The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells & Matthew Beaumont

Author:H. G. Wells & Matthew Beaumont [Wells, H. G. & Beaumont, Matthew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780198702672
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 2016-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

XIII

Mr Marvel Discusses His Resignation

When the dusk was gathering, and Iping was just beginning to peep timorously forth again upon the shattered wreckage of its Bank Holiday, a short, thickset man in a shabby silk hat was marching painfully through the twilight behind the beechwoods on the road to Bramblehurst. He carried three books, bound together by some sort of ornamental elastic ligature, and a bundle wrapped in a blue tablecloth. His rubicund face expressed consternation and fatigue, he appeared to be in a spasmodic sort of hurry. He was accompanied by a Voice other than his own, and ever and again he winced under the touch of unseen hands.

‘If you give me the slip again,’ said the Voice; ‘if you attempt to give me the slip again——’

‘Lord!’ said Mr Marvel. ‘That shoulder’s a mass of bruises as it is.’

‘On my honour,’ said the Voice, ‘I will kill you.’

‘I didn’t try to give you the slip,’ said Marvel, in a voice that was not far remote from tears. ‘I swear I didn’t. I didn’t know the blessed turning, that was all! How the devil was I to know the blessed turning? As it is, I’ve been knocked about——’

‘You’ll get knocked about a great deal more if you don’t mind,’ said the Voice, and Mr Marvel abruptly became silent. He blew out his cheeks, and his eyes were eloquent of despair.

‘It’s bad enough to let these floundering yokels explode my little secret, without your cutting off with my books. It’s lucky for some of them they cut and ran when they did! Here am I … No one knew I was invisible! And now what am I to do?’

‘What am I to do?’ asked Marvel, sotto voce.

‘It’s all about. It will be in the papers! Everybody will be looking for me. Every one on their guard——’

The Voice broke off into vivid curses and ceased. The despair of Mr Marvel’s face deepened, and his pace slackened.

‘Go on,’ said the Voice.

Mr Marvel’s face assumed a greyish tint between the ruddier patches.

‘Don’t drop those books, stupid!’ said the Voice sharply.

‘The fact is,’ said the Voice, ‘I shall have to make use of you… . You’re a poor tool, but I must.’

‘I’m a miserable tool,’ said Marvel.

‘You are,’ said the Voice.

‘I’m the worst possible tool you could have,’ said Marvel.

‘I’m not strong,’ he said, after a discouraging silence.

‘I’m not over strong,’ he repeated.

‘No?’

‘And my heart’s weak. That little business — I pulled it through, of course. But, bless you! I could have dropped.’

‘Well?’

‘I haven’t the nerve and strength for the sort of thing you want——’

‘I’ll stimulate you.’

‘I wish you wouldn’t. I wouldn’t like to mess up your plans, you know. But I might. Out of sheer funk and misery——’

‘You’d better not,’ said the Voice, with quiet emphasis.

‘I wish I was dead,’ said Marvel.

‘It ain’t justice,’ he said. ‘You must admit… . It seems to me I’ve a perfect right——’

‘Get on,’ said the Voice.

Mr Marvel mended his pace, and for a time they went in silence again.

‘It’s devilish hard,’ said Mr Marvel.

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