How did the stranger unveil himself and what was the reaction of the public?

The stranger put his open palm over his face and withdrew it which revealed the center of his face to become a black cavity. Then he stepped forward and handed Mrs. Hall his nose, pink and shining. Mrs. Hall had been avidly staring at his metamorphosing face and accepted it blindly until she noticed it carefully and screamed loudly, staggering back. The stranger removed his spectacles next, tore off his hat and with a violent gesture tore at his whiskers and bandages. For a moment they resisted him and then they saw what Mrs. Hall had seen, that there was nothing. He seemed to have melted into the air whereas they had expected scars, disfigurements and tangible horrors. There was nothingness once the bandages had come off and everyone was frightfully alarmed. People down the village heard shouts, shrieks and looking up the streets saw the Coach and Horses violently spewing out the human beings it contained. Mrs Hall fell down, Teddy Henfrey jumped out avoiding a tumble over her, Millie was screaming frightfully and emerging from the kitchen. Seeing such a wild commotion, the sweetstuff seller, the coconut shy proprietor and his assistant, the swing man, little boys and girls, rustic dandies, smart wenches, smocked elders and aproned gipsies, all began to run towards the inn and quite soon, a crowd of forty people gathered in front of the place exchanging news on the appearance of a bogeyman.