the mysterious visitor--- to mrs hall's questions
Answers
The story began with a stranger arriving at the Bramblehurst railway station. It was February. He was wrapped from head to toe with only his shiny pink nose visible. He had blue spectacles on with sidelights. He approached “Coach and Horses” and asked for a room. It was very cold. Mrs Hall, the owner of the inn, was delighted to have a guest at this time of the year.
She made him some supper and took it to the parlour where he was resting. Though the fire was on, the man still persisted in keeping himself covered. Mrs Hall asked him to take the coat and the hat off, but he refused. Later, when she went to serve him lunch, he was still standing at the window, all covered up. The next time Mrs Hall saw the stranger, he had his overcoat and hat removed. She met a horrible sight. The stranger’s forehead above his blue glasses was completely covered by a white bandage, with a few locks of hair which escaped through it.
Answer:
Griffin was eager to get away from the crowded London. He went to the village of Iping and booked two rooms at a local inn. His uncommon appearance attracted everybody’s attention. Mrs. Hall, the landlord’s wife made every possible effort to be friendly with him. But he told her frankly that he had come there to work in solitude and did not want to be disturbed. She was satisfied. She thought he was an eccentric scientist. Moreover, he had paid the rent in advance. When his stolen money was spent, he admitted that he had no ready cash. He said that he was expecting a cheque and then he would make the payment. Thus, he satisfied the landlord.
Griffin took off his clothes and became invisible. He entered the clergyman’s home with an intention to steal money from there. The clergyman and his wife woke up when they heard noises in the study- room. The clergyman entered the room with a poker in his hand. To his surprise the room appeared to be empty. He and his wife searched everywhere, but there was no trace of the burglar. Yet the desk had been opened and the money had been stolen.
That morning the landlord and his wife got up early. They were surprised to find the scientist’s door wide open, because it was usually shut and locked. He did not allow anybody to enter his room. They entered the room, the scientist was missing. The clothes and bandages that he always wore were lying in the room. In the meantime, the invisible scientist entered the room. He attacked Mrs. Hall with the bedroom chair. She and her husband left the room in terror.
Mrs. Hall was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits. She held the strange scientist responsible for that. The neighbours felt that the trouble was caused by witchcraft. When they came to know of the burglary at the clergyman’s home, they suspected the strange scientist. Their suspicion was strengthened when he suddenly produced some ready cash. Only a day before, he had admitted that he had no money. They secretly sent for the village constable. When Mrs. Hall saw the scientist emerging from his empty room, she demanded explanation. The scientist became furious. He threw off his bandages, whiskers, spectacles and false nose. The space above his shoulders was now empty. The people in the bar were horrified to see a headless man.
In the meantime, Mr. Jaffers, the constable, arrived there. He was surprised to find that he had to arrest a headless man. He tried to get hold of the man who was becoming invisible. The constable was struggling with someone whom he could not see at all. Some people who tried to assist him also received blows from the invisible scientist. The constable was knocked unconscious. Griffin had shaken himself free. In their nervousness, people tried to hold him, but they did not know from where to catch him.
Explanation:
The strange visitor was wrapped up from head to foot in bandages and clothes, put on thick gloves. He was wearing a soft felt hat covering his forehead. His face was covered with bandages with only his shiny nose visible. He is also wearing spectacles with sidelights, which basically look like goggles. He had covered the lower part of his face with a napkin, so that his mouth and jaws were completely hidden, causing his muffled voice. He also wore a dark-brown velvet jacket with a high collar turned up about his neck. He tied a silk white muffler round his neck to put the mouthpiece to his lips.
The stranger told Mrs. Hall that he was an experimental investigator. He was really too cold and fatigued and needs complete rest. He told that his reason for coming to Iping was a desire for solitude. He also told that he did not want to be disturbed in his work. The second reason for not been disturbed by anyone is the accident that needs a certain rest. His eyes sometimes got so weak and painful that he has to shut himself up in the dark for hours together. At such times the slightest disturbance, the entry of a stranger into the room, is a source of excruciating annoyance to him. He wanted that Mrs. Hall should understand his situation.