Человек-невидимка
The Burglary at the Vicarage
OnethingkeptMr.Bunting'scourage;thepersuasionthatthisburglarwasaresidentinthevillage.
Theyheardthechinkofmoney,andrealisedthattherobberhadfoundthehousekeepingreserveofgold—twopoundsteninhalfsovereignsaltogether. AtthatsoundMr.Buntingwasnervedtoabruptaction. Grippingthepokerfirmly,herushedintotheroom,closelyfollowedbyMrs.Bunting. "Surrender!"criedMr.Bunting,fiercely,andthenstoopedamazed.Apparentlytheroomwasperfectlyempty.
Yettheirconvictionthattheyhad,thatverymoment,heardsomebodymovingintheroomhadamountedtoacertainty. Forhalfaminute,perhaps,theystoodgaping,thenMrs.Buntingwentacrosstheroomandlookedbehindthescreen,whileMr.Bunting,byakindredimpulse,peeredunderthedesk. ThenMrs.Buntingturnedbackthewindow-curtains,andMr.Buntinglookedupthechimneyandprobeditwiththepoker. ThenMrs.Buntingscrutinisedthewaste-paperbasketandMr.Buntingopenedthelidofthecoal-scuttle. Thentheycametoastopandstoodwitheyesinterrogatingeachother.
"Icouldhavesworn—"saidMr.Bunting.
"Thecandle!"saidMr.Bunting."Wholitthecandle?"
"Thedrawer!"saidMrs.Bunting."Andthemoney'sgone!"
Shewenthastilytothedoorway.
"Ofallthestrangeoccurrences—"
Therewasaviolentsneezeinthepassage. Theyrushedout,andastheydidsothekitchendoorslammed.
