The Invisible Man walks down the stairs for the first time and experiences difficulty due to not being able to see his feet. He feels exalted and revels in his extraordinary advantage. However, he is hit violently behind by a man carrying a basket of soda-water syphons. The Invisible Man twists the basket out of the man's hand and a cabman tries to take it from him. In the confusion, The Invisible Man backs against a shop window and prepares to dodge out of the crowd.