Человек-невидимка
The Strange Man’s Arrival
Andhimanewguestandwantingtostay! Thenshefilledthemustardpot,and,puttingitwithacertainstatelinessuponagoldandblacktea-tray,carrieditintotheparlour.
Sherappedandenteredpromptly. Asshedidsohervisitormovedquickly,sothatshegotbutaglimpseofawhiteobjectdisappearingbehindthetable. Itwouldseemhewaspickingsomethingfromthefloor. Sherappeddownthemustardpotonthetable,andthenshenoticedtheovercoatandhathadbeentakenoffandputoverachairinfrontofthefire,andapairofwetbootsthreatenedrusttohersteelfender. Shewenttothesethingsresolutely. "IsupposeImayhavethemtodrynow,"shesaidinavoicethatbrookednodenial.
"Leavethehat,"saidhervisitor,inamuffledvoice,andturningshesawhehadraisedhisheadandwassittingandlookingather.
Foramomentshestoodgapingathim,toosurprisedtospeak.
Heheldawhitecloth—itwasaserviettehehadbroughtwithhim—overthelowerpartofhisface,sothathismouthandjawswerecompletelyhidden,andthatwasthereasonofhismuffledvoice. ButitwasnotthatwhichstartledMrs.Hall. Itwasthefactthatallhisforeheadabovehisblueglasseswascoveredbyawhitebandage,andthatanothercoveredhisears,leavingnotascrapofhisfaceexposedexceptingonlyhispink,peakednose. Itwasbright,pink,andshinyjustasithadbeenatfirst. Heworeadark-brownvelvetjacketwithahigh,black,linen-linedcollarturnedupabouthisneck. Thethickblackhair,escapingasitcouldbelowandbetweenthecrossbandages,projectedincurioustailsandhorns,givinghimthestrangestappearanceconceivable. Thismuffledandbandagedheadwassounlikewhatshehadanticipated,thatforamomentshewasrigid.
