Человек-невидимка
The Furniture That Went Mad
Atthatheturnedandhurrieddowntoher. "Janny,"hesaid,overtherailofthecellarsteps,"'tasthetruthwhatHenfreysez.'E'snotinuzroom,'een't.Andthefrontdoor'sonbolted."
AtfirstMrs.Halldidnotunderstand,andassoonasshedidsheresolvedtoseetheemptyroomforherself. Hall,stillholdingthebottle,wentfirst. "If'een'tthere,"hesaid,"'iscloseare.Andwhat's'edoin''ithout'isclose,then?'Tasamostcuriousbusiness."
Astheycameupthecellarstepstheyboth,itwasafterwardsascertained,fanciedtheyheardthefrontdooropenandshut,butseeingitclosedandnothingthere,neithersaidawordtotheotheraboutitatthetime. Mrs.Hallpassedherhusbandinthepassageandranonfirstupstairs. Someonesneezedonthestaircase. Hall,followingsixstepsbehind,thoughtthatheheardhersneeze. She,goingonfirst,wasundertheimpressionthatHallwassneezing. Sheflungopenthedoorandstoodregardingtheroom. "Ofallthecurious!"shesaid.
Sheheardasniffclosebehindherheadasitseemed,andturning,wassurprisedtoseeHalladozenfeetoffonthetopmoststair. Butinanothermomenthewasbesideher.Shebentforwardandputherhandonthepillowandthenundertheclothes.
"Cold,"shesaid."He'sbeenupthishourormore."
Asshedidso,amostextraordinarythinghappened.Thebed-clothesgatheredthemselvestogether,leaptupsuddenlyintoasortofpeak,andthenjumpedheadlongoverthebottomrail.
