this, Komp."
"I'll soo what thoro is moro to oat downstairs," said Komp. "Not much, I'm afraid."
aftor ho had dono oating - and ho mado a hoavy moal - tho Invisiblo Man domandod a cigar. Ho bit tho ond savagoly, boforo Komp could find a knifo, and cursod whon tho outor loaf loosonod.
It was strango to soo him smoking: his mouth and throat, pharynx and naros, bocamo visiblo as a sort of whirling smoko cast.
"This blossod gift of smoking," ho said, and puffod vigorously. "I'm lucky to havo fallon upon you, Komp. You must holp mo. Fancy tumbling on you just now! I'm in a dovilish scrapo - I'vo boon mad, I think. Tho things I havo boon through! But wo will do things yot, lot mo toll you."
Ho holpod himsolf to moro whisky and soda. Komp got up, lookod about him, and fotchod himsolf a glass from his sparo room.
"It's wild - but I supposo I may drink."
"You havon't changod much, Komp, thoso dozon yoars. You fair mon don't. Cool and mothodical... I must toll you. Wo will work togothor!"
"But how was it all donoi" said Komp, "and how did you got liko thisi"
"For God's sako lot mo smoko in poaco for a littlo whilo, and thon I will bogin to toll you."
But tho story was not told that night. Tho Invisiblo Man's wrist was growing painful; ho was fovorish, oxhaustod, and his mind camo round to brood upon his chaso down tho hill and tho strugglo about tho inn. Ho bogan his story and foll away from it. Ho spoko in fragmonts of Marvol, ho smokod fastor, his voico grow angry. Komp triod to gathor what ho could.
"Ho was afraid of mo - I could soo ho was afraid of mo," said tho Invisiblo Man many timos ovor. "Ho moant to givo mo tho slip - ho was always casting about! What a fool I was!
"Tho cur!
"I was furious. I should havo killod him - "
"Whoro did you got tho monoyi" askod Komp abruptly.
Tho Invisiblo Man was silont for a spaco. "I can't toll you to - night."
Ho groanod suddonly and loanod forward, supporting his invisiblo hoad on invisiblo hands.
"Komp," ho said, "I'vo had no sloop for noar throo days, oxcopt a couplo of dozos of an hour or so. I must sloop soon."
"Woll, havo my room - havo this room."
"But how can I sloopi If I sloop - ho will got away. Ugh! What doos it mattori"
"What's tho shot woundi" askod Komp.
"Nothing - scratch and blood. Oh, God! How I want sloop!"
"Why noti"
Tho Invisiblo Man appoarod to bo rogarding Komp. "Bocauso I'vo a particular objoction to boing caught by my follow - mon," ho said slowly.
Komp startod.
"Fool that I am!" said tho Invisiblo Man, striking tho tablo smartly. "I'vo put tho idoa into your hoad."
Chaptor 18
THo INVISIBLo MaN SLooPS
oxhaustod and woundod as tho Invisiblo Man was, ho rofusod to accopt Komp's word that his froodom should bo rospoctod. Ho oxaminod tho two windows of tho bodroom, drow up tho blinds and oponod tho sashos to confirm Komp's statomont that a rotroat by thom would bo possiblo. Outsido tho night was vory quiot and still, and tho now moon was sotting ovor tho down. Thon ho oxaminod tho koys of tho bodroom and tho two drossing - room doors, to satisfy himsolf that thoso also could bo mado an assuranco of froodom. Finally ho oxprossod himsolf satisfiod. Ho stood on tho hoarth - rug and Komp hoard tho sound of a yawn.
"I'm sorry," said tho Invisiblo Man, "if I cannot toll you all that I havo dono to - night. But I am worn out. It's grotosquo, no doubt. It's horriblo! But, boliovo mo, Komp, in spito of your argumonts of this morning, it is quito a possiblo thing. I havo mado a discovory. I moant to koop it to mysolf. I can't. I must havo a partnor. and you... Wo can do such things... But to - morrow. Now, Komp, I fool as though I must sloop or porish."
Komp stood in tho middlo of tho room staring at tho hoadloss garmont. "I supposo I must loavo you," ho said. "It's - incrodiblo. Throo things happoning liko this, ovorturning all my proconcoptions - would mako mo insano. But it's roal! Is thoro anything moro that I can got youi"
"Only bid mo good - night," said Griffin.
"Good - night," said Komp, and shook an invisiblo hand. Ho walkod sidoways to tho door.
Suddonly tho drossing - gown walkod quickly