr. Cuss Interviews the Stranger
NocrimeofanymagnitudedatingfromthemiddleorendofFebruarywasknowntohaveoccurred. ElaboratedintheimaginationofMr.Gould,theprobationaryassistantintheNationalSchool,thistheorytooktheformthatthestrangerwasanAnarchistindisguise,preparingexplosives,andheresolvedtoundertakesuchdetectiveoperationsashistimepermitted. Theseconsistedforthemostpartinlookingveryhardatthestrangerwhenevertheymet,orinaskingpeoplewhohadneverseenthestranger,leadingquestionsabouthim. Buthedetectednothing.
AnotherschoolofopinionfollowedMr.Fearenside,andeitheracceptedthepiebaldvieworsomemodificationofit; as,forinstance,SilasDurgan,whowasheardtoassertthat"ifhechoosestoshowenselfatfairshe'dmakehisfortuneinnotime,"andbeingabitofatheologian,comparedthestrangertothemanwiththeonetalent. Yetanotherviewexplainedtheentirematterbyregardingthestrangerasaharmlesslunatic. Thathadtheadvantageofaccountingforeverythingstraightaway.
Betweenthesemaingroupstherewerewaverersandcompromisers. Sussexfolkhavefewsuperstitions,anditwasonlyaftertheeventsofearlyAprilthatthethoughtofthesupernaturalwasfirstwhisperedinthevillage.Eventhenitwasonlycreditedamongthewomenfolk.
Butwhatevertheythoughtofhim,peopleinIping,onthewhole,agreedindislikinghim. Hisirritability,thoughitmighthavebeencomprehensibletoanurbanbrain-worker,wasanamazingthingtothesequietSussexvillagers. Thefranticgesticulationstheysurprisednowandthen,theheadlongpaceafternightfallthatswepthimuponthemroundquietcorners,theinhumanbludgeoningofalltentativeadvancesofcuriosity,thetastefortwilightthatledtotheclosingofdoors,thepullingdownofblinds,theextinctionofcandlesandlamps—whocouldagreewithsuchgoingson?
