Kitabı oku: «The Invisible Man. B2 / Человек-невидимка», sayfa 10

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Chapter 5
The Burglary at the Vicarage

Theburglary at the vicarage occurred in the small hours of Whit Monday. Mrs. Bunting woke up suddenly before the dawn, with the strong impression that the door of their bedroom had opened and closed. She did not wake up her husband at first, but sat up in bed listening. She distinctly heard somebody coming out of the room and walking towards the staircase. As soon as she felt sure of this, she woke up Mr. Bunting as quietly as possible. He did not strike a light but went out on the landing to listen. He heard quite distinctly some steps at his study desk downstairs, and then a violent sneeze.

At that he returned to his bedroom, armed himself with apoker, and descended the staircase as noiselessly as possible.

It was about four, and there was a faint light in the hall, but the study was dark. Everything was still except the creaking of the stairs under Mr. Bunting's tread, and the slight movements in the study. Then something snapped, the drawer was opened, and there was a rustle of papers. Then a match was struck and the study was flooded with yellow light. Mr. Bunting could not see the robber. He stood there in the hall and didn't know what to do, and Mrs. Bunting crept slowly downstairs.

They heard the clink of money. At that sound Mr. Bunting rushed into the room with thepoker. “Surrender!” cried Mr. Bunting, fiercely, and then stopped amazed-the room was perfectly empty.

Yet they were certain they had heard somebody moving in the room. For half a minute, perhaps, they stood gaping then went across the room and looked behind the window curtains, under the desk and in the wastepaper basket. After that they came to a stop and stood gaping at each other again.

“The money's gone!” said Mrs. Bunting.

“Of all the strange incidents-”

There was a violent sneeze in the passage. They rushed out, and as they did so the kitchen door slammed.

As Mr. Bunting opened it he was certain that nobody went out. The door opened, stood open for a moment, and then closed with a slam.

The place was empty. They examined the kitchen thoroughly, and at last went down into the cellar. There was not a soul in the house.