\"GoodHeavens!\"saidKemp,readingeagerlyanincredulousaccountoftheeventsinIpingthepreviousafternoon,thathavealreadybeendescribed。
Overtheleafthereportinthemorningpaperhadbeenreprinted。
Here—readit。\"Ranthroughthestreetsstrikingrightandleft。Jaffersinsensible。Mr。Huxteringreatpain——stillunabletodescribewhathesaw。Painfulhumiliation——vicar。Womenillwithterror!Windowssmashed。
Thisextraordinarystoryprobablyafabrication。Toogoodnottoprint——cumgrano!\"
Hedroppedthepaperandstaredblanklyinfrontofhim。\"Probablyafabrication!\"
Hecaughtupthepaperagain,andre—readthewholebusiness。\"ButwheredoestheTrampcomein?WhythedeucewashechasingaTramp?\"
Hesatdownabruptlyonthesurgicalcouch。\"He’snotonlyinvisible,\"
hesaid,\"buthe’smad!Homicidal!\"
Whendawncametomingleitspallorwiththelamp—lightandcigarsmokeofthedining—room,Kempwasstillpacingupanddown,tryingtograsptheincredible。
Hewasaltogethertooexcitedtosleep。Hisservants,descendingsleepily,discoveredhim,andwereinclinedtothinkthatoverstudyhadworkedthisillonhim。Hegavethemextraordinarybutquiteexplicitinstructionstolaybreakfastfortwointhebelvederestudy——andthentoconfinethemselvestothebasementandground—floor。Thenhecontinuedtopacethedining—roomuntilthemorning’spapercame。Thathadmuchtosayandlittletotell,beyondtheconfirmationoftheeveningbeforeandaverybaldlywrittenaccountofanotherremarkabletalefromPortBurdock。ThisgaveKemptheessenceofthehappeningsattheJollyCricketers,andthenameofMarvel。
\"Hehasmademekeepwithhimtwenty—fourhours,\"Marveltestified。CertainminorfactswereaddedtotheIpingstory,notablythecuttingofthevillagetelegraph—wire。ButtherewasnothingtothrowlightontheconnectionbetweentheInvisibleManandtheTramp;forMr。Marvelhadsuppliednoinformationaboutthethreebooks,orthemoneywithwhichhewaslined。
Theincreduloustonehadvanishedandashoalofreportersandinquirerswerealreadyatworkelaboratingthematter。
Kempreadeveryscrapofthereportandsenthishousemaidouttogeteveryoneofthemorningpapersshecould。Thesealsohedevoured。
\"Heisinvisible!\"hesaid。\"Anditreadslikeragegrowingtomania!
Thethingshemaydo!Thethingshemaydo!Andhe’supstairsfreeastheair。WhatonearthoughtItodo?
\"Forinstance,woulditbeabreachoffaithif——?No。\"
Hewenttoalittleuntidydeskinthecorner,andbegananote。Hetorethisuphalfwritten,andwroteanother。Hereaditoverandconsideredit。Thenhetookanenvelopeandaddresseditto\"ColonelAdye,PortBurdock。\"
TheInvisibleManawokeevenasKempwasdoingthis。Heawokeinaneviltemper,andKemp,alertforeverysound,heardhispatteringfeetrushsuddenlyacrossthebedroomoverhead。Thenachairwasflungoverandthewash—handstandtumblersmashed。Kemphurriedupstairsandrappedeagerly。
TheInvisibleMan—Chapter19Chapter19—CertainFirstPrinciples\"What’sthematter?\"askedKemp,whentheInvisibleManadmittedhim。
\"Nothing,\"wastheanswer。
\"But,confoundit!Thesmash?\"
\"Fitoftemper,\"saidtheInvisibleMan。\"Forgotthisarm;andit’ssore。\"
\"You’reratherliabletothatsortofthing。\"
\"Iam。\"
Kempwalkedacrosstheroomandpickedupthefragmentsofbrokenglass。
\"Allthefactsareoutaboutyou,\"saidKemp,standingupwiththeglassinhishand;\"allthathappenedinIping,anddownthehill。Theworldhasbecomeawareofitsinvisiblecitizen。Butnooneknowsyouarehere。\"
TheInvisibleManswore。
\"Thesecret’sout。Igatheritwasasecret。Idon’tknowwhatyourplansare,butofcourseI’manxioustohelpyou。\"
TheInvisibleMansatdownonthebed。
\"There’sbreakfastupstairs,\"saidKemp,speakingaseasilyaspossible,andhewasdelightedtofindhisstrangeguestrosewillingly。Kempledthewayupthenarrowstaircasetothebelvedere。
\"Beforewecandoanythingelse,\"saidKemp,\"Imustunderstandalittlemoreaboutthisinvisibilityofyours。\"Hehadsatdown,afteronenervousglanceoutofthewindow,withtheairofamanwhohastalkingtodo。
HisdoubtsofthesanityoftheentirebusinessflashedandvanishedagainashelookedacrosstowhereGriffinsatatthebreakfast—table,——aheadless,handlessdressing—gown,wipingunseenlipsonamiraculouslyheldserviette。
\"It’ssimpleenough——andcredibleenough,\"saidGriffin,puttingtheservietteasideandleaningtheinvisibleheadonaninvisiblehand。
\"Nodoubt,toyou,but——\"Kemplaughed。
\"Well,yes;tomeitseemedwonderfulatfirst,nodoubt。Butnow,greatGod!——Butwewilldogreatthingsyet!IcameonthestufffirstatChesilstowe。\"
\"Chesilstowe?\"
\"IwentthereafterIleftLondon。YouknowIdroppedmedicineandtookupphysics?No?——well,Idid。Light——fascinatedme。\"
\"Ah!\"
\"Opticaldensity!Thewholesubjectisanetworkofriddles——anetworkwithsolutionsglimmeringelusivelythrough。Andbeingbuttwo—and—twentyandfullofenthusiasm,Isaid,’Iwilldevotemylifetothis。Thisisworthwhile。’Youknowwhatfoolsweareattwo—and—twenty?\"
\"Foolsthenorfoolsnow,\"saidKemp。
\"AsthoughKnowingcouldbeanysatisfactiontoaman!
\"ButIwenttowork——likeanigger。AndIhadhardlyworkedandthoughtaboutthemattersixmonthsbeforelightcamethroughoneofthemeshessuddenly——blindingly!Ifoundageneralprincipleofpigmentsandrefraction,——aformula,ageometricalexpressioninvolvingfourdimensions。Fools,commonmen,evencommonmathematicians,donotknowanythingofwhatsomegeneralexpressionmaymeantothestudentofmolecularphysics。Inthebooks——thebooksthatTramphashidden——therearemarvels,miracles!Butthiswasnotamethod,itwasanideathatmightleadtoamethodbywhichitwouldbepossible,withoutchanginganyotherpropertyofmatter,——except,insomeinstances,colours,——tolowertherefractiveindexofasubstance,solidorliquid,tothatofair——sofarasallpracticalpurposesareconcerned。\"
\"Phew!\"saidKemp。\"That’sodd!ButstillIdon’tseequite——Icanunderstandthattherebyyoucouldspoilavaluablestone,butpersonalinvisibilityisafarcry。\"
\"Precisely,\"saidGriffin。\"Butconsider:Visibilitydependsontheactionofthevisiblebodiesonlight。Eitherabodyabsorbslight,oritreflectsorrefractsit,ordoesallthesethings。Ifitneitherreflectsnorrefractsnorabsorbslight,itcannotofitselfbevisible。Youseeanopaqueredbox,forinstance,becausethecolourabsorbssomeofthelightandreflectstherest,alltheredpartofthelight,toyou。Ifitdidnotabsorbanyparticularpartofthelight,butreflecteditall,thenitwouldbeashiningwhitebox。Silver!Adiamondboxwouldneitherabsorbmuchofthelightnorreflectmuchfromthegeneralsurface,butjusthereandtherewherethesurfaceswerefavourablethelightwouldbereflectedandrefracted,sothatyouwouldgetabrilliantappearanceofflashingreflectionsandtranslucencies,——asortofskeletonoflight。
Aglassboxwouldnotbesobrilliant,notsoclearlyvisible,asadiamondbox,becausetherewouldbelessrefractionandreflection。Seethat?Fromcertainpointsofviewyouwouldseequiteclearlythroughit。Somekindsofglasswouldbemorevisiblethanothers,aboxofflintglasswouldbebrighterthanaboxofordinarywindowglass。Aboxofverythincommonglasswouldbehardtoseeinabadlight,becauseitwouldabsorbhardlyanylightandrefractandreflectverylittle。Andifyouputasheetofcommonwhiteglassinwater,stillmoreifyouputitinsomedenserliquidthanwater,itwouldvanishalmostaltogether,becauselightpassingfromwatertoglassisonlyslightlyrefractedorreflectedorindeedaffectedinanyway。Itisalmostasinvisibleasajetofcoalgasorhydrogenisinair。Andforpreciselythesamereason!\"
\"Yes,\"saidKemp,\"thatisprettyplainsailing。\"
\"Andhereisanotherfactyouwillknowtobetrue。Ifasheetofglassissmashed,Kemp,andbeatenintoapowder,itbecomesmuchmorevisiblewhileitisintheair;itbecomesatlastanopaquewhitepowder。Thisisbecausethepowderingmultipliesthesurfacesoftheglassatwhichrefractionandreflectionoccur。Inthesheetofglassthereareonlytwosurfaces;inthepowderthelightisreflectedorrefractedbyeachgrainitpassesthrough,andverylittlegetsrightthroughthepowder。Butifthewhitepowderedglassisputintowater,itforthwithvanishes。Thepowderedglassandwaterhavemuchthesamerefractiveindex;thatis,thelightundergoesverylittlerefractionorreflectioninpassingfromonetotheother。
\"Youmaketheglassinvisiblebyputtingitintoaliquidofnearlythesamerefractiveindex;atransparentthingbecomesinvisibleifitisputinanymediumofalmostthesamerefractiveindex。Andifyouwillconsideronlyasecond,youwillseealsothatthepowderofglassmightbemadetovanishinair,ifitsrefractiveindexcouldbemadethesameasthatofair;forthentherewouldbenorefractionorreflectionasthelightpassedfromglasstoair。\"
\"Yes,yes,\"saidKemp。\"Butaman’snotpowderedglass!\"
\"No,\"saidGriffin。\"He’smoretransparent!\"
\"Nonsense!\"
\"Thatfromadoctor!Howoneforgets!Haveyoualreadyforgottenyourphysics,intenyears?Justthinkofallthethingsthataretransparentandseemnottobeso。Paper,forinstance,ismadeupoftransparentfibres,anditiswhiteandopaqueonlyforthesamereasonthatapowderofglassiswhiteandopaque。Oilwhitepaper,filluptheintersticesbetweentheparticleswithoilsothatthereisnolongerrefractionorreflectionexceptatthesurfaces,anditbecomesastransparentasglass。Andnotonlypaper,butcottonfibre,linenfibre,woolfibre,woodyfibre,andbone,Kemp,flesh,hair,nailsandnerves,Kemp,infactthewholefabricofamanexcepttheredofhisbloodandtheblackpigmentofhair,areallmadeupoftransparent,colourlesstissue。Solittlesufficestomakeusvisibleonetotheother。Forthemostpartthefibresofalivingcreaturearenomoreopaquethanwater。\"
\"GreatHeavens!\"criedKemp。\"Ofcourse,ofcourse!Iwasthinkingonlylastnightofthesealarvaeandalljelly—fish!\"
\"Nowyouhaveme!AndallthatIknewandhadinmindayearafterI
leftLondon——sixyearsago。ButIkeptittomyself。Ihadtodomyworkunderfrightfuldisadvantages。Oliver,myprofessor,wasascientificbounder,ajournalistbyinstinct,athiefofideas,——hewasalwaysprying!Andyouknowtheknavishsystemofthescientificworld。Isimplywouldnotpublish,andlethimsharemycredit。Iwentonworking。Igotnearerandnearermakingmyformulaintoanexperiment,areality。Itoldnolivingsoul,becauseImeanttoflashmyworkupontheworldwithcrushingeffect,——tobecomefamousatablow。Itookupthequestionofpigmentstofillupcertaingaps。Andsuddenly,notbydesignbutbyaccident,Imadeadiscoveryinphysiology。\"
\"Yes?\"
\"Youknowtheredcolouringmatterofblood;itcanbemadewhite——colourless——andremainwithallthefunctionsithasnow!\"
Kempgaveacryofincredulousamazement。
TheInvisibleManroseandbeganpacingthelittlestudy。\"Youmaywellexclaim。Irememberthatnight。Itwaslateatnight,——inthedaytimeonewasbotheredwiththegaping,sillystudents,——andIworkedthensometimestilldawn。Itcamesuddenly,splendidandcompleteintomymind。Iwasalone;thelaboratorywasstill,withthetalllightsburningbrightlyandsilently。InallmygreatmomentsIhavebeenalone。’Onecouldmakeananimal——atissue——transparent!Onecouldmakeitinvisible!Allexceptthepigments。Icouldbeinvisible!’Isaid,suddenlyrealisingwhatitmeanttobeanalbinowithsuchknowledge。Itwasoverwhelming。IleftthefilteringIwasdoing,andwentandstaredoutofthegreatwindowatthestars。’Icouldbeinvisible!’Irepeated。
\"Todosuchathingwouldbetotranscendmagic。AndIbeheld,uncloudedbydoubt,amagnificentvisionofallthatinvisibilitymightmeantoaman,——themystery,thepower,thefreedom。DrawbacksIsawnone。Youhaveonlytothink!AndI,ashabby,poverty—struck,hemmed—indemonstrator,teachingfoolsinaprovincialcollege,mightsuddenlybecome——this。I
askyou,Kemp,ifyou——Anyone,Itellyou,wouldhaveflunghimselfuponthatresearch。AndIworkedthreeyears,andeverymountainofdifficultyItoiledovershowedanotherfromitssummit。Theinfinitedetails!Andtheexasperation,——aprofessor,aprovincialprofessor,alwaysprying。
’Whenareyougoingtopublishthisworkofyours?’washiseverlastingquestion。Andthestudents,thecrampedmeans!ThreeyearsIhadofit——
\"Andafterthreeyearsofsecrecyandexasperation,Ifoundthattocompleteitwasimpossible,——impossible。\"
\"How?\"askedKemp。
\"Money,\"saidtheInvisibleMan,andwentagaintostareoutofthewindow。
Heturnedroundabruptly。\"Irobbedtheoldman——robbedmyfather。
\"Themoneywasnothis,andheshothimself。\"
TheInvisibleMan—Chapter20Chapter20—AttheHouseinGreatPortlandStreetForamomentKempsatinsilence,staringatthebackoftheheadlessfigureatthewindow。Thenhestarted,struckbyathought,rose,tooktheInvisibleMan’sarm,andturnedhimawayfromtheoutlook。
\"Youaretired,\"hesaid,\"andwhileIsit,youwalkabout。Havemychair。\"
HeplacedhimselfbetweenGriffinandthenearestwindow。
ForaspaceGriffinsatsilent,andthenheresumedabruptly:
\"IhadlefttheChesilstowecottagealready,\"hesaid,\"whenthathappened。
ItwaslastDecember。IhadtakenaroominLondon,alargeunfurnishedroominabigill—managedlodging—houseinaslumnearGreatPortlandStreet。
TheroomwassoonfulloftheappliancesIhadboughtwithhismoney;theworkwasgoingonsteadily,successfully,drawingnearanend。Iwaslikeamanemergingfromathicket,andsuddenlycomingonsomeunmeaningtragedy。
Iwenttoburyhim。Mymindwasstillonthisresearch,andIdidnotliftafingertosavehischaracter。Irememberthefuneral,thecheaphearse,thescantceremony,thewindyfrost—bittenhillside,andtheoldcollegefriendofhiswhoreadtheserviceoverhim,——ashabby,black,bentoldmanwithasnivellingcold。
\"Irememberwalkingbacktotheemptyhome,throughtheplacethathadoncebeenavillageandwasnowpatchedandtinkeredbythejerrybuildersintotheuglylikenessofatown。Everywaytheroadsranoutatlastintothedesecratedfieldsandendedinrubbleheapsandrankwetweeds。Iremembermyselfasagauntblackfigure,goingalongtheslippery,shinypavement,andthestrangesenseofdetachmentIfeltfromthesqualidrespectability,thesordidcommercialismoftheplace。
\"Ididnotfeelabitsorryformyfather。Heseemedtometobethevictimofhisownfoolishsentimentality。Thecurrentcantrequiredmyattendanceathisfuneral,butitwasreallynotmyaffair。
\"ButgoingalongtheHighStreet,myoldlifecamebacktomeforaspace,forImetthegirlIhadknowntenyearssince。Oureyesmet。
\"Somethingmovedmetoturnbackandtalktoher。Shewasaveryordinaryperson。
\"Itwasalllikeadream,thatvisittotheoldplaces。IdidnotfeelthenthatIwaslonely,thatIhadcomeoutfromtheworldintoadesolateplace。Iappreciatedmylossofsympathy,butIputitdowntothegeneralinanityofthings。Re—enteringmyroomseemedliketherecoveryofreality。
TherewerethethingsIknewandloved。Therestoodtheapparatus,theexperimentsarrangedandwaiting。Andnowtherewasscarcelyadifficultyleft,beyondtheplanningofdetails。
\"Iwilltellyou,Kemp,soonerorlater,allthecomplicatedprocesses。
Weneednotgointothatnow。Forthemostpart,savingcertaingapsI
chosetoremember,theyarewrittenincypherinthosebooksthattramphashidden。Wemusthunthimdown。Wemustgetthosebooksagain。Buttheessentialphasewastoplacethetransparentobjectwhoserefractiveindexwastobeloweredbetweentworadiatingcentresofasortofetherealvibration,ofwhichIwilltellyoumorefullylater。No,nottheseRntgenvibrations——I
don’tknowthattheseothersofminehavebeendescribed。Yettheyareobviousenough。Ineededtwolittledynamos,andtheseIworkedwithacheapgasengine。Myfirstexperimentwaswithabitofwhitewoolfabric。
Iwasthestrangestthingintheworldtoseeitintheflickeroftheflashessoftandwhite,andthentowatchitfadelikeawreathofsmokeandvanish。
\"IcouldscarcelybelieveIhaddoneit。Iputmyhandintotheemptiness,andtherewasthethingassolidasever。Ifeltitawkwardly,andthrewitonthefloor。Ihadalittletroublefindingitagain。
\"Andthencameacuriousexperience。Iheardamiaowbehindme,andturning,sawaleanwhitecat,verydirty,onthecisterncoveroutsidethewindow。Athoughtcameintomyhead。’Everythingreadyforyou,’I
said,andwenttothewindow,openedit,andcalledsoftly。Shecamein,purring,——thepoorbeastwasstarving,——andIgavehersomemilk。Allmyfoodwasinacupboardinthecorneroftheroom。Afterthatshewentsmellingroundtheroom,——evidentlywiththeideaofmakingherselfathome。Theinvisibleragupsetherabit;youshouldhaveseenherspitatit!ButImadehercomfortableonthepillowofmytruckle—bed。AndIgaveherbuttertogethertowash。\"
\"Andyouprocessedher?\"
\"Iprocessedher。Butgivingdrugstoacatisnojoke,Kemp!Andtheprocessfailed。\"
\"Failed!\"
\"Intwoparticulars。Theseweretheclawsandthepigmentstuff——whatisit?——atthebackoftheeyeinacat。Youknow?\"
\"Tapetum。\"
\"Yes,thetapetum。Itdidn’tgo。AfterI’dgiventhestufftobleachthebloodanddonecertainotherthingstoher,Igavethebeastopium,andputherandthepillowshewassleepingon,ontheapparatus。Andafteralltheresthadfadedandvanished,thereremainedtwolittleghostsofhereyes。\"
\"Odd!\"
\"Ican’texplainit。Shewasbandagedandclamped,ofcourse,——soI
hadhersafe;butshewokewhileshewasstillmisty,andmiaoweddismally,andsomeonecameknocking。Itwasanoldwomanfromdownstairs,whosuspectedmeofvivisecting,——adrink—soddenoldcreature,withonlyawhitecattocareforinalltheworld。Iwhippedoutsomechloroform,andappliedit,andansweredthedoor。’DidIhearacat?’sheasked。’Mycat?’’Nothere,’saidI,verypolitely。Shewasalittledoubtfulandtriedtopeerpastmeintotheroom;strangeenoughtohernodoubt,——barewalls,uncurtainedwindows,truckle—bed,withthegasenginevibrating,andtheseetheoftheradiantpoints,andthatfaintghastlystingingofchloroformintheair。Shehadtobesatisfiedatlastandwentawayagain。\"
\"Howlongdidittake?\"askedKemp。
\"Threeorfourhours——thecat。Thebonesandsinewsandthefatwerethelasttogo,andthetipsofthecolouredhairs。And,asIsay,thebackpartoftheeye,toughiridescentstuffitis,wouldn’tgoatall。
\"Itwasnightoutsidelongbeforethebusinesswasover,andnothingwastobeseenbutthedimeyesandtheclaws。Istoppedthegasengine,feltforandstrokedthebeast,whichwasstillinsensible,andthen,beingtired,leftitsleepingontheinvisiblepillowandwenttobed。Ifoundithardtosleep。Ilayawakethinkingweakaimlessstuff,goingovertheexperimentoverandoveragain,ordreamingfeverishlyofthingsgrowingmistyandvanishingaboutme,untileverything,thegroundIstoodon,vanished,andsoIcametothatsicklyfallingnightmareonegets。Abouttwo,thecatbeganmiaowingabouttheroom。Itriedtohushitbytalkingtoit,andthenIdecidedtoturnitout。IremembertheshockIhadwhenstrikingalight——therewerejusttheroundeyesshininggreen——andnothingroundthem。Iwouldhavegivenitmilk,butIhadn’tany。Itwouldn’tbequiet,itjustsatdownandmiaowedatthedoor。Itriedtocatchit,withanideaofputtingitoutofthewindow,butitwouldn’tbecaught,itvanished。Thenitbeganmiaowingindifferentpartsoftheroom。AtlastIopenedthewindowandmadeabustle。Isupposeitwentoutatlast。I
neversawanymoreofit。
\"Then——Heavenknowswhy——Ifellthinkingofmyfather’sfuneralagain,andthedismalwindyhillside,untilthedayhadcome。Ifoundsleepingwashopeless,and,lockingmydoorafterme,wanderedoutintothemorningstreets。\"
\"Youdon’tmeantosaythere’saninvisiblecatatlarge!\"saidKemp。
\"Ifithasn’tbeenkilled,\"saidtheInvisibleMan。\"Whynot?\"
\"Whynot?\"saidKemp。\"Ididn’tmeantointerrupt。\"
\"It’sveryprobablybeenkilled,\"saidtheInvisibleMan。\"Itwasalivefourdaysafter,Iknow,anddownagratinginGreatTitchfieldStreet;
becauseIsawacrowdroundtheplace,tryingtoseewhencethemiaowingcame。\"
Hewassilentforthebestpartofaminute。Thenheresumedabruptly:
\"Irememberthatmorningbeforethechangeveryvividly。ImusthavegoneupGreatPortlandStreet。IrememberthebarracksinAlbanyStreet,andthehorsesoldierscomingout,andatlastIfoundmyselfsittinginthesunshineandfeelingveryillandstrange,onthesummitofPrimroseHill。ItwasasunnydayinJanuary,——oneofthosesunny,frostydaysthatcamebeforethesnowthisyear。Mywearybraintriedtoformulatetheposition,toplotoutaplanofaction。
\"Iwassurprisedtofind,nowthatmyprizewaswithinmygrasp,howinconclusiveitsattainmentseemed。AsamatteroffactIwasworkedout;
theintensestressofnearlyfouryears’continuousworkleftmeincapableofanystrengthoffeeling。Iwasapathetic,andItriedinvaintorecovertheenthusiasmofmyfirstinquiries,thepassionofdiscoverythathadenabledmetocompasseventhedownfallofmyfather’sgreyhairs。Nothingseemdtomatter。Isawprettyclearlythiswasatransientmood,duetooverworkandwantofsleep,andthateitherbydrugsorrestitwouldbepossibletorecovermyenergies。
\"AllIcouldthinkclearlywasthatthethinghadtobecarriedthrough;
thefixedideastillruledme。Andsoon,forthemoneyIhadwasalmostexhausted。Ilookedaboutmeatthehillside,withchildrenplayingandgirlswatchingthem,andtriedtothinkofallthefantasticadvantagesaninvisiblemanwouldhaveintheworld。AfteratimeIcrawledhome,tooksomefoodandastrongdoseofstrychnine,andwenttosleepinmyclothesonmyunmadebed。Strychnineisagrandtonic,Kemp,totaketheflabbinessoutofaman。\"
\"It’sthedevil,\"saidKemp。\"It’sthepalaeolithicinabottle。\"
\"Iawokevastlyinvigoratedandratherirritable。Youknow?\"
\"Iknowthestuff。\"
\"Andtherewassomeonerappingatthedoor。Itwasmylandlordwiththreatsandinquiries,anoldPolishJewinalonggreycoatandgreasyslippers。Ihadbeentormentingacatinthenighthewassure,——theoldwoman’stonguehadbeenbusy。Heinsistedonknowingallaboutit。Thelawsofthiscountryagainstvivisectionwereverysevere,——hemightbeliable。Ideniedthecat。Thenthevibrationofthelittlegasenginecouldbefeltalloverthehouse,hesaid。Thatwastrue,certainly。Heedgedroundmeintotheroom,peeringaboutoverhisGerman—silverspectacles,andasuddendreadcameintomymindthathemightcarryawaysomethingofmysecret。ItriedtokeepbetweenhimandtheconcentratingapparatusIhadarranged,andthatonlymadehimmorecurious。WhatwasIdoing?
WhywasIalwaysaloneandsecretive?Wasitlegal?Wasitdangerous?I
paidnothingbuttheusualrent。Hishadalwaysbeenamostrespectablehouse——inadisreputableneighbourhood。Suddenlymytempergaveway。I
toldhimtogetout。Hebegantoprotest,tojabberofhisrightofentry。
InamomentIhadhimbythecollar;somethingripped,andhewentspinningoutintohisownpassage。Islammedandlockedthedoorandsatdownquivering。
\"Hemadeafussoutside,whichIdisregarded,andafteratimehewentaway。
\"Butthisbroughtmatterstoacrisis。Ididnotknowwhathewoulddo,norevenwhathehadpowertodo。Tomovetofreshapartmentswouldhavemeantdelay;altogetherIhadbarelytwentypoundsleftintheworld,——forthemostpartinthebank,——andIcouldnotaffordthat。Vanish!Itwasirresistible。Thentherewouldbeaninquiry,thesackingofmyroom——
\"Atthethoughtofthepossibilityofmyworkbeingexposedorinterruptedatitsveryclimax,Ibecameangryandactive。Ihurriedoutwithmythreebooksofnotes,mycheque—book,——thetramphasthemnow,——anddirectedthemfromthenearestPostOfficetoahouseofcallforlettersandparcelsinGreatPortlandStreet。Itriedtogooutnoiselessly。Comingin,Ifoundmylandlordgoingquietlyupstairs;hehadheardthedoorclose,Isuppose。
YouwouldhavelaughedtoseehimjumpasideonthelandingasIcametearingafterhim。HeglaredatmeasIwentbyhim,andImadethehousequiverwiththeslammingofmydoor。Iheardhimcomeshufflinguptomyfloor,hesitate,andgodown。Isettoworkuponmypreparationsforthwith。
\"Itwasalldonethateveningandnight。WhileIwasstillsittingunderthesickly,drowsyinfluenceofthedrugsthatdecolouriseblood,therecamearepeatedknockingatthedoor。Itceased,footstepswentawayandreturned,andtheknockingwasresumed。Therewasanattempttopushsomethingunderthedoor——abluepaper。TheninafitofirritationIroseandwentandflungthedoorwideopen。’Nowthen?’saidI。
\"Itwasmylandlord,withanoticeofejectmentorsomething。Hehelditouttome,sawsomethingoddaboutmyhands,Iexpect,andliftedhiseyestomyface。
\"Foramomenthegaped。Thenhegaveasortofinarticulatecry,droppedcandleandwrittogether,andwentblunderingdownthedarkpassagetothestairs。Ishutthedoor,lockedit,andwenttothelooking—glass。
ThenIunderstoodhisterror。Myfacewaswhite——likewhitestone。
\"Butitwasallhorrible。Ihadnotexpectedthesuffering。Anightofrackinganguish,sicknessandfainting。Isetmyteeth,thoughmyskinwaspresentlyafire;allmybodyafire;butIlaytherelikegrimdeath。
IunderstoodnowhowitwasthecathadhowleduntilIchloroformedit。
LuckyitwasIlivedaloneanduntendedinmyroom。ThereweretimeswhenIsobbedandgroanedandtalked。ButIstucktoit。Ibecameinsensibleandwokelanguidinthedarkness。
\"Thepainhadpassed。IthoughtIwaskillingmyselfandIdidnotcare。
Ishallneverforgetthatdawn,andthestrangehorrorofseeingthatmyhandshadbecomeascloudedglass,andwatchingthemgrowclearerandthinnerasthedaywentby,untilatlastIcouldseethesicklydisorderofmyroomthroughthem,thoughIclosedmytransparenteyelids。Mylimbsbecameglassy,thebonesandarteriesfaded,vanished,andthelittlewhitenerveswentlast。Igroundmyteethandstayedtheretotheend。Atlastonlythedeadtipsofthefinger—nailsremained,pallidandwhite,andthebrownstainofsomeaciduponmyfingers。
\"Istruggledup。AtfirstIwasasincapableasaswathedinfant,——steppingwithlimbsIcouldnotsee。Iwasweakandveryhungry。Iwentandstaredatnothinginmyshaving—glass,atnothingsavewhereanattenuatedpigmentstillremainedbehindtheretinaofmyeyes,fainterthanmist。Ihadtohangontothetableandpressmyforeheadtotheglass。
\"ItwasonlybyafranticeffortofwillthatIdraggedmyselfbacktotheapparatusandcompletedtheprocess。
\"Isleptduringtheforenoon,pullingthesheetovermyeyestoshutoutthelight,andaboutmiddayIwasawakenedagainbyaknocking。Mystrengthhadreturned。Isatupandlistenedandheardawhispering。I
sprangtomyfeetandasnoiselesslyaspossiblebegantodetachtheconnectionsofmyapparatus,andtodistributeitabouttheroom,soastodestroythesuggestionsofitsarrangement。Presentlytheknockingwasrenewedandvoicescalled,firstmylandlord’s,andthentwoothers。TogaintimeIansweredthem。TheinvisibleragandpillowcametohandandIopenedthewindowandpitchedthemoutontothecisterncover。Asthewindowopened,aheavycrashcameatthedoor。Someonehadchargeditwiththeideaofsmashingthelock。ButthestoutboltsIhadscrewedupsomedaysbeforestoppedhim。Thatstartledme,mademeangry。Ibegantotrembleanddothingshurriedly。
\"Itossedtogethersomeloosepaper,straw,packingpaperandsoforth,inthemiddleoftheroom,andturnedonthegas。Heavyblowsbegantorainuponthedoor。Icouldnotfindthematches。Ibeatmyhandsonthewallwithrage。Iturneddownthegasagain,steppedoutofthewindowonthecisterncover,verysoftlyloweredthesash,andsatdown,secureandinvisible,butquiveringwithanger,towatchevents。Theysplitapanel,Isaw,andinanothermomenttheyhadbrokenawaythestaplesoftheboltsandstoodintheopendoorway。Itwasthelandlordandhistwostep—sons,sturdyyoungmenofthreeorfourandtwenty。Behindthemflutteredtheoldhagofawomanfromdownstairs。
\"Youmayimaginetheirastonishmentonfindingtheroomempty。Oneoftheyoungermenrushedtothewindowatonce,flungitupandstaredout。
Hisstaringeyesandthick—lippedbeardedfacecameafootfrommyface。
Iwashalfmindedtohithissillycountenance,butIarrestedmydoubledfist。Hestaredrightthroughme。Sodidtheothersastheyjoinedhim。
Theoldmanwentandpeeredunderthebed,andthentheyallmadearushforthecupboard。TheyhadtoargueaboutitatlengthinYiddishandCockneyEnglish。TheyconcludedIhadnotansweredthem,thattheirimaginationhaddeceivedthem。AfeelingofextraordinaryelationtooktheplaceofmyangerasIsatoutsidethewindowandwatchedthesefourpeople——fortheoldladycamein,glancingsuspiciouslyaboutherlikeacat,tryingtounderstandtheriddleofmybehaviour。
\"Theoldman,sofarasIcouldunderstandhispatois,agreedwiththeoldladythatIwasavivisectionist。ThesonsprotestedingarbledEnglishthatIwasanelectrician,andappealedtothedynamosandradiators。Theywereallnervousagainstmyarrival,althoughIfoundsubsequentlythattheyhadboltedthefrontdoor。Theoldladypeeredintothecupboardandunderthebed,andoneoftheyoungmenpusheduptheregisterandstaredupthechimney。Oneofmyfellowlodgers,acostermongerwhosharedtheoppositeroomwithabutcher,appearedonthelanding,andhewascalledinandtoldincoherentthings。
\"Itoccurredtomethattheradiators,iftheyfellintothehandsofsomeacutewell—educatedperson,wouldgivemeawaytoomuch,andwatchingmyopportunity,Icameintotheroomandtiltedoneofthelittledynamosoffitsfellowonwhichitwasstanding,andsmashedbothapparatus。Then,whiletheyweretryingtoexplainthesmash,Idodgedoutoftheroomandwentsoftlydownstairs。
\"Iwentintooneofthesitting—roomsandwaiteduntiltheycamedown,stillspeculatingandargumentative,allalittledisappointedatfindingno’horrors,’andallalittlepuzzledhowtheystoodwithregardtome。
ThenIslippedupagainwithaboxofmatches,firedmyheapofpaperandrubbish,putthechairsandbeddingthereby,ledthegastotheaffair,bymeansofanindia—rubbertube,andwavingafarewelltotheroomleftitforthelasttime。\"
\"Youfiredthehouse!\"exclaimedKemp。
\"Firedthehouse。Itwastheonlywaytocovermytrail——andnodoubtitwasinsured。Islippedtheboltsofthefrontdoorquietlyandwentoutintothestreet。Iwasinvisible,andIwasonlyjustbeginningtorealisetheextraordinaryadvantagemyinvisibilitygaveme。MyheadwasalreadyteemingwithplansofallthewildandwonderfulthingsIhadnowimpunitytodo。\"
TheInvisibleMan—Chapter21Chapter21—InOxfordStreet\"IngoingdownstairsthefirsttimeIfoundanunexpecteddifficultybecauseIcouldnotseemyfeet;indeedIstumbledtwice,andtherewasanunaccustomedclumsinessingrippingthebolt。Bynotlookingdown,however,Imanagedtowalkonthelevelpassablywell。
\"Mymood,Isay,wasoneofexaltation。Ifeltasaseeingmanmightdo,withpaddedfeetandnoiselessclothes,inacityoftheblind。Iexperiencedawildimpulsetojest,tostartlepeople,toclapmenontheback,flingpeople’shatsastray,andgenerallyrevelinmyextraordinaryadvantage。
\"ButhardlyhadIemergeduponGreatPortlandStreet,however(mylodgingswasclosetothebigdraper’sshopthere),whenIheardaclashingconcussionandwashitviolentlybehind,andturningsawamancarryingabasketofsoda—watersiphons,andlookinginamazementathisburden。Althoughtheblowhadreallyhurtme,IfoundsomethingsoirresistibleinhisastonishmentthatIlaughedaloud。’Thedevil’sinthebasket,’Isaid,andsuddenlytwisteditoutofhishand。Heletgoincontinently,andIswungthewholeweightintotheair。
\"Butafoolofacabman,standingoutsideapublichouse,madeasuddenrushforthis,andhisextendingfingerstookmewithexcruciatingviolenceundertheear。Iletthewholedownwithasmashonthecabman,andthen,withshoutsandtheclatteroffeetaboutme,peoplecomingoutofshops,vehiclespullingup,IrealisedwhatIhaddoneformyself,andcursingmyfolly,backedagainstashopwindowandpreparedtododgeoutoftheconfusion。InamomentIshouldbewedgedintoacrowdandinevitablydiscovered。
Ipushedbythebutcherboy,wholuckilydidnotturntoseethenothingnessthatshovedhimaside,anddodgedbehindthecabman’sfour—wheeler。Idonotknowhowtheysettledthebusiness。Ihurriedstraightacrosstheroad,whichwashappilyclear,andhardlyheedingwhichwayIwent,inthefrightofdetectiontheincidenthadgiven,plungedintotheafternoonthrongofOxfordStreet。
\"Itriedtogetintothestreamofpeople,buttheyweretoothickforme,andinamomentmyheelswerebeingtroddenupon。Itooktothegutter,theroughnessofwhichIfoundpainfultomyfeet,andforthwiththeshaftofacrawlinghansomdugmeforciblyundertheshoulderblade,remindingmethatIwasalreadybruisedseverely。Istaggeredoutofthewayofthecab,avoidedaperambulatorbyaconvulsivemovement,andfoundmyselfbehindthehansom。Ahappythoughtsavedme,andasthisdroveslowlyalongIfollowedinitsimmediatewake,tremblingandastonishedattheturnofmyadventure。Andnotonlytrembling,butshivering。ItwasabrightdayinJanuaryandIwasstarknakedandthethinslimeofmudthatcoveredtheroadwasfreezing。Foolishasitseemstomenow,Ihadnotreckonedthat,transparentornot,Iwasstillamenabletotheweatherandallitsconsequences。
\"Thensuddenlyabrightideacameintomyhead。Iranroundandgotintothecab。Andso,shivering,scared,andsniffingwiththefirstintimationsofacold,andwiththebruisesinthesmallofmybackgrowinguponmyattention。IdroveslowlyalongOxfordStreetandpastTottenhamCourtRoad。MymoodwasasdifferentfromthatinwhichIhadsalliedforthtenminutesagoasitispossibletoimagine。Thisinvisibilityindeed!Theonethoughtthatpossessedmewas——howwasItogetoutofthescrapeI
wasin。
\"WecrawledpastMudie’s,andthereatallwomanwithfiveorsixyellow—labelledbookshailedmycab,andIsprangoutjustintimetoescapeher,shavingarailwayvannarrowlyinmyflight。ImadeoffuptheroadwaytoBloomsburySquare,intendingtostrikenorthpasttheMuseumandsogetintothequietdistrict。Iwasnotcruellychilled,andthestrangenessofmysituationsounnervedmethatIwhimperedasIran。AtthenorthwardcorneroftheSquarealittlewhitedogranoutofthePharmaceuticalSociety’soffices,andincontinentlymadeforme,nosedown。
\"Ihadneverrealiseditbefore,butthenoseistothemindofadogwhattheeyeistothemindofaseeingman。Dogsperceivethescentofamanmovingasmenperceivehisvision。Thisbrutebeganbarkingandleaping,showing,asitseemedtome,onlytooplainlythathewasawareofme。
IcrossedGreatRussellStreet,glancingovermyshoulderasIdidso,andwentsomewayalongMontagueStreetbeforeIrealisedwhatIwasrunningtowards。
\"ThenIbecameawareofablareofmusic,andlookingalongthestreetsawanumberofpeopleadvancingoutofRussellSquare,redshirts,andthebanneroftheSalvationArmytothefore。Suchacrowd,chantingintheroadwayandscoffingonthepavement,Icouldnothopetopenetrate,anddreadingtogobackandfartherfromhomeagain,anddecidingonthespurofthemoment,IranupthewhitestepsofahousefacingtheMuseumrailings,andstoodthereuntilthecrowdshouldhavepassed。Happilythedogstoppedatthenoiseofthebandtoo,hesitated,andturnedtail,runningbacktoBloomsburySquareagain。
\"Oncametheband,bawlingwithunconsciousironysomehymnabout’WhenshallweseehisFace?’anditseemedaninterminabletimetomebeforethetideofthecrowdwashedalongthepavementbyme。Thud,thud,thud,camethedrumwithavibratingresonance,andforthemomentIdidnotnoticetwourchinsstoppingattherailingsbyme。’See’em,’saidone。
’Seewhat?’saidtheother。’Why——themfootmarks——bare。Likewhatyoumakesinmud。’
\"IlookeddownandsawtheyoungstershadstoppedandweregapingatthemuddyfootmarksIhadleftbehindmeupthenewlywhitenedsteps。Thepassingpeopleelbowedandjostledthem,buttheirconfoundedintelligencewasarrested。’Thud,thud,thud,When,thud,shallwesee,thud,hisface,thud,thud。’’There’sabarefootmangoneupthemsteps,orIdon’tknownothing,’saidone。’Andheain’tnevercomedownagain。Andhisfootwasa—bleeding。’
\"Thethickofthecrowdhadalreadypassed。’Lookythere,Ted,’quoththeyoungerofthedetectives,withthesharpnessofsurpriseinhisvoice,andpointedstraighttomyfeet。Ilookeddownandsawatoncethedimsuggestionoftheiroutlinesketchedinsplashesofmud。ForamomentI
wasparalysed。
\"’Why,that’srum,’saidtheelder。’Dashedrum!It’sjustliketheghostofafoot,ain’tit?’Hehesitatedandadvancedwithoutstretchedhand。Amanpulledupshorttoseewhathewascatching,andthenagirl。
Inanothermomenthewouldhavetouchedme。ThenIsawwhattodo。Imadeastep,theboystartedbackwithanexclamation,andwitharapidmovementIswungmyselfoverintotheporticoofthenexthouse。Butthesmallerboywassharp—eyedenoughtofollowthemovementandbeforeIwaswelldownthestepsanduponthepavement,hehadrecoveredfromhismomentaryastonishmentandwasshoutingoutthatthefeethadgoneoverthewall。
\"Theyrushedroundandsawmynewfootmarksflashintobeingonthelowerstepanduponthepavement。’What’sup?’askedsomeone。’Feet!Look!
Feetrunning!’Everybodyintheroad,exceptmythreepursuers,waspouringalongaftertheSalvationArmy,andthisnotonlyimpededmebutthem。
Therewasaneddyofsurpriseandinterrogation。AtthecostofbowlingoveroneyoungfellowIgotthrough,andinanothermomentIwasrushingheadlongroundthecircuitofRussellSquare,withsixorsevenastonishedpeoplefollowingmyfootmarks。Therewasnotimeforexplanation,orelsethewholehostwouldhavebeenafterme。
\"TwiceIdoubledroundcorners,thriceIcrossedtheroadandcamebackonmytracks,andthen,asmyfeetgrewhotanddry,thedampimpressionsbegantofade。AtlastIhadabreathingspaceandrubbedmyfeetcleanwithmyhands,andsogotawayaltogether。ThelastIsawofthechasewasalittlegroupofadozenpeopleperhaps,studyingwithinfiniteperplexityaslowlydryingfootprintthathadresultedfromapuddleinTravistockSquare——afootprintasisolatedandincomprehensibletothemasCrusoe’ssolitarydiscovery。
\"Thisrunningwarmedmetoacertainextent,andIwentonwithabettercouragethroughthemazeoflessfrequentedroadsthatrunshereabouts。
Mybackhadnowbecomeverystiffandsore,mytonsilswerepainfulfromthecabman’sfingers,andtheskinofmyneckhadbeenscratchedbyhisnails;myfeethurtexceedinglyandIwaslamefromalittlecutononefoot。Isawintimeablindmanapproachingme,andfledlimping,forI
fearedhissubtleintuitions。OnceortwiceaccidentalcollisionsoccurredandIleftpeopleamazed,withunaccountablecursesringingintheirears。
Thencamesomethingsilentandquietagainstmyface,andacrosstheSquarefellathinveilofslowlyfallingflakesofsnow。Ihadcaughtacold,anddoasIwouldIcouldnotavoidanoccasionalsneeze。Andeverydogthatcameinsight,withitspointingnoseandcurioussniffing,wasaterrortome。
\"Thencamemenandboysrunning,firstoneandthenothers,andshoutingastheyran。Itwasafire。Theyraninthedirectionofmylodging,andlookingbackdownastreetIsawamassofblacksmokestreamingupabovetheroofsandtelephonewires。Itwasmylodgingburning;myclothes,myapparatus,allmyresourcesindeed,exceptmycheque—bookandthethreevolumesofmemorandathatawaitedmeinGreatPortlandStreet,werethere。
Burning!Ihadburntmyboats——ifeveramandid!Theplacewasblazing。\"
TheInvisibleManpausedandthought。Kempglancednervouslyoutofthewindow。\"Yes?\"hesaid。\"Goon。\"
TheInvisibleMan—Chapter22Chapter22—IntheEmporium\"SolastJanuary,withthebeginningofasnowstormintheairaboutme——andifitsettledonmeitwouldbetrayme!——weary,cold,painful,inexpressiblywretched,andstillbuthalfconvincedofmyinvisiblequality,IbeganthisnewlifetowhichIamcommitted。Ihadnorefuge,noappliances,nohumanbeingintheworldinwhomIcouldconfide。Tohavetoldmysecretwouldhavegivenmeaway——madeamereshowandrarityofme。Nevertheless,Iwashalfmindedtoaccostsomepasser—byandthrowmyselfuponhismercy。
ButIknewtooclearlytheterrorandbrutalcrueltymyadvanceswouldevoke。Imadenoplansinthestreet。Mysoleobjectwastogetshelterfromthesnow,togetmyselfcoveredandwarm;thenImighthopetoplan。
Buteventome,anInvisibleMan,therowsofLondonhousesstoodlatched,barred,andboltedimpregnably。
\"OnlyonethingcouldIseeclearlybeforeme,thecoldexposureandmiseryofthesnowstormandthenight。
\"AndthenIhadabrilliantidea。IturneddownoneoftheroadsleadingfromGowerStreettoTottenhamCourtRoad,andfoundmyselfoutsideOmniums,thebigestablishmentwhereeverythingistobebought——youknowtheplace——meat,grocery,linen,furniture,clothing,oilpaintingseven——ahugemeanderingcollectionofshopsratherthanashop。IhadthoughtIshouldfindthedoorsopen,buttheywereclosed,andasIstoodinthewideentranceacarriagestoppedoutside,andamaninuniform——youknowthekindofpersonagewith’Omnium’onhiscap——flungopenthedoor。Icontrivedtoenter,andwalkingdowntheshop——itwasadepartmentwheretheyweresellingribbonsandglovesandstockingsandthatkindofthing——cametoamorespaciousregiondevotedtopicnicbasketsandwickerfurniture。
\"Ididnotfeelsafethere,however;peopleweregoingtoandfro,andIprowledrestlesslyaboutuntilIcameuponahugesectioninanupperfloorcontainingscoresandhundredsofbedsteads,andbeyondtheseIfoundaresting—placeatlastamongahugepileoffoldedflockmattresses。Theplacewasalreadylitupandaggreeablywarm,andIdecidedtoremainwhereIwas,keepingacautiouseyeonthetwoorthreesetsofshopmenandcustomerswhoweremeanderingthroughtheplaceuntilclosingtimecame。ThenIshouldbeable,Ithought,torobtheplaceforfoodandclothing,anddisguised,prowlthroughitandexamineitsresources,perhapssleeponsomeofthebedding。Thatseemedanacceptableplan。Myideawastoprocureclothingtomakemyselfamuffledbutacceptablefigure,togetmoney,andthentorecovermybooksandparcelswheretheyawaitedme,takealodgingsomewhereandelaborateplansforthecompleterealisationoftheadvantagesmyinvisibilitygaveme(asIstillimagined)overmyfellow—men。
\"Closingtimearrivedquicklyenough;itcouldnothavebeenmorethananhourafterItookupmypositiononthemattressesbeforeInoticedtheblindsofthewindowsbeingdrawn,andcustomersbeingmarcheddoorward。
Andthenanumberofbriskyoungmenbeganwithremarkablealacritytotidyupthegoodsthatremaineddisturbed。Ileftmylairasthecrowdsdiminished,andprowledcautiouslyoutintothelessdesolatepartsoftheshop。Iwasreallysurprisedtoobservehowrapidlytheyoungmenandwomenwhippedawaythegoodsdisplayedforsaleduringtheday。Alltheboxesofgoods,thehangingfabrics,thefestoonsoflace,theboxesofsweetsinthegrocerysection,thedisplaysofthisandthat,werebeingwhippeddown,foldedup,slappedintotidyreceptacles,andeverythingthatcouldnotbetakendownandputawayhadsheetsofsomecoarsestufflikesackingflungoverit。Finallyallthechairswereturnedupontothecounters,leavingthefloorclear。Directlyeachoftheseyoungpeoplehaddone,heorshemadepromptlyforthedoorwithsuchanexpressionofanimationasIhaverarelyobservedinashopassistantbefore。Thencamealotofyoungstersscatteringsawdustandcarryingpailsandbrooms。
Ihadtododgetogetoutoftheway,andasitwas,myanklegotstungwiththesawdust。Forsometime,wanderingthroughtheswathedanddarkeneddepartments,Icouldhearthebroomsatwork。Andatlastagoodhourormoreaftertheshophadbeenclosed,cameanoiseoflockingdoors。Silencecameupontheplace,andIfoundmyselfwanderingthroughthevastandintricateshops,galleriesandshowroomsoftheplace,alone。Itwasverystill;inoneplaceIrememberpassingnearoneoftheTottenhamCourtRoadentrancesandlisteningtothetappingofbootheelsofthepassers—by。
\"MyfirstvisitwastotheplacewhereIhadseenstockingsandglovesforsale。Itwasdark,andIhadthedevilofahuntaftermatches,whichIfoundatlastinthedrawerofthelittlecashdesk。ThenIhadtogetacandle。Ihadtoteardownwrappingsandransackanumberofboxesanddrawers,butatlastImanagedtoturnoutwhatIsought;theboxlabelcalledthemlambswoolpants,andlambswoolvests。Thensocks,athickcomforter,andthenIwenttotheclothingplaceandgottrousers,aloungejacket,anovercoatandaslouchhat——aclericalsortofhatwiththebrimturneddown。Ibegantofeelahumanbeingagain,andmynextthoughtwasfood。
\"Upstairswasarefreshmentdepartment,andthereIgotcoldmeat。Therewascoffeestillintheurn,andIlitthegasandwarmeditupagain,andaltogetherIdidnotdobadly。Afterwards,prowlingthroughtheplaceinsearchofblankets——Ihadtoputupatlastwithaheapofdownquilts——I
cameuponagrocerysectionwithalotofchocolateandcandiedfruits,morethanwasgoodformeindeed——andsomewhiteburgundy。Andnearthatwasatoydepartment,andIhadabrilliantidea。Ifoundsomeartificialnoses——dummynoses,youknow,andIthoughtofdarkspectacles。ButOmniumshadnoopticaldepartment。Mynosehadbeenadifficultyindeed——Ihadthoughtofpaint。Butthediscoverysetmymindrunningonwigsandmasksandthelike。FinallyIwenttosleeponaheapofdownquilts,verywarmandcomfortable。
\"MylastthoughtsbeforesleepingwerethemostagreeableIhadhadsincethechange。Iwasinastateofphysicalserenity,andthatwasreflectedinmymind。IthoughtthatIshouldbeabletoslipoutunobservedinthemorningwithmyclothesuponme,mufflingmyfacewithawhitewrapperIhadtaken,purchase,withthemoneyIhadtaken,spectaclesandsoforth,andsocompletemydisguise。Ilapsedintodisorderlydreamsofallthefantasticthingsthathadhappenedduringthelastfewdays。IsawtheuglylittleJewofalandlordvociferatinginhisrooms;Isawhistwosonsmarvelling,andthewrinkledoldwoman’sgnarledfaceassheaskedforhercat。Iexperiencedagainthestrangesensationofseeingtheclothdisappear,andsoIcameroundtothewindyhillsideandthesniffingoldclergymanmumbling’Dusttodust,earthtoearth,’andmyfather’sopengrave。
\"’Youalso,’saidavoice,andsuddenlyIwasbeingforcedtowardsthegrave。Istruggled,shouted,appealedtothemourners,buttheycontinuedstonilyfollowingtheservice;theoldclergyman,too,neverfaltereddroningandsniffingthroughtheritual。IrealisedIwasinvisibleandinaudible,thatoverwhelmingforceshadtheirgriponme。Istruggledinvain,Iwasforcedoverthebrink,thecoffinranghollowasIfelluponit,andthegravelcameflyingaftermeinspadefuls。Nobodyheededme,nobodywasawareofme。Imadeconvulsivestrugglesandawoke。
\"ThepaleLondondawnhadcome,theplacewasfullofachillygreylightthatfilteredroundtheedgesofthewindowblinds。Isatup,andforatimeIcouldnotthinkwherethisampleapartment,withitscounters,itspilesofrolledstuff,itsheapsofquiltsandcushions,itsironpillars,mightbe。Then,asrecollectioncamebacktome,Iheardvoicesinconversation。
\"Thenfardowntheplace,inthebrighterlightofsomedepartmentwhichhadalreadyraiseditsblinds,Isawtwomenapproaching。Iscrambledtomyfeet,lookingaboutmeforsomewayofescape,andevenasIdidsothesoundofmymovementmadethemawareofme。Isupposetheysawmerelyafiguremovingquietlyandquicklyaway。’Who’sthat?’criedone,and’Stopthere,’shoutedtheother。Idashedroundacornerandcamefulltilt——afacelessfigure,mindyou!——onalankyladoffifteen。HeyelledandIbowledhimover,rushedpasthim,turnedanothercorner,andbyahappyinspirationthrewmyselfflatbehindacounter。InanothermomentfeetwentrunningpastandIheardvoicesshouting,’Allhandstothedoors!’
askingwhatwas’up,’andgivingoneanotheradvicehowtocatchme。
\"Lyingontheground,Ifeltscaredoutofmywits。But——oddasitmayseem——itdidnotoccurtomeatthemomenttotakeoffmyclothesasI
shouldhavedone。Ihadmadeupmymind,Isuppose,togetawayinthem,andthatruledme。Andthendownthevistaofthecounterscameabawlingof’Hereheis!’
\"Isprangtomyfeet,whippedachairoffthecounter,andsentitwhirlingatthefoolwhohadshouted,turned,cameintoanotherroundacorner,senthimspinning,andrushedupthestairs。Hekepthisfooting,gaveaviewhallo!andcameupthestaircasehotafterme。Upthestaircasewerepiledamultitudeofthosebright—colouredpotthings——whatarethey?\"
\"Artpots,\"suggestedKemp。
\"That’sit!Artpots。Well,Iturnedatthetopstepandswunground,pluckedoneoutofapileandsmasheditonhissillyheadashecameatme。Thewholepileofpotswentheadlong,andIheardshoutingandfootstepsrunningfromallparts。Imadeamadrushfortherefreshmentplace,andtherewasamaninwhitelikeamancook,whotookupthechase。Imadeonelastdesperateturnandfoundmyselfamonglampsandironmongery。I
wentbehindthecounterofthis,andwaitedformycook,andasheboltedinattheheadofthechase,Idoubledhimupwithalamp。Downhewent,andIcrouchedbehindthecounterandbeganwhippingoffmyclothesasfastasIcould。Coat,jacket,trousers,shoeswereallright,butalambswoolvestfitsamanlikeaskin。Iheardmoremencoming,mycookwaslyingquietontheothersideofthecounter,stunnedorscaredspeechless,andIhadtomakeanotherdashforit,likearabbithuntedoutofawood—pile。
\"’Thisway,policeman!’Iheardsomeoneshouting。Ifoundmyselfinmybedsteadstore—roomagain,andattheendawildernessofwardrobes。
Irushedamongthem,wentflat,gotridofmyvestafterinfinitewriggling,andstoodafreemanagain,pantingandscared,asthepolicemanandthreeoftheshopmencameroundthecorner。Theymadearushforthevestandpants,andcollaredthetrousers。’He’sdroppinghisplunder,’saidoneoftheyoungmen。’Hemustbesomewherehere。’
\"Buttheydidnotfindmeallthesame。
\"Istoodwatchingthemhuntformeforatime,andcursingmyill—luckinlosingtheclothes。ThenIwentintotherefreshment—room,drankalittlemilkIfoundthere,andsatdownbythefiretoconsidermyposition。
\"Inalittlewhiletwoassistantscameandbegantotalkoverthebusinessveryexcitedlyandlikethefoolstheywere。Iheardamagnifiedaccountofmydepredations,andotherspeculationsastomywhereabouts。ThenI
felltoschemingagain。Theinsurmountabledifficultyoftheplace,especiallynowitwasalarmed,wastogetanyplunderoutofit。Iwentdownintothewarehousetoseeiftherewasanychanceofpackingandaddressingaparcel,butIcouldnotunderstandthesystemofchecking。Abouteleveno’clock,thesnowhavingthawedasitfell,andthedaybeingfinerandalittlewarmerthanthepreviousone,IdecidedthattheEmporiumwashopeless,andwentoutagain,exasperatedatmywantofsuccess,withonlythevaguestplansofactioninmymind。\"
TheInvisibleMan—Chapter23Chapter23—InDruryLane\"Butyoubegintorealisenow,\"saidtheInvisibleMan,\"thefulldisadvantageofmycondition。Ihadnoshelter,nocovering。Togetclothingwastoforegoallmyadvantage,tomakeofmyselfastrangeandterriblething。
Iwasfasting;fortoeat,tofillmyselfwithunassimilatedmatter,wouldbetobecomegrotesquelyvisibleagain。\"
\"Ineverthoughtofthat,\"saidKemp。
\"NorhadI。Andthesnowhadwarnedmeofotherdangers。Icouldnotgoabroadinsnow——itwouldsettleonmeandexposeme。Rain,too,wouldmakemeawateryoutline,aglisteningsurfaceofaman——abubble。Andfog——Ishouldbelikeafainterbubbleinafog,asurface,agreasyglimmerofhumanity。Moreover,asIwentabroad——intheLondonair——Igathereddirtaboutmyankles,floatingsmutsanddustuponmyskin。IdidnotknowhowlongitwouldbebeforeIshouldbecomevisiblefromthatcausealso。
ButIsawclearlyitcouldnotbeforlong。
\"NotinLondonatanyrate。
\"IwentintotheslumstowardsGreatPortlandStreet,andfoundmyselfattheendofthestreetinwhichIhadlodged。Ididnotgothatway,becauseofthecrowdhalfwaydownitoppositetothestillsmokingruinsofthehouseIhadfired。Mymostimmediateproblemwastogetclothing。
Whattodowithmyfacepuzzledme。ThenIsawinoneofthoselittlemiscellaneousshops——news,sweets,toys,stationery,belatedChristmastomfoolery,andsoforth——anarrayofmasksandnoses。Irealisedthatproblemwassolved。
InaflashIsawmycourse。Iturnedabout,nolongeraimless,andwent——
circuitouslyinordertoavoidthebusyways,towardsthebackstreetsnorthoftheStrand;forIremembered,thoughnotverydistinctlywhere,thatsometheatricalcostumiershadshopsinthatdistrict。
\"Thedaywascold,withanippingwinddownthenorthwardrunningstreets。
Iwalkedfasttoavoidbeingovertaken。Everycrossingwasadanger,everypassengerathingtowatchalertly。OnemanasIwasabouttopasshimatthetopofBedfordStreet,turneduponmeabruptlyandcameintome,sendingmeintotheroadandalmostunderthewheelofapassinghansom。
Theverdictofthecab—rankwasthathehadhadsomesortofstroke。I
wassounnervedbythisencounterthatIwentintoCoventGardenMarketandsatdownforsometimeinaquietcornerbyastallofviolets,pantingandtrembling。IfoundIhadcaughtafreshcold,andhadtoturnoutafteratimelestmysneezesshouldattractattention。
\"AtlastIreachedtheobjectofmyquest,adirtyfly—blownlittleshopinabywaynearDruryLane,withawindowfulloftinselrobes,shamjewels,wigs,slippers,dominoesandtheatricalphotographs。Theshopwasold—fashionedandlowanddark,andthehouseroseaboveitforfourstoreys,darkanddismal。Ipeeredthroughthewindowand,seeingnoonewithin,entered。Theopeningofthedoorsetaclankingbellringing。Ileftitopen,andwalkedroundabarecostumestand,intoacornerbehindachevalglass。Foraminuteorsonoonecame。ThenIheardheavyfeetstridingacrossaroom,andamanappeareddowntheshop。
\"Myplanswerenowperfectlydefinite。Iproposedtomakemywayintothehouse,secretemyselfupstairs,watchmyopportunity,andwheneverythingwasquiet,rummageoutawig,mask,spectacles,andcostume,andgointotheworld,perhapsagrotesquebutstillacrediblefigure。AndincidentallyofcourseIcouldrobthehouseofanyavailablemoney。
\"Themanwhohadenteredtheshopwasashort,slight,hunched,beetle—browedman,withlongarmsandveryshortbandylegs。ApparentlyIhadinterruptedameal。Hestaredabouttheshopwithanexpressionofexpectation。Thisgavewaytosurprise,andthenanger,ashesawtheshopempty。’Damntheboys!’hesaid。Hewenttostareupanddownthestreet。Hecameinagaininaminute,kickedthedoortowithhisfootspitefully,andwentmutteringbacktothehousedoor。
\"Icameforwardtofollowhim,andatthenoiseofmymovementhestoppeddead。Ididsotoo,startledbyhisquicknessofear。Heslammedthehousedoorinmyface。
\"Istoodhesitating。SuddenlyIheardhisquickfootstepsreturning,andthedoorreopened。Hestoodlookingabouttheshoplikeonewhowasstillnotsatisfied。Then,murmuringtohimself,heexaminedthebackofthecounterandpeeredbehindsomefixtures。Thenhestooddoubtful。HehadleftthehousedooropenandIslippedintotheinnerroom。
\"Itwasaqueerlittleroom,poorlyfurnishedandwithanumberofbigmasksinthecorner。Onthetablewashisbelatedbreakfast,anditwasaconfoundedlyexasperatingthingforme,Kemp,tohavetosniffhiscoffeeandstandwatchingwhilehecameinandresumedhismeal。Andhistablemannerswereirritating。Threedoorsopenedintothelittleroom,onegoingupstairsandonedown,buttheywereallshut。Icouldnotgetoutoftheroomwhilehewasthere,Icouldscarcelymovebecauseofhisalertness,andtherewasdraughtdownmyback。TwiceIstrangledasneezejustintime。
\"Thespectacularqualityofmysensationswascuriousandnovel,butforallthatIwasheartilytiredandangrylongbeforehehaddonehiseating。Butatlasthemadeanendandputtinghisbeggarlycrockeryontheblacktintrayuponwhichhehadhadhisteapot,andgatheringallthecrumbsuponthemustard—stainedcloth,hetookthewholelotofthingsafterhim。Hisburdenpreventedhisshuttingthedoorbehindhim——ashewouldhavedone;Ineversawsuchamanforshuttingdoors——andIfollowedhimintoaverydirtyundergroundkitchenandscullery。Ihadthepleasureofseeinghimbegintowashup,andthen,findingnogoodinkeepingdownthere,andthebrickfloorbeingcoldtomyfeet,Ireturnedupstairsandsatinhischairbythefire。Itwasburninglow,andscarcelythinking,Iputonalittlecoal。Thenoiseofthisbroughthimupatonce,andhestoodaglare。Hepeeredabouttheroomandwaswithinanaceoftouchingme。Evenafterthatexamination,hescarcelyseemedsatisfied。Hestoppedinthedoorwayandtookafinalinspectionbeforehewentdown。
\"Iwaitedinthelittleparlourforanage,andatlasthecameupandopenedtheupstairsdoor。Ijustmanagedtogetbyhim。
\"Onthestaircasehestoppedsuddenly,sothatIverynearlyblunderedintohim。Hestoodlookingbackrightintomyfaceandlistening。’Icouldhavesworn,’hesaid。Hislonghairyhandpulledathislowerlip。Hiseyewentupanddownthestaircase。Thenhegruntedandwentonupagain。
\"Hishandwasonthehandleofadoor,andthenhestoppedagainwiththesamepuzzledangeronhisface。Hewasbecomingawareofthefaintsoundsofmymovementsabouthim。Themanmusthavehaddiabolicallyacutehearing。Hesuddenlyflashedintorage。’Ifthere’sanyoneinthishouse,’
hecriedwithanoath,andleftthethreatunfinished。Heputhishandinhispocket,failedtofindwhathewanted,andrushingpastmewentblunderingnoisilyandpugnaciouslydownstairs。ButIdidnotfollowhim。
Isatontheheadofthestaircaseuntilhisreturn。