Kitabı oku: «The Invisible Man. B2 / Человек-невидимка», sayfa 12
He entered the parlour, and suddenly,swiftly, slammed the door in their faces.
The Halls stared at one another.
At last Mr. Hall knocked, opened the door and said, “Excuse me-”
“Go to the devil!” answered the stranger in an angry voice, and “Shut that door after you.”
Glossary
leap [li:p] (leapt, leapt) – гл. прыгать, скакать; перепрыгивать, перескакивать
clutch [klʌʧ] – гл. схватить, зажать
dash [dæʃ] – гл. бросаться, мчаться, нестись
lockout [lɒk 'aʊt] – гл. запирать, блокировать
spirit ['spɪrɪt] – сущ. дух, привидение
stiffly ['stɪflɪ] – нареч. сухо, чопорно, натянуто
swiftly ['swɪftlɪ] – нареч. быстро, без промедления, поспешно
Chapter 7
The Unveiling of the Stranger
The stranger went into the little parlour of the “Coach and Horses” about half past five in the morning, and there he remained until noon, the blinds down, the door shut, and none venturing near him.
Thrice he rang his bell, but no one answered. Presently came a rumour of the burglary at the vicarage, and two and two were put together. No one ventured upstairs. How the stranger occupied himself is unknown. Now and then he wouldstride back and forth across the room.
About noon he suddenly opened his parlour door and stood glaring at the people in the bar. “Mrs. Hall,” he said. Somebody went and called for Mrs. Hall.
Mrs. Hall appeared after an interval, holding a little tray with an unsettled bill upon it. “Do you want your bill, sir?” she said.
“Why wasn't my breakfast laid? Why haven't you prepared my meals and answered my bell? Do you think I live without eating?”
“Why isn't my bill paid?” said Mrs. Hall. “That's what I want to know.”
“I told you three days ago I was awaiting a money order-”
“You can't grumble if your breakfast waits a bit, if my bill's been waiting these five days, can you?”
The stranger swore briefly but vividly.
“And I'd thank you kindly, sir, if you'd keep your swearing to yourself, sir,” said Mrs. Hall.
“Look here, my good woman-” began the stranger. “Don't 'good woman' me,” said Mrs. Hall, “And before I take any bills or get any breakfasts, I want to know what you've been doing with my chair upstairs, and why your room was empty, and how you got in again. And I want to know-”
Suddenly the stranger raised his gloved hands, stamped his foot and said, “Stop!” with such extraordinary violence that he silenced her instantly.
“You don't understand,” he said, “who I am or what I am. I'll show you. By Heaven! I'll show you.” Then he put his open palm over his face and withdrew it. The centre of his face became a black cavity. “Here,” he said. He stepped forward and handed Mrs. Hall something which she accepted automatically. Then, when she saw what it was, she screamed loudly and dropped it – the nose, it was the stranger's pink and shining nose!
