“If I have much more of it, I shall go wild—I
shall start mowing ’em.
“As it is, they’ve made things a thousand
times more difficult.”
“No doubt it’s exasperating,” said
Kemp, drily.
THE PLAN THAT FAILED
“But now,” said Kemp, with a side glance
out of the window, “what are we to do?”
He moved nearer his guest as he spoke in such a manner
as to prevent the possibility of a sudden glimpse
of the three men who were advancing up the hill road—with
an intolerable slowness, as it seemed to Kemp.
“What were you planning to do when you were
heading for Port Burdock? Had you any plan?”
“I was going to clear out of the country.
But I have altered that plan rather since seeing you.
I thought it would be wise, now the weather is hot
and invisibility possible, to make for the South.
Especially as my secret was known, and everyone would
be on the lookout for a masked and muffled man.
You have a line of steamers from here to France.
My idea was to get aboard one and run the risks of
the passage. Thence I could go by train into Spain,
or else get to Algiers. It would not be difficult.
There a man might always be invisible—and
yet live. And do things. I was using that
tramp as a money box and luggage carrier, until I
decided how to get my books and things sent over to
meet me.”
“That’s clear.”
“And then the filthy brute must needs try and
rob me! He has hidden my books, Kemp.
Hidden my books! If I can lay my hands on him!”
“Best plan to get the books out of him first.”
“But where is he? Do you know?”
“He’s in the town police station, locked
up, by his own request, in the strongest cell in the
place.”
“Cur!” said the Invisible Man.
“But that hangs up your plans a little.”
“We must get those books; those books are vital.”
“Certainly,” said Kemp, a little nervously,
wondering if he heard footsteps outside. “Certainly
we must get those books. But that won’t
be difficult, if he doesn’t know they’re
for you.”
“No,” said the Invisible Man, and thought.
Kemp tried to think of something to keep the talk
going, but the Invisible Man resumed of his own accord.
“Blundering into your house, Kemp,” he
said, “changes all my plans. For you are
a man that can understand. In spite of all that
has happened, in spite of this publicity, of the loss
of my books, of what I have suffered, there still
remain great possibilities, huge possibilities—”
“You have told no one I am here?” he asked
abruptly.
Kemp hesitated. “That was implied,”
he said.
“No one?” insisted Griffin.
“Not a soul.”
“Ah! Now—” The Invisible
Man stood up, and sticking his arms akimbo began to
pace the study.
