Chapter threeAn unwelcome visitor
Many, many miles from Iping, Thomas Marvel plodded along a road, carrying three heavy books. He looked around, hoping to escape. However, the invisible man always said to him, “If you escape, I’ll find you, and I’ll kill you.”
“But I’m weak and can’t help you,” said the tramp.
“You had better do as I say.1 Everyone will be looking for me, and I need you to do the things I can’t,” said the invisible man. “You had better keep my books safe. If you don’t, I will kill you.”
They walked for many hours and eventually arrived in Port Stowe in the morning. They waited until the bank opened. The invisible man went inside and Marvel waited outside. Suddenly, bundles of money came flying through the window which Marvel quickly pocketed in his coat and trousers.2 He then ran until he was out of breath.
He found a seat and sat down with the three books next to him.3 Not long later, an old seaman sat down next to him. He had a newspaper with him and said, “Look at this! It says there is an invisible man running around these parts.”
Check up
Based on the story, write down “T” if true or “F” if false.
The invisible man and the tramp borrowed money from the bank. _____
Thomas Marvel wanted to escape from the invisible man. _____
Key Words & Sentences
unwelcome (adj): không được
chào đón
plod (v): lê từng bước,
bước đi nặng nề
(plod - plodded - plodded)
escape (v): trốn thoát
pocket (v): bỏ vào túi
out of breath: hụt hơi, đứt hơi
seaman (n): thủy thủ
part (n): nơi, vùng
1 You had better do as I say.
2 Suddenly, bundles of money came flying through the window which Marvel quickly pocketed in his coat and trousers.
3 He found a seat and sat down with the three books next to him.
Marvel looked suspiciously around himself. He listened carefully for any sound of the invisible man.1 He didn’t hear anything, so he whispered to the seaman, “I know some things about the invisible man.”
The seaman was astonished and asked, “Really! What do you know?”
“Well, I . . . OWWW,” moaned the tramp. He now held his hand next to his left ear. The invisible man had smacked him on the side of his head. “It’s . . . uh . . . it’s my . . . uh . . . tooth. Terrible toothache. I’m going now.”
“What about the invisible man?” the seaman called out behind the tramp.
“It’s not true. Some man I know made up the whole story,2” said the tramp as he was dragged along the road by the invisible man.
Marvel and the invisible man left Port Stowe and headed toward Port Burdock which was a very short distance away.3 In this town, Dr. Arthur Kemp, was looking through a microscope in his study. He was a research scientist.
Check up
What is true about the story?
a. The tramp told the seaman everything about the invisible man.
b. The invisible man and the tramp went to meet Dr. Kemp.
c. The tramp was smacked and he knew the invisible man was near to him.
Key Words & Sentences
suspiciously (adv): đề phòng,
ngờ vực
astonished (adj): ngạc nhiên,
kinh ngạc
moan (v): kêu van, rên rỉ
smack (v): vỗ, tát
make up: bịa đặt
drag (v): lôi kéo, kéo lê
head (v): hướng về, đi về phía
distance (n): khoảng cách
microscope (n): kính hiển vi
research (n): nghiên cứu
1 He listened carefully for any sound of the invisible man.
2 Some man I know made up the whole story.
3 Marvel and the invisible man left Port Stowe and headed toward Port Burdock which was a very short distance away.
Dr. Kemp decided to take a break, so he stood up and walked to the window. Through the window, he saw a dirty-looking man running through the street, waving his arms. “Another crazy idiot screaming about the invisible man.1 Why does this town have so many?” he asked himself.
But the people who saw Marvel up close did not think he was crazy, especially when they heard heavy breathing behind Marvel. Two boys were suddenly pushed to the ground and a dog was kicked by an invisible leg.2
Everyone panicked and deserted the streets.Some even screamed as they ran, “The invisible man is here!” However, everything was normal at the Jolly Cricketer Inn. The regulars were enjoying their regular brew when Marvel came crashing through the door, screaming,3 “The invisible man is after me. Lock the doors. He promised he would kill me if I escaped.”
A policeman said, “Hurry! Lock the doors!”
No sooner had they bolted the door when a powerful thumping was heard on the door.4
“Don’t open it,” Marvel cried in terror. “Are all of the doors locked?”
“The back door! The yard door!” exclaimed the barman.
Key Words
take a break: nghỉ ngơi
dirty-looking (adj): nhìn dơ bẩn
especially (adv): đặc biệt là
panic (v): hoang mang, hoảng sợ
(panic - panicked - panicked)
desert (v): bỏ đi, rời bỏ
normal (adj): bình thường
brew (n): rượu, bia
crash (v): đâm sầm vào,
gây huyên náo
bolt (v): cài chốt
thump (v): đấm, đập mạnh
in terror: kinh hoàng, khiếp sợ
barman (n): người phục vụ ở quán rượu
Key Sentences
1 Another crazy idiot screaming about the invisible man.
2 Two boys were suddenly pushed to the ground and a dog was kicked by an invisible leg.
3 The regulars were enjoying their regular brew when Marvel came crashing through the door, screaming.
4 No sooner had they bolted the door when a powerful thumping was heard on the door.
The barman rushed to check the doors, but it was too late. “The yard door is open. He could be inside now,” he told them. Then, there was the sound of a slamming door. The barman reached for a knife, and the policeman for his gun. From nowhere, something dragged Marvel out from his hiding place.1 The invisible man dragged Marvel into the kitchen. The policeman followed and tried to grab onto the invisible man, but he felt a large fist smash into his face.2 The barman and the policeman both tried to tackle the man. While the invisible man was fighting off the two men, Marvel managed to crawl away and escape through the yard door with the three books.3
The fight continued for a few more moments. Then, the two men realized they could no longer feel the invisible man.
“Where is he?” one asked.
“He must have escaped,” the other said.
Just then, a plate went flying through the air. The policeman shot five times in the direction from which it came.4
“You might have got him.5 Let’s try to feel around for his body.”
Check up
Complete the following sentence.
While the invisible man was fighting with the two men, Thomas Marvel _________.
Key Words & Sentences
nowhere (adv): không nơi nào, không biết ở đâu
tackle (v): túm lấy, ôm ngang
crawl (v): bò, trườn
direction (n): hướng
1 From nowhere, something dragged Marvel out from his hiding place.
2 The policeman followed and tried to grab onto the invisible man, but he felt a large fist smash into his face.
3 While the invisible man was fighting off the two men, Marvel managed to crawl away and escape through the yard door with the three books.
4 The policeman shot five times in the direction from which it came.
5 You might have got him.
In another part of town, Dr. Kemp was busily working on his research. He was taking down some notes at the time of the fight. When he heard the gunshots, he lifted his head and thought, “Hmm. Another fight at the Cricketer tonight.”
He went back to his work, but then the doorbell rang. After a few moments, no one came into his study to see him, so he called his housekeeper.1
“Who was at the door?” he asked.
“No one,” she told him. “It must have been a prank.”
Dr. Kemp then forgot about it and continued to work until two in the morning. He decided to go to bed so he went up to his room.
Just before he entered his room, he saw something that looked like blood on the floor. Then, he looked at the door handle and saw it covered with mud. He walked into his bedroom and saw blood all over the bed covers. Then, he looked closely at his pillow. “Good Lord! It looks like someone was lying there,” he cried.
At that moment, there was another voice in the room. “Kemp! It’s you. I don’t believe it!”
Dr. Kemp looked around the room. In the corner, he saw what looked like a blood-stained bandage wrapped around an arm that wasn’t there.2
Check up
Where was the invisible man now?
a. at the door
b. in the study
c. in the bedroom
Key Words
take down: ghi chép
gunshot (n): tiếng súng, phát súng
housekeeper (n): quản gia
prank (n): trò đùa, trò chơi khăm
closely (adv): cẩn thận, kỹ
stain (v): vấy bẩn
Key Sentences
1 After a few moments, no one came into his study to see him, so he called his housekeeper.
2 In the corner, he saw what looked like a blood-stained bandage wrapped around an arm that wasn’t there.
“Don’t worry Kemp. I’m an invisible man. You aren’t hearing things.”
“What! An invisible man? So it’s true what they’ve been saying in the village!”1 Dr. Kemp said, reaching out his hand to touch the bandage. But the invisible man grabbed the doctor’s wrist. Dr. Kemp tried to pull away and fight, but the invisible man said, “Kemp! Stop this. You know me. I’m Jack Griffin. We went to college together.”
Kemp now sat up and asked, “The Jack Griffin who won the college medal in chemistry?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you want to make yourself invisible?” asked Dr. Kemp again. “And how?”
The invisible man replied, “Kemp, can I explain tomorrow? I’m wounded, exhausted, and hungry. Could I have something to drink?” Dr. Kemp poured him some whiskey and asked, “Where are you?” Griffin took the glass out of his hand. “I can’t believe all of this is happening,” said Dr. Kemp.
“I’ve been outside, running around with no clothes on. All I want is to put some clean clothes on and eat something.” Dr. Kemp went to his wardrobe and took out a dressing gown. “Will this be okay?”
The invisible man took the robe and Dr. Kemp watched as it seemed to swing around in the air by itself.2 The doctor also got him some underwear, socks and slippers, and then went to get some food. He brought the food back, and watched as an invisible mouth devoured it.
Key Words
wrist (n): cổ tay
pull away: giật ra
chemistry (n): môn hóa học
wounded (adj): bị thương
exhausted (adj): kiệt sức, mệt lử
pour (v): đổ, rót
wardrobe (n): tủ quần áo
robe (n): áo choàng mặc ở ngoài
underwear (n): quần áo lót
devour (v): ăn ngấu nghiến
Key Sentences
1 So it’s true what they’ve been saying in the village!
2 The invisible man took the robe and Dr. Kemp watched as it seemed to swing around in the air by itself.
“This is the strangest thing,” he muttered.
“What is strange is the good fortune to enter the house of a man I know for bandages for my wound1,” Griffin said.
“How were you wounded?” asked the doctor.
“Well, there was a man who was supposed to help me, Marvel.”
“He shot you,” the doctor questioned him again.
“No, but he stole my books and money.”
“Did you shoot him? I heard some shots coming from the inn.”
“No, someone back at the inn shot me. But I’ll explain later. I’m exhausted.”
“Then sleep here in my room,” offered the doctor.
“Sleep! I have to catch Marvel to get my books! And the police might catch me,” said the man.
“Police?” asked Kemp.
“I’m such an idiot! I’ve given you the idea to turn me in.2”
“I promise I won’t. I won’t tell anyone that you are here. Why don’t you lock the door after I leave?” Dr. Kemp suggested.
“Alright. Then I will sleep here tonight. I’ll explain my plans to you tomorrow. There will be wonderful things that you and I can do together. I have just discovered that if I am to be invisible, I must have a partner.3”
The two men shook hands and said good-night but the invisible man warned, “You had better not think about trying to have me captured.”
Key Words
mutter (v): nói thầm, nói khẽ
fortune (n): vận may
be supposed to + V: lẽ ra phải
shoot (v): bắn
(shoot - shot - shot)
question (v): hỏi
turn in: thông báo, giao nộp
(cho cảnh sát)
partner (n): cộng sự
discover (v): phát hiện ra, nhận ra
capture (v): bắt giữ
Key Sentences
1 What is strange is the good fortune to enter the house of a man I know for bandages for my wound.
2 I’m such an idiot! I’ve given you the idea to turn me in.
3 I have just discovered that if I am to be invisible, I must have a partner.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Choose the line that is said by the other person.
(a) Why don’t you lock the door when I leave?
(b) You had better not think about trying to have me captured.
(c) I’m wounded, exhausted, and hungry.
(a) The invisible man is here. Lock the doors.
(b) So it’s true what they’ve been saying in the village.
(c) I know something about the invisible man.
B. Match the beginning with the end of the sentences.
(a) when Marvel came crashing through the door
(b) but he felt a large fist smash into his face
(c) hoping to escape
(d) which Marvel pocketed in his coat and trousers
1. Thomas Marvel looked around, ___________________________.
2. Bundles of money came flying through the window
___________________________.
3. The regulars were enjoying their regular brew ___________________________.
4. The policeman tried to grab onto the invisible man, ___________________________.
C. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. Why did Dr. Kemp think that Thomas Marvel was crazy?
(a) Because the man looked very dirty.
(b) Because Kemp couldn’t see the invisible man behind him.
(c) Because there were so many crazy people in the town.
2. Why did the invisible man enter Dr. Kemp’s home?
(a) Because he knew it was Dr. Kemp’s home.
(b) Because he choose it randomly to get some bandages.
(c) Because they had planned to meet there.
D. Complete the following paragraph with the words given.
Just before he entered his room, he saw something that looked like ______________ on the floor. Then he looked at the door handle and saw it was ______________ with mud. He walked into his bedroom and saw blood all over the bed covers. Then, he looked ______________ at his pillow. “Good Lord! It looks like someone was lying there,” he cried. At that moment, there was another ______________ in the room.