Chapter twoA puzzling robbery
About a month passed when one morning in May, Mrs. Bunting heard noises outside her bedroom window.
“Wake up! Wake up!” she whispered to her sleeping husband, the Reverend. “Someone’s in the house!”
He got up, took a poker from the fireplace and crept out into the hallway.1 He heard the sound of sneezing downstairs. The Reverend and Mrs. Bunting slowly made their way down the stairs. They heard the sound of paper rustling in the study.2
They came to the door and peered in. What should have been a dark room was now lit by a candle. In the light, they could see that one of the drawers had been opened, but there was no sign of a burglar in the room. Suddenly, there was a sound. Clink! Clink!
“He has found our money,” Mrs. Bunting whispered. “It’s more than two thousands pounds!”
Key Words
puzzling (adj): gây hoang mang, khó hiểu
robbery (n): vụ trộm
poker (n): que cời lửa
creep (v): đi rón rén
(creep - crept - crept)
hallway (n): hành lang
sneeze (v): hắt hơi
make one’s way: tìm lối đi đến
rustle (v): kêu sột soạt
study (n): phòng làm việc
peer in: nhìn vào, quan sát
light (v): thắp sáng, đốt đèn
(light - lit - lit)
drawer (n): ngăn kéo (hộc tủ)
sign (n): dấu hiệu
burglar (n): kẻ trộm đêm
(burglary (n): sự ăn trộm)
clink (n): tiếng xủng xẻng (đồng xu)
Key Sentences
1 He got up, took a poker from the fireplace and crept out into the hallway.
2 They heard the sound of paper rustling in the study.
The Reverend was very angry now. He rushed in and yelled, “I’ve caught you! Surrender yourself!”
Mrs. Bunting rushed in behind her husband. Both of them were completely dumb-founded.
“But the room is empty,” the Reverend cried.
“Listen!” exclaimed his wife. “There is someone here. I can hear breathing.”
They searched the room but could find no one.
“Someone was definitely here. The lamp is lit, and our money is gone.”
“Ah-choo!” The sound of someone sneezing came from the hall, and the Buntings ran out to see who was there.1 They rushed into the hallway only to hear the kitchen door slam.2They ran and flung it open but saw no one.
It was not long after the burglary when the Halls got up and found that the front door of their inn was unlocked.3
Check up
From the text, find the word which can be replaced with the word “exclaimed”?
________________
Key Words
surrender oneself: đầu hàng,
chịu thua
dumb-founded (adj): lặng đi, sững sờ
breathe (v): thở
search (v): tìm kiếm
definitely (adv): dứt khoát, rõ ràng
be gone: mất, không còn
front door: cửa trước, cửa chính
Key Sentences
1 The sound of someone sneezing came from the hall, and the Buntings ran out to see who was there.
2 They rushed into the hallway only to hear the kitchen door slam.
3 It was not long after the burglary when the Halls got up and found that the front door of their inn was unlocked.
“I know I locked the door last night,” said Mrs. Hall. “Who else would do this?” said Mr. Hall pointing to the strange man’s room. They went up to the man’s room. They knocked on the door but there was no reply.
“Let’s go in,” said Mrs. Hall. They opened the door and when they entered, they saw no one in the room. “It’s empty but all of his clothes are here. And look at all of these bandages,” commented Mrs. Hall. “His bed is cold. That means he’s been up for a while.”
At that moment, the strangest thing occurred. All of the sheets bundled themselves up together and then jumped over the bed.1 Then, the stranger’s hat flew through the air and hit Mrs. Hall in the face.2 There was a terrible sound of a wicked laugh. Next, they saw an armchair moving through the air toward them.
Mrs. Hall screamed and felt herself being pushed out of the room with her husband in front of her.3 Then, the door slammed shut and the bolt locked. Mrs. Hall said to her husband, “He deals with the devil. He has evil spirits in there.”
“There has to be another explanation,” said her husband.
Check up
Choose to complete the following sentence.
The strange man has been gone without the ______.
a. notice
b. knock
c. bandages
Key Words
point to: chỉ vào
comment (v): cho biết
up (adj): rời khỏi giường, thức dậy
occur (v): xảy ra
(occur - occurred - occurred)
bundle (v): vo lại, cuộn lại
wicked (adj): nham hiểm, độc ác
scream (v): la lên, hét lên
bolt (n): cái chốt cửa
deal with: giao du với, có quan hệ với
spirit (n): linh hồn
explanation (n): sự giải thích
Key Sentences
1 All of the sheets bundled themselves up together and then jumped over the bed.
2 Then, the stranger’s hat flew through the air and hit Mrs. Hall in the face.
3 Mrs. Hall screamed and felt herself being pushed out of the room with her husband in front of her.
“I want him out of my inn. He’s put evil spirits in the furniture,1” said Mrs. Hall.
Suddenly, they heard a noise at the top of the stairs.
“Stay out of my room. You have no right to go in there,” the stranger shouted at them. Now the Halls stared at each other. “How is that possible? We were just there. He wasn’t. How could he. . . ?” Mrs. Hall gasped.
But for the rest of the morning, they did not see him.
In fact, they even ignored the bell when he rang.
By noon, everyone had heard about the burglary at the Buntings’ house. All the regulars were at the bar, gossiping about the robbery. It was quite noisy when the conversation suddenly halted.2
The stranger had entered the bar and demanded, “Why didn’t you bring me my breakfast and why didn’t you answer the bell?”
“You haven’t paid your bill. No money, so no food or room,” Mrs. Hall replied angrily.
“I told you I would give it to you in a few days. Here it is now.”
“Well, that’s interesting. How did you get it? And you have to explain what you did to my furniture and how you got in your room without coming through the door,”3 she demanded.
Check up
Which expression does not fit in to the blank?
Mrs. Hall didn’t understand ________________________.
a. how the man entered his room
b. how the man rang the bell
c. how the man got the money
Key Words & Sentences
right (n): quyền
stare at someone: nhìn chằm chằm vào ai
regular (n): khách quen
gossip (v): bàn tán, xôn xao
halt (v): ngừng lại
demand (v): hỏi
1 He’s put evil spirits in the furniture.
2 It was quite noisy when the conversation suddenly halted.
3 And you have to explain what you did to my furniture and how you got in your room without coming through the door,
This made the man very angry. “Stop this! You have no idea about me,” he shouted. “Very well then, I’ll show you.”
The man put his hand to his face. He put a small rubbery thing in her hand.
“Look! It’s his nose. He has a hole in his face,” everyone screamed. Then the man tore off his glasses and everything on his face. Suddenly, the man dressed in a long coat had no head.1 Everyone became hysterical and ran out of the inn. No one had been prepared to see such a thing.2
Mrs. Hall said, “He is an evil spirit.”
A policeman who had heard all the commotion came and asked,3 “What on earth is going on here?”
“A headless man is inside the inn,” Mr. Hall told him.
“Very well,” said the policeman. “I will go and arrest him.”
Mr. Hall and the policeman went into the inn. The innkeeper pointed at a headless body and said, “There he is.”
The stranger now asked angrily, “What do you think you are doing?”
Check up
Complete the following sentence.
When the man tore off everything on his face, he became __________.
Key Words
have no idea: không biết, không hiểu
rubbery (adj): bằng cao su
tear off: giật mạnh, giật phăng ra
(tear- tore- torn)
hysterical (adj): quá kích động,
hoảng loạn
prepare (v): chuẩn bị, sẵn sàng
commotion (n): sự náo loạn
on earth: quái quỷ
headless (adj): không có đầu
arrest (v): bắt giữ
Key Sentences
1 Suddenly, the man dressed in a long coat had no head.
2 No one had been prepared to see such a thing.
3 A policeman who had heard all the commotion came and asked,
The policeman said, “I must arrest you.”
“Keep away from me,” the stranger cautioned.
The policeman moved toward the stranger. The stranger now removed one of his gloves and hit the policeman with his fist.
“Grab his legs,” shouted the policeman. Mr. Hall tried to grab his legs but the stranger hit him hard. The policeman finally managed to push the stranger to the ground.
“I give up,” said the stranger. He stood up and quickly started to remove his clothes. The two men saw a clothed body bending over to remove shoes that had no feet.1
Mr. Hall exclaimed, “That’s not a man. There’s nothing inside the shirt.” He put his hand out to see if he could touch the man, but then there was a loud shriek, “OWWW! That’s my eye. I am a man. I’m just invisible. But that doesn’t give you the right to arrest or poke me in the eye.2”
Then the policeman said, “I’m arresting you for the burglary of the Buntings’ house.” But by now, the man had removed his shoes, socks and trousers. All they could see was a shirt running around the room.3
Check up
Complete the following sentence.
The man was ___________, so nobody could see him.
Key Words
keep away: tránh xa
caution (v): báo trước, cảnh báo
remove (v): tháo ra, cởi ra
fist (n): nắm đấm
manage to do something: xoay xở, cố gắng làm gì
clothe (v): mặc quần áo
bend (v): cúi xuống (bend - bent - bent)
see if: xem thử
shriek (n): tiếng la, tiếng hét
invisible (adj): vô hình, không nhìn thấy được
poke (v): chọc vào
trousers (n): quần
Key Sentences
1 The two men saw a clothed body bending over to remove shoes that had no feet.
2 But that doesn’t give you the right to arrest or poke me in the eye.
3 All they could see was a shirt running around the room.
Just outside of Iping, a tramp, Thomas Marvel, sat looking at two pairs of shoes, trying to decide which pair to wear.1 He was studying the boots intently when a voice behind him said2, “Both of them are very ugly.”
“Yes,” said the tramp. “Which ones should I wear?” Then, he turned his head to ask, “What are you wearing?”
But as he finished his question, he saw no one was there. “I am mad,” he said aloud.
“No, you’re not,” said the voice behind him.
“Where are you?” asked the tramp. I must be drunk or just talking to myself.”
“No, don’t worry. You are not drunk.”
The tramp looked around again, feeling very confused. “I’m sure I heard a voice.”
Just then, something grabbed Marvel by the collar and shook him.3
“You’re not imagining anything,” said the voice. “I am an invisible man.”
Marvel then said, “I am a tramp, but I’m not an idiot. No one can be invisible.”
Check up
Answer the following question.
Why did the tramp feel confused?
__________________________________________
Key Words & Sentences
tramp (n): kẻ lang thang
pair of + N: đôi
study (v): xem rất cẩn thận, ngắm nghía
intently (adv): chăm chú
drunk (adj): say xỉn
shake (v): lắc, lay
(shake - shook - shaken)
imagine (v): tưởng tượng
idiot (n): thằng ngốc
1 Just outside of Iping, a tramp, Thomas Marvel, sat looking at two pairs of shoes, trying to decide which pair to wear.
2 He was studying the boots intently when a voice behind him said
3 Just then, something grabbed Marvel by the collar and shook him.
At that moment, the tramp felt something grab his hand, and he jumped back. Then, Marvel put out his hand to feel the hand that had grabbed his.1 He then felt an arm, a chest, then a beard.
“This is truly amazing,” said the tramp. “How is this possible?”
“I will tell you later,” said the invisible man. “Now, I need your help. Society has rejected both of us. So, we should try to help each other.”
“How could I help you?” asked Marvel.
“First with clothes and shelter.2 I can also help you. Can you imagine what power I have? If you betray me, I could do terrible things.”
The tramp was very frightened now. “Alright. I . . . won’t betray you,” he stuttered. “Don’t worry. I will help you.”
Back in Iping, everything had settled down. People felt a mixture of doubt that the strange man had existed, and relief that he was gone.3 At about four in the afternoon, however, a tramp entered the village and went straight to the strange man’s room.
Key Words & Key Sentences
feel (v) :cảm thấy
chest (n): ngực
beard (n): râu
amazing (adj): kinh ngạc, kỳ lạ
society (n): xã hội
reject (v): hắt hủi, không công nhận
shelter (n): chỗ ẩn náu
betray (v): phản bội
frightened (adj): hoảng sợ, khiếp đảm
stutter (v): lắp bắp
settle down: ngủ yên, yên ắng
mixture (n): sự lẫn lộn
exist (v): tồn tại
relief (n): sự trấn tĩnh, sự nhẹ nhõm
1 Then, Marvel put out his hand to feel the hand that had grabbed his.
2 First with clothes and shelter.
3 People felt a mixture of doubt that the strange man had existed, and relief that he was gone.
The tramp saw two men, Dr. Cuss and Reverend Bunting, looking through three large books.
“It’s some kind of code,” said Dr. Cuss.
“What are you doing?” asked the tramp. The two men looked up but were relieved to see a tramp.
“The bar is below,” said the doctor.
“Thank you,” replied Marvel. He went downstairs, had a drink and went out to wait below the invisible man’s room.
Back in the bedroom, the two men were looking through the books. Suddenly, they felt something cold and sharp against their necks.1
“I don’t want to hurt you, but you’ve given me no choice,”2 said a familiar voice. “What gave you the right to look through my private things? And where are my clothes?”
“Mrs. Hall took them.”
“Well then, I’ll just have to . . .”
“No,” screamed the doctor and the reverend. Minutes later, a bundle of books flew out of the window. They were caught by the tramp. Mr. Huxter, a shop owner across the street, saw this and yelled out, “Stop! Thief!” He started to run after the tramp but felt himself punched in the face.3 He fell to the ground unconscious.
Check up
Why did the invisible man go back to the inn?
a. To pay the bill.
b. To get his books back.
c. To meet Dr. Cuss and the reverend.
Key Words
code (n): mã, mật mã
look through: xem kỹ, đọc kỹ
relieve (v): làm an tâm, thở phào
private (adj): riêng tư, cá nhân
bundle (n): chồng, mớ (sách)
owner (n): chủ nhân
punch (v): đấm, thụi
unconscious (adj): bất tỉnh, ngất đi
Key Sentences
1 Suddenly, they felt something cold and sharp against their necks.
2 I don’t want to hurt you, but you’ve given me no choice.
3 He started to run after the tramp but felt himself punched in the face.
A few moments later, Dr. Cuss came running down the stairs of the inn. He shouted out, “He has my trousers and all of the reverend’s clothing. Stop him!”
Behind him, the reverend came running out, covering his body with a rug and a daily newspaper.1 The two men went running down the street and tripped over Mr. Huxter’s unconscious body.2 Other people had come to see what the commotion was about. It was at that time that people were thrown to the ground or punched in the face.3 Terrified, everyone ran away.
However, the invisible man was very angry. He returned to the town and started to destroy everything. With an ax, he chopped Mr. Hall’s cart to pieces.4 He went to Dr. Cuss’s office and smashed everything.
He threw street lamps through windows and cut the telegraph wires. After the invisible man’s rage was over, he left Iping, and no one ever saw, heard or felt him ever again.
Check up
What did the invisible man NOT do out of anger?
a. He destroyed Mr. Hall’s cart.
b. He cut the telegraph wires.
c. He took the reverend’s clothes.
Key Words & Sentences
clothing (n): áo quần, y phục
rug (n): thảm trải sàn
trip over something: vấp phải cái gì
(trip - tripped - tripped)
terrified (adj): kinh hãi
run away: bỏ chạy
destroy (v): phá hủy, đập phá
ax (n): cái rìu
chop (v): chặt
telegraph (n): điện báo
wire (n): dây (kim loại)
rage (n): cơn giận, cơn điên cuồng
1 Behind him, the reverend came running out, covering his body with a rug and a daily newspaper.
2 The two men went running down the street and tripped over Mr. Huxter’s unconscious body.
3 It was at that time that people were thrown to the ground or punched in the face.
4 With an ax, he chopped Mr. Hall’s cart to pieces.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Write down the name of the character next to each line.
the invisible man
the tramp
Mr. Bunting
Mrs. Hall
1. I’ve caught you. Surrender yourself. _________
2. He deals with the devil. He has evil spirits _________ in there.
3. I must be drunk or just talking to myself. _________
4. Can you imagine what power I have? _________
B. Match the words with their meanings.
1. slam
2. halt
3. rustle
4. stutter
5. hysterical
a. A noise caused by paper rubbing together
b. To speak unclearly and without confidence
c. To stop doing something
d. To show extreme, uncontrollable fear
e. To shut noisily with great force
C. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. How could the Buntings know that there was someone in the room?
(a) Because the room was lit by a candle.
(b) Because the front door was open.
(c) Because they heard someone run out of the room.
2. What was revealed when the man tore off everything on his face?
(a) He had a terrible disease.
(b) He had no face.
(c) He turned into a ghost.
3. The man was very angry. What did he do?
(a) He left Iping with his three books.
(b) He stole money from the reverend.
(c) He went to Dr. Cuss’s office and smashed everything.
D. Based on the story, mark “T” if true or “F” if false.
1. The invisible man was poked in the eye during the fight in the inn. T...F
2. The tramp was happy to help the invisible man. T...F
3. The invisible man had the tramp harm Dr. Cuss and the reverend. T...F
Understanding the Story
What is the main idea of Wells’s novel that amazingly described the future by using scientific knowledge?
Themes of Wells’s Science Fictions
H.G. Wells was a socialist thinker, and he was also very interested in the wonders of scientific developments. One of his most famous novels, The Time Machine , explored both of these themes.
In this novel, Wells invents a time machine and portrays the natural evolution of the capitalist class structure. A society of human called the Eloi in the story represents the rich upper class who have everything they need and lose interest in life. Wells probably didn’t think the class like this would be actually existed, but he does raise some interesting ideas with his description of the Eloi society.
Many of Wells’s novels are now called science fiction. The main reason for this was because the plots of these books depended heavily on the impact of scientific discoveries. It is no coincidence that Wells was so interested in science. The end of the 18th century saw great advances in scientific knowledge. The process of industrialization was creating great changes in society. Many people wondered what the future would be like. Some saw a paradise, in which scientific progress would create a perfect society. Others saw human civilization descending into terrible ruin as the rich took advantage of the poor.
theme (n): đề tài, chủ đề
science fiction (n): truyện khoa học viễn tưởng
socialist (adj): (thuộc) xã hội chủ nghĩa
thinker (n): nhà tư tưởng
explore (v): khám phá, hướng đến
portray (v): miêu tả sinh động
evolution (n): sự phát triển
capitalist (adj): (thuộc) tư bản chủ nghĩa
represent (v): đại diện cho, tiêu biểu cho
paradise (n): thiên đường
description (n): sự miêu tả, sự khắc họa
plot (n): tình tiết, cốt truyện
depend on: dựa trên
impact (n): sự tác động, ảnh hưởng
coincidence (n): sự trùng hợp ngẫu nhiên
advance (n): sự tiến bộ
process (n): tiến trình, quá trình
industrialization (n): sự công nghiệp hóa
civilization (n): nền văn minh
descend (v): sa sút, suy đồi
ruin (n): sự suy đồi
take advantage of someone: lợi dụng ai