关于本书
隆冬时节，一个浑身缠着绷带、戴着墨镜遮住面孔的陌生人来到英国伊平村的一家客栈，坚持要求让他独自摆弄那些古怪的化学仪器。他孤僻的性情和一连串无法解释的怪事，引起了村民们的好奇与猜疑。这部经典科幻小说探讨了一位发现了隐身方法的科学家所拥有的力量与所承受的孤立。
开篇
CHAPTER I. THE STRANGE MAN’S ARRIVAL
第一章 陌生人的到来
The stranger came early in February, one wintry day, through a biting wind and a driving snow,
这个陌生人是在二月初来的，那是一个寒冬的日子，他顶着刺骨的寒风和狂飞的大雪——
the last snowfall of the year, over the down, walking from Bramblehurst railway station,
那是那一年的最后一场雪——越过丘陵，从布兰布尔赫斯特火车站步行而来，
and carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand.
那只戴着厚手套的手里提着一个黑色的小旅行箱。
He was wrapped up from head to foot,
他从头到脚裹得严严实实，
and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose;
他那顶软毡帽的帽檐遮住了他的整张脸，只露出发亮的鼻尖；
the snow had piled itself against his shoulders and chest, and added a white crest to the burden he carried.
雪堆积在他的肩膀和胸前，给他提着的箱子加上了一道白色的顶冠。
He staggered into the “Coach and Horses” more dead than alive, and flung his portmanteau down.
他踉踉跄跄地走进了“马车与马”客栈，半死不活的样子，把旅行箱往地上一扔。
“A fire,” he cried, “in the name of human charity!
“生火，”他喊道，“看在人类慈悲的分上！
A room and a fire!”
一个房间，再生个火！”
He stamped and shook the snow from off himself in the bar,
他在酒吧间里跺着脚，抖掉身上的雪，
and followed Mrs. Hall into her guest parlour to strike his bargain.
然后跟着霍尔太太走进她的客厅去谈价钱。
And with that much introduction,
就凭这么一点介绍，
that and a couple of sovereigns flung upon the table, he took up his quarters in the inn.
再加上往桌上扔的两枚金镑，他就在客栈里住了下来。
Mrs. Hall lit the fire and left him there while she went to prepare him a meal with her own hands.
霍尔太太生起了火，把他留在那里，自己去亲手为他准备饭菜。
A guest to stop at Iping in the wintertime was an unheard-of piece of luck, let alone a guest
冬天有客人在伊平留宿，已经是闻所未闻的好运了，更不用说这位客人
who was no “haggler,” and she was resolved to show herself worthy of her good fortune.
还不是个“讨价还价的人”，她决心要表现出自己配得上这份好运。
As soon as the bacon was well under way, and Millie, her lymphatic maid,
等熏肉煎得差不多了，她那个迟钝的女仆米莉
had been brisked up a bit by a few deftly chosen expressions of contempt, she carried the cloth, plates,
也被她几句巧妙挑选的轻蔑话语催得勤快了一点之后，她就把桌布、盘子
and glasses into the parlour and began to lay them with the utmost éclat.
和玻璃杯拿进客厅，开始极其隆重地摆起来。