The Invisible Man. B2 / Человек-невидимка

“I didn't know, sir,” she began, “that-” and she stopped embarrassed.

“Thank you,” he said dryly, glancing from her to the door and then at her again.

She shivered a little as she closed the door behind her and went quite softly to the kitchen, too preoccupied even to ask her maid Millie what she was messingaboutwith.

“The poor soul's had an accident or an operation, or something,” said Mrs. Hall to herself.

The visitor was smoking a pipe and never took off his silk muffler he had wrapped round the lower part of his face.

“I have some luggage,” he said, “at Bramblehurst station,” and he asked her how he could get it. “Tomorrow!” he said. “There is no quicker delivery?” he asked and seemed quite disappointed when she answered, “No.” Was she quite sure?

“It's a steep road, sir,” she said, “It was there a carriage was overturned more than a year ago. A gentleman and his coachman were killed. Accidents, sir, happen in a moment, don't they?”

“They do,” he said through his muffler, eyeing her quietly through his impenetrable glasses.

“Will you get me some matches?” said he, quite abruptly. “My pipe is out.”

Mrs. Hall went for the matches.

“Thanks,” he said, as she put them down, and turning his shoulder upon her, stared out of the window again.

Glossary

biting ['baɪtɪŋ] – прил. сильный, пронзительный, пронизывающий, резкий

portmanteau [pɔ:t'mæntəʊ] – сущ.

саквояж

wrapup [,ræp 'ʌp] – гл. заворачивать, укутать, кутаться

stagger ['stægə] – гл. шататься, покачиваться, идти шатаясь

fling(flung, flung) – гл. бросать, кидать, швырять

stamp [stæmp] (one's foot) – гл. топнуть ногой; наступить (кому-нибудь на ногу)

parlour ['pɑ:lə] – сущ.

гостиная, общая комната

resolve [rɪ'zɒlv] – гл. твердо решить (сделать что-л.); решить (задачу, проблему и т. д.)

whiskers ['wɪskəz] – сущ. бакенбарды

whiskout [,wɪsk 'aʊt] – гл. быстро удалиться, юркнуть

hunch [hʌnʧ] – гл. горбиться, сутулиться

muffled ['mʌfld] – прил.