The Complete Novels of H. G. Wells. H. G. Wells

must find its solace and its hope. I hope, or I could not live.

      And so, in hope and solitude, my story ends.

      EDWARD PRENDICK.

      NOTE. The substance of the chapter entitled "Doctor Moreau explains," which contains the essential idea of the story, appeared as a middle article in the "Saturday Review" in January, 1895. This is the only portion of this story that has been previously published, and it has been entirely recast to adapt it to the narrative form.

      Table des matières

       The Invisible Man

       H. G. Wells

       Chapter 1 The Strange Man's Arrival

       Chapter 2 Mr. Teddy Henfrey's First Impressions

       Chapter 3 The Thousand and One Bottles

       Chapter 4 Mr. Cuss Interviews the Stranger

       Chapter 5 The Burglary at the Vicarage

       Chapter 6 The Furniture That Went Mad

       Chapter 7 The Unveiling of the Stranger

       Chapter 8 In Transit

       Chapter 9 Mr. Thomas Marvel

       Chapter 10 Mr. Marvel's Visit To Iping

       Chapter 11 In the "Coach and Horses"

       Chapter 12 The Invisible Man Loses His Temper

       Chapter 13 Mr. Marvel Discusses His Resignation

       Chapter 14 At Port Stowe

       Chapter 15 The Man Who Was Running

       Chapter 16 In the "Jolly Cricketers"

       Chapter 17 Dr. Kemp's Visitor

       Chapter 18 The Invisible Man Sleeps

       Chapter 19 Certain First Principles

       Chapter 20 At the House In Great Portland Street

       Chapter 21 In Oxford Street

       Chapter 22 In The Emporium

       Chapter 23 In Drury Lane

       Chapter 24 The Plan That Failed

       Chapter 25 The Hunting of the Invisible Man

       Chapter 26 The Wicksteed Murder

       Chapter 27 The Seige of Kemp's House

       Chapter 28 The Hunter Hunted

       The Epilogue

      The Invisible Man

      H. G. Wells

       Published: 1897 Categorie(s): Fiction, Science Fiction

      Chapter 1 The Strange Man's Arrival

      The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow, the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking as it seemed from Bramblehurst railway station, and carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose; the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried. He staggered into the Coarch and Horses, more dead than alive as it seemed, and flung his portmanteau down. "A fire," he cried, "in the name of human charity! A room and a fire!" He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar, and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain. And with that much introduction, that and a ready acquiescence to terms and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.

      Mrs. Hall lit the fire and left him there while she went to prepare him a meal with her own hands. A guest to stop at Iping in the wintertime was an unheard-of piece of luck, let alone a guest who was no "haggler," and she was resolved to show herself worthy of her good fortune. As soon as the bacon was well under way, and Millie, her lymphatic aid, had been been brisked up a bit by a few deftly chosen expressions of contempt, she carried the cloth, plates, and classes into the parlour and began to lay them with the utmost éclat. Although the fire was burning up briskly, she was surprised to see that her visitor still wore his hat and coat, standing with his back to her and staring out of the window at the falling snow in the yard. His gloved hands were clasped behind him, and he seemed to be lost in thought. She noticed that the melted snow that still sprinkled his shoulders dripped upon her carpet. "Can I take your hat and coat, sir," she said, "and give them a good dry in the kitchen?"

      "No," he said without turning.

      She was not sure she had heard him, and was about to repeat her question.

      He turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. "I prefer to keep them on," he said with emphasis, and she noticed that he wore big blue spectacles with side-lights, and had a bushy side-whisker over his coatcollar that completely hid his cheeks and face.

      "Very well, sir," she said. "As you like. In a bit the room will be warmer."

      He made no answer, and had turned his face away from her again, and Mrs. Hall, feeling that her conversational advances were ill-timed, laid the rest of the table things in a quick staccato and whisked out of the room. When she returned he was still standing there, like a man of stone, his back hunched, his collar turned up, his dripping hat-brim turned down, hiding his face and ears completely. She put down the eggs and bacon with considerable emphasis, and called rather than said to him, "Your lunch is served, sir."

      "Thank you." he said at the same