Kitabı oku: «The Invisible Man. B2 / Человек-невидимка», sayfa 13

Then he removed his goggles, and everyone in the bar gasped. He took off his hat, and with a violent gesture tore at his whiskers and bandages. “Oh, my God!” said someone. It was worse than anything.

The bandages and false hair flew across the passage into the bar. Everyone tumbled on everyone else down the steps. They saw a man's figure up to the coat collar, and then-nothing, novisible thing at all!

The people in the village heard shouts and shrieks and began running towards the inn. “What's he been doing, then?”

In a while there was a little procession that was marching very resolutely towards the house; first Mr. Hall, very red and determined, then Mr. Bobby Jaffers, the village constable, and then the wary Mr. Wadgers. They were armed with a warrant.

Mr. Hall marched up the steps straight to the door of the parlour and flung it open. “Constable,” he said, “do your duty.”

They saw in the dim light the headless figure facing them, with a piece of bread in one gloved hand and a chunk of cheese in the other.

“That's him!” said Hall.

“What the devil's this?” asked the stranger.

“Duty's duty-” said Mr. Jaffers.

“Keep off!” said the figure, starting back.

Off came the stranger's left glove and slapped Jaffers' face.

Mr. Hall, trying to act on instructions, received a kick in the ribs. At the same moment three or four bottles fell down from the wardrobe and a strong smell filled the room.

“I'll surrender,” cried the stranger, a headless and handless figure.

Jaffers produced a pair of handcuffs. “Damn it! Can't use them as I can see,” he said.

“The fact is, I'm all here-head, hands, legs, and all the rest of it, but it happens I'minvisible,” said the stranger. “It's strange, perhaps, but it's not a crime.”

“Ah! that's a different matter,” said Jaffers. “No doubt you are a bit difficult to see in this light, but I got a warrant and it's all correct. What I'm after is notinvisibility, – it's burglary. Somebody has broken into the house and stolen the money.”

“Stuff and nonsense!” said theInvisible Man.

“I hope so, sir; but I've got my instructions.”

“Well,” said the stranger, “I'll come. I'll come. But no handcuffs.”

“It's a regular thing,” said Jaffers.

“No handcuffs,” repeated the stranger.

“Pardon me,” said Jaffers.

Abruptly the figure sat down, and before anyone could realise what was happening, the slippers, socks, and trousers had been thrown under the table. Then he sprang up again and flung off his coat.

“Here, stop that,” said Jaffers, suddenly realising what was wrong. “Hold him!” said Jaffers, loudly. “Once he gets the things off-”