Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet

The invisible man, Griffin, first became visible when he stepped into mud, and his footprints were all over the steps of a house in the middle of London. His footprints were noticed by two boys who followed, fascinated, until the muddy impressions became fainter and fainter and at last disappeared altogether. He escaped easily enough from the boys who followed his footprints in London. As it was mid-winter, he slipped into a big London store to keep himself warm and slept there while picking up a pair of shoes, an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat from the store. When he wore the clothes, it made him visible to the shop assistants when the shop opened in the morning. Thereafter, he had to shed all his clothes to escape from them and became invisible again.

Although Griffin was a brilliant scientist, he was a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to evict him from the house. In revenge, the scientist set the house on fire. To escape from the scene, he removed his clothes and became a homeless wanderer without clothes, no money and totally invisible, roaming around the streets of London.