Человек-невидимка
In the “Coach and Horses”
Hepointedtothemiddleofthepage. Mr.Buntingflushedslightlyandbroughthisfacenearer,apparentlyfindingsomedifficultywithhisglasses. Suddenlyhebecameawareofastrangefeelingatthenapeofhisneck. Hetriedtoraisehishead,andencounteredanimmovableresistance. Thefeelingwasacuriouspressure,thegripofaheavy,firmhand,anditborehischinirresistiblytothetable. "Don'tmove,littlemen,"whisperedavoice,"orI'llbrainyouboth!" HelookedintothefaceofCuss,closetohisown,andeachsawahorrifiedreflectionofhisownsicklyastonishment.
"I'msorrytohandleyousoroughly,"saidtheVoice,"butit'sunavoidable."
"Sincewhendidyoulearntopryintoaninvestigator'sprivatememoranda,"saidtheVoice;andtwochinsstruckthetablesimultaneously,andtwosetsofteethrattled.
"Sincewhendidyoulearntoinvadetheprivateroomsofamaninmisfortune?"andtheconcussionwasrepeated.
"Wherehavetheyputmyclothes?"
"Listen,"saidtheVoice. "ThewindowsarefastenedandI'vetakenthekeyoutofthedoor. Iamafairlystrongman,andIhavethepokerhandy—besidesbeinginvisible. There'snottheslightestdoubtthatIcouldkillyoubothandgetawayquiteeasilyifIwantedto—doyouunderstand? Verywell.IfIletyougowillyoupromisenottotryanynonsenseanddowhatItellyou?"
Thevicarandthedoctorlookedatoneanother,andthedoctorpulledaface. "Yes,"saidMr.Bunting, andthedoctorrepeatedit. Thenthepressureonthenecksrelaxed,andthedoctorandthevicarsatup,bothveryredinthefaceandwrigglingtheirheads.
