Page:The Invisible Man - A Grotesque Romance.djvu/159

 "There was a fool of a man—a sort of confederate of mine—curse him!—who tried to steal my money. Has done so."

"Is he invisible too? "

"No."

"Well?"

"Can't I have some more to eat before I tell you all that? I 'm hungry—in pain. And you want me to tell stories!"

Kemp got up. "You did n't do any shooting?" he asked.

"Not me," said his visitor. "Some fool I 'd never seen fired at random. A lot of them got scared. They all got scared at me. Curse them!—I say—I want more to eat than this, Kemp."

"I'll see what there is more to eat downstairs," said Kemp. "Not much, I 'm afraid."

After he had done eating, and he made a heavy meal, the Invisible Man demanded a cigar. He bit the end savagely before Kemp could find a knife, and cursed when the outer leaf loosened. It was strange to see him smoking; his mouth, and throat, pharynx and nares, became visible as a sort of whirling smoke cast.