Chapter 5 Footprints without Feet

Griffin was a scientist. He had carried out experiments to make a drug that could make human body invisible. He consumed that rare drug and his body became invisible as a sheet of glass. He was completely invisible until he happened to step in some mud which caused him to leave footprints as he walked. His footprints were seen by two boys, who followed him as long as the prints were visible. On getting rid of them, he went into a big London. He lost the boys easily. It was winter and he put on some warm clothes from the store after if got closed and got dressed by putting on shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat.

Griffin was a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him from the house. In revenge, he set fire to the house. He had removed all his clothes to get away without being seen. That was why he had become a homeless wanderer without the money and clothes.

The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in ownself a strange occurrence. Moreover he had an uncommon appearance. Mrs hall’s put in all her efforts to be friendly but he wasn't in mood to talk to anyone. He told her that he had no desire to talk, that's all he wanted was solitude. He didn't wish to be disturbed in his work and his face had been affected by an accident. For all these reasons, she considered him as an eccentric scientist.

Early in the morning a curious episode happened. The clergyman and his wife were woke up by noise in the study. Creeping downstairs, they heard the sound of chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk to their amazement the room appeared to be empty. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains and even up the chimney but nobody was there. Yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was also missing.

The landlord and his wife were up early and were surprised to see the scientist’s door open which usually remained shut and locked. He became furious if anyone entered his room. They saw it as an opportunity that was too adequate to be missed. They peeked up round the door and saw nobody and then decided to investigate further. The bedclothes were cold showing that the scientist must have been up for some time. All of a sudden mrs. Hall heard a sound of sniff close to her ear. A moment later the hat on the bed post leapt up and dashed itself onto her face. Then bedroom chair became alive and springing into the air it charged straight at her, legs foremost. As she and her husband got panic, the extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to the slam and lock the door after them.

It is rightly said that Griffin was a lawless person. He was not a law enduring citizen. He did acts that he were against the law of the country. Griffin set fire to the house and then became a homeless wanderer. He also robbed a shopkeeper, all of his money he could find. He also stole the housekeeping money from the clergyman’s desk. Griffin also attacked mrs. Hall when she entered his room. All these activities and instances prove that he was literally a lawless persons.

After repeated experiments, Griffin had discovered that how to make the human body transparent which was a big achievement. However, he dissipates his discovery for his personal gains and for hurting others. Thus, though he can be termed as brilliant scientist and was not a noble one.