The questions all related to the novel "Dracula", and focus on chapter 16 to chapter 22. Each part has different words counting. The answers must be your own words and no other reference can be used
Dra cu la
By
Bra m S to k er
CH APT ER I
JO NAT H AN H ARK ER ’S J O URNAL
(K ep t i n s h orth an d.)
3 M ay. B is tr itz .— Left M unic h at 8:3 5 P. M ., on 1st M ay, arriv in g at
Vie n na e arly n ex t m orn in g; s h ould h av e a rriv ed a t 6 :4 6, b ut tr a in w as a n h our
la te . B uda-P esth s e em s a w onderfu l p la ce, f ro m th e g lim pse w hic h I g ot o f it
fro m t h e t r a in a n d t h e l ittle I c o uld w alk t h ro ugh t h e s tr e ets . I f e are d t o g o v ery
fa r f ro m th e s ta tio n, a s w e h ad a rriv ed la te a n d w ould s ta rt a s n ear th e c o rre ct
tim e a s p ossib le . T he im pre ssio n I h ad w as th at w e w ere le av in g th e W est a n d
en te rin g th e E ast; th e m ost w este rn o f sp le n did b rid ges o ver th e D an ube,
whic h is h ere o f n oble w id th an d d ep th , to ok u s am ong th e tr a d itio ns o f
Turk is h r u le .
We l e ft i n p re tty g ood t im e, a n d c am e a fte r n ig htf a ll t o K la u se n burg h. H ere
I s to pped f o r t h e n ig ht a t t h e H ote l R oyale . I h ad f o r d in ner, o r r a th er s u pper, a
ch ic k en d one u p s o m e w ay w ith r e d p ep per, w hic h w as v ery g ood b ut th ir s ty .
(M em ., g et re cip e fo r M in a.) I a sk ed th e w aite r, a n d h e sa id it w as c alle d
“p ap rik a h en dl,” a n d th at, a s it w as a n atio nal d is h , I s h ould b e a b le to g et it
an yw here a lo ng t h e C arp ath ia n s. I f o und m y s m atte rin g o f G erm an v ery u se fu l
here ; i n deed , I d on’t k now h ow I s h ould b e a b le t o g et o n w ith out i t.
Hav in g h ad s o m e tim e a t m y d is p osa l w hen in L ondon, I h ad v is ite d th e
Britis h M use u m , a n d m ad e s e arc h a m ong th e b ooks a n d m ap s in th e lib ra ry
re g ard in g T ra n sy lv an ia ; it h ad str u ck m e th at so m e fo re k now le d ge o f th e
co untr y c o uld h ard ly f a il t o h av e s o m e i m porta n ce i n d ealin g w ith a n oble m an
of th at c o untr y . I fin d th at th e d is tr ic t h e n am ed is in th e e x tr e m e e ast o f th e
co untr y , ju st on th e bord ers of th re e sta te s, T ra n sy lv an ia , M old av ia an d
Bukovin a, in th e m id st o f th e C arp ath ia n m ounta in s; o ne o f th e w ild est a n d
le ast k now n p ortio ns o f E uro pe. I w as n ot a b le to lig ht o n a n y m ap o r w ork
giv in g th e e x act lo cality o f th e C astle D ra cu la , a s th ere a re n o m ap s o f th is
co untr y a s y et to c o m pare w ith o ur o w n O rd nan ce S urv ey m ap s; b ut I fo und
th at B is tr itz , th e p ost to w n n am ed b y C ount D ra cu la , is a fa ir ly w ell- k now n
pla ce. I s h all e n te r h ere s o m e o f m y n ote s, a s th ey m ay re fre sh m y m em ory
when I t a lk o ver m y t r a v els w ith M in a.
In th e popula tio n of T ra n sy lv an ia th ere are fo ur dis tin ct natio nalitie s:
Sax ons in th e South , an d m ix ed w ith th em th e W alla ch s, w ho are th e
desc en dan ts o f t h e D acia n s; M ag yars i n t h e W est, a n d S zek ely s i n t h e E ast a n d
North . I a m g oin g a m ong th e la tte r, w ho c la im to b e d esc en ded fro m A ttila
an d t h e H uns. T his m ay b e s o , f o r w hen t h e M ag yars c o nquere d t h e c o untr y i n
th e e le v en th c en tu ry th ey f o und th e H uns s e ttle d in it. I r e ad th at e v ery k now n su pers titio n in th e w orld is g ath ere d in to th e h ors e sh oe o f th e C arp ath ia n s, a s
if it w ere th e c en tr e o f s o m e s o rt o f im ag in ativ e w hir lp ool; if s o m y s ta y m ay
be v ery i n te re stin g. ( M em ., I m ust a sk t h e C ount a ll a b out t h em .)
I d id n ot s le ep w ell, th ough m y b ed w as c o m fo rta b le e n ough, f o r I h ad a ll
so rts o f q ueer d re am s. T here w as a d og h ow lin g a ll n ig ht u nder m y w in dow ,
whic h m ay h av e h ad s o m eth in g to d o w ith it; o r it m ay h av e b een th e p ap rik a,
fo r I h ad to d rin k u p a ll th e
wate r in m y c ara fe , a n d w as s till th ir s ty . T ow ard s
morn in g I s le p t a n d w as w ak en ed b y t h e c o ntin uous k nock in g a t m y d oor, s o I
guess I m ust hav e been sle ep in g so undly th en . I had fo r bre ak fa st m ore
pap rik a, an d a so rt of porrid ge of m aiz e flo ur w hic h th ey sa id w as
“m am alig a,” an d eg g-p la n t stu ff e d w ith fo rc em eat, a very ex celle n t dis h ,
whic h th ey c all “ im ple ta ta .” (M em ., g et re cip e fo r th is a ls o .) I h ad to h urry
bre ak fa st, fo r th e tr a in s ta rte d a little b efo re e ig ht, o r ra th er it o ught to h av e
done s o , f o r a fte r r u sh in g to th e s ta tio n a t 7 :3 0 I h ad to s it in th e c arria g e f o r
more th an a n h our b efo re w e b eg an to m ove. It s e em s to m e th at th e fu rth er
east y ou g o th e m ore u npunctu al are th e tr a in s. W hat o ught th ey to b e in
Chin a?
All d ay lo ng w e s e em ed to d aw dle th ro ugh a c o untr y w hic h w as fu ll o f
beau ty o f e v ery k in d. S om etim es w e s a w little to w ns o r c astle s o n th e to p o f
ste ep h ills su ch a s w e se e in o ld m is sa ls ; so m etim es w e ra n b y riv ers a n d
str e am s w hic h s e em ed f ro m th e w id e s to ny m arg in o n e ach s id e o f th em to b e
su bje ct t o g re at f lo ods. I t t a k es a l o t o f w ate r, a n d r u nnin g s tr o ng, t o s w eep t h e
outs id e e d ge o f a riv er c le ar. A t e v ery sta tio n th ere w ere g ro ups o f p eo ple ,
so m etim es c ro w ds, a n d in a ll s o rts o f a ttir e . S om e o f th em w ere ju st lik e th e
peasa n ts a t h om e o r th ose I s a w c o m in g th ro ugh F ra n ce a n d G erm an y, w ith
sh ort ja ck ets a n d ro und h ats a n d h om e-m ad e tr o use rs ; b ut o th ers w ere v ery
pic tu re sq ue. T he w om en lo oked p re tty , e x cep t w hen y ou g ot n ear th em , b ut
th ey w ere v ery c lu m sy a b out t h e w ais t. T hey h ad a ll f u ll w hite s le ev es o f s o m e
kin d o r o th er, a n d m ost o f th em h ad b ig b elts w ith a lo t o f s tr ip s o f s o m eth in g
flu tte rin g fro m th em lik e th e d re sse s in a b alle t, b ut o f co urs e th ere w ere
pettic o ats u nder th em . T he str a n gest fig ure s w e sa w w ere th e S lo vak s, w ho
were m ore b arb aria n th an th e re st, w ith th eir b ig c o w -b oy h ats , g re at b ag gy
dir ty -w hite tr o use rs , w hite lin en sh ir ts , an d en orm ous h eav y le ath er b elts ,
nearly a fo ot w id e, a ll s tu dded o ver w ith b ra ss n ails . T hey w ore h ig h b oots ,
with th eir tr o use rs tu ck ed in to th em , a n d h ad lo ng b la ck h air a n d h eav y b la ck
mousta ch es. T hey a re v ery p ic tu re sq ue, b ut d o n ot lo ok p re p osse ssin g. O n th e
sta g e th ey w ould b e s e t d ow n a t o nce a s s o m e o ld O rie n ta l b an d o f b rig an ds.
They a re , h ow ev er, I a m t o ld , v ery h arm le ss a n d r a th er w an tin g i n n atu ra l s e lf -
asse rtio n.
It w as o n th e d ark s id e o f tw ilig ht w hen w e g ot to B is tr itz , w hic h is a v ery
in te re stin g o ld p la ce. B ein g p ra ctic ally o n th e fro ntie r— fo r th e B org o P ass le ad s fro m it in to B ukovin a— it has had a very sto rm y ex is te n ce, an d it
certa in ly s h ow s m ark s o f it. F if ty y ears a g o a s e rie s o f g re at f ir e s to ok p la ce,
whic h m ad e te rrib le h av oc o n fiv e s e p ara te o ccasio ns. A t th e v ery b eg in nin g
of t h e s e v en te en th c en tu ry i t u nderw en t a s ie g e o f t h re e w eek s a n d l o st 1 3,0 00
peo ple , t h e c asu altie s o f w ar p ro per b ein g a ssis te d b y f a m in e a n d d is e ase .
Count D ra cu la h ad d ir e cte d m e to g o to th e G old en K ro ne H ote l, w hic h I
fo und, to m y g re at d elig ht, to b e th oro ughly o ld -fa sh io ned , fo r o f c o urs e I
wan te d to s e e a ll I c o uld o f th e w ay s o f th e c o untr y . I w as e v id en tly e x pecte d ,
fo r w hen I g ot n ear th e d oor I fa ced a c h eery -lo okin g e ld erly w om an in th e
usu al p easa n t d re ss— white u nderg arm en t w ith lo ng d ouble a p ro n, fro nt, a n d
back , o f c o lo ure d s tu ff f ittin g a lm ost t o o t ig ht f o r m odesty . W hen I c am e c lo se
sh e bow ed an d sa id , “T he H err E nglis h m an ?” “Y es,” I sa id , “Jo nath an
Hark er.” S he s m ile d , a n d g av e s o m e m essa g e to a n e ld erly m an in w hite s h ir t-
sle ev es, w ho h ad f o llo w ed h er to th e d oor. H e w en t, b ut im med ia te ly r e tu rn ed
with a l e tte r:—
“M y F rie n d.— Welc o m e to th e C arp ath ia n s. I a m a n xio usly e x pectin g y ou.
Sle ep w ell t o -n ig ht. A t t h re e t o -m orro w t h e d ilig en ce w ill s ta rt f o r B ukovin a; a
pla ce o n it is k ep t f o r y ou. A t th e B org o P ass m y c arria g e w ill a w ait y ou a n d
will b rin g y ou to m e. I tr u st th at y our jo urn ey f ro m L ondon h as b een a h ap py
one, a n d t h at y ou w ill e n jo y y our s ta y i n m y b eau tif u l l a n d.
“Y our f rie n d,
“D ra cu la .”
4 M ay.— I f o und t h at m y l a n dlo rd h ad g ot a l e tte r f ro m t h e C ount, d ir e ctin g
him t o s e cu re t h e b est p la ce o n t h e c o ach f o r m e; b ut o n m ak in g i n quir ie s a s t o
deta ils he se em ed so m ew hat re tic en t, an d pre te n ded th at he co uld not
unders ta n d m y G erm an . T his c o uld n ot b e tr u e, b ecau se u p to th en h e h ad
unders to od i t p erfe ctly ; a t l e ast, h e a n sw ere d m y q uestio ns e x actly a s i f h e d id .
He a n d h is w if e , th e o ld la d y w ho h ad r e ceiv ed m e, lo oked a t e ach o th er in a
frig hte n ed so rt o f w ay. H e m um ble d o ut th at th e m oney h ad b een se n t in a
le tte r, a n d th at w as a ll h e k new . W hen I a sk ed h im if h e k new C ount D ra cu la ,
an d co uld te ll m e an yth in g of his castle , both he an d his w if e cro sse d
th em se lv es, a n d, s a y in g th at th ey k new n oth in g a t a ll, s im ply r e fu se d to s p eak
fu rth er. It w as s o n ear th e tim e o f s ta rtin g th at I h ad n o tim e to a sk a n y o ne
els e , f o r i t w as a ll v ery m yste rio us a n d n ot b y a n y m ean s c o m fo rtin g.
Ju st b efo re I w as le av in g, th e o ld la d y c am e u p to m y r o om a n d s a id in a
very h yste ric al w ay :
“M ust y ou g o? O h! y oung H err, m ust y ou g o?” S he w as i n s u ch a n e x cite d
sta te th at sh e se em ed to h av e lo st h er g rip o f w hat G erm an sh e k new , a n d
mix ed it a ll u p w ith s o m e o th er la n guag e w hic h I d id n ot k now a t a ll. I w as ju st a b le to f o llo w h er b y a sk in g m an y q uestio ns. W hen I to ld h er th at I m ust
go a t o nce, a n d t h at I w as e n gag ed o n i m porta n t b usin ess, s h e a sk ed a g ain :
“D o y ou k now w hat d ay it is ? ” I a n sw ere d th at it w as th e fo urth o f M ay.
She s h ook h er h ead a s s h e s a id a g ain :
“O h, y es! I k now th at! I k now th at, b ut d o y ou k now w hat d ay it is ? ” O n
my s a y in g t h at I d id n ot u nders ta n d, s h e w en t o n:
“It i s t h e e v e o f S t. G eo rg e’s D ay. D o y ou n ot k now t h at t o -n ig ht, w hen t h e
clo ck s tr ik es m id nig ht, a ll th e e v il th in gs in th e w orld w ill h av e f u ll s w ay ? D o
you k now w here y ou a re g oin g, a n d w hat y ou a re g oin g to ?” S he w as in s u ch
ev id en t d is tr e ss t h at I t r ie d to c o m fo rt h er, b ut w ith out e ff e ct. F in ally s h e w en t
dow n o n h er k nees a n d im plo re d m e n ot to g o; a t le ast to w ait a d ay o r tw o
befo re sta rtin g. It w as all very rid ic u lo us but I did not fe el co m fo rta b le .
How ev er, t h ere w as b usin ess t o b e d one, a n d I c o uld a llo w n oth in g t o i n te rfe re
with it. I th ere fo re tr ie d to r a is e h er u p, a n d s a id , a s g ra v ely a s I c o uld , th at I
th an ked h er, b ut m y d uty w as im pera tiv e, a n d th at I m ust g o. S he th en ro se
an d d rie d h er e y es, a n d ta k in g a c ru cif ix f ro m h er n eck o ff e re d it to m e. I d id
not k now w hat to d o, fo r, a s a n E nglis h C hurc h m an , I h av e b een ta u ght to
re g ard su ch th in gs as in so m e m easu re id ola tr o us, an d yet it se em ed so
ungra cio us to r e fu se a n o ld la d y m ean in g s o w ell a n d in s u ch a s ta te o f m in d.
She sa w , I su ppose , th e d oubt in m y fa ce, fo r sh e p ut th e ro sa ry ro und m y
neck , a n d sa id , “ F or y our m oth er’s sa k e,” a n d
wen t o ut o f th e ro om . I a m
writin g u p th is p art o f th e d ia ry w hils t I a m w aitin g f o r th e c o ach , w hic h is , o f
co urs e , l a te ; a n d t h e c ru cif ix i s s till r o und m y n eck . W heth er i t i s t h e o ld l a d y’s
fe ar, o r t h e m an y g hostly t r a d itio ns o f t h is p la ce, o r t h e c ru cif ix i ts e lf , I d o n ot
know , b ut I a m n ot fe elin g n early a s e asy in m y m in d a s u su al. If th is b ook
sh ould e v er r e ach M in a b efo re I d o, le t it b rin g m y g ood-b ye. H ere c o m es th e
co ach !
5 M ay. T he C astle .— The g re y o f th e m orn in g h as p asse d , a n d th e s u n is
hig h o ver t h e d is ta n t h oriz o n, w hic h s e em s j a g ged , w heth er w ith t r e es o r h ills I
know n ot, fo r it is so fa r o ff th at b ig th in gs a n d little a re m ix ed . I a m n ot
sle ep y, a n d, a s I a m n ot to b e c alle d till I a w ak e, n atu ra lly I w rite till s le ep
co m es. T here a re m an y o dd th in gs to p ut d ow n, a n d, le st w ho r e ad s th em m ay
fa n cy th at I d in ed to o w ell b efo re I le ft B is tr itz , le t m e p ut d ow n m y d in ner
ex actly . I d in ed o n w hat th ey c alle d “ ro bber s te ak ”— bits o f b aco n, o nio n, a n d
beef, s e aso ned w ith r e d p ep per, a n d s tr u ng o n s tic k s a n d r o aste d o ver th e f ir e ,
in t h e s im ple s ty le o f th e L ondon c at’s m eat! T he w in e w as G old en M ed ia sc h ,
whic h pro duces a queer stin g on th e to ngue, w hic h is , how ev er, not
dis a g re eab le . I h ad o nly a c o uple o f g la sse s o f t h is , a n d n oth in g e ls e .
When I g ot o n th e c o ach th e d riv er h ad n ot ta k en h is s e at, a n d I s a w h im
ta lk in g w ith th e la n dla d y. T hey w ere e v id en tly ta lk in g o f m e, fo r e v ery n ow an d th en th ey lo oked a t m e, a n d s o m e o f th e p eo ple w ho w ere s ittin g o n th e
ben ch o uts id e th e d oor— whic h th ey c all b y a n am e m ean in g “ w ord -b eare r” —
cam e a n d l is te n ed , a n d t h en l o oked a t m e, m ost o f t h em p ity in gly . I c o uld h ear
a lo t o f w ord s o fte n re p eate d , q ueer w ord s, fo r th ere w ere m an y n atio nalitie s
in th e c ro w d; s o I q uie tly g ot m y p oly glo t d ic tio nary f ro m m y b ag a n d lo oked
th em o ut. I m ust s a y th ey w ere n ot c h eerin g to m e, fo r a m ongst th em w ere
“O rd og”— Sata n , “p okol” — hell, “str e g oic a”— witc h , “v ro lo k” an d
“v lk osla k ”— both o f w hic h m ean th e sa m e th in g, o ne b ein g S lo vak a n d th e
oth er S erv ia n f o r s o m eth in g t h at i s e ith er w ere -w olf o r v am pir e . ( M em ., I m ust
ask t h e C ount a b out t h ese s u pers titio ns)
When w e s ta rte d , th e c ro w d ro und th e in n d oor, w hic h h ad b y th is tim e
sw elle d to a c o nsid era b le s iz e, a ll m ad e th e s ig n o f th e c ro ss a n d p oin te d tw o
fin gers to w ard s m e. W ith s o m e d if f ic u lty I g ot a fe llo w -p asse n ger to te ll m e
what th ey m ean t; h e w ould n ot a n sw er a t fir s t, b ut o n le arn in g th at I w as
Englis h , h e e x pla in ed th at it w as a c h arm o r g uard a g ain st th e e v il e y e. T his
was n ot v ery p le asa n t fo r m e, ju st s ta rtin g fo r a n u nknow n p la ce to m eet a n
unknow n m an ; b ut e v ery o ne s e em ed s o k in d-h earte d , a n d s o s o rro w fu l, a n d
so sy m path etic th at I c o uld n ot b ut b e to uch ed . I sh all n ev er fo rg et th e la st
glim pse w hic h I h ad o f th e in n-y ard a n d its c ro w d o f p ic tu re sq ue fig ure s, a ll
cro ssin g th em se lv es, as th ey sto od ro und th e w id e arc h w ay, w ith its
back gro und o f r ic h f o lia g e o f o le an der a n d o ra n ge t r e es i n g re en t u bs c lu ste re d
in th e c en tr e o f th e y ard . T hen o ur d riv er, w hose w id e lin en d ra w ers c o vere d
th e w hole f ro nt o f t h e b ox-s e at— “g otz a” t h ey c all t h em — cra ck ed h is b ig w hip
over h is f o ur s m all h ors e s, w hic h r a n a b re ast, a n d w e s e t o ff o n o ur j o urn ey.
I s o on l o st s ig ht a n d r e co lle ctio n o f g hostly f e ars i n t h e b eau ty o f t h e s c en e
as w e d ro ve a lo ng, a lth ough h ad I k now n th e la n guag e, o r ra th er la n guag es,
whic h m y fe llo w -p asse n gers w ere sp eak in g, I m ig ht n ot h av e b een a b le to
th ro w th em o ff s o e asily . B efo re u s la y a g re en s lo pin g la n d f u ll o f f o re sts a n d
woods, w ith h ere a n d th ere s te ep h ills , c ro w ned w ith c lu m ps o f tr e es o r w ith
fa rm house s, th e bla n k gab le en d to th e ro ad .
There w as ev ery w here a
bew ild erin g m ass of fru it blo sso m — ap ple , plu m , pear, ch erry ; an d as w e
dro ve b y I c o uld s e e th e g re en g ra ss u nder th e tr e es s p an gle d w ith th e fa lle n
peta ls . I n a n d o ut a m ongst th ese g re en h ills o f w hat th ey c all h ere th e “ M itte l
Lan d” r a n t h e r o ad , l o sin g i ts e lf a s i t s w ep t r o und t h e g ra ssy c u rv e, o r w as s h ut
out b y th e s tr a g glin g e n ds o f p in e w oods, w hic h h ere a n d th ere r a n d ow n th e
hills id es l ik e t o ngues o f f la m e. T he r o ad w as r u gged , b ut s till w e s e em ed t o f ly
over i t w ith a f e v eris h h aste . I c o uld n ot u nders ta n d t h en w hat t h e h aste m ean t,
but t h e d riv er w as e v id en tly b en t o n l o sin g n o t im e i n r e ach in g B org o P ru nd. I
was to ld th at th is r o ad is in s u m mertim e e x celle n t, b ut th at it h ad n ot y et b een
put in o rd er a fte r th e w in te r sn ow s. In th is re sp ect it is d if f e re n t fro m th e
gen era l r u n o f r o ad s in th e C arp ath ia n s, f o r it is a n o ld tr a d itio n th at th ey a re
not to b e k ep t in to o g ood o rd er. O f o ld th e H osp ad ars w ould n ot r e p air th em , le st th e T urk s h ould th in k th at th ey w ere p re p arin g to b rin g in f o re ig n tr o ops,
an d s o h aste n t h e w ar w hic h w as a lw ay s r e ally a t l o ad in g p oin t.
Bey ond th e g re en s w ellin g h ills o f th e M itte l L an d ro se m ig hty s lo pes o f
fo re st u p t o t h e l o fty s te ep s o f t h e C arp ath ia n s t h em se lv es. R ig ht a n d l e ft o f u s
th ey to w ere d , w ith th e a fte rn oon s u n fa llin g fu ll u pon th em a n d b rin gin g o ut
all th e g lo rio us c o lo urs o f th is b eau tif u l ra n ge, d eep b lu e a n d p urp le in th e
sh ad ow s o f th e p eak s, g re en a n d b ro w n w here g ra ss a n d r o ck m in gle d , a n d a n
en dle ss pers p ectiv e of ja g ged ro ck an d poin te d cra g s, till th ese w ere
th em se lv es lo st in th e d is ta n ce, w here th e s n ow y p eak s r o se g ra n dly . H ere a n d
th ere s e em ed m ig hty r if ts i n t h e m ounta in s, t h ro ugh w hic h , a s t h e s u n b eg an t o
sin k, w e sa w n ow a n d a g ain th e w hite g le am o f fa llin g w ate r. O ne o f m y
co m pan io ns to uch ed m y a rm a s w e s w ep t r o und th e b ase o f a h ill a n d o pen ed
up th e lo fty , s n ow -c o vere d p eak o f a m ounta in , w hic h s e em ed , a s w e w ound
on o ur s e rp en tin e w ay, t o b e r ig ht b efo re u s:—
“L ook! I s te n s z ek !” — “G od’s s e at! ” — an d h e c ro sse d h im se lf r e v ere n tly .
As w e w ound o n o ur en dle ss w ay, an d th e su n sa n k lo w er an d lo w er
beh in d u s, th e sh ad ow s o f th e e v en in g b eg an to c re ep ro und u s. T his w as
em phasis e d b y th e f a ct th at th e s n ow y m ounta in -to p s till h eld th e s u nse t, a n d
se em ed to g lo w o ut w ith a d elic ate co ol p in k. H ere an d th ere w e p asse d
Csz ek s a n d S lo vak s, a ll in p ic tu re sq ue a ttir e , b ut I n otic ed th at g oitr e w as
pain fu lly p re v ale n t. B y th e r o ad sid e w ere m an y c ro sse s, a n d a s w e s w ep t b y,
my c o m pan io ns a ll c ro sse d th em se lv es. H ere a n d th ere w as a p easa n t m an o r
wom an kneelin g befo re a sh rin e, w ho did not ev en tu rn ro und as w e
ap pro ach ed , b ut s e em ed in th e s e lf -s u rre n der o f d ev otio n to h av e n eith er e y es
nor e ars f o r th e o ute r w orld . T here w ere m an y th in gs n ew to m e: f o r in sta n ce,
hay -ric k s in th e tr e es, a n d h ere a n d th ere v ery b eau tif u l m asse s o f w eep in g
bir c h , th eir w hite s te m s s h in in g lik e s ilv er th ro ugh th e d elic ate g re en o f th e
le av es. N ow a n d a g ain w e p asse d a le ite r- w ag on— th e o rd in ary p easa n t’s c art
—with its lo ng, s n ak e-lik e v erte b ra , c alc u la te d to s u it th e in eq ualitie s o f th e
ro ad . O n th is w ere s u re to b e s e ate d q uite a g ro up o f h om e-c o m in g p easa n ts ,
th e C sz ek s w ith th eir w hite , a n d th e S lo vak s w ith th eir c o lo ure d , s h eep sk in s,
th e la tte r carry in g la n ce-fa sh io n th eir lo ng sta v es, w ith ax e at en d. A s th e
ev en in g fe ll it b eg an to g et v ery c o ld , a n d th e g ro w in g tw ilig ht se em ed to
merg e in to o ne d ark m is tin ess th e g lo om o f th e tr e es, o ak , b eech , a n d p in e,
th ough in th e v alle y s w hic h ra n d eep b etw een th e sp urs o f th e h ills , a s w e
asc en ded th ro ugh th e P ass, th e d ark fir s s to od o ut h ere a n d th ere a g ain st th e
back gro und o f la te -ly in g s n ow . S om etim es, a s th e ro ad w as c u t th ro ugh th e
pin e w oods th at se em ed in th e d ark ness to b e c lo sin g d ow n u pon u s,
gre at
masse s o f g re y ness, w hic h h ere an d th ere b estr e w ed th e tr e es, p ro duced a
pecu lia rly w eir d a n d s o le m n e ff e ct, w hic h c arrie d o n th e th oughts a n d g rim
fa n cie s e n gen dere d e arlie r in th e e v en in g, w hen th e fa llin g s u nse t th re w in to str a n ge re lie f th e g host- lik e c lo uds w hic h a m ongst th e C arp ath ia n s se em to
win d c ease le ssly th ro ugh th e v alle y s. S om etim es th e h ills w ere s o s te ep th at,
desp ite o ur d riv er’s h aste , th e h ors e s c o uld o nly g o slo w ly . I w is h ed to g et
dow n a n d w alk u p t h em , a s w e d o a t h om e, b ut t h e d riv er w ould n ot h ear o f i t.
“N o, n o,” h e s a id ; “ y ou m ust n ot w alk h ere ; th e d ogs a re to o f ie rc e”; a n d th en
he a d ded , w ith w hat h e e v id en tly m ean t fo r g rim p le asa n tr y — fo r h e lo oked
ro und to c atc h th e a p pro vin g s m ile o f th e r e st— “an d y ou m ay h av e e n ough o f
su ch m atte rs b efo re y ou g o to sle ep .” T he o nly sto p h e w ould m ak e w as a
mom en t’s p au se t o l ig ht h is l a m ps.
When it gre w dark th ere se em ed to be so m e ex cite m en t am ongst th e
passe n gers , an d th ey k ep t sp eak in g to h im , o ne afte r th e o th er, as th ough
urg in g h im to fu rth er s p eed . H e la sh ed th e h ors e s u nm erc if u lly w ith h is lo ng
whip , an d w ith w ild crie s of en co ura g em en t urg ed th em on to fu rth er
ex ertio ns. T hen th ro ugh th e d ark ness I c o uld s e e a s o rt o f p atc h o f g re y lig ht
ah ead o f u s, a s th ough th ere w ere a c le ft in th e h ills . T he e x cite m en t o f th e
passe n gers g re w g re ate r; th e c ra zy c o ach ro ck ed o n its g re at le ath er s p rin gs,
an d s w ay ed l ik e a b oat t o sse d o n a s to rm y s e a. I h ad t o h old o n. T he r o ad g re w
more l e v el, a n d w e a p peare d t o f ly a lo ng. T hen t h e m ounta in s s e em ed t o c o m e
neare r t o u s o n e ach s id e a n d t o f ro w n d ow n u pon u s; w e w ere e n te rin g o n t h e
Borg o P ass. O ne b y o ne s e v era l o f t h e p asse n gers o ff e re d m e g if ts , w hic h t h ey
pre sse d u pon m e w ith a n e arn estn ess w hic h w ould ta k e n o d en ia l; th ese w ere
certa in ly o f a n o dd a n d v arie d k in d, b ut e ach w as g iv en in s im ple g ood f a ith ,
with a k in dly w ord , a n d a b le ssin g, a n d th at s tr a n ge m ix tu re o f fe ar- m ean in g
movem en ts w hic h I h ad se en o uts id e th e h ote l a t B is tr itz — th e sig n o f th e
cro ss a n d th e g uard a g ain st th e e v il e y e. T hen , a s w e fle w a lo ng, th e d riv er
le an ed f o rw ard , a n d o n e ach s id e th e p asse n gers , c ra n in g o ver th e e d ge o f th e
co ach , p eere d e ag erly in to th e d ark ness. It w as e v id en t th at so m eth in g v ery
ex citin g w as e ith er h ap pen in g o r e x pecte d , b ut th ough I a sk ed e ach p asse n ger,
no o ne w ould g iv e m e th e s lig hte st e x pla n atio n. T his s ta te o f e x cite m en t k ep t
on f o r s o m e little tim e; a n d a t la st w e s a w b efo re u s th e P ass o pen in g o ut o n
th e e aste rn s id e. T here w ere d ark , ro llin g c lo uds o verh ead , a n d in th e a ir th e
heav y, o ppre ssiv e s e n se o f th under. It s e em ed a s th ough th e m ounta in ra n ge
had s e p ara te d tw o a tm osp here s, a n d th at n ow w e h ad g ot in to th e th undero us
one. I w as n ow m yse lf lo okin g o ut f o r th e c o nvey an ce w hic h w as to ta k e m e
to th e C ount. E ach m om en t I e x pecte d to s e e th e g la re o f la m ps th ro ugh th e
bla ck ness; b ut a ll w as d ark . T he o nly lig ht w as th e f lic k erin g r a y s o f o ur o w n
la m ps, in w hic h th e s te am f ro m o ur h ard -d riv en h ors e s r o se in a w hite c lo ud.
We c o uld s e e n ow t h e s a n dy r o ad l y in g w hite b efo re u s, b ut t h ere w as o n i t n o
sig n o f a v eh ic le . T he p asse n gers d re w b ack w ith a s ig h o f g la d ness, w hic h
se em ed to m ock m y o w n d is a p poin tm en t. I w as a lr e ad y th in kin g w hat I h ad
best d o, w hen th e d riv er, lo okin g a t h is w atc h , s a id to th e o th ers s o m eth in g
whic h I c o uld h ard ly h ear, it w as s p oken s o q uie tly a n d in s o lo w a to ne; I th ought it w as “ A n h our le ss th an th e tim e.” T hen tu rn in g to m e, h e s a id in
Germ an w ors e t h an m y o w n:—
“T here is n o c arria g e h ere . T he H err is n ot e x pecte d a fte r a ll. H e w ill n ow
co m e o n to B ukovin a, a n d re tu rn to -m orro w o r th e n ex t d ay ; b ette r th e n ex t
day.” W hils t h e w as s p eak in g th e h ors e s b eg an to n eig h a n d s n ort a n d p lu nge
wild ly , so th at th e d riv er h ad to h old th em u p. T hen , a m ongst a c h oru s o f
sc re am s fro m th e p easa n ts a n d a u niv ers a l
cro ssin g o f th em se lv es, a c alè ch e,
with fo ur h ors e s, d ro ve u p b eh in d u s, o verto ok u s, a n d d re w u p b esid e th e
co ach . I c o uld s e e f ro m t h e f la sh o f o ur l a m ps, a s t h e r a y s f e ll o n t h em , t h at t h e
hors e s w ere c o al- b la ck a n d s p le n did a n im als . T hey w ere d riv en b y a ta ll m an ,
with a lo ng b ro w n b eard a n d a g re at b la ck h at, w hic h s e em ed to h id e h is f a ce
fro m u s. I co uld o nly se e th e g le am o f a p air o f v ery b rig ht ey es, w hic h
se em ed r e d i n t h e l a m plig ht, a s h e t u rn ed t o u s. H e s a id t o t h e d riv er:—
“Y ou a re e arly t o -n ig ht, m y f rie n d.” T he m an s ta m mere d i n r e p ly :—
“T he E nglis h H err w as i n a h urry ,” t o w hic h t h e s tr a n ger r e p lie d :—
“T hat i s w hy, I s u ppose , y ou w is h ed h im t o g o o n t o B ukovin a. Y ou c an not
deceiv e m e, m y frie n d; I k now to o m uch , a n d m y h ors e s a re sw if t.” A s h e
sp oke h e s m ile d , a n d t h e l a m plig ht f e ll o n a h ard -lo okin g m outh , w ith v ery r e d
lip s an d sh arp -lo okin g te eth , as w hite as iv ory . O ne of m y co m pan io ns
whis p ere d t o a n oth er t h e l in e f ro m B urg er’s “ L en ore ”:—
“D en n d ie T odte n r e ite n s c h nell” —
(“ F or t h e d ead t r a v el f a st.” )
The str a n ge d riv er ev id en tly h eard th e w ord s, fo r h e lo oked u p w ith a
gle am in g s m ile . T he p asse n ger tu rn ed h is f a ce a w ay, a t th e s a m e tim e p uttin g
out h is tw o fin gers a n d c ro ssin g h im se lf . “ G iv e m e th e H err ’s lu ggag e,” s a id
th e d riv er; a n d w ith e x ceed in g a la crity m y b ag s w ere h an ded o ut a n d p ut i n t h e
calè ch e. T hen I d esc en ded f ro m t h e s id e o f t h e c o ach , a s t h e c alè ch e w as c lo se
alo ngsid e, t h e d riv er h elp in g m e w ith a h an d w hic h c au ght m y a rm i n a g rip o f
ste el; h is s tr e n gth m ust h av e b een p ro dig io us. W ith out a w ord h e s h ook h is
re in s, th e h ors e s tu rn ed , a n d w e sw ep t in to th e d ark ness o f th e P ass. A s I
lo oked b ack I s a w th e s te am f ro m th e h ors e s o f th e c o ach b y th e lig ht o f th e
la m ps, a n d p ro je cte d a g ain st it th e fig ure s o f m y la te c o m pan io ns c ro ssin g
th em se lv es. T hen th e d riv er c ra ck ed h is w hip a n d c alle d to h is h ors e s, a n d o ff
th ey s w ep t o n th eir w ay to B ukovin a. A s th ey s a n k in to th e d ark ness I fe lt a
str a n ge c h ill, a n d a lo nely f e elin g c am e o ver m e; b ut a c lo ak w as th ro w n o ver
my sh ould ers , a n d a ru g a cro ss m y k nees, a n d th e d riv er sa id in e x celle n t
Germ an :—
“T he n ig ht is c h ill, m ein H err, a n d m y m aste r th e C ount b ad e m e ta k e a ll
care o f y ou. T here is a fla sk o f sliv ovitz (th e p lu m b ra n dy o f th e c o untr y ) undern eath th e s e at, if y ou s h ould r e q uir e it.” I d id n ot ta k e a n y, b ut it w as a
co m fo rt to k now it w as th ere a ll th e s a m e. I fe lt a little s tr a n gely , a n d n ot a
little f rig hte n ed . I th in k h ad th ere b een a n y a lte rn ativ e I s h ould h av e ta k en it,
in ste ad o f p ro se cu tin g t h at u nknow n n ig ht j o urn ey. T he c arria g e w en t a t a h ard
pace str a ig ht a lo ng, th en w e m ad e a c o m ple te tu rn a n d w en t a lo ng a n oth er
str a ig ht ro ad . It s e em ed to m e th at w e w ere s im ply g oin g o ver a n d o ver th e
sa m e g ro und a g ain ; a n d s o I to ok n ote o f s o m e s a lie n t p oin t, a n d fo und th at
th is w as s o . I w ould h av e lik ed to h av e a sk ed th e d riv er w hat th is a ll m ean t,
but I re ally fe are d to d o so , fo r I th ought th at, p la ced a s I w as, a n y p ro te st
would h av e h ad n o e ff e ct i n c ase t h ere h ad b een a n i n te n tio n t o d ela y. B y-a n d-
by, h ow ev er, a s I w as c u rio us t o k now h ow t im e w as p assin g, I s tr u ck a m atc h ,
an d b y i ts f la m e l o oked a t m y w atc h ; i t w as w ith in a f e w m in ute s o f m id nig ht.
This g av e m e a so rt o f sh ock , fo r I su ppose th e g en era l su pers titio n a b out
mid nig ht w as in cre ase d b y m y r e cen t e x perie n ces. I w aite d w ith a s ic k f e elin g
of s u sp en se .
Then a d og b eg an t o h ow l s o m ew here i n a f a rm house f a r d ow n t h e r o ad — a
lo ng, a g onis e d w ailin g, a s if fro m fe ar. T he s o und w as ta k en u p b y a n oth er
dog, a n d th en a n oth er a n d a n oth er, till, b orn e o n th e w in d w hic h n ow s ig hed
so ftly t h ro ugh t h e P ass, a w ild h ow lin g b eg an , w hic h s e em ed t o c o m e f ro m a ll
over th e c o untr y , a s f a r a s th e im ag in atio n c o uld g ra sp it th ro ugh th e g lo om o f
th e n ig ht. A t th e f ir s t h ow l th e h ors e s b eg an to s tr a in a n d r e ar, b ut th e d riv er
sp oke t o t h em s o oth in gly , a n d t h ey q uie te d d ow n, b ut s h iv ere d a n d s w eate d a s
th ough a fte r a r u naw ay f ro m s u dden f rig ht. T hen , f a r o ff in th e d is ta n ce, f ro m
th e m ounta in s o n e ach s id e o f u s b eg an a lo uder a n d a s h arp er h ow lin g— th at
of w olv es— whic h a ff e cte d b oth th e h ors e s a n d m yse lf in th e s a m e w ay — fo r I
was m in ded to ju m p fro m th e c alè ch e a n d ru n, w hils t th ey re are d a g ain a n d
plu nged m ad ly , s o t h at t h e d riv er h ad t o u se a ll h is g re at s tr e n gth t o k eep t h em
fro m b oltin g. I n a f e w m in ute s, h ow ev er, m y o w n e ars g ot a ccu sto m ed to th e
so und, a n d th e h ors e s s o f a r b ecam e q uie t th at th e d riv er w as a b le to d esc en d
an d to sta n d befo re th em . H e pette d an d so oth ed th em , an d w his p ere d
so m eth in g in th eir ears , as I h av e h eard o f h ors e -ta m ers d oin g, an d w ith
ex tr a o rd in ary eff e ct, fo r u nder h is care sse s th ey b ecam e q uite m an ag eab le
ag ain , th ough th ey s till tr e m ble d . T he d riv er a g ain to ok h is s e at, a n d s h ak in g
his r e in s, s ta rte d o ff a t a g re at p ace. T his t im e, a fte r g oin g t o t h e f a r s id e o f t h e
Pass, h e su dden ly tu rn ed d ow n a n arro w ro ad w ay w hic h ra n sh arp ly to th e
rig ht.
Soon w e w ere h em med i n w ith t r e es, w hic h i n p la ces a rc h ed r ig ht o ver t h e
ro ad w ay till w e p asse d a s th ro ugh a tu nnel; a n d a g ain g re at fro w nin g ro ck s
guard ed u s b old ly o n e ith er s id e. T hough w e w ere i n s h elte r, w e c o uld h ear t h e
ris in g w in d, f o r i t m oan ed a n d w his tle d t h ro ugh t h e r o ck s, a n d t h e b ra n ch es o f
th e tr e es c ra sh ed to geth er a s w e s w ep t a lo ng. It g re w c o ld er a n d c o ld er s till,
an d f in e, p ow dery s n ow b eg an to f a ll, s o th at s o on w e a n d a ll a ro und u s w ere co vere d w ith a w hite b la n ket. T he k een w in d s till c arrie d th e h ow lin g o f th e
dogs, th ough th is g re w fa in te r a s w e w en t o n o ur w ay. T he b ay in g o f th e
wolv es s o unded n eare r a n d n eare r, a s th ough th ey w ere c lo sin g ro und o n u s
fro m e v ery s id e. I g re w d re ad fu lly a fra id , a n d th e h ors e s s h are d m y f e ar. T he
driv er, h ow ev er, w as n ot in th e le ast d is tu rb ed ; h e k ep t tu rn in g h is h ead to le ft
an d r ig ht, b ut I c o uld n ot s e e a n yth in g t h ro ugh t h e d ark ness.
Sudden ly , a w ay o n o ur le ft, I s a w a f a in t f lic k erin g b lu e f la m e. T he d riv er
sa w i t a t t h e s a m e m om en t; h e a t o nce c h eck ed t h e h ors e s, a n d, j u m pin g t o t h e
gro und, d is a p peare d in to th e d ark ness. I d id n ot k now w hat to d o, th e le ss a s
th e how lin g of th e w olv es gre w clo se r; but w hile I w ondere d th e driv er
su dden ly a p peare d a g ain , a n d w ith out a w ord to ok h is s e at, a n d w e re su m ed
our jo urn ey. I th in k I m ust hav e fa lle n asle ep an d kep t dre am in g of th e
in cid en t, fo r it s e em ed to b e re p eate d e n dle ssly , a n d n ow lo okin g b ack , it is
lik e a s o rt o f a w fu l n ig htm are . O nce th e f la m e a p peare d s o n ear th e r o ad , th at
ev en in th e d ark ness a ro und u s I c o uld w atc h th e d riv er’s m otio ns. H e w en t
ra p id ly to w here th e b lu e f la m e a ro se — it m ust h av e b een v ery f a in t, f o r it d id
not s e em to illu m in e th e p la ce a ro und it a t a ll— an d g ath erin g a fe w s to nes,
fo rm ed th em in to s o m e d ev ic e. O nce th ere a p peare d a s tr a n ge o ptic al e ff e ct:
when h e s to od b etw een m e a n d t h e f la m e h e d id n ot o bstr u ct i t, f o r I c o uld s e e
its g hostly flic k er a ll th e sa m e. T his sta rtle d m e, b ut a s th e e ff e ct w as o nly
mom en ta ry , I t o ok i t t h at m y e y es d eceiv ed m e s tr a in in g t h ro ugh t h e d ark ness.
Then f o r a tim e th ere w ere n o b lu e f la m es, a n d w e s p ed o nw ard s th ro ugh th e
glo om , w ith th e how lin g of th e w olv es aro und us, as th ough th ey w ere
fo llo w in g i n a m ovin g c ir c le .
At la st th ere c am e a tim e w hen th e d riv er w en t f u rth er a fie ld th an h e h ad
yet g one, a n d d urin g h is a b se n ce, th e h ors e s b eg an to tr e m ble w ors e th an e v er
an d to s n ort a n d s c re am w ith frig ht. I c o uld n ot s e e a n y c au se fo r it, fo r th e
how lin g o f th e w olv es h ad c ease d a lto geth er; b ut ju st th en th e m oon, s a ilin g
th ro ugh t h e b la ck c lo uds, a p peare d b eh in d t h e j a g ged c re st o f a b eetlin g, p in e-
cla d r o ck , a n d b y its lig ht I s a w a ro und u s a r in g o f w olv es, w ith w hite te eth
an d l o llin g r e d t o ngues, w ith l o ng, s in ew y l im bs a n d s h ag gy h air. T hey w ere a
hundre d tim es m ore te rrib le in th e g rim sile n ce w hic h h eld th em th an e v en
when t h ey h ow le d . F or m yse lf , I f e lt a s o rt o f p ara ly sis o f f e ar. I t i s o nly w hen
a m an f e els h im se lf f a ce to f a ce w ith s u ch h orro rs th at h e c an u nders ta n d th eir
tr u e i m port.
All a t o nce th e w olv es b eg an to h ow l a s th ough th e m oonlig ht h ad h ad
so m e p ecu lia r e ff e ct o n t h em . T he h ors e s j u m ped a b out a n d r e are d , a n d l o oked
help le ssly ro und w ith e y es th at ro lle d in a w ay p ain fu l to s e e; b ut th e liv in g
rin g o f te rro r en co m passe d th em o n ev ery sid e; an d th ey h ad p erfo rc e to
re m ain w ith in it. I c alle d to th e c o ach m an to c o m e, fo r it s e em ed to m e th at
our o nly ch an ce w as to tr y to b re ak o ut th ro ugh th e rin g an d to aid h is ap pro ach . I s h oute d a n d b eat th e s id e o f th e c alè ch e, h opin g b y th e n ois e to
sc are th e w olv es fro m th at s id e, s o a s to g iv e h im a c h an ce o f re ach in g th e
tr a p . H ow h e c am e th ere , I k now n ot, b ut I h eard h is v oic e r a is e d in a to ne o f
im perio us c o m man d, a n d lo okin g to w ard s th e so und, sa w h im sta n d in th e
ro ad w ay. A s he sw ep t his lo ng arm s, as th ough bru sh in g asid e so m e
im palp ab le o bsta cle , th e w olv es fe ll b ack a n d b ack fu rth er still. Ju st th en a
heav y c lo ud p asse d a cro ss th e fa ce o f th e m oon, so th at w e w ere a g ain in
dark ness.
When I c o uld s e e a g ain th e d riv er w as c lim bin g in to th e c alè ch e, a n d th e
wolv es h ad d is a p peare d . T his w as a ll s o s tr a n ge a n d u ncan ny th at a d re ad fu l
fe ar c am e u pon m e, a n d I w as a fra id to sp eak o r m ove. T he tim e se em ed
in te rm in ab le a s w e s w ep t o n o ur w ay, n ow in a lm ost c o m ple te d ark ness, fo r
th e r o llin g c lo uds o bsc u re d th e m oon. W e k ep t o n a sc en din g, w ith o ccasio nal
perio ds of quic k desc en t, but in th e m ain alw ay s asc en din g. S udden ly , I
becam e c o nsc io us o f th e fa ct th at th e d riv er w as in th e a ct o f p ullin g u p th e
hors e s in th e c o urty ard o f a v ast r u in ed c astle , f ro m w hose ta ll b la ck w in dow s
cam e n o ra y o f lig ht, a n d w hose b ro ken b attle m en ts sh ow ed a ja g ged lin e
ag ain st t h e m oonlit s k y.
CH APT ER I I
JO NAT H AN H ARK ER ’S J O URNAL— co n tin ued
5 M ay.— I m ust h av e b een a sle ep , f o r c erta in ly if I h ad b een f u lly a w ak e I
must h av e n otic ed th e a p pro ach o f s u ch a r e m ark ab le p la ce. I n th e g lo om th e
co urty ard lo oked o f c o nsid era b le siz e, a n d a s se v era l d ark w ay s le d fro m it
under g re at r o und a rc h es, it p erh ap s s e em ed b ig ger th an it r e ally is . I h av e n ot
yet b een a b le t o s e e i t b y d ay lig ht.
When th e c alè ch e s to pped , th e d riv er ju m ped d ow n a n d h eld o ut h is h an d
to a ssis t m e t o a lig ht. A gain I c o uld n ot b ut n otic e h is p ro dig io us s tr e n gth . H is
han d a ctu ally s e em ed lik e a s te el v ic e th at c o uld h av e c ru sh ed m in e if h e h ad
ch ose n . T hen h e to ok o ut m y tr a p s, a n d p la ced th em o n th e g ro und b esid e m e
as I s to od c lo se t o a g re at d oor, o ld a n d s tu dded w ith l a rg e i r o n n ails , a n d s e t i n
a p ro je ctin g d oorw ay o f m assiv e s to ne. I c o uld s e e e v en in th e d im lig ht th at
th e s to ne w as m assiv ely c arv ed , b ut th at th e c arv in g h ad b een m uch w orn b y
tim e a n d w eath er. A s I s to od, th e d riv er ju m ped a g ain in to h is s e at a n d s h ook
th e r e in s; t h e h ors e s s ta rte d f o rw ard , a n d t r a p a n d a ll d is a p peare d d ow n o ne o f
th e d ark o pen in gs.
I s to od in s ile n ce w here I w as, fo r I d id n ot k now w hat to d o. O f b ell o r knock er th ere w as n o sig n; th ro ugh th ese fro w nin g w alls a n d d ark w in dow
open in gs it w as n ot lik ely th at m y v oic e c o uld p en etr a te . T he tim e I w aite d
se em ed e n dle ss, a n d I fe lt d oubts a n d fe ars c ro w din g u pon m e. W hat s o rt o f
pla ce h ad I co m e to , an d am ong w hat k in d o f p eo ple ? W hat so rt o f g rim
ad ven tu re w as it o n w hic h I h ad e m bark ed ? W as th is a c u sto m ary in cid en t in
th e l if e o f a s o lic ito r’s c le rk s e n t o ut t o e x pla in t h e p urc h ase o f a L ondon e sta te
to a f o re ig ner? S olic ito r’s c le rk ! M in a w ould n ot lik e th at. S olic ito r— fo r ju st
befo re le av in g L ondon I g ot w ord th at m y e x am in atio n w as s u ccessfu l; a n d I
am n ow a f u ll- b lo w n s o lic ito r! I b eg an t o r u b m y e y es a n d p in ch m yse lf t o s e e
if I w ere a w ak e. I t a ll s e em ed lik e a h orrib le n ig htm are to m e, a n d I e x pecte d
th at I sh ould su dden ly aw ak e, an d fin d m yse lf at hom e, w ith th e daw n
str u gglin g in th ro ugh th e w in dow s, a s I h ad n ow a n d a g ain f e lt in th e m orn in g
afte r a d ay o f o verw ork . B ut m y f le sh a n sw ere d t h e p in ch in g t e st, a n d m y e y es
were n ot t o b e d eceiv ed . I w as i n deed a w ak e a n d a m ong t h e C arp ath ia n s. A ll I
co uld d o n ow w as t o b e p atie n t, a n d t o w ait t h e c o m in g o f t h e m orn in g.
Ju st a s I h ad c o m e to th is c o nclu sio n I h eard a h eav y ste p a p pro ach in g
beh in d t h e g re at d oor, a n d s a w t h ro ugh t h e c h in ks t h e g le am o f a c o m in g l ig ht.
Then th ere w as th e s o und o f r a ttlin g c h ain s a n d th e c la n kin g o f m assiv e b olts
dra w n b ack . A k ey w as tu rn ed w ith th e lo ud g ra tin g n ois e o f lo ng d is u se , a n d
th e g re at d oor s w ung b ack .
With in , s to od a t a ll o ld m an , c le an s h av en s a v e f o r a l o ng w hite m ousta ch e,
an d c la d i n b la ck f ro m h ead t o f o ot, w ith out a s in gle s p eck o f c o lo ur a b out h im
an yw here . H e h eld in h is h an d a n a n tiq ue silv er la m p, in w hic h th e fla m e
burn ed w ith out ch im ney or glo be of an y kin d, th ro w in g lo ng quiv erin g
sh ad ow s a s i t f lic k ere d i n t h e d ra u ght o f t h e o pen d oor. T he o ld m an m otio ned
me in w ith h is r ig ht h an d w ith a c o urtly g estu re , s a y in g in e x celle n t E nglis h ,
but w ith a s tr a n ge i n to natio n:—
“W elc o m e to m y h ouse ! E nte r f re ely a n d o f y our o w n w ill! ” H e m ad e n o
motio n o f s te p pin g t o m eet m e, b ut s to od l ik e a s ta tu e, a s t h ough h is g estu re o f
welc o m e h ad fix ed h im in to s to ne. T he in sta n t, h ow ev er, th at I h ad s te p ped
over th e th re sh old , h e m oved im puls iv ely fo rw ard , a n d h old in g o ut h is h an d
gra sp ed m in e w ith a s tr e n gth w hic h m ad e m e w in ce, a n e ff e ct w hic h w as n ot
le sse n ed b y t h e f a ct t h at i t s e em ed a s c o ld a s i c e— more l ik e t h e h an d o f a d ead
th an a l iv in g m an . A gain h e s a id :—
“W elc o m e to m y h ouse . C om e fre ely . G o s a fe ly ; a n d le av e s o m eth in g o f
th e h ap pin ess y ou b rin g!” T he s tr e n gth o f th e h an dsh ak e w as s o m uch a k in to
th at w hic h I h ad n otic ed in th e d riv er, w hose fa ce I h ad n ot s e en , th at fo r a
mom en t I d oubte d if it w ere n ot th e s a m e p ers o n to w hom I w as s p eak in g; s o
to m ak e s u re , I s a id i n te rro gativ ely :—
“C ount D ra cu la ?” H e b ow ed i n a c o urtly w ay a s h e r e p lie d :— “I a m D ra cu la ; a n d I b id y ou w elc o m e, M r. H ark er, t o m y h ouse . C om e i n ;
th e n ig ht a ir is c h ill, a n d y ou m ust n eed to e at a n d r e st.” A s h e w as s p eak in g,
he p ut th e la m p o n a b ra ck et o n th e w all, a n d s te p pin g o ut, to ok m y lu ggag e;
he h ad c arrie d i t i n b efo re I c o uld f o re sta ll h im . I p ro te ste d b ut h e i n sis te d :—
“N ay, s ir , y ou a re m y g uest. I t is la te , a n d m y p eo ple a re n ot a v aila b le . L et
me s e e to y our c o m fo rt m yse lf .” H e in sis te d o n c arry in g m y tr a p s a lo ng th e
passa g e, a n d t h en u p a g re at w in din g s ta ir , a n d a lo ng a n oth er g re at p assa g e, o n
whose s to ne flo or o ur s te p s ra n g h eav ily . A t th e e n d o f th is h e th re w o pen a
heav y d oor, a n d I r e jo ic ed to s e e w ith in a w ell- lit r o om in w hic h a ta b le w as
sp re ad fo r su pper, a n d o n w hose m ig hty h earth a g re at fir e o f lo gs, fre sh ly
re p le n is h ed , f la m ed a n d f la re d .
The C ount h alte d , p uttin g d ow n m y b ag s, c lo se d t h e d oor, a n d c ro ssin g t h e
ro om , o pen ed a n oth er d oor, w hic h le d in to a sm all o cta g onal ro om lit b y a
sin gle la m p, a n d se em in gly w ith out a w in dow o f a n y so rt. P assin g th ro ugh
th is , h e o pen ed a n oth er d oor, a n d m otio ned m e to e n te r. It w as a w elc o m e
sig ht; f o r h ere w as a g re at b ed ro om w ell lig hte d a n d w arm ed w ith a n oth er lo g
fir e ,— als o ad ded to b ut la te ly , fo r th e to p lo gs w ere fre sh — whic h se n t a
hollo w ro ar u p th e w id e c h im ney. T he C ount h im se lf le ft m y lu ggag e in sid e
an d w ith dre w , s a y in g, b efo re h e c lo se d t h e d oor:—
“Y ou w ill n eed , a fte r y our jo urn ey, to re fre sh y ours e lf b y m ak in g y our
to ile t. I tr u st y ou w ill fin d a ll y ou w is h . W hen y ou a re re ad y, c o m e in to th e
oth er r o om , w here y ou w ill f in d y our s u pper p re p are d .”
The lig ht a n d w arm th a n d th e C ount’s c o urte o us w elc o m e s e em ed to h av e
dis sip ate d a ll m y d oubts a n d fe ars . H av in g th en re ach ed m y n orm al sta te , I
dis c o vere d th at I w as h alf fa m is h ed w ith h unger; s o m ak in g a h asty to ile t, I
wen t i n to t h e o th er r o om .
I fo und su pper a lr e ad y la id o ut. M y h ost, w ho sto od o n o ne sid e o f th e
gre at fir e p la ce, le an in g a g ain st th e sto new ork , m ad e a g ra cefu l w av e o f h is
han d t o t h e t a b le , a n d s a id :—
“I p ra y y ou, b e s e ate d a n d s u p h ow y ou p le ase . Y ou w ill, I t r u st, e x cu se m e
th at I d o n ot j o in y ou; b ut I h av e d in ed a lr e ad y, a n d I d o n ot s u p.”
I h an ded to h im th e s e ale d le tte r w hic h M r. H aw kin s h ad e n tr u ste d to m e.
He o pen ed it a n d r e ad it g ra v ely ; th en , w ith a c h arm in g s m ile , h e h an ded it to
me t o r e ad . O ne p assa g e o f i t, a t l e ast, g av e m e a t h rill o f p le asu re .
“I m ust re g re t th at a n a tta ck o f g out, fro m w hic h m ala d y I a m a c o nsta n t
su ff e re r, f o rb id s a b so lu te ly a n y tr a v ellin g o n m y p art f o r s o m e tim e to c o m e;
but I a m h ap py to s a y I c an s e n d a s u ff ic ie n t s u bstitu te , o ne in w hom I h av e
ev ery p ossib le c o nfid en ce. H e is a y oung m an , f u ll o f e n erg y a n d ta le n t in h is
ow n w ay, a n d o f a v ery f a ith fu l d is p ositio n. H e is d is c re et a n d s ile n t, a n d h as gro w n in to m an hood in m y s e rv ic e. H e s h all b e r e ad y to a tte n d o n y ou w hen
you w ill d urin g h is s ta y, a n d s h all t a k e y our i n str u ctio ns i n a ll m atte rs .”
The C ount h im se lf c am e f o rw ard a n d t o ok o ff t h e c o ver o f a d is h , a n d I f e ll
to a t o nce o n a n e x celle n t ro ast c h ic k en . T his , w ith s o m e c h eese a n d a s a la d
an d a b ottle o f o ld T okay, o f w hic h I h ad tw o g la sse s, w as m y s u pper. D urin g
th e tim e I w as e atin g it th e C ount a sk ed m e m an y q uestio ns a s to m y jo urn ey,
an d I t o ld h im b y d eg re es a ll I h ad e x perie n ced .
By th is tim e I h ad f in is h ed m y s u pper, a n d b y m y h ost’s d esir e h ad d ra w n
up a c h air b y th e f ir e a n d b eg un to s m oke a c ig ar w hic h h e o ff e re d m e, a t th e
sa m e tim e e x cu sin g h im se lf th at h e d id n ot s m oke. I h ad n ow a n o pportu nity
of o bse rv in g h im , a n d f o und h im o f a v ery m ark ed p hysio gnom y.
His fa ce w as a s tr o ng— a v ery s tr o ng— aq uilin e, w ith h ig h b rid ge o f th e
th in n ose a n d p ecu lia rly a rc h ed n ostr ils ; w ith lo fty d om ed fo re h ead , a n d h air
gro w in g sc an tily ro und th e te m ple s b ut p ro fu se ly e ls e w here . H is e y eb ro w s
were v ery m assiv e, a lm ost m eetin g o ver th e n ose , a n d w ith b ush y h air th at
se em ed to c u rl in its o w n p ro fu sio n. T he m outh , s o f a r a s I c o uld s e e it u nder
th e h eav y m ousta ch e, w as f ix ed a n d r a th er c ru el- lo okin g, w ith p ecu lia rly s h arp
white t e eth ; t h ese p ro tr u ded o ver t h e l ip s, w hose r e m ark ab le r u ddin ess s h ow ed
asto nis h in g v ita lity in a m an o f h is y ears . F or th e r e st, h is e ars w ere p ale , a n d
at th e to ps e x tr e m ely p oin te d ; th e c h in w as b ro ad a n d s tr o ng, a n d th e c h eek s
fir m t h ough t h in . T he g en era l e ff e ct w as o ne o f e x tr a o rd in ary p allo r.
Hith erto I h ad n otic ed t h e b ack s o f h is h an ds a s t h ey l a y o n h is k nees i n t h e
fir e lig ht, a n d th ey h ad se em ed ra th er w hite a n d fin e; b ut se ein g th em n ow
clo se to m e, I c o uld n ot b ut n otic e th at th ey w ere ra th er c o ars e — bro ad , w ith
sq uat fin gers . S tr a n ge to s a y, th ere w ere h air s in th e c en tr e o f th e p alm . T he
nails w ere l o ng a n d f in e, a n d c u t t o a s h arp p oin t. A s t h e C ount l e an ed o ver m e
an d h is h an ds t o uch ed m e, I c o uld n ot r e p re ss a s h udder. I t m ay h av e b een t h at
his b re ath w as r a n k, b ut a h orrib le f e elin g o f n au se a c am e o ver m e, w hic h , d o
what I w ould , I co uld n ot co nceal. T he C ount, ev id en tly n otic in g it, d re w
back ; a n d w ith a g rim s o rt o f s m ile , w hic h s h ow ed m ore th an h e h ad y et d one
his p ro tu bera n t te eth , s a t h im se lf d ow n a g ain o n h is o w n s id e o f th e f ir e p la ce.
We w ere b oth s ile n t f o r a w hile ; a n d a s I l o oked t o w ard s t h e w in dow I s a w t h e
fir s t d im str e ak o f th e c o m in g d aw n. T here se em ed a str a n ge stilln ess o ver
ev ery th in g; b ut a s I lis te n ed I h eard a s if fro m d ow n b elo w in th e v alle y th e
how lin g o f m an y w olv es. T he C ount’s e y es g le am ed , a n d h e s a id :—
“L is te n to th em — th e ch ild re n of th e nig ht. W hat m usic th ey m ak e!”
Seein g, I s u ppose , s o m e e x pre ssio n i n m y f a ce s tr a n ge t o h im , h e a d ded :—
“A h, sir , y ou d w elle rs in th e city can not en te r in to th e fe elin gs o f th e
hunte r.” T hen h e r o se a n d s a id :— “B ut y ou m ust b e tir e d . Y our b ed ro om is a ll re ad y, a n d to -m orro w y ou
sh all s le ep a s la te a s y ou w ill. I h av e to b e a w ay till th e a fte rn oon; s o s le ep
well a n d d re am w ell! ” W ith a c o urte o us b ow , h e o pen ed fo r m e h im se lf th e
door t o t h e o cta g onal r o om , a n d I e n te re d m y b ed ro om ....
I a m a ll in a s e a o f w onders . I d oubt; I f e ar; I th in k s tr a n ge th in gs, w hic h I
dare n ot c o nfe ss to m y o w n s o ul. G od k eep m e, if o nly f o r th e s a k e o f th ose
dear t o m e!
7 M ay.— It is a g ain e arly m orn in g, b ut I h av e re ste d a n d e n jo yed th e la st
tw en ty -fo ur h ours . I s le p t till la te in th e d ay, a n d a w oke o f m y o w n a cco rd .
When I h ad d re sse d m yse lf I w en t in to th e ro om w here w e h ad s u pped , a n d
fo und a c o ld b re ak fa st l a id o ut, w ith c o ff e e k ep t h ot b y t h e p ot b ein g p la ced o n
th e h earth . T here w as a c ard o n t h e t a b le , o n w hic h w as w ritte n :—
“I h av e to b e a b se n t fo r a w hile . D o n ot w ait fo r m e.— D.” I s e t to a n d
en jo yed a h earty m eal. W hen I h ad d one, I l o oked f o r a b ell, s o t h at I m ig ht l e t
th e s e rv an ts k now I h ad f in is h ed ; b ut I c o uld n ot f in d o ne. T here a re c erta in ly
odd defic ie n cie s in th e house , co nsid erin g th e ex tr a o rd in ary ev id en ces of
wealth w hic h a re ro und m e. T he ta b le s e rv ic e is o f g old , a n d s o b eau tif u lly
wro ught th at it m ust b e o f im men se v alu e. T he c u rta in s a n d u phols te ry o f th e
ch air s a n d so fa s a n d th e h an gin gs o f m y b ed a re o f th e c o stlie st a n d m ost
beau tif u l f a b ric s, a n d m ust h av e b een o f f a b ulo us v alu e w hen t h ey w ere m ad e,
fo r t h ey a re c en tu rie s o ld , t h ough i n e x celle n t o rd er. I s a w s o m eth in g l ik e t h em
in H am pto n C ourt, b ut th ere th ey w ere w orn a n d f ra y ed a n d m oth -e ate n . B ut
still in n one o f th e r o om s is th ere a m ir ro r. T here is n ot e v en a to ile t g la ss o n
my ta b le , a n d I h ad to g et th e little s h av in g g la ss f ro m m y b ag b efo re I c o uld
eith er s h av e o r b ru sh m y h air. I h av e n ot y et s e en a s e rv an t a n yw here , o r h eard
a s o und n ear th e c astle e x cep t th e h ow lin g o f w olv es. S om e tim e a fte r I h ad
fin is h ed m y m eal— I d o n ot k now w heth er to c all it b re ak fa st o r d in ner, f o r it
was b etw een f iv e a n d s ix o ’c lo ck w hen I h ad i t— I l o oked a b out f o r s o m eth in g
to r e ad , f o r I d id n ot lik e to g o a b out th e c astle u ntil I h ad a sk ed th e C ount’s
perm is sio n. T here w as a b so lu te ly n oth in g in th e ro om , b ook, n ew sp ap er, o r
ev en w ritin g m ate ria ls ; s o I o pen ed a n oth er d oor in th e r o om a n d f o und a s o rt
of l ib ra ry . T he d oor o pposite m in e I t r ie d , b ut f o und i t l o ck ed .
In t h e l ib ra ry I f o und, t o m y g re at d elig ht, a v ast n um ber o f E nglis h b ooks,
whole s h elv es f u ll o f t h em , a n d b ound v olu m es o f m ag azin es a n d n ew sp ap ers .
A ta b le in th e c en tr e w as litte re d w ith E nglis h m ag azin es a n d n ew sp ap ers ,
th ough n one o f th em w ere o f v ery re cen t d ate . T he b ooks w ere o f th e m ost
varie d k in d— his to ry , g eo gra p hy, p olitic s, p olitic al e co nom y, b ota n y, g eo lo gy,
la w — all r e la tin g t o E ngla n d a n d E nglis h l if e a n d c u sto m s a n d m an ners . T here
were e v en s u ch b ooks o f re fe re n ce a s th e L ondon D ir e cto ry , th e “ R ed ” a n d
“B lu e” books, W hita k er’s A lm an ac, th e A rm y an d N av y Lis ts , an d— it
so m eh ow g la d den ed m y h eart t o s e e i t— th e L aw L is t. Whils t I w as l o okin g a t t h e b ooks, t h e d oor o pen ed , a n d t h e C ount e n te re d .
He s a lu te d m e in a h earty w ay, a n d h oped th at I h ad h ad a g ood n ig ht’s r e st.
Then h e w en t o n:—
“I a m g la d y ou fo und y our w ay in h ere , fo r I a m s u re th ere is m uch th at
will in te re st y ou. T hese c o m pan io ns” — an d h e la id h is h an d o n s o m e o f th e
books— “h av e b een g ood f rie n ds to m e, a n d f o r s o m e y ears p ast, e v er s in ce I
had th e id ea of goin g to L ondon, hav e giv en m e m an y, m an y hours of
ple asu re . T hro ugh t h em I h av e c o m e t o k now y our g re at E ngla n d; a n d t o k now
her is to lo ve h er. I lo ng to g o th ro ugh th e c ro w ded str e ets o f y our m ig hty
London, to b e in th e m id st o f th e w hir l a n d r u sh o f h um an ity , to s h are its lif e ,
its c h an ge, its d eath , a n d a ll th at m ak es it w hat it is . B ut a la s! a s y et I o nly
know y our to ngue th ro ugh b ooks. T o y ou, m y f rie n d, I lo ok th at I k now it to
sp eak .”
“B ut, C ount,” I s a id , “ y ou k now a n d s p eak E nglis h t h oro ughly !” H e b ow ed
gra v ely .
“I th an k y ou, m y f rie n d, f o r y our a ll to o-fla tte rin g e stim ate , b ut y et I f e ar
th at I a m b ut a l ittle w ay o n t h e r o ad I w ould t r a v el. T ru e, I k now t h e g ra m mar
an d t h e w ord s, b ut y et I k now n ot h ow t o s p eak t h em .”
“In deed ,” I s a id , “ y ou s p eak e x celle n tly .”
“N ot s o ,” h e a n sw ere d . “ W ell, I k now th at, d id I m ove a n d s p eak in y our
London, n one th ere a re w ho w ould n ot k now m e fo r a s tr a n ger. T hat is n ot
en ough fo r m e. H ere I a m n oble ; I a m b oyar; th e c o m mon p eo ple k now m e,
an d I a m m aste r. B ut a s tr a n ger i n a s tr a n ge l a n d, h e i s n o o ne; m en k now h im
not— an d to k now n ot is to c are n ot f o r. I a m c o nte n t if I a m lik e th e r e st, s o
th at n o m an s to ps if h e s e e m e, o r p au se in h is s p eak in g if h e h ear m y w ord s,
‘H a, h a! a s tr a n ger!’ I h av e b een s o lo ng m aste r th at I w ould b e m aste r s till—
or a t le ast th at n one o th er s h ould b e m aste r o f m e. Y ou c o m e to m e n ot a lo ne
as a g en t o f m y frie n d P ete r H aw kin s, o f E xete r, to te ll m e a ll a b out m y n ew
esta te in L ondon. Y ou s h all, I tr u st, re st h ere w ith m e a w hile , s o th at b y o ur
ta lk in g I m ay l e arn t h e E nglis h i n to natio n; a n d I w ould t h at y ou t e ll m e w hen I
mak e e rro r, e v en o f th e s m alle st, in m y s p eak in g. I a m s o rry th at I h ad to b e
aw ay so lo ng to -d ay ; b ut y ou w ill, I k now , fo rg iv e o ne w ho h as so m an y
im porta n t a ff a ir s i n h an d.”
Of c o urs e I s a id a ll I c o uld a b out b ein g w illin g, a n d a sk ed if I m ig ht c o m e
in to t h at r o om w hen I c h ose . H e a n sw ere d : “ Y es, c erta in ly ,” a n d a d ded :—
“Y ou m ay g o a n yw here y ou w is h in th e c astle , e x cep t w here th e d oors a re
lo ck ed , w here o f c o urs e y ou w ill n ot w is h t o g o. T here i s r e aso n t h at a ll t h in gs
are a s th ey a re , a n d d id y ou s e e w ith m y e y es a n d k now w ith m y k now le d ge,
you w ould p erh ap s b ette r u nders ta n d.” I s a id I w as s u re o f th is , a n d th en h e wen t o n:—
“W e a re in T ra n sy lv an ia ; a n d T ra n sy lv an ia is n ot E ngla n d. O ur w ay s a re
not y our w ay s, a n d th ere s h all b e to y ou m an y s tr a n ge th in gs. N ay, f ro m w hat
you h av e to ld m e o f y our e x perie n ces a lr e ad y, y ou k now s o m eth in g o f w hat
str a n ge t h in gs t h ere m ay b e.”
This l e d t o m uch c o nvers a tio n; a n d a s i t w as e v id en t t h at h e w an te d t o t a lk ,
if o nly fo r ta lk in g’s s a k e, I a sk ed h im m an y q uestio ns re g ard in g th in gs th at
had a lr e ad y h ap pen ed to m e o r c o m e w ith in m y n otic e. S om etim es h e s h eere d
off t h e s u bje ct, o r t u rn ed t h e c o nvers a tio n b y p re te n din g n ot t o u nders ta n d; b ut
gen era lly h e a n sw ere d a ll I a sk ed m ost fra n kly . T hen a s tim e w en t o n, a n d I
had g ot so m ew hat b old er, I a sk ed h im o f so m e o f th e str a n ge th in gs o f th e
pre ced in g n ig ht, a s, f o r in sta n ce, w hy th e c o ach m an w en t to th e p la ces w here
he h ad s e en th e b lu e fla m es. H e th en e x pla in ed to m e th at it w as c o m monly
belie v ed th at o n a c erta in n ig ht o f th e y ear— la st n ig ht, in fa ct, w hen a ll e v il
sp ir its a re s u ppose d to h av e u nch eck ed s w ay — a b lu e fla m e is s e en o ver a n y
pla ce w here tr e asu re h as b een c o nceale d . “ T hat tr e asu re h as b een h id den ,” h e
wen t o n, “ in th e re g io n th ro ugh w hic h y ou c am e la st n ig ht, th ere c an b e b ut
little d oubt; f o r it w as th e g ro und f o ught o ver f o r c en tu rie s b y th e W alla ch ia n ,
th e S ax on, a n d th e T urk . W hy, th ere is h ard ly a fo ot o f s o il in a ll th is re g io n
th at h as n ot b een e n ric h ed b y th e b lo od o f m en , p atr io ts o r in vad ers . In o ld
day s th ere w ere s tir rin g tim es, w hen th e A ustr ia n a n d th e H ungaria n c am e u p
in h ord es, a n d th e p atr io ts w en t o ut to m eet th em — men a n d w om en , th e a g ed
an d th e c h ild re n to o— an d w aite d th eir c o m in g o n th e r o ck s a b ove th e p asse s,
th at th ey m ig ht sw eep d estr u ctio n o n th em w ith th eir artif ic ia l av ala n ch es.
When th e in vad er w as tr iu m phan t h e fo und b ut little , fo r w hate v er th ere w as
had b een s h elte re d i n t h e f rie n dly s o il.”
“B ut h ow ,” s a id I , “ can it h av e r e m ain ed s o lo ng u ndis c o vere d , w hen th ere
is a su re in dex to it if m en w ill b ut ta k e th e tr o uble to lo ok?” T he C ount
sm ile d , a n d a s h is lip s ra n b ack o ver h is g um s, th e lo ng, s h arp , c an in e te eth
sh ow ed o ut s tr a n gely ; h e a n sw ere d :—
“B ecau se y our p easa n t is a t h eart a c o w ard a n d a f o ol! T hose f la m es o nly
ap pear o n o ne n ig ht; a n d o n th at n ig ht n o m an o f th is la n d w ill, if h e c an h elp
it, s tir w ith out h is d oors . A nd, d ear s ir , e v en i f h e d id h e w ould n ot k now w hat
to d o. W hy, e v en th e p easa n t th at y ou te ll m e o f w ho m ark ed th e p la ce o f th e
fla m e w ould n ot k now w here to lo ok in d ay lig ht e v en f o r h is o w n w ork . E ven
you w ould n ot, I d are b e s w orn , b e a b le t o f in d t h ese p la ces a g ain ?”
“T here y ou a re r ig ht,” I s a id . “ I k now n o m ore t h an t h e d ead w here e v en t o
lo ok f o r t h em .” T hen w e d rif te d i n to o th er m atte rs .
“C om e,” h e s a id a t la st, “ te ll m e o f L ondon a n d o f th e h ouse w hic h y ou
hav e p ro cu re d fo r m e.” W ith a n a p olo gy fo r m y re m is sn ess, I w en t in to m y ow n r o om t o g et t h e p ap ers f ro m m y b ag . W hils t I w as p la cin g t h em i n o rd er I
heard a r a ttlin g o f c h in a a n d s ilv er in th e n ex t r o om , a n d a s I p asse d th ro ugh,
notic ed th at th e ta b le h ad b een c le are d a n d th e la m p lit, f o r it w as b y th is tim e
deep in to th e d ark . T he la m ps w ere a ls o lit in th e s tu dy o r lib ra ry , a n d I f o und
th e C ount ly in g o n th e so fa , re ad in g, o f a ll th in gs in th e w orld , a n E nglis h
Bra d sh aw ’s G uid e. W hen I c am e in h e c le are d th e b ooks a n d p ap ers f ro m th e
ta b le ; a n d w ith h im I w en t i n to p la n s a n d d eed s a n d f ig ure s o f a ll s o rts . H e w as
in te re ste d in e v ery th in g, a n d a sk ed m e a m yria d q uestio ns a b ou t th e p la ce a n d
its su rro undin gs. H e c le arly h ad stu die d b efo re h an d a ll h e c o uld g et o n th e
su bje ct o f th e n eig hbourh ood, fo r h e e v id en tly a t th e e n d k new v ery m uch
more t h an I d id . W hen I r e m ark ed t h is , h e a n sw ere d :—
“W ell, b ut, m y frie n d, is it n ot n eed fu l th at I s h ould ? W hen I g o th ere I
sh all b e a ll a lo ne, a n d m y f rie n d H ark er J o nath an — nay, p ard on m e, I f a ll in to
my co untr y ’s hab it of puttin g your patr o nym ic fir s t— my frie n d Jo nath an
Hark er w ill n ot b e b y m y s id e to c o rre ct a n d a id m e. H e w ill b e in E xete r,
mile s a w ay, p ro bab ly w ork in g a t p ap ers o f th e l a w w ith m y o th er f rie n d, P ete r
Haw kin s. S o!”
We w en t th oro ughly in to th e b usin ess o f th e p urc h ase o f th e esta te at
Purfle et. W hen I h ad to ld h im th e f a cts a n d g ot h is s ig natu re to th e n ecessa ry
pap ers , a n d h ad w ritte n a le tte r w ith th em re ad y to p ost to M r. H aw kin s, h e
beg an to a sk m e h ow I h ad c o m e a cro ss s o s u ita b le a p la ce. I r e ad to h im th e
note s w hic h I h ad m ad e a t t h e t im e, a n d w hic h I i n sc rib e h ere :—
“A t P urfle et, o n a b y-ro ad , I c am e a cro ss ju st s u ch a p la ce a s s e em ed to b e
re q uir e d , a n d w here w as d is p la y ed a d ila p id ate d n otic e th at th e p la ce w as f o r
sa le . I t i s s u rro unded b y a h ig h w all, o f a n cie n t s tr u ctu re , b uilt o f h eav y s to nes,
an d h as n ot b een r e p air e d f o r a la rg e n um ber o f y ears . T he c lo se d g ate s a re o f
heav y o ld o ak a n d i r o n, a ll e ate n w ith r u st.
“T he e sta te is c alle d C arfa x , n o d oubt a c o rru ptio n o f th e o ld Q uatr e F ace,
as th e h ouse is f o ur- s id ed , a g re ein g w ith th e c ard in al p oin ts o f th e c o m pass. I t
co nta in s in a ll so m e tw en ty a cre s, q uite su rro unded b y th e so lid sto ne w all
ab ove m en tio ned . T here a re m an y tr e es o n it, w hic h m ak e i t in p la ces g lo om y,
an d th ere is a d eep , d ark -lo okin g p ond o r s m all la k e, e v id en tly fe d b y s o m e
sp rin gs, a s th e w ate r is c le ar a n d f lo w s a w ay in a f a ir - s iz ed s tr e am . T he h ouse
is v ery la rg e a n d o f a ll p erio ds b ack , I s h ould s a y, to m ed iæ val tim es, f o r o ne
part i s o f s to ne i m men se ly t h ic k , w ith o nly a f e w w in dow s h ig h u p a n d h eav ily
barre d w ith ir o n. I t lo oks lik e p art o f a k eep , a n d is c lo se to a n o ld c h ap el o r
ch urc h . I c o uld n ot e n te r it, a s I h ad n ot th e k ey o f th e d oor le ad in g to it f ro m
th e h ouse , b ut I h av e t a k en w ith m y k odak v ie w s o f i t f ro m v ario us p oin ts . T he
house h as b een a d ded to , b ut in a v ery s tr a g glin g w ay, a n d I c an o nly g uess a t
th e a m ount o f g ro und it c o vers , w hic h m ust b e v ery g re at. T here a re b ut f e w
house s c lo se a t h an d, o ne b ein g a v ery la rg e h ouse o nly r e cen tly a d ded to a n d fo rm ed in to a p riv ate lu natic asy lu m . It is n ot, h ow ev er, v is ib le fro m th e
gro unds.”
When I h ad f in is h ed , h e s a id :—
“I a m g la d t h at i t i s o ld a n d b ig . I m yse lf a m o f a n o ld f a m ily , a n d t o l iv e i n
a n ew h ouse w ould k ill m e. A h ouse c an not b e m ad e h ab ita b le in a d ay ; a n d,
afte r a ll, h ow f e w d ay s g o to m ak e u p a c en tu ry . I r e jo ic e a ls o th at th ere is a
ch ap el o f o ld tim es. W e T ra n sy lv an ia n n oble s lo ve n ot to th in k th at o ur b ones
may lie a m ongst th e c o m mon d ead . I s e ek n ot g aie ty n or m ir th , n ot th e b rig ht
volu ptu ousn ess of m uch su nsh in e an d sp ark lin g w ate rs w hic h ple ase th e
young a n d g ay. I a m n o lo nger y oung; a n d m y h eart, th ro ugh w eary y ears o f
mourn in g o ver th e d ead , is n ot a ttu ned to m ir th . M ore o ver, th e w alls o f m y
castle a re b ro ken ; th e s h ad ow s a re m an y, a n d th e w in d b re ath es c o ld th ro ugh
th e b ro ken b attle m en ts a n d c ase m en ts . I lo ve th e s h ad e a n d th e s h ad ow , a n d
would b e a lo ne w ith m y th oughts w hen I m ay.” S om eh ow h is w ord s a n d h is
lo ok d id n ot s e em to a cco rd , o r e ls e it w as th at h is c ast o f f a ce m ad e h is s m ile
lo ok m alig nan t a n d s a tu rn in e.
Pre se n tly , w ith an ex cu se , h e le ft m e, ask in g m e to p ut all m y p ap ers
to geth er. H e w as s o m e little tim e a w ay, a n d I b eg an to lo ok a t s o m e o f th e
books aro und m e. O ne w as an atla s, w hic h I fo und open ed natu ra lly at
Engla n d, a s i f t h at m ap h ad b een m uch u se d . O n l o okin g a t i t I f o und i n c erta in
pla ces little r in gs m ark ed , a n d o n e x am in in g th ese I n otic ed th at o ne w as n ear
London o n th e e ast sid e, m an if e stly w here h is n ew e sta te w as situ ate d ; th e
oth er t w o w ere E xete r, a n d W hitb y o n t h e Y ork sh ir e c o ast.
It w as th e b ette r p art o f a n h our w hen th e C ount r e tu rn ed . “ A ha!” h e s a id ;
“still at y our b ooks? G ood! B ut y ou m ust n ot w ork alw ay s. C om e; I am
in fo rm ed th at y our s u pper is re ad y.” H e to ok m y a rm , a n d w e w en t in to th e
nex t ro om , w here I fo und a n e x celle n t s u pper re ad y o n th e ta b le . T he C ount
ag ain e x cu se d h im se lf , a s h e h ad d in ed o ut o n h is b ein g a w ay f ro m h om e. B ut
he s a t a s o n t h e p re v io us n ig ht, a n d c h atte d w hils t I a te . A fte r s u pper I s m oked ,
as o n th e la st e v en in g, a n d th e C ount sta y ed w ith m e, c h attin g a n d a sk in g
questio ns o n ev ery co nceiv ab le su bje ct, h our afte r h our. I fe lt th at it w as
gettin g v ery la te in deed , b ut I d id n ot s a y a n yth in g, f o r I f e lt u nder o blig atio n
to m eet m y h ost’s w is h es in e v ery w ay. I w as n ot sle ep y, a s th e lo ng sle ep
yeste rd ay h ad f o rtif ie d m e; b ut I c o uld n ot h elp e x perie n cin g th at c h ill w hic h
co m es o ver o ne a t t h e c o m in g o f t h e d aw n, w hic h i s l ik e, i n i ts w ay, t h e t u rn o f
th e t id e. T hey s a y t h at p eo ple w ho a re n ear d eath d ie g en era lly a t t h e c h an ge t o
th e d aw n o r a t th e tu rn o f th e tid e; a n y o ne w ho h as w hen tir e d , a n d tie d a s it
were t o h is p ost, e x perie n ced t h is c h an ge i n t h e a tm osp here c an w ell b elie v e i t.
All at once w e heard th e cro w of a co ck co m in g up w ith pre te rn atu ra l
sh rilln ess th ro ugh th e c le ar m orn in g a ir ; C ount D ra cu la , ju m pin g to h is fe et,
sa id :— “W hy, th ere is th e m orn in g a g ain ! H ow r e m is s I a m to le t y ou s ta y u p s o
lo ng. Y ou m ust m ak e y our c o nvers a tio n re g ard in g m y d ear n ew c o untr y o f
Engla n d le ss in te re stin g, s o th at I m ay n ot fo rg et h ow tim e flie s b y u s,” a n d,
with a c o urtly b ow , h e q uic k ly l e ft m e.
I w en t in to m y o w n ro om a n d d re w th e c u rta in s, b ut th ere w as little to
notic e; m y w in dow o pen ed in to th e c o urty ard , a ll I c o uld s e e w as th e w arm
gre y o f q uic k en in g s k y. S o I p ulle d t h e c u rta in s a g ain , a n d h av e w ritte n o f t h is
day.
8 M ay.— I b eg an to fe ar a s I w ro te in th is b ook th at I w as g ettin g to o
dif f u se ; b ut n ow I a m g la d th at I w en t in to d eta il fro m th e fir s t, fo r th ere is
so m eth in g s o s tr a n ge a b out t h is p la ce a n d a ll i n i t t h at I c an not b ut f e el u neasy .
I w is h I w ere sa fe o ut o f it, o r th at I h ad n ev er c o m e. It m ay b e th at th is
str a n ge n ig ht- e x is te n ce is te llin g o n m e; b ut w ould th at th at w ere a ll! I f th ere
were a n y o ne to ta lk to I c o uld b ear it, b ut th ere is n o o ne. I h av e o nly th e
Count to s p eak w ith , a n d h e!— I f e ar I a m m yse lf th e o nly liv in g s o ul w ith in
th e p la ce. L et m e b e p ro sa ic s o f a r a s f a cts c an b e; it w ill h elp m e to b ear u p,
an d im ag in atio n m ust n ot r u n r io t w ith m e. I f it d oes I a m lo st. L et m e s a y a t
once h ow I s ta n d— or s e em t o .
I o nly s le p t a fe w h ours w hen I w en t to b ed , a n d fe elin g th at I c o uld n ot
sle ep a n y m ore , g ot u p. I h ad h ung m y s h av in g g la ss b y th e w in dow , a n d w as
ju st b eg in nin g to s h av e. S udden ly I f e lt a h an d o n m y s h ould er, a n d h eard th e
Count’s v oic e s a y in g t o m e, “ G ood-m orn in g.” I s ta rte d , f o r i t a m azed m e t h at I
had n ot se en h im , sin ce th e re fle ctio n o f th e g la ss c o vere d th e w hole ro om
beh in d m e. In sta rtin g I h ad c u t m yse lf slig htly , b ut d id n ot n otic e it a t th e
mom en t. H av in g a n sw ere d t h e C ount’s s a lu ta tio n, I t u rn ed t o t h e g la ss a g ain t o
se e h ow I h ad b een m is ta k en . T his tim e th ere c o uld b e n o e rro r, fo r th e m an
was c lo se to m e, a n d I c o uld se e h im o ver m y sh ould er. B ut th ere w as n o
re fle ctio n o f h im i n t h e m ir ro r! T he w hole r o om b eh in d m e w as d is p la y ed ; b ut
th ere w as n o sig n o f a m an in it, ex cep t m yse lf . T his w as sta rtlin g, an d,
co m in g o n th e to p o f s o m an y s tr a n ge th in gs, w as b eg in nin g to in cre ase th at
vag ue f e elin g o f u neasin ess w hic h I a lw ay s h av e w hen th e C ount is n ear; b ut
at th e in sta n t I s a w th at th e c u t h ad b le d a little , a n d th e b lo od w as tr ic k lin g
over m y c h in . I la id d ow n th e r a zo r, tu rn in g a s I d id s o h alf r o und to lo ok f o r
so m e s tic k in g p la ste r. W hen th e C ount s a w m y fa ce, h is e y es b la zed w ith a
so rt o f d em onia c f u ry , a n d h e s u dden ly m ad e a g ra b a t m y t h ro at. I d re w a w ay,
an d h is h an d to uch ed th e s tr in g o f b ead s w hic h h eld th e c ru cif ix . It m ad e a n
in sta n t ch an ge in h im , fo r th e fu ry p asse d so q uic k ly th at I co uld h ard ly
belie v e t h at i t w as e v er t h ere .
“T ak e c are ,” h e s a id , “ ta k e c are h ow y ou c u t y ours e lf . I t i s m ore d an gero us
th an y ou th in k in th is c o untr y .” T hen s e iz in g th e s h av in g g la ss, h e w en t o n:
“A nd th is is th e w re tc h ed th in g th at h as d one th e m is c h ie f. I t is a f o ul b au ble of m an ’s v an ity . A w ay w ith it! ” an d o pen in g th e h eav y w in dow w ith o ne
wre n ch o f h is te rrib le h an d, h e f lu ng o ut th e g la ss, w hic h w as s h atte re d in to a
th ousa n d p ie ces o n th e s to nes o f th e c o urty ard fa r b elo w . T hen h e w ith dre w
with out a w ord . I t i s v ery a n noyin g, f o r I d o n ot s e e h ow I a m t o s h av e, u nle ss
in m y w atc h -c ase o r th e b otto m o f th e sh av in g-p ot, w hic h is fo rtu nate ly o f
meta l.
When I w en t in to th e d in in g-ro om , b re ak fa st w as p re p are d ; b ut I c o uld n ot
fin d t h e C ount a n yw here . S o I b re ak fa ste d a lo ne. I t i s s tr a n ge t h at a s y et I h av e
not se en th e C ount eat o r d rin k. H e m ust b e a v ery p ecu lia r m an ! A fte r
bre ak fa st I d id a little e x plo rin g in th e c astle . I w en t o ut o n th e sta ir s , a n d
fo und a r o om l o okin g t o w ard s t h e S outh . T he v ie w w as m ag nif ic en t, a n d f ro m
where I s to od th ere w as e v ery o pportu nity o f s e ein g it. T he c astle is o n th e
very e d ge o f a t e rrib le p re cip ic e. A s to ne f a llin g f ro m t h e w in dow w ould f a ll a
th ousa n d f e et w ith out to uch in g a n yth in g! A s f a r a s th e e y e c an r e ach is a s e a
of g re en tr e e to ps, w ith o ccasio nally a d eep r if t w here th ere is a c h asm . H ere
an d th ere a re s ilv er th re ad s w here th e r iv ers w in d in d eep g org es th ro ugh th e
fo re sts .
But I a m n ot in h eart to d esc rib e b eau ty , fo r w hen I h ad s e en th e v ie w I
ex plo re d f u rth er; d oors , d oors , d oors e v ery w here , a n d a ll l o ck ed a n d b olte d . I n
no p la ce s a v e f ro m t h e w in dow s i n t h e c astle w alls i s t h ere a n a v aila b le e x it.
The c astle i s a v erita b le p ris o n, a n d I a m a p ris o ner!
CH APT ER I II
JO NAT H AN H ARK ER ’S J O URNAL— co n tin ued
When I f o und th at I w as a p ris o ner a s o rt o f w ild f e elin g c am e o ver m e. I
ru sh ed u p a n d d ow n th e sta ir s , tr y in g e v ery d oor a n d p eerin g o ut o f e v ery
win dow I co uld fin d; but afte r a little th e co nvic tio n of m y help le ssn ess
overp ow ere d a ll o th er fe elin gs. W hen I lo ok b ack a fte r a fe w h ours I th in k I
must h av e b een m ad f o r th e tim e, f o r I b eh av ed m uch a s a r a t d oes in a tr a p .
When , h ow ev er, th e c o nvic tio n h ad c o m e to m e th at I w as h elp le ss I s a t d ow n
quie tly — as q uie tly a s I h av e e v er d one a n yth in g in m y lif e — an d b eg an to
th in k o ver w hat w as b est to b e d one. I a m th in kin g s till, a n d a s y et h av e c o m e
to n o d efin ite c o nclu sio n. O f o ne th in g o nly a m I c erta in ; th at it is n o u se
mak in g m y id eas k now n to th e C ount. H e k now s w ell th at I a m im pris o ned ;
an d a s h e h as d one it h im se lf , a n d h as d oubtle ss h is o w n m otiv es fo r it, h e
would o nly d eceiv e m e i f I t r u ste d h im f u lly w ith t h e f a cts . S o f a r a s I c an s e e,
my o nly p la n w ill b e to k eep m y k now le d ge a n d m y f e ars to m yse lf , a n d m y ey es o pen . I a m , I k now , e ith er b ein g d eceiv ed , lik e a b ab y, b y m y o w n f e ars ,
or e ls e I a m in d esp era te s tr a its ; a n d if th e la tte r b e s o , I n eed , a n d s h all n eed ,
all m y b ra in s t o g et t h ro ugh.
I h ad h ard ly c o m e to th is c o nclu sio n w hen I h eard th e g re at d oor b elo w
sh ut, a n d k new th at th e C ount h ad r e tu rn ed . H e d id n ot c o m e a t o nce in to th e
lib ra ry , s o I w en t c au tio usly to m y o w n r o om a n d f o und h im m ak in g th e b ed .
This w as o dd, b ut o nly c o nfir m ed w hat I h ad a ll a lo ng th ought— th at th ere
were n o s e rv an ts in th e h ouse . W hen la te r I s a w h im th ro ugh th e c h in k o f th e
hin ges o f th e d oor la y in g th e ta b le in th e d in in g-ro om , I w as a ssu re d o f it; f o r
if h e d oes h im se lf a ll t h ese m en ia l o ff ic es, s u re ly i t i s p ro of t h at t h ere i s n o o ne
els e to d o th em . T his g av e m e a f rig ht, f o r if th ere is n o o ne e ls e in th e c astle ,
it m ust h av e b een th e C ount h im se lf w ho w as th e d riv er o f th e c o ach th at
bro ught m e h ere . T his i s a t e rrib le t h ought; f o r i f s o , w hat d oes i t m ean t h at h e
co uld c o ntr o l th e w olv es, a s h e d id , b y o nly h old in g u p h is h an d in s ile n ce.
How w as it th at a ll th e p eo ple a t B is tr itz a n d o n th e c o ach h ad s o m e te rrib le
fe ar fo r m e? W hat m ean t th e g iv in g o f th e c ru cif ix , o f th e g arlic , o f th e w ild
ro se , of th e m ounta in ash ? B le ss th at good, good w om an w ho hung th e
cru cif ix ro und m y n eck ! fo r it is a c o m fo rt a n d a s tr e n gth to m e w hen ev er I
to uch it. It is odd th at a th in g w hic h I hav e been ta u ght to re g ard w ith
dis fa v our a n d a s id ola tr o us s h ould in a tim e o f lo nelin ess a n d tr o uble b e o f
help . I s i t t h at t h ere i s s o m eth in g i n t h e e sse n ce o f t h e t h in g i ts e lf , o r t h at i t i s a
med iu m , a ta n gib le h elp , in c o nvey in g m em orie s o f s y m path y a n d c o m fo rt?
Som e tim e, if it m ay b e, I m ust e x am in e th is m atte r a n d tr y to m ak e u p m y
min d a b out it. I n th e m ean tim e I m ust f in d o ut a ll I c an a b out C ount D ra cu la ,
as it m ay h elp m e to u nders ta n d. T o-n ig ht h e m ay ta lk o f h im se lf , if I tu rn th e
co nvers a tio n th at w ay. I m ust b e v ery care fu l, h ow ev er, n ot to aw ak e h is
su sp ic io n.
Mid nig ht.— I h av e h ad a lo ng ta lk w ith th e C ount. I ask ed h im a fe w
questio ns on Tra n sy lv an ia his to ry , an d he w arm ed up to th e su bje ct
wonderfu lly . I n h is s p eak in g o f t h in gs a n d p eo ple , a n d e sp ecia ll y o f b attle s, h e
sp oke a s if h e h ad b een p re se n t a t th em a ll. T his h e a fte rw ard s e x pla in ed b y
sa y in g th at to a b oyar th e p rid e o f h is h ouse a n d n am e is h is o w n p rid e, th at
th eir g lo ry is h is g lo ry , th at th eir fa te is h is fa te . W hen ev er h e s p oke o f h is
house he alw ay s sa id “w e,” an d sp oke alm ost in th e plu ra l, lik e a kin g
sp eak in g. I w is h I c o uld p ut d ow n a ll h e s a id e x actly a s h e s a id it, f o r to m e it
was m ost fa sc in atin g. It s e em ed to h av e in it a w hole h is to ry o f th e c o untr y .
He g re w e x cite d a s h e sp oke, a n d w alk ed a b out th e ro om p ullin g h is g re at
white m ousta ch e a n d g ra sp in g a n yth in g o n w hic h h e la id h is h an ds a s th ough
he w ould c ru sh it b y m ain s tr e n gth . O ne th in g h e s a id w hic h I s h all p ut d ow n
as n early a s I c an ; f o r i t t e lls i n i ts w ay t h e s to ry o f h is r a ce:—
“W e S zek ely s h av e a r ig ht to b e p ro ud, f o r in o ur v ein s f lo w s th e b lo od o f man y b ra v e ra ces w ho fo ught a s th e lio n fig hts , fo r lo rd sh ip . H ere , in th e
whir lp ool o f E uro pean ra ces, th e U gric tr ib e b ore d ow n fro m Ic ela n d th e
fig htin g sp ir it w hic h T hor an d W odin gav e th em , w hic h th eir B ers e rk ers
dis p la y ed to s u ch fe ll in te n t o n th e s e ab oard s o f E uro pe, a y, a n d o f A sia a n d
Afric a t o o, t ill t h e p eo ple s t h ought t h at t h e w ere -w olv es t h em se lv es h ad c o m e.
Here , to o, w hen th ey c am e, th ey fo und th e H uns, w hose w arlik e fu ry h ad
sw ep t th e e arth lik e a liv in g fla m e, till th e d yin g p eo ple s h eld th at in th eir
vein s ra n th e b lo od o f th ose o ld w itc h es, w ho, ex pelle d fro m S cy th ia h ad
mate d w ith t h e d ev ils i n t h e d ese rt. F ools , f o ols ! W hat d ev il o r w hat w itc h w as
ev er s o g re at a s A ttila , w hose b lo od is in th ese v ein s? ” H e h eld u p h is a rm s.
“Is i t a w onder t h at w e w ere a c o nquerin g r a ce; t h at w e w ere p ro ud; t h at w hen
th e M ag yar, th e L om bard , th e A var, th e B ulg ar, or th e T urk poure d his
th ousa n ds o n o ur f ro ntie rs , w e d ro ve t h em b ack ? I s i t s tr a n ge t h at w hen A rp ad
an d h is l e g io ns s w ep t t h ro ugh t h e H ungaria n f a th erla n d h e f o und u s h ere w hen
he r e ach ed th e f ro ntie r; th at th e H onfo gla la s w as c o m ple te d th ere ? A nd w hen
th e H ungaria n f lo od s w ep t e astw ard , th e S zek ely s w ere c la im ed a s k in dre d b y
th e v ic to rio us M ag yars , a n d t o u s f o r c en tu rie s w as tr u ste d t h e g uard in g o f t h e
fro ntie r o f T urk ey -la n d; a y, a n d m ore th an th at, e n dle ss d uty o f th e fro ntie r
guard , f o r, a s th e T urk s s a y, ‘ w ate r s le ep s, a n d e n em y is s le ep le ss.’ W ho m ore
gla d ly th an w e th ro ughout th e F our N atio ns r e ceiv ed th e ‘ b lo ody s w ord ,’ o r a t
its w arlik e call flo ck ed quic k er to th e sta n dard of th e K in g? W hen w as
re d eem ed t h at g re at s h am e o f m y n atio n, t h e s h am e o f C asso va, w hen t h e f la g s
of th e W alla ch a n d th e M ag yar w en t d ow n b en eath th e C re sc en t? W ho w as it
but o ne o f m y o w n r a ce w ho a s V oiv ode c ro sse d t h e D an ube a n d b eat t h e T urk
on h is o w n g ro und? T his w as a D ra cu la in deed ! W oe w as it th at h is o w n
unw orth y b ro th er, w hen h e h ad f a lle n , s o ld h is p eo ple to t h e T urk a n d b ro ught
th e s h am e o f s la v ery o n th em ! W as it n ot th is D ra cu la , in deed , w ho in sp ir e d
th at o th er o f h is r a ce w ho i n a l a te r a g e a g ain a n d a g ain b ro ught h is f o rc es o ver
th e g re at r iv er in to T urk ey -la n d; w ho, w hen h e w as b eate n b ack , c am e a g ain ,
an d ag ain , an d ag ain , th ough h e h ad to co m e alo ne fro m th e b lo ody fie ld
where h is tr o ops w ere b ein g s la u ghte re d , s in ce h e k new th at h e a lo ne c o uld
ultim ate ly t r iu m ph! T hey s a id t h at h e t h ought o nly o f h im se lf . B ah ! w hat g ood
are p easa n ts w ith out a l e ad er? W here e n ds t h e w ar w ith out a b ra in a n d h eart t o
co nduct it? A gain , w hen , afte r th e battle of M ohács, w e th re w off th e
Hungaria n y oke, w e o f th e D ra cu la b lo od w ere a m ongst th eir le ad ers , f o r o ur
sp ir it w ould n ot b ro ok t h at w e w ere n ot f re e. A h, y oung s ir , t h e S zek ely s— an d
th e D ra cu la a s th eir h eart’s b lo od, th eir b ra in s, a n d th eir s w ord s— can b oast a
re co rd th at m ush ro om g ro w th s lik e th e H ap sb urg s an d th e R om an off s can
nev er r e ach . T he w arlik e d ay s a re o ver. B lo od is to o p re cio us a th in g in th ese
day s o f d is h onoura b le p eace; a n d t h e g lo rie s o f t h e g re at r a ces a re a s a t a le t h at
is t o ld .”
It w as b y th is tim e c lo se o n m orn in g, a n d w e w en t to b ed . (M em ., th is dia ry se em s horrib ly lik e th e beg in nin g of th e “A ra b ia n N ig hts ,” fo r
ev ery th in g h as t o b re ak o ff a t c o ck cro w — or l ik e t h e g host o f H am le t’s f a th er.)
12 M ay.— Let m e b eg in w ith f a cts — bare , m eag re f a cts , v erif ie d b y b ooks
an d f ig ure s, a n d o f w hic h t h ere c an b e n o d oubt. I m ust n ot c o nfu se t h em w ith
ex perie n ces w hic h w ill h av e t o r e st o n m y o w n o bse rv atio n, o r m y m em ory o f
th em . L ast e v en in g w hen th e C ount c am e fro m h is ro om h e b eg an b y a sk in g
me q uestio ns o n le g al m atte rs a n d o n th e d oin g o f c erta in k in ds o f b usin ess. I
had s p en t th e d ay w earily o ver b ooks, a n d, s im ply to k eep m y m in d o ccu pie d ,
wen t o ver s o m e o f th e m atte rs I h ad b een e x am in ed in a t L in co ln ’s I n n. T here
was a c erta in m eth od in th e C ount’s in quir ie s, s o I s h all tr y to p ut th em d ow n
in s e q uen ce; t h e k now le d ge m ay s o m eh ow o r s o m e t im e b e u se fu l t o m e.
Fir s t, h e a sk ed if a m an in E ngla n d m ig ht h av e tw o s o lic ito rs o r m ore . I
to ld h im h e m ig ht h av e a d ozen if h e w is h ed , b ut th at it w ould n ot b e w is e to
hav e m ore t h an o ne s o lic ito r e n gag ed i n o ne t r a n sa ctio n, a s o nly o ne c o uld a ct
at a tim e, a n d th at to c h an ge w ould b e c erta in to m ilita te a g ain st h is in te re st.
He s e em ed t h oro ughly t o u nders ta n d, a n d w en t o n t o a sk i f t h ere w ould b e a n y
pra ctic al d if f ic u lty i n h av in g o ne m an t o a tte n d, s a y, t o b an kin g, a n d a n oth er t o
lo ok a fte r sh ip pin g, in c ase lo cal h elp w ere n eed ed in a p la ce fa r fro m th e
hom e o f th e b an kin g so lic ito r. I a sk ed h im to e x pla in m ore fu lly , so th at I
mig ht n ot b y a n y c h an ce m is le ad h im , s o h e s a id :—
“I s h all i llu str a te . Y our f rie n d a n d m in e, M r. P ete r H aw kin s, f ro m u nder t h e
sh ad ow o f y our b eau tif u l c ath ed ra l a t E xete r, w hic h is f a r f ro m L ondon, b uys
fo r m e th ro ugh y our g ood s e lf m y p la ce a t L ondon. G ood! N ow h ere le t m e
sa y f ra n kly , le st y ou s h ould th in k it s tr a n ge th at I h av e s o ught th e s e rv ic es o f
one s o f a r o ff f ro m L ondon i n ste ad o f s o m e o ne r e sid en t t h ere , t h at m y m otiv e
was th at n o lo cal in te re st m ig ht b e s e rv ed s a v e m y w is h o nly ; a n d a s o ne o f
London re sid en ce m ig ht, p erh ap s, h av e s o m e p urp ose o f h im se lf o r frie n d to
se rv e, I w en t t h us a fie ld t o s e ek m y a g en t, w hose l a b ours s h ould b e o nly t o m y
in te re st. N ow , s u ppose I , w ho h av e m uch o f a ff a ir s , w is h t o s h ip g oods, s a y, t o
New castle , o r D urh am , o r H arw ic h , o r D over, m ig ht i t n ot b e t h at i t c o uld w ith
more ease b e d one b y co nsig nin g to o ne in th ese p orts ? ” I an sw ere d th at
certa in ly it w ould b e m ost e asy , b ut th at w e s o lic ito rs h ad a s y ste m o f a g en cy
one f o r th e o th er, s o th at lo cal w ork c o uld b e d one lo cally o n in str u ctio n f ro m
an y so lic ito r, so th at th e c lie n t, sim ply p la cin g h im se lf in th e h an ds o f o ne
man , c o uld h av e h is w is h es c arrie d o ut b y h im w ith out f u rth er t r o uble .
“B ut,” s a id h e, “ I c o uld b e a t l ib erty t o d ir e ct m yse lf . I s i t n ot s o ?”
“O f c o urs e ,” I r e p lie d ; a n d “ su ch i s o fte n d one b y m en o f b usin ess, w ho d o
not l ik e t h e w hole o f t h eir a ff a ir s t o b e k now n b y a n y o ne p ers o n.”
“G ood!” h e sa id , an d th en w en t o n to ask ab out th e m ean s o f m ak in g
co nsig nm en ts a n d th e f o rm s to b e g one th ro ugh, a n d o f a ll s o rts o f d if f ic u ltie s whic h m ig ht a ris e , b ut b y f o re th ought c o uld b e g uard ed a g ain st. I e x pla in ed a ll
th ese t h in gs t o h im t o t h e b est o f m y a b ility , a n d h e c erta in ly l e ft m e u nder t h e
im pre ssio n th at h e w ould h av e m ad e a w onderfu l so lic ito r, fo r th ere w as
noth in g th at h e d id n ot th in k o f o r fo re se e. F or a m an w ho w as n ev er in th e
co untr y , an d w ho d id n ot ev id en tly d o m uch in th e w ay o f b usin ess, h is
know le d ge a n d a cu m en w ere w onderfu l. W hen h e h ad sa tis fie d h im se lf o n
th ese p oin ts o f w hic h h e h ad s p oken , a n d I h ad v erif ie d a ll a s w ell a s I c o uld
by t h e b ooks a v aila b le , h e s u dden ly s to od u p a n d s a id :—
“H av e y ou w ritte n s in ce y our f ir s t le tte r to o ur f rie n d M r. P ete r H aw kin s,
or t o a n y o th er? ” I t w as w ith s o m e b itte rn ess i n m y h eart t h at I a n sw ere d t h at I
had n ot, th at as y et I h ad n ot se en an y o pportu nity o f se n din g le tte rs to
an ybody.
“T hen w rite n ow , m y y oung frie n d,” h e s a id , la y in g a h eav y h an d o n m y
sh ould er: “ w rite to o ur f rie n d a n d to a n y o th er; a n d s a y, if it w ill p le ase y ou,
th at y ou s h all s ta y w ith m e u ntil a m onth f ro m n ow .”
“D o y ou w is h m e to s ta y s o lo ng?” I a sk ed , f o r m y h eart g re w c o ld a t th e
th ought.
“I d esir e it m uch ; n ay, I w ill ta k e n o r e fu sa l. W hen y our m aste r, e m plo yer,
what you w ill, en gag ed th at so m eo ne sh ould co m e on his beh alf , it w as
unders to od th at m y n eed s o nly w ere to b e c o nsu lte d . I h av e n ot s tin te d . Is it
not s o ?”
What c o uld I d o b ut b ow a ccep ta n ce? It w as M r. H aw kin s’s in te re st, n ot
min e, a n d I h ad to th in k o f h im , n ot m yse lf ; a n d b esid es, w hile C ount D ra cu la
was s p eak in g, th ere w as th at in h is e y es a n d in h is b earin g w hic h m ad e m e
re m em ber th at I w as a p ris o ner, a n d th at if I w is h ed it I c o uld h av e n o c h oic e.
The C ount s a w h is v ic to ry in m y b ow , a n d h is m aste ry in th e tr o uble o f m y
fa ce, f o r h e b eg an a t o nce to u se th em , b ut in h is o w n s m ooth , r e sis tle ss w ay :
—
“I p ra y y ou, m y g ood y oung frie n d, th at y ou w ill n ot d is c o urs e o f th in gs
oth er th an b usin ess in y our le tte rs . It w ill d oubtle ss p le ase y our frie n ds to
know th at y ou a re w ell, a n d th at y ou lo ok f o rw ard to g ettin g h om e to th em . I s
it n ot so ?” A s h e sp oke h e h an ded m e th re e sh eets o f n ote -p ap er a n d th re e
en velo pes. T hey w ere a ll o f th e th in nest fo re ig n p ost, a n d lo okin g a t th em ,
th en a t h im , a n d n otic in g h is q uie t s m ile , w ith th e s h arp , c an in e te eth ly in g
over t h e r e d u nderlip , I u nders to od a s w ell a s i f h e h ad s p oken t h at I s h ould b e
care fu l w hat I w ro te , f o r h e w ould b e a b le to r e ad it. S o I d ete rm in ed to w rite
only f o rm al n ote s n ow , b ut to w rite f u lly to M r. H aw kin s in s e cre t, a n d a ls o to
Min a, f o r to h er I c o uld w rite in s h orth an d, w hic h w ould p uzzle th e C ount, if
he d id s e e it. W hen I h ad w ritte n m y tw o le tte rs I s a t q uie t, re ad in g a b ook
whils t th e C ount w ro te se v era l n ote s, re fe rrin g as h e w ro te th em to so m e books o n h is ta b le . T hen h e to ok u p m y tw o a n d p la ced th em w ith h is o w n,
an d p ut b y h is w ritin g m ate ria ls , a fte r w hic h , th e in sta n t th e d oor h ad c lo se d
beh in d h im , I le an ed o ver a n d lo oked a t th e le tte rs , w hic h w ere f a ce d ow n o n
th e ta b le . I f e lt n o c o m punctio n in d oin g s o , f o r u nder th e c ir c u m sta n ces I f e lt
th at I s h ould p ro te ct m yse lf i n e v ery w ay I c o uld .
One of th e le tte rs w as dir e cte d to S am uel F. B illin gto n, N o. 7, T he
Cre sc en t, W hitb y, a n oth er to H err L eu tn er, V arn a; th e th ir d w as to C outts &
Co., L ondon, a n d th e f o urth to H erre n K lo psto ck & B illr e u th , b an kers , B uda-
Pesth . T he s e co nd a n d f o urth w ere u nse ale d . I w as ju st a b out to lo ok a t th em
when I sa w th e d oor- h an dle m ove. I sa n k b ack in m y se at, h av in g ju st h ad
tim e to r e p la ce th e le tte rs a s th ey h ad b een a n d to r e su m e m y b ook b efo re th e
Count, h old in g s till a n oth er le tte r in h is h an d, e n te re d th e ro om . H e to ok u p
th e le tte rs o n th e ta b le a n d s ta m ped th em c are fu lly , a n d th en tu rn in g to m e,
sa id :—
“I tr u st y ou w ill fo rg iv e m e, b ut I h av e m uch w ork to d o in p riv ate th is
ev en in g. Y ou w ill, I h ope, f in d a ll th in gs a s y ou w is h .” A t th e d oor h e tu rn ed ,
an d a fte r a m om en t’s p au se s a id :—
“L et m e a d vis e y ou, m y d ear y oung f rie n d— nay, le t m e w arn y ou w ith a ll
se rio usn ess, th at s h ould y ou le av e th ese r o om s y ou w ill n ot b y a n y c h an ce g o
to s le ep in a n y o th er p art o f th e c astle . I t is o ld , a n d h as m an y m em orie s, a n d
th ere a re b ad d re am s f o r th ose w ho s le ep u nw is e ly . B e w arn ed ! S hould s le ep
now o r e v er o verc o m e y ou, o r b e lik e to d o, th en h aste to y our o w n c h am ber
or to th ese r o om s, f o r y our r e st w ill th en b e s a fe . B ut if y ou b e n ot c are fu l in
th is re sp ect, th en ”— He fin is h ed his sp eech in a gru eso m e w ay, fo r he
motio ned w ith h is h an ds a s if h e w ere w ash in g th em . I q uite u nders to od; m y
only d oubt w as as to w heth er an y d re am co uld b e m ore te rrib le th an th e
unnatu ra l, h orrib le n et o f g lo om a n d m yste ry w hic h se em ed c lo sin g a ro und
me.
Late r.— I e n dors e th e la st w ord s w ritte n , b ut th is tim e th ere is n o d oubt in
questio n. I s h all n ot f e ar to s le ep in a n y p la ce w here h e is n ot. I h av e p la ced
th e c ru cif ix o ver t h e h ead o f m y b ed — I i m ag in e t h at m y r e st i s t h us f re er f ro m
dre am s; a n d t h ere i t s h all r e m ain .
When h e le ft m e I w en t to m y ro om . A fte r a little w hile , n ot h earin g a n y
so und, I cam e o ut an d w en t u p th e sto ne sta ir to w here I co uld lo ok o ut
to w ard s th e S outh . T here w as so m e se n se o f fre ed om in th e v ast e x pan se ,
in accessib le t h ough i t w as t o m e, a s c o m pare d w ith t h e n arro w d ark ness o f t h e
co urty ard . L ookin g o ut o n t h is , I f e lt t h at I w as i n deed i n p ris o n, a n d I s e em ed
to w an t a b re ath o f f re sh a ir , t h ough i t w ere o f t h e n ig ht. I a m b eg in nin g t o f e el
th is n octu rn al e x is te n ce t e ll o n m e. I t i s d estr o yin g m y n erv e. I s ta rt a t m y o w n
sh ad ow , a n d a m f u ll o f a ll s o rts o f h orrib le im ag in in gs. G od k now s th at th ere is g ro und fo r m y te rrib le fe ar in th is a ccu rs e d p la ce! I lo oked o ut o ver th e
beau tif u l e x pan se , b ath ed i n s o ft y ello w m oonlig ht t ill i t w as a lm ost a s l ig ht a s
day. In th e s o ft lig ht th e d is ta n t h ills b ecam e m elte d , a n d th e s h ad ow s in th e
valle y s a n d g org es o f v elv ety b la ck ness. T he m ere b eau ty s e em ed t o c h eer m e;
th ere w as p eace a n d c o m fo rt in e v ery b re ath I d re w . A s I le an ed fro m th e
win dow m y e y e w as c au ght b y so m eth in g m ovin g a sto re y b elo w m e, a n d
so m ew hat to m y le ft, w here I im ag in ed , f ro m th e o rd er o f th e r o om s, th at th e
win dow s o f th e C ount’s o w n ro om w ould lo ok o ut. T he w in dow a t w hic h I
sto od w as ta ll a n d d eep , s to ne-m ullio ned , a n d th ough w eath erw orn , w as s till
co m ple te ; b ut it w as e v id en tly m an y a d ay sin ce th e c ase h ad b een th ere . I
dre w b ack b eh in d t h e s to new ork , a n d l o oked c are fu lly o ut.
What I s a w w as th e C ount’s h ead c o m in g o ut f ro m th e w in dow . I d id n ot
se e th e fa ce, b ut I k new th e m an b y th e n eck a n d th e m ovem en t o f h is b ack
an d a rm s. I n a n y c ase I c o uld n ot m is ta k e th e h an ds w hic h I h ad h ad s o m an y
opportu nitie s o f s tu dyin g. I w as a t f ir s t i n te re ste d a n d s o m ew hat a m use d , f o r i t
is w onderfu l h ow s m all a m atte r w ill in te re st a n d a m use a m an w hen h e is a
pris o ner. B ut m y v ery f e elin gs c h an ged to r e p uls io n a n d te rro r w hen I s a w th e
whole m an slo w ly em erg e fro m th e w in dow an d b eg in to cra w l d ow n th e
castle w all o ver th at d re ad fu l a b yss, fa ce d ow n w ith h is c lo ak s p re ad in g o ut
aro und h im lik e g re at w in gs. A t f ir s t I c o uld n ot b elie v e m y e y es. I th ought it
was so m e tr ic k o f th e m oonlig ht, so m e w eir d e ff e ct o f sh ad ow ; b ut I k ep t
lo okin g, a n d it c o uld b e n o d elu sio n. I sa w th e fin gers a n d to es g ra sp th e
co rn ers o f th e s to nes, w orn c le ar o f th e m orta r b y th e s tr e ss o f y ears , a n d b y
th us u sin g e v ery p ro je ctio n a n d i n eq uality m ove d ow nw ard s w ith c o nsid era b le
sp eed , j u st a s a l iz ard m oves a lo ng a w all.
What m an ner of m an is th is , or w hat m an ner of cre atu re is it in th e
se m bla n ce o f m an ? I f e el th e d re ad o f th is h orrib le p la ce o verp ow erin g m e; I
am in f e ar— in a w fu l f e ar— an d th ere is n o e sc ap e f o r m e; I a m e n co m passe d
ab out w ith t e rro rs t h at I d are n ot t h in k o f....
15 M ay.— Once m ore h av e I s e en th e C ount g o o ut in h is liz ard fa sh io n.
He m oved d ow nw ard s i n a s id elo ng w ay, s o m e h undre d f e et d ow n, a n d a g ood
deal to th e le ft. H e v an is h ed in to s o m e h ole o r w in dow . W hen h is h ead h ad
dis a p peare d , I le an ed o ut to tr y a n d s e e m ore , b ut w ith out a v ail— th e d is ta n ce
was to o g re at to a llo w a p ro per a n gle o f s ig ht. I k new h e h ad le ft th e c astle
now , a n d t h ought t o u se t h e o pportu nity t o e x plo re m ore t h an I h ad d are d t o d o
as y et. I w en t b ack to th e ro om , a n d ta k in g a la m p, tr ie d a ll th e d oors . T hey
were a ll lo ck ed , a s I h ad e x pecte d , a n d th e lo ck s w ere c o m para tiv ely n ew ; b ut
I w en t d ow n th e s to ne s ta ir s to th e h all w here I h ad e n te re d o rig in ally . I f o und
I c o uld p ull b ack th e b olts e asily e n ough a n d u nhook th e g re at c h ain s; b ut th e
door w as lo ck ed , a n d th e k ey w as g one! T hat k ey m ust b e in th e C ount’s
ro om ; I m ust w atc h sh ould h is d oor b e u nlo ck ed , so th at I m ay g et it a n d esc ap e. I w en t o n to m ak e a th oro ugh e x am in atio n o f th e v ario us s ta ir s a n d
passa g es, a n d t o t r y t h e d oors t h at o pen ed f ro m t h em . O ne o r t w o s m all r o om s
near th e h all w ere o pen , b ut th ere w as n oth in g to se e in th em ex cep t o ld
fu rn itu re , d usty w ith a g e a n d m oth -e ate n . A t l a st, h ow ev er, I f o und o ne d oor a t
th e to p o f th e sta ir w ay w hic h , th ough it se em ed to b e lo ck ed , g av e a little
under p re ssu re . I tr ie d it h ard er, a n d fo und th at it w as n ot re ally lo ck ed , b ut
th at t h e r e sis ta n ce c am e f ro m t h e f a ct t h at t h e h in ges h ad f a lle n s o m ew hat, a n d
th e h eav y d oor r e ste d o n th e f lo or. H ere w as a n o pportu nity w hic h I m ig ht n ot
hav e a g ain , s o I e x erte d m yse lf , a n d w ith m an y e ff o rts f o rc ed it b ack s o th at I
co uld e n te r. I w as n ow in a w in g o f th e c astle fu rth er to th e rig ht th an th e
ro om s I k new a n d a s to re y l o w er d ow n. F ro m t h e w in dow s I c o uld s e e t h at t h e
su ite o f ro om s la y a lo ng to th e so uth o f th e c astle , th e w in dow s o f th e e n d
ro om lo okin g o ut b oth w est a n d so uth . O n th e la tte r sid e, a s w ell a s to th e
fo rm er, th ere w as a g re at p re cip ic e. T he c astle w as b uilt o n th e c o rn er o f a
gre at r o ck , s o th at o n th re e s id es it w as q uite im pre g nab le , a n d g re at w in dow s
were pla ced here w here slin g, or bow , or cu lv erin co uld not re ach , an d
co nse q uen tly lig ht an d co m fo rt, im possib le to a p ositio n w hic h h ad to b e
guard ed , w ere se cu re d . T o th e w est w as a g re at v alle y, a n d th en , ris in g fa r
aw ay, g re at ja g ged m ounta in fa stn esse s, ris in g p eak o n p eak , th e s h eer ro ck
stu dded w ith m ounta in ash an d th orn , w hose ro ots clu ng in cra ck s an d
cre v ic es a n d c ra n nie s o f t h e s to ne. T his w as e v id en tly th e p ortio n o f t h e c astle
occu pie d b y th e la d ie s in b ygone d ay s, fo r th e fu rn itu re h ad m ore air o f
co m fo rt th an a n y I h ad s e en . T he w in dow s w ere c u rta in le ss, a n d th e y ello w
moonlig ht, flo odin g in th ro ugh th e d ia m ond p an es, e n ab le d o ne to s e e e v en
co lo urs , w hils t it s o fte n ed th e w ealth o f d ust w hic h la y o ver a ll a n d d is g uis e d
in s o m e m easu re th e r a v ag es o f tim e a n d th e m oth . M y la m p s e em ed to b e o f
little e ff e ct in th e b rillia n t m oonlig ht, b ut I w as g la d to h av e it w ith m e, fo r
th ere w as a d re ad lo nelin ess in th e p la ce w hic h c h ille d m y h eart a n d m ad e m y
nerv es tr e m ble . S till, it w as b ette r th an liv in g a lo ne in th e r o om s w hic h I h ad
co m e to h ate f ro m th e p re se n ce o f th e C ount, a n d a fte r tr y in g a little to s c h ool
my n erv es, I f o und a s o ft q uie tu de c o m e o ver m e. H ere I a m , s ittin g a t a little
oak ta b le w here in o ld tim es p ossib ly s o m e fa ir la d y s a t to p en , w ith m uch
th ought a n d m an y b lu sh es, h er ill- s p elt lo ve-le tte r, a n d w ritin g in m y d ia ry in
sh orth an d a ll th at h as h ap pen ed s in ce I c lo se d it la st. It is n in ete en th c en tu ry
up-to -d ate w ith a v en gean ce. A nd y et, u nle ss m y s e n se s d eceiv e m e, th e o ld
cen tu rie s h ad , a n d h av e, p ow ers o f th eir o w n w hic h m ere “ m odern ity ” c an not
kill.
Late r: th e M orn in g o f 1 6 M ay.— God p re se rv e m y s a n ity , f o r to th is I a m
re d uced . S afe ty a n d t h e a ssu ra n ce o f s a fe ty a re t h in gs o f t h e p ast. W hils t I l iv e
on h ere th ere is b ut o ne th in g to h ope f o r, th at I m ay n ot g o m ad , if , in deed , I
be n ot m ad a lr e ad y. I f I b e s a n e, t h en s u re ly i t i s m ad den in g t o t h in k t h at o f a ll
th e f o ul th in gs th at lu rk in th is h ate fu l p la ce th e C ount is th e le ast d re ad fu l to me; th at to h im a lo ne I c an lo ok f o r s a fe ty , e v en th ough th is b e o nly w hils t I
can s e rv e h is p urp ose . G re at G od! m erc if u l G od! L et m e b e c alm , fo r o ut o f
th at w ay l ie s m ad ness i n deed . I b eg in t o g et n ew l ig hts o n c erta in t h in gs w hic h
hav e p uzzle d m e. U p to n ow I n ev er q uite k new w hat S hak esp eare m ean t
when h e m ad e H am le t s a y :—
“M y t a b le ts ! q uic k , m y t a b le ts !
’T is m eet t h at I p ut i t d ow n,” e tc .,
fo r n ow , f e elin g a s th ough m y o w n b ra in w ere u nhin ged o r a s if th e s h ock
had c o m e w hic h m ust e n d in its u ndoin g, I tu rn to m y d ia ry fo r re p ose . T he
hab it o f e n te rin g a ccu ra te ly m ust h elp t o s o oth e m e.
The C ount’s m yste rio us w arn in g f rig hte n ed m e a t th e tim e; it f rig hte n s m e
more n ow w hen I th in k o f it, fo r in fu tu re h e h as a fe arfu l h old u pon m e. I
sh all f e ar t o d oubt w hat h e m ay s a y !
When I h ad w ritte n in m y d ia ry a n d h ad f o rtu nate ly r e p la ced th e b ook a n d
pen in m y p ock et I f e lt s le ep y. T he C ount’s w arn in g c am e in to m y m in d, b ut I
to ok a p le asu re in d is o bey in g it. T he s e n se o f s le ep w as u pon m e, a n d w ith it
th e o bstin acy w hic h s le ep b rin gs a s o utr id er. T he s o ft m oonlig ht s o oth ed , a n d
th e w id e ex pan se w ith out g av e a se n se o f fre ed om w hic h re fre sh ed m e. I
dete rm in ed n ot to re tu rn to -n ig ht to th e g lo om -h au nte d ro om s, b ut to sle ep
here , w here , o f o ld , la d ie s h ad s a t a n d s u ng a n d liv ed s w eet liv es w hils t th eir
gen tle b re asts w ere sa d fo r th eir m en fo lk a w ay in th e m id st o f re m ors e le ss
wars . I d re w a g re at c o uch o ut o f its p la ce n ear th e c o rn er, s o th at a s I la y, I
co uld lo ok at th e lo vely vie w to east an d so uth , an d unth in kin g of an d
uncarin g f o r t h e d ust, c o m pose d m yse lf f o r s le ep . I s u ppose I m ust h av e f a lle n
asle ep ; I h ope s o , b ut I f e ar, f o r a ll th at f o llo w ed w as s ta rtlin gly r e al— so r e al
th at n ow s ittin g h ere in th e b ro ad , f u ll s u nlig ht o f th e m orn in g, I c an not in th e
le ast b elie v e t h at i t w as a ll s le ep .
I w as n ot a lo ne. T he ro om w as th e s a m e, u nch an ged in a n y w ay s in ce I
cam e in to it; I c o uld s e e a lo ng th e flo or, in th e b rillia n t m oonlig ht, m y o w n
fo ots te p s m ark ed w here I h ad d is tu rb ed th e lo ng a ccu m ula tio n o f d ust. I n th e
moonlig ht o pposite m e w ere th re e y oung w om en , la d ie s b y th eir d re ss a n d
man ner. I th ought a t th e tim e th at I m ust b e d re am in g w hen I s a w th em , fo r,
th ough th e m oonlig ht w as b eh in d th em , th ey th re w n o s h ad ow o n th e flo or.
They c am e c lo se to m e, a n d lo oked a t m e f o r s o m e tim e, a n d th en w his p ere d
to geth er. T w o w ere d ark , a n d h ad h ig h a q uilin e n ose s, lik e th e C ount, a n d
gre at d ark , p ie rc in g e y es th at s e em ed to b e a lm ost re d w hen c o ntr a ste d w ith
th e p ale y ello w m oon. T he o th er w as fa ir , a s fa ir a s c an b e, w ith g re at w av y
masse s o f g old en h air a n d e y es lik e p ale sa p phir e s. I se em ed so m eh ow to
know h er fa ce, a n d to k now it in c o nnectio n w ith so m e d re am y fe ar, b ut I
co uld n ot r e co lle ct a t th e m om en t h ow o r w here . A ll th re e h ad b rillia n t w hite te eth t h at s h one l ik e p earls a g ain st t h e r u by o f t h eir v olu ptu ous l ip s. T here w as
so m eth in g a b out th em th at m ad e m e u neasy , so m e lo ngin g a n d a t th e sa m e
tim e s o m e d ead ly fe ar. I fe lt in m y h eart a w ic k ed , b urn in g d esir e th at th ey
would k is s m e w ith th ose r e d lip s. I t is n ot g ood to n ote th is d ow n, le st s o m e
day it s h ould m eet M in a’s e y es a n d c au se h er p ain ; b ut it is th e tr u th . T hey
whis p ere d to geth er, a n d th en th ey a ll th re e la u ghed — su ch a s ilv ery , m usic al
la u gh, b ut a s h ard a s th ough th e so und n ev er c o uld h av e c o m e th ro ugh th e
so ftn ess o f h um an l ip s. I t w as l ik e t h e i n to le ra b le , t in glin g s w eetn ess o f w ate r-
gla sse s w hen p la y ed o n b y a cu nnin g h an d. T he fa ir g ir l sh ook h er h ead
co quettis h ly , a n d t h e o th er t w o u rg ed h er o n. O ne s a id :—
“G o o n! Y ou a re f ir s t, a n d w e s h all f o llo w ; y ours i s t h e r ig ht t o b eg in .” T he
oth er a d ded :—
“H e is y oung a n d s tr o ng; th ere a re k is se s fo r u s a ll.” I la y q uie t, lo okin g
out u nder m y e y ela sh es in a n a g ony o f d elig htf u l a n tic ip atio n . T he fa ir g ir l
ad van ced a n d b en t o ver m e till I c o uld f e el th e m ovem en t o f h er b re ath u pon
me. S w eet it w as in one se n se , honey -s w eet, an d se n t th e sa m e tin glin g
th ro ugh t h e n erv es a s h er v oic e, b ut w ith a b itte r u nderly in g t h e s w eet, a b itte r
off e n siv en ess, a s o ne s m ells i n b lo od.
I w as a fra id t o r a is e m y e y elid s, b ut l o oked o ut a n d s a w p erfe ctly u nder t h e
la sh es. T he g ir l w en t o n h er k nees, a n d b en t o ver m e, s im ply g lo atin g. T here
was a d elib era te v olu ptu ousn ess w hic h w as b oth t h rillin g a n d r e p uls iv e, a n d a s
sh e a rc h ed h er n eck s h e a ctu ally lic k ed h er lip s lik e a n a n im al, till I c o uld s e e
in t h e m oonlig ht t h e m ois tu re s h in in g o n t h e s c arle t l ip s a n d o n t h e r e d t o ngue
as it la p ped th e w hite s h arp te eth . L ow er a n d lo w er w en t h er h ead a s th e lip s
wen t b elo w t h e r a n ge o f m y m outh a n d c h in a n d s e em ed a b out t o f a ste n o n m y
th ro at. T hen s h e p au se d , a n d I c o uld h ear th e c h urn in g s o und o f h er to ngue a s
it l ic k ed h er t e eth a n d l ip s, a n d c o uld f e el t h e h ot b re ath o n m y n eck . T hen t h e
sk in o f m y th ro at b eg an to tin gle a s o ne’s f le sh d oes w hen th e h an d th at is to
tic k le i t a p pro ach es n eare r— neare r. I c o uld f e el t h e s o ft, s h iv erin g t o uch o f t h e
lip s o n th e s u per- s e n sitiv e s k in o f m y th ro at, a n d th e h ard d en ts o f tw o s h arp
te eth , ju st to uch in g an d pau sin g th ere . I clo se d m y ey es in a la n guoro us
ecsta sy a n d w aite d — waite d w ith b eatin g h eart.
But at th at in sta n t, an oth er se n sa tio n sw ep t th ro ugh m e as quic k as
lig htn in g. I w as c o nsc io us o f th e p re se n ce o f th e C ount, a n d o f h is b ein g a s if
la p ped in a s to rm o f fu ry . A s m y e y es o pen ed in volu nta rily I s a w h is s tr o ng
han d g ra sp th e s le n der n eck o f th e f a ir w om an a n d w ith g ia n t’s p ow er d ra w it
back , t h e b lu e e y es t r a n sfo rm ed w ith f u ry , t h e w hite t e eth c h am pin g w ith r a g e,
an d th e fa ir ch eek s b la zin g re d w ith p assio n. B ut th e C ount! N ev er d id I
im ag in e su ch w ra th a n d fu ry , e v en to th e d em ons o f th e p it. H is e y es w ere
positiv ely b la zin g. T he r e d lig ht in th em w as lu rid , a s if th e f la m es o f h ell- fir e
bla zed b eh in d th em . H is fa ce w as d eath ly p ale , a n d th e lin es o f it w ere h ard lik e d ra w n w ir e s; t h e t h ic k e y eb ro w s t h at m et o ver t h e n ose n ow s e em ed l ik e a
heav in g b ar o f w hite -h ot m eta l. W ith a f ie rc e s w eep o f h is a rm , h e h urle d th e
wom an f ro m h im , a n d th en m otio ned to th e o th ers , a s th ough h e w ere b eatin g
th em b ack ; it w as th e sa m e im perio us g estu re th at I h ad se en u se d to th e
wolv es. I n a v oic e w hic h , th ough lo w a n d a lm ost in a w his p er s e em ed to c u t
th ro ugh t h e a ir a n d t h en r in g r o und t h e r o om h e s a id :—
“H ow d are y ou to uch h im , a n y o f y ou? H ow d are y ou c ast e y es o n h im
when I h ad f o rb id den i t? B ack , I t e ll y ou a ll! T his m an b elo ngs t o m e! B ew are
how y ou m ed dle w ith h im , o r y ou’ll h av e to d eal w ith m e.” T he f a ir g ir l, w ith
a l a u gh o f r ib ald c o quetr y , t u rn ed t o a n sw er h im :—
“Y ou y ours e lf n ev er lo ved ; y ou n ev er lo ve!” O n th is th e o th er w om en
jo in ed , a n d s u ch a m ir th le ss, h ard , s o ulle ss l a u ghte r r a n g t h ro ugh t h e r o om t h at
it a lm ost m ad e m e f a in t t o h ear; i t s e em ed l ik e t h e p le asu re o f f ie n ds. T hen t h e
Count tu rn ed , a fte r lo okin g a t m y f a ce a tte n tiv ely , a n d s a id in a s o ft w his p er:
—
“Y es, I to o c an lo ve; y ou y ours e lv es c an te ll it f ro m th e p ast. I s it n ot s o ?
Well, n ow I p ro m is e y ou th at w hen I a m d one w ith h im y ou s h all k is s h im a t
your w ill. N ow g o! g o! I m ust a w ak en h im , f o r t h ere i s w ork t o b e d one.”
“A re w e to h av e n oth in g to -n ig ht? ” s a id o ne o f th em , w ith a lo w la u gh, a s
sh e p oin te d to th e b ag w hic h h e h ad th ro w n u pon th e f lo or, a n d w hic h m oved
as th ough th ere w ere s o m e liv in g th in g w ith in it. F or a n sw er h e n odded h is
head . O ne o f th e w om en ju m ped fo rw ard a n d o pen ed it. If m y e ars d id n ot
deceiv e m e t h ere w as a g asp a n d a lo w w ail, a s o f a h alf -s m oth ere d c h ild . T he
wom en c lo se d ro und, w hils t I w as a g hast w ith h orro r; b ut a s I lo oked th ey
dis a p peare d , a n d w ith th em th e d re ad fu l b ag . T here w as n o d oor n ear th em ,
an d th ey c o uld n ot h av e p asse d m e w ith out m y n otic in g. T hey s im ply s e em ed
to f a d e in to th e r a y s o f th e m oonlig ht a n d p ass o ut th ro ugh th e w in dow , f o r I
co uld s e e o uts id e th e d im , s h ad ow y fo rm s fo r a m om en t b efo re th ey e n tir e ly
fa d ed a w ay.
Then t h e h orro r o verc am e m e, a n d I s a n k d ow n u nco nsc io us.
CH APT ER I V
JO NAT H AN H ARK ER ’S J O URNAL— co n tin ued
I a w oke
in m y o w n b ed . I f i t b e t h at I h ad n ot d re am t, t h e C ount m ust h av e
carrie d m e h ere . I tr ie d to s a tis fy m yse lf o n th e s u bje ct, b ut c o uld n ot a rriv e a t
an y u nquestio nab le r e su lt. T o b e s u re , t h ere w ere c erta in s m all e v id en ces, s u ch
as th at m y c lo th es w ere fo ld ed a n d la id b y in a m an ner w hic h w as n ot m y hab it. M y w atc h w as s till u nw ound, a n d I a m r ig oro usly a ccu sto m ed t o w in d i t
th e la st th in g b efo re g oin g to b ed , a n d m an y s u ch d eta ils . B ut th ese th in gs a re
no p ro of, fo r th ey m ay h av e b een e v id en ces th at m y m in d w as n ot a s u su al,
an d, fro m so m e c au se o r a n oth er, I h ad c erta in ly b een m uch u pse t. I m ust
watc h fo r p ro of. O f o ne th in g I a m g la d : if it w as th at th e C ount c arrie d m e
here a n d u ndre sse d m e, h e m ust h av e b een h urrie d in h is ta sk , f o r m y p ock ets
are in ta ct. I a m s u re th is d ia ry w ould h av e b een a m yste ry to h im w hic h h e
would n ot h av e b ro oked . H e w ould h av e t a k en o r d estr o yed i t. A s I l o ok r o und
th is ro om , alth ough it h as b een to m e so fu ll o f fe ar, it is n ow a so rt o f
sa n ctu ary , fo r n oth in g c an b e m ore d re ad fu l th an th ose a w fu l w om en , w ho
were — who a re — waitin g t o s u ck m y b lo od.
18 M ay.— I h av e b een d ow n to lo ok a t th at ro om a g ain in d ay lig ht, fo r I
must k now t h e t r u th . W hen I g ot t o t h e d oorw ay a t t h e t o p o f t h e s ta ir s I f o und
it clo se d . It h ad b een so fo rc ib ly d riv en ag ain st th e ja m b th at p art o f th e
woodw ork w as s p lin te re d . I c o uld s e e th at th e b olt o f th e lo ck h ad n ot b een
sh ot, b ut t h e d oor i s f a ste n ed f ro m t h e i n sid e. I f e ar i t w as n o d re am , a n d m ust
act o n t h is s u rm is e .
19 M ay.— I a m s u re ly in th e to ils . L ast n ig ht th e C ount a sk ed m e in th e
su av est to nes to w rite th re e le tte rs , o ne s a y in g th at m y w ork h ere w as n early
done, a n d th at I s h ould s ta rt fo r h om e w ith in a fe w d ay s, a n oth er th at I w as
sta rtin g o n t h e n ex t m orn in g f ro m t h e t im e o f t h e l e tte r, a n d t h e t h ir d t h at I h ad
le ft t h e c astle a n d a rriv ed a t B is tr itz . I w ould f a in h av e r e b elle d , b ut f e lt t h at i n
th e p re se n t sta te o f th in gs it w ould b e m ad ness to q uarre l o pen ly w ith th e
Count w hils t I a m s o a b so lu te ly i n h is p ow er; a n d t o r e fu se w ould b e t o e x cite
his s u sp ic io n a n d to a ro use h is a n ger. H e k now s th at I k now to o m uch , a n d
th at I m ust n ot liv e, le st I b e d an gero us to h im ; m y o nly c h an ce is to p ro lo ng
my opportu nitie s. S om eth in g m ay occu r w hic h w ill giv e m e a ch an ce to
esc ap e. I sa w in his ey es so m eth in g of th at gath erin g w ra th w hic h w as
man if e st w hen h e h urle d th at fa ir w om an fro m h im . H e e x pla in ed to m e th at
posts w ere f e w a n d u ncerta in , a n d th at m y w ritin g n ow w ould e n su re e ase o f
min d to m y frie n ds; a n d h e a ssu re d m e w ith s o m uch im pre ssiv en ess th at h e
would c o unte rm an d t h e l a te r l e tte rs , w hic h w ould b e h eld o ver a t B is tr itz u ntil
due t im e i n c ase c h an ce w ould a d m it o f m y p ro lo ngin g m y s ta y, t h at t o o ppose
him w ould h av e b een to c re ate n ew s u sp ic io n. I th ere fo re p re te n ded to f a ll in
with h is v ie w s, an d ask ed h im w hat d ate s I sh ould p ut o n th e le tte rs . H e
calc u la te d a m in ute , a n d t h en s a id :—
“T he f ir s t s h ould b e J u ne 1 2, t h e s e co nd J u ne 1 9, a n d t h e t h ir d J u ne 2 9.”
I k now n ow t h e s p an o f m y l if e . G od h elp m e!
28 M ay.— There is a c h an ce o f e sc ap e, o r a t a n y r a te o f b ein g a b le to s e n d
word h om e. A b an d o f S zg an y h av e c o m e to th e c astle , a n d a re e n cam ped in th e c o urty ard . T hese S zg an y a re g ip sie s; I h av e n ote s o f th em in m y b ook.
They a re p ecu lia r t o t h is p art o f t h e w orld , t h ough a llie d t o t h e o rd in ary g ip sie s
all th e w orld o ver. T here a re th o usa n ds o f th em in H ungary a n d T ra n sy lv an ia ,
who a re a lm ost o uts id e a ll l a w . T hey a tta ch t h em se lv es a s a r u le t o s o m e g re at
noble o r b oyar, a n d c all t h em se lv es b y h is n am e. T hey a re f e arle ss a n d w ith out
re lig io n, sa v e su pers titio n, an d th ey ta lk only th eir ow n varie tie s of th e
Rom an y t o ngue.
I sh all w rite so m e le tte rs h om e, a n d sh all tr y to g et th em to h av e th em
poste d . I hav e alr e ad y sp oken th em th ro ugh my win dow to beg in
acq uain ta n cesh ip . T hey to ok th eir h ats o ff an d m ad e o beis a n ce an d m an y
sig ns, w hic h , h ow ev er, I c o uld n ot u nders ta n d a n y m ore th an I c o uld th eir
sp oken l a n guag e....
I h av e w ritte n th e le tte rs . M in a’s is in sh orth an d, a n d I sim ply a sk M r.
Haw kin s to c o m munic ate w ith h er. T o h er I h av e e x pla in ed m y s itu atio n, b ut
with out t h e h orro rs w hic h I m ay o nly s u rm is e . I t w ould s h ock a n d f rig hte n h er
to d eath w ere I t o e x pose m y h eart t o h er. S hould t h e l e tte rs n ot c arry , t h en t h e
Count s h all n ot y et k now m y s e cre t o r t h e e x te n t o f m y k now le d ge....
I h av e g iv en th e le tte rs ; I th re w th em th ro ugh th e b ars o f m y w in dow w ith
a g old p ie ce, a n d m ad e w hat s ig ns I c o uld to h av e th em p oste d . T he m an w ho
to ok t h em p re sse d t h em t o h is h eart a n d b ow ed , a n d t h en p ut t h em i n h is c ap . I
co uld d o n o m ore . I s to le b ack to th e s tu dy, a n d b eg an to r e ad . A s th e C ount
did n ot c o m e i n , I h av e w ritte n h ere ....
The C ount h as c o m e. H e s a t d ow n b esid e m e, a n d s a id in h is s m ooth est
voic e a s h e o pen ed t w o l e tte rs :—
“T he S zg an y h as g iv en m e t h ese , o f w hic h , t h ough I k now n ot w hen ce t h ey
co m e, I s h all, o f c o urs e , ta k e c are . S ee!” — he m ust h av e lo oked a t it— “o ne is
fro m y ou, a n d t o m y f rie n d P ete r H aw kin s; t h e o th er” — here h e c au ght s ig ht o f
th e s tr a n ge s y m bols a s h e o pen ed th e e n velo pe, a n d th e d ark lo ok c am e in to
his f a ce, a n d h is e y es b la zed w ic k ed ly — “th e o th er is a v ile th in g, a n o utr a g e
upon frie n dsh ip a n d h osp ita lity ! It is n ot s ig ned . W ell! s o it c an not m atte r to
us.” A nd h e c alm ly h eld le tte r a n d e n velo pe in th e f la m e o f th e la m p till th ey
were c o nsu m ed . T hen h e w en t o n:—
“T he le tte r to H aw kin s— th at I s h all, o f c o urs e , s e n d o n, s in ce it is y ours .
Your le tte rs a re s a cre d to m e. Y our p ard on, m y f rie n d, th at u nknow in gly I d id
bre ak th e s e al. W ill y ou n ot c o ver it a g ain ?” H e h eld o ut th e le tte r to m e, a n d
with a c o urte o us b ow h an ded m e a c le an e n velo pe. I c o uld o nly r e d ir e ct i t a n d
han d it to h im in s ile n ce. W hen h e w en t o ut o f th e r o om I c o uld h ear th e k ey
tu rn s o ftly . A m in ute l a te r I w en t o ver a n d t r ie d i t, a n d t h e d oor w as l o ck ed .
When , a n h our o r tw o a fte r, th e C ount c am e q uie tly in to th e ro om , h is co m in g aw ak en ed m e, fo r I h ad g one to sle ep o n th e so fa . H e w as v ery
co urte o us a n d v ery c h eery in h is m an ner, a n d s e ein g th at I h ad b een s le ep in g,
he s a id :—
“S o, m y f rie n d, y ou a re t ir e d ? G et t o b ed . T here i s t h e s u re st r e st. I m ay n ot
hav e th e p le asu re to ta lk to -n ig ht, s in ce th ere a re m an y la b ours to m e; b ut y ou
will s le ep , I p ra y.” I p asse d to m y r o om a n d w en t to b ed , a n d, s tr a n ge to s a y,
sle p t w ith out d re am in g. D esp air h as i ts o w n c alm s.
31 M ay.— This m orn in g w hen I w oke I th ought I w ould p ro vid e m yse lf
with s o m e p ap er a n d e n velo pes f ro m m y b ag a n d k eep th em in m y p ock et, s o
th at I m ig ht w rite in c ase I sh ould g et a n o pportu nity , b ut a g ain a su rp ris e ,
ag ain a s h ock !
Every s c ra p o f p ap er w as g one, a n d w ith it a ll m y n ote s, m y m em ora n da,
re la tin g to ra ilw ay s a n d tr a v el, m y le tte r o f c re d it, in fa ct a ll th at m ig ht b e
use fu l to m e w ere I o nce o uts id e th e c astle . I s a t a n d p ondere d a w hile , a n d
th en s o m e th ought o ccu rre d to m e, a n d I m ad e s e arc h o f m y p ortm an te au a n d
in t h e w ard ro be w here I h ad p la ced m y c lo th es.
The s u it i n w hic h I h ad t r a v elle d w as g one, a n d a ls o m y o verc o at a n d r u g; I
co uld f in d n o tr a ce o f th em a n yw here . T his lo oked lik e s o m e n ew s c h em e o f
villa in y....
17 J u ne.— This m orn in g, a s I w as s ittin g o n t h e e d ge o f m y b ed c u dgellin g
my b ra in s, I h eard w ith out a c ra ck in g o f w hip s a n d p oundin g a n d s c ra p in g o f
hors e s’ f e et u p th e r o ck y p ath b ey ond th e c o urty ard . W ith jo y I h urrie d to th e
win dow , a n d s a w d riv e in to th e y ard tw o g re at le ite r- w ag ons, e ach d ra w n b y
eig ht s tu rd y h ors e s, a n d a t th e h ead o f e ach p air a S lo vak , w ith h is w id e h at,
gre at n ail- s tu dded b elt, d ir ty s h eep sk in , a n d h ig h b oots . T hey h ad a ls o th eir
lo ng s ta v es in h an d. I ra n to th e d oor, in te n din g to d esc en d a n d tr y a n d jo in
th em th ro ugh th e m ain h all, a s I th ought th at w ay m ig ht b e o pen ed f o r th em .
Again a s h ock : m y d oor w as f a ste n ed o n t h e o uts id e.
Then I r a n t o t h e w in dow a n d c rie d t o t h em . T hey l o oked u p a t m e s tu pid ly
an d p oin te d , b ut ju st th en th e “ h etm an ” o f th e S zg an y c am e o ut, a n d s e ein g
th em poin tin g to m y w in dow , sa id so m eth in g, at w hic h th ey la u ghed .
Hen cefo rth n o e ff o rt o f m in e, n o p ite o us c ry o r a g onis e d e n tr e aty , w ould m ak e
th em ev en lo ok at m e. T hey re so lu te ly tu rn ed aw ay. T he le ite r- w ag ons
co nta in ed g re at, s q uare b oxes, w ith h an dle s o f t h ic k r o pe; t h ese w ere e v id en tly
em pty by th e ease w ith w hic h th e Slo vak s han dle d th em , an d by th eir
re so nan ce a s th ey w ere ro ughly m oved . W hen th ey w ere a ll u nlo ad ed a n d
pack ed i n a g re at h eap i n o ne c o rn er o f t h e y ard , t h e S lo vak s w ere g iv en s o m e
money b y th e S zg an y, an d sp ittin g o n it fo r lu ck , la zily w en t each to h is
hors e ’s h ead . S hortly a fte rw ard s, I h eard th e c ra ck in g o f th eir w hip s d ie a w ay
in t h e d is ta n ce. 24 J u ne, b efo re m orn in g.— Last n ig ht th e C ount le ft m e e arly , a n d lo ck ed
him se lf in to h is o w n r o om . A s s o on a s I d are d I r a n u p th e w in din g s ta ir , a n d
lo oked o ut o f th e w in dow , w hic h o pen ed s o uth . I th ought I w ould w atc h fo r
th e C ount, fo r th ere is so m eth in g goin g on. T he Szg an y are quarte re d
so m ew here in th e c astle a n d a re d oin g w ork o f s o m e k in d. I k now it, f o r n ow
an d th en I h ear a fa r- a w ay m uff le d so und as o f m atto ck an d sp ad e, an d,
whate v er i t i s , i t m ust b e t h e e n d o f s o m e r u th le ss v illa in y.
I h ad b een a t th e w in dow so m ew hat le ss th an h alf a n h our, w hen I sa w
so m eth in g co m in g out of th e C ount’s w in dow . I dre w back an d w atc h ed
care fu lly , a n d s a w th e w hole m an e m erg e. It w as a n ew s h ock to m e to fin d
th at h e h ad o n th e s u it o f c lo th es w hic h I h ad w orn w hils t tr a v ellin g h ere , a n d
slu ng o ver h is sh ould er th e te rrib le b ag w hic h I h ad se en th e w om en ta k e
aw ay. T here c o uld b e n o d oubt a s t o h is q uest, a n d i n m y g arb , t o o! T his , t h en ,
is h is n ew s c h em e o f e v il: t h at h e w ill a llo w o th ers t o s e e m e, a s t h ey t h in k, s o
th at h e m ay b oth le av e e v id en ce th at I h av e b een s e en in th e to w ns o r v illa g es
postin g m y o w n l e tte rs , a n d t h at a n y w ic k ed ness w hic h h e m ay d o s h all b y t h e
lo cal p eo ple b e a ttr ib ute d t o m e.
It m ak es m e r a g e t o t h in k t h at t h is c an g o o n, a n d w hils t I a m s h ut u p h ere ,
a v erita b le p ris o ner, b ut w ith out th at p ro te ctio n o f th e la w w hic h is e v en a
crim in al’s r ig ht a n d c o nso la tio n.
I th ought I w ould w atc h fo r th e C ount’s re tu rn , a n d fo r a lo ng tim e sa t
dogged ly a t th e w in dow . T hen I b eg an to n otic e th at th ere w ere s o m e q uain t
little s p eck s flo atin g in th e ra y s o f th e m oonlig ht. T hey w ere lik e th e tin ie st
gra in s o f d ust, a n d th ey w hir le d r o und a n d g ath ere d in c lu ste rs in a n eb ulo us
so rt o f w ay. I w atc h ed th em w ith a s e n se o f s o oth in g, a n d a s o rt o f c alm s to le
over m e. I le an ed b ack in th e e m bra su re in a m ore c o m fo rta b le p ositio n, s o
th at I c o uld e n jo y m ore f u lly t h e a ëria l g am bollin g.
Som eth in g m ad e m e s ta rt u p, a lo w , p ite o us h ow lin g o f d ogs s o m ew here
fa r b elo w in th e v alle y, w hic h w as h id den f ro m m y s ig ht. L ouder it s e em ed to
rin g i n m y e ars , a n d t h e f lo atin g m ote s o f d ust t o t a k e n ew s h ap es t o t h e s o und
as t h ey d an ced i n t h e m oonlig ht. I f e lt m yse lf s tr u gglin g t o a w ak e t o s o m e c all
of m y in stin cts ; n ay, m y v ery s o ul w as s tr u gglin g, a n d m y h alf -re m em bere d
se n sib ilitie s w ere str iv in g to an sw er th e call. I w as b eco m in g h ypnotis e d !
Quic k er a n d q uic k er d an ced t h e d ust; t h e m oonbeam s s e em ed t o q uiv er a s t h ey
wen t b y m e in to th e m ass o f g lo om b ey ond. M ore a n d m ore th ey g ath ere d till
th ey s e em ed t o t a k e d im p han to m s h ap es. A nd t h en I s ta rte d , b ro ad a w ak e a n d
in fu ll posse ssio n of m y se n se s, an d ra n sc re am in g fro m th e pla ce. T he
phan to m sh ap es, w hic h w ere beco m in g gra d ually m ate ria lis e d fro m th e
moonbeam s, w ere t h ose o f t h e t h re e g hostly w om en t o w hom I w as d oom ed . I
fle d , a n d f e lt s o m ew hat s a fe r in m y o w n r o om , w here th ere w as n o m oonlig ht
an d w here t h e l a m p w as b urn in g b rig htly . When a co uple o f h ours h ad p asse d I h eard so m eth in g stir rin g in th e
Count’s r o om , s o m eth in g lik e a s h arp w ail q uic k ly s u ppre sse d ; a n d th en th ere
was sile n ce, d eep , a w fu l sile n ce, w hic h c h ille d m e. W ith a b eatin g h eart, I
tr ie d t h e d oor; b ut I w as l o ck ed i n m y p ris o n, a n d c o uld d o n oth in g. I s a t d ow n
an d s im ply c rie d .
As I s a t I h eard a s o und in th e c o urty ard w ith out— th e a g onis e d c ry o f a
wom an . I ru sh ed to th e w in dow , a n d th ro w in g it u p, p eere d o ut b etw een th e
bars . T here , in deed , w as a w om an w ith d is h ev elle d h air , h old in g h er h an ds
over h er h eart a s o ne d is tr e sse d w ith r u nnin g. S he w as l e an in g a g ain st a c o rn er
of th e g ate w ay. W hen sh e sa w m y fa ce at th e w in dow sh e th re w h ers e lf
fo rw ard , a n d s h oute d i n a v oic e l a d en w ith m en ace:—
“M onste r, g iv e m e m y c h ild !”
She th re w h ers e lf o n h er k nees, a n d ra is in g u p h er h an ds, c rie d th e s a m e
word s in to nes w hic h w ru ng m y h eart. T hen sh e to re h er h air a n d b eat h er
bre ast, an d ab an doned h ers e lf to all th e v io le n ces o f ex tr a v ag an t em otio n.
Fin ally , s h e t h re w h ers e lf f o rw ard , a n d, t h ough I c o uld n ot s e e h er, I c o uld h ear
th e b eatin g o f h er n ak ed h an ds a g ain st t h e d oor.
Som ew here h ig h o verh ead , p ro bab ly o n th e to w er, I h eard th e v oic e o f th e
Count c allin g in h is h ars h , m eta llic w his p er. H is c all s e em ed to b e a n sw ere d
fro m f a r a n d w id e b y t h e h ow lin g o f w olv es. B efo re m an y m in ute s h ad p asse d
a p ack o f th em p oure d , lik e a p en t- u p d am w hen lib era te d , th ro ugh th e w id e
en tr a n ce i n to t h e c o urty ard .
There w as n o c ry f ro m th e w om an , a n d th e h ow lin g o f th e w olv es w as b ut
sh ort. B efo re l o ng t h ey s tr e am ed a w ay s in gly , l ic k in g t h eir l ip s.
I c o uld n ot p ity h er, f o r I k new n ow w hat h ad b eco m e o f h er c h ild , a n d s h e
was b ette r d ead .
What s h all I d o? w hat c an I d o? H ow c an I e sc ap e f ro m t h is d re ad fu l th in g
of n ig ht a n d g lo om a n d f e ar?
25 J u ne, m orn in g.— No m an k now s t ill h e h as s u ff e re d f ro m t h e n ig ht h ow
sw eet a n d h ow d ear to h is h eart a n d e y e th e m orn in g c an b e. W hen th e s u n
gre w s o h ig h th is m orn in g th at it s tr u ck th e to p o f th e g re at g ate w ay o pposite
my w in dow , th e h ig h s p ot w hic h it to uch ed s e em ed to m e a s if th e d ove f ro m
th e a rk h ad lig hte d th ere . M y fe ar fe ll fro m m e a s if it h ad b een a v ap oro us
garm en t w hic h d is so lv ed i n t h e w arm th . I m ust t a k e a ctio n o f s o m e s o rt w hils t
th e c o ura g e o f th e d ay is u pon m e. L ast n ig ht o ne o f m y p ost- d ate d le tte rs
wen t to p ost, th e f ir s t o f th at f a ta l s e rie s w hic h is to b lo t o ut th e v ery tr a ces o f
my e x is te n ce f ro m t h e e arth .
Let m e n ot t h in k o f i t. A ctio n! It h as a lw ay s b een a t n ig ht- tim e t h at I h av e b een m ole ste d o r t h re ate n ed , o r
in s o m e w ay i n d an ger o r i n f e ar. I h av e n ot y et s e en t h e C ount i n t h e d ay lig ht.
Can it b e th at h e s le ep s w hen o th ers w ak e, th at h e m ay b e a w ak e w hils t th ey
sle ep ? I f I c o uld o nly g et i n to h is r o om ! B ut t h ere i s n o p ossib le w ay. T he d oor
is a lw ay s l o ck ed , n o w ay f o r m e.
Yes, th ere is a w ay, if o ne d are s to ta k e it. W here h is b ody h as g one w hy
may n ot a n oth er b ody g o? I h av e se en h im m yse lf c ra w l fro m h is w in dow .
Why sh ould n ot I im ita te h im , a n d g o in b y h is w in dow ? T he c h an ces a re
desp era te , b ut m y n eed is m ore d esp era te s till. I s h all ris k it. A t th e w ors t it
can o nly b e d eath ; a n d a m an ’s d eath is n ot a c alf ’s , a n d t h e d re ad ed H ere afte r
may s till b e o pen to m e. G od h elp m e in m y ta sk ! G ood-b ye, M in a, if I fa il;
good-b ye, m y fa ith fu l frie n d a n d s e co nd fa th er; g ood-b ye, a ll, a n d la st o f a ll
Min a!
Sam e d ay, la te r.— I h av e m ad e th e e ff o rt, a n d G od, h elp in g m e, h av e c o m e
sa fe ly b ack to th is r o om . I m ust p ut d ow n e v ery d eta il in o rd er. I w en t w hils t
my c o ura g e w as f re sh s tr a ig ht t o t h e w in dow o n t h e s o uth s id e, a n d a t o nce g ot
outs id e o n th e n arro w le d ge o f s to ne w hic h ru ns a ro und th e b uild in g o n th is
sid e. T he s to nes a re b ig a n d r o ughly c u t, a n d t h e m orta r h as b y p ro cess o f t im e
been w ash ed a w ay b etw een t h em . I t o ok o ff m y b oots , a n d v en tu re d o ut o n t h e
desp era te w ay. I lo oked d ow n o nce, s o a s to m ak e s u re th at a s u dden g lim pse
of th e a w fu l d ep th w ould n ot o verc o m e m e, b ut a fte r th at k ep t m y e y es a w ay
fro m it. I k new p re tty w ell th e d ir e ctio n a n d d is ta n ce o f th e C ount’s w in dow ,
an d m ad e f o r i t a s w ell a s I c o uld , h av in g r e g ard t o t h e o pportu nitie s a v aila b le .
I did not fe el diz zy — I su ppose I w as to o ex cite d — an d th e tim e se em ed
rid ic u lo usly s h ort t ill I f o und m yse lf s ta n din g o n t h e w in dow -s ill a n d t r y in g t o
ra is e u p th e s a sh . I w as f ille d w ith a g ita tio n, h ow ev er, w hen I b en t d ow n a n d
slid f e et f o re m ost in t h ro ugh th e w in dow . T hen I lo oked a ro und f o r t h e C ount,
but, w ith s u rp ris e a n d g la d ness, m ad e a d is c o very . T he ro om w as e m pty ! It
was b are ly f u rn is h ed w ith o dd th in gs, w hic h s e em ed to h av e n ev er b een u se d ;
th e f u rn itu re w as s o m eth in g t h e s a m e s ty le a s t h at i n t h e s o uth r o om s, a n d w as
co vere d w ith d ust. I lo oked f o r th e k ey, b ut it w as n ot in th e lo ck , a n d I c o uld
not f in d it a n yw here . T he o nly th in g I f o und w as a g re at h eap o f g old in o ne
co rn er— gold o f a ll k in ds, R om an , a n d B ritis h , a n d A ustr ia n , a n d H ungaria n ,
an d G re ek a n d T urk is h m oney, c o vere d w ith a film o f d ust, a s th ough it h ad
la in lo ng in th e g ro und. N one o f it th at I n otic ed w as le ss th an th re e h undre d
years o ld . T here w ere a ls o c h ain s a n d o rn am en ts , so m e je w elle d , b ut a ll o f
th em o ld a n d s ta in ed .
At o ne c o rn er o f t h e r o om w as a h eav y d oor. I t r ie d i t, f o r, s in ce I c o uld n ot
fin d th e k ey o f th e ro om o r th e k ey o f th e o ute r d oor, w hic h w as th e m ain
obje ct o f m y s e arc h , I m ust m ak e f u rth er e x am in atio n, o r a ll m y e ff o rts w ould
be in v ain . I t w as o pen , a n d le d th ro ugh a s to ne p assa g e to a c ir c u la r s ta ir w ay, whic h w en t s te ep ly d ow n. I d esc en ded , m in din g c are fu lly w here I w en t, fo r
th e s ta ir s w ere d ark , b ein g o nly lit b y lo ophole s in th e h eav y m aso nry . A t th e
botto m th ere w as a d ark , tu nnel- lik e p assa g e, th ro ugh w hic h c am e a d eath ly ,
sic k ly o dour, th e o dour o f o ld earth n ew ly tu rn ed . A s I w en t th ro ugh th e
passa g e th e s m ell g re w c lo se r a n d h eav ie r. A t la st I p ulle d o pen a h eav y d oor
whic h sto od aja r, an d fo und m yse lf in an old , ru in ed ch ap el, w hic h had
ev id en tly b een u se d a s a g ra v ey ard . T he ro of w as b ro ken , a n d in tw o p la ces
were s te p s le ad in g to v au lts , b ut th e g ro und h ad re cen tly b een d ug o ver, a n d
th e earth p la ced in g re at w ooden b oxes, m an if e stly th ose w hic h h ad b een
bro ught b y th e S lo vak s. T here w as n obody a b out, a n d I m ad e s e arc h fo r a n y
fu rth er o utle t, b ut th ere w as n one. T hen I w en t o ver e v ery in ch o f th e g ro und,
so a s n ot to lo se a c h an ce. I w en t d ow n e v en in to th e v au lts , w here th e d im
lig ht s tr u ggle d , a lth ough to d o s o w as a d re ad to m y v ery s o ul. In to tw o o f
th ese I w en t, b ut s a w n oth in g e x cep t f ra g m en ts o f o ld c o ff in s a n d p ile s o f d ust;
in t h e t h ir d , h ow ev er, I m ad e a d is c o very .
There , in o ne o f th e g re at b oxes, o f w hic h th ere w ere f if ty in a ll, o n a p ile
of n ew ly d ug e arth , la y th e C ount! H e w as e ith er d ead o r a sle ep , I c o uld n ot
sa y w hic h — fo r th e e y es w ere o pen a n d s to ny, b ut w ith out th e g la ssin ess o f
death — an d th e c h eek s h ad th e w arm th o f lif e th ro ugh a ll th eir p allo r; th e lip s
were a s r e d a s e v er. B ut th ere w as n o s ig n o f m ovem en t, n o p uls e , n o b re ath ,
no b eatin g o f th e h eart. I b en t o ver h im , a n d tr ie d to f in d a n y s ig n o f lif e , b ut
in v ain . H e c o uld n ot h av e la in th ere lo ng, fo r th e e arth y s m ell w ould h av e
passe d a w ay i n a f e w h ours . B y t h e s id e o f t h e b ox w as i ts c o ver, p ie rc ed w ith
hole s h ere a n d th ere . I th ought h e m ig ht h av e th e k ey s o n h im , b ut w hen I
wen t to s e arc h I s a w th e d ead e y es, a n d in th em , d ead th ough th ey w ere , s u ch
a lo ok o f h ate , th ough u nco nsc io us o f m e o r m y p re se n ce, th at I f le d f ro m th e
pla ce, a n d le av in g th e C ount’s ro om b y th e w in dow , c ra w le d a g ain u p th e
castle w all. R eg ain in g m y r o om , I t h re w m yse lf p an tin g u pon t h e b ed a n d t r ie d
to t h in k....
29 Ju ne.— To-d ay is th e d ate o f m y la st le tte r, a n d th e C ount h as ta k en
ste p s to p ro ve th at it w as g en uin e, f o r a g ain I s a w h im le av e th e c astle b y th e
sa m e w in dow , a n d in m y c lo th es. A s h e w en t d ow n th e w all, liz ard f a sh io n, I
wis h ed I h ad a g un o r s o m e l e th al w eap on, t h at I m ig ht d estr o y h im ; b ut I f e ar
th at n o w eap on w ro ught a lo ne b y m an ’s h an d w ould h av e a n y e ff e ct o n h im . I
dare d n ot w ait to s e e h im r e tu rn , f o r I f e are d to s e e th ose w eir d s is te rs . I c am e
back t o t h e l ib ra ry , a n d r e ad t h ere t ill I f e ll a sle ep .
I w as a w ak en ed b y th e C ount, w ho lo oked a t m e a s g rim ly a s a m an c an
lo ok a s h e s a id :—
“T o-m orro w , m y frie n d, w e m ust part. Y ou re tu rn to your beau tif u l
Engla n d, I to so m e w ork w hic h m ay h av e su ch a n e n d th at w e m ay n ev er
meet. Y our l e tte r h om e h as b een d esp atc h ed ; t o -m orro w I s h all n ot b e h ere , b ut all s h all b e r e ad y f o r y our j o urn ey. I n t h e m orn in g c o m e t h e S zg an y, w ho h av e
so m e l a b ours o f t h eir o w n h ere , a n d a ls o c o m e s o m e S lo vak s. W hen t h ey h av e
gone, m y c arria g e s h all c o m e f o r y ou, a n d s h all b ear y ou to th e B org o P ass to
meet t h e d ilig en ce f ro m B ukovin a t o B is tr itz . B ut I a m i n h opes t h at I s h all s e e
more o f y ou a t C astle D ra cu la .” I s u sp ecte d h im , a n d d ete rm in ed to te st h is
sin cerity . S in cerity ! It se em s lik e a p ro fa n atio n o f th e w ord to w rite it in
co nnectio n w ith s u ch a m onste r, s o a sk ed h im p oin t- b la n k:—
“W hy m ay I n ot g o t o -n ig ht? ”
“B ecau se , d ear s ir , m y c o ach m an a n d h ors e s a re a w ay o n a m is sio n.”
“B ut I w ould w alk w ith p le asu re . I w an t to g et a w ay a t o nce.” H e s m ile d ,
su ch a s o ft, s m ooth , d ia b olic al s m ile th at I k new th ere w as s o m e tr ic k b eh in d
his s m ooth ness. H e s a id :—
“A nd y our b ag gag e?”
“I d o n ot c are a b out i t. I c an s e n d f o r i t s o m e o th er t im e.”
The C ount s to od u p, a n d s a id , w ith a s w eet c o urte sy w hic h m ad e m e ru b
my e y es, i t s e em ed s o r e al:—
“Y ou E nglis h h av e a s a y in g w hic h is c lo se to m y h eart, f o r its s p ir it is th at
whic h r u le s o ur b oyars : ‘ W elc o m e t h e c o m in g; s p eed t h e p artin g g uest.’ C om e
with m e, m y d ear y oung frie n d. N ot an h our sh all y ou w ait in m y h ouse
ag ain st y our w ill, th ough s a d a m I a t y our g oin g, a n d th at y ou s o s u dden ly
desir e it. C om e!” W ith a s ta te ly g ra v ity , h e, w ith th e la m p, p re ced ed m e d ow n
th e s ta ir s a n d a lo ng t h e h all. S udden ly h e s to pped .
“H ark !”
Clo se a t h an d c am e th e h ow lin g o f m an y w olv es. It w as a lm ost a s if th e
so und s p ra n g u p a t t h e r is in g o f h is h an d, j u st a s t h e m usic o f a g re at o rc h estr a
se em s t o l e ap u nder t h e b âto n o f t h e c o nducto r. A fte r a p au se o f a m om en t, h e
pro ceed ed , in h is sta te ly w ay, to th e d oor, d re w b ack th e p ondero us b olts ,
unhooked t h e h eav y c h ain s, a n d b eg an t o d ra w i t o pen .
To m y in te n se a sto nis h m en t I sa w th at it w as u nlo ck ed . S usp ic io usly , I
lo oked a ll r o und, b ut c o uld s e e n o k ey o f a n y k in d.
As th e d oor b eg an to o pen , th e h ow lin g o f th e w olv es w ith out g re w lo uder
an d a n grie r; t h eir r e d j a w s, w ith c h am pin g t e eth , a n d t h eir b lu nt- c la w ed f e et a s
th ey le ap ed , c am e in th ro ugh th e o pen in g d oor. I k new th en th at to s tr u ggle a t
th e m om en t a g ain st th e C ount w as u se le ss. W ith su ch a llie s a s th ese a t h is
co m man d, I c o uld d o n oth in g. B ut s till t h e d oor c o ntin ued s lo w ly t o o pen , a n d
only th e C ount’s b ody s to od in th e g ap . S udden ly it s tr u ck m e th at th is m ig ht
be t h e m om en t a n d m ean s o f m y d oom ; I w as t o b e g iv en t o t h e w olv es, a n d a t
my ow n in stig atio n. T here w as a dia b olic al w ic k ed ness in th e id ea gre at en ough f o r t h e C ount, a n d a s a l a st c h an ce I c rie d o ut:—
“S hut th e d oor; I s h all w ait till m orn in g!” a n d c o vere d m y fa ce w ith m y
han ds to hid e m y te ars of bit te r dis a p poin tm en t. W ith one sw eep of his
pow erfu l a rm , th e C ount th re w th e d oor s h ut, a n d th e g re at b olts c la n ged a n d
ech oed t h ro ugh t h e h all a s t h ey s h ot b ack i n to t h eir p la ces.
In s ile n ce w e r e tu rn ed t o t h e l ib ra ry , a n d a fte r a m in ute o r t w o I w en t t o m y
ow n ro om . T he la st I s a w o f C ount D ra cu la w as h is k is sin g h is h an d to m e;
with a re d lig ht o f tr iu m ph in h is e y es, a n d w ith a sm ile th at Ju das in h ell
mig ht b e p ro ud o f.
When I w as in m y ro om an d ab out to lie d ow n, I th ought I h eard a
whis p erin g at m y door. I w en t to it so ftly an d lis te n ed . U nle ss m y ears
deceiv ed m e, I h eard t h e v oic e o f t h e C ount:—
“B ack , b ack , to y our o w n p la ce! Y our tim e is n ot y et c o m e. W ait! H av e
patie n ce! T o-n ig ht i s m in e. T o-m orro w n ig ht i s y ours !” T here w as a l o w , s w eet
rip ple o f la u ghte r, a n d in a ra g e I th re w o pen th e d oor, a n d s a w w ith out th e
th re e te rrib le w om en lic k in g th eir lip s. A s I ap peare d th ey all jo in ed in a
horrib le l a u gh, a n d r a n a w ay.
I c am e b ack to m y r o om a n d th re w m yse lf o n m y k nees. I t is th en s o n ear
th e e n d? T o-m orro w ! to -m orro w ! L ord , h elp m e, a n d th ose to w hom I a m
dear!
30 J u ne, m orn in g.— These m ay b e th e la st w ord s I e v er w rite in th is d ia ry .
I s le p t till ju st b efo re th e d aw n, a n d w hen I w oke th re w m yse lf o n m y k nees,
fo r I d ete rm in ed t h at i f D eath c am e h e s h ould f in d m e r e ad y.
At la st I fe lt th at s u btle c h an ge in th e a ir , a n d k new th at th e m orn in g h ad
co m e. T hen c am e th e w elc o m e c o ck -c ro w , a n d I fe lt th at I w as s a fe . W ith a
gla d h eart, I o pen ed m y d oor a n d r a n d ow n t o t h e h all. I h ad s e en t h at t h e d oor
was u nlo ck ed , a n d n ow e sc ap e w as b efo re m e. W ith h an ds th at tr e m ble d w ith
eag ern ess, I u nhooked t h e c h ain s a n d d re w b ack t h e m assiv e b olts .
But th e d oor w ould n ot m ove. D esp air s e iz ed m e. I p ulle d , a n d p ulle d , a t
th e d oor, a n d s h ook it till, m assiv e a s it w as, it r a ttle d in its c ase m en t. I c o uld
se e t h e b olt s h ot. I t h ad b een l o ck ed a fte r I l e ft t h e C ount.
Then a w ild d esir e t o ok m e t o o bta in t h at k ey a t a n y r is k , a n d I d ete rm in ed
th en a n d t h ere t o s c ale t h e w all a g ain a n d g ain t h e C ount’s r o om . H e m ig ht k ill
me, b ut d eath n ow se em ed th e h ap pie r ch oic e o f ev ils . W ith out a p au se I
ru sh ed u p t o t h e e ast w in dow , a n d s c ra m ble d d ow n t h e w all, a s b efo re , i n to t h e
Count’s r o om . I t w as e m pty , b ut th at w as a s I e x pecte d . I c o uld n ot s e e a k ey
an yw here , b ut t h e h eap o f g old r e m ain ed . I w en t t h ro ugh t h e d oor i n t h e c o rn er
an d d ow n th e w in din g sta ir a n d a lo ng th e d ark p assa g e to th e o ld c h ap el. I knew n ow w ell e n ough w here t o f in d t h e m onste r I s o ught.
The g re at b ox w as i n t h e s a m e p la ce, c lo se a g ain st t h e w all, b ut t h e l id w as
la id o n it, n ot fa ste n ed d ow n, b ut w ith th e n ails re ad y in th eir p la ces to b e
ham mere d h om e. I k new I m ust r e ach th e b ody f o r th e k ey, s o I r a is e d th e lid ,
an d la id it b ack a g ain st th e w all; a n d th en I s a w s o m eth in g w hic h fille d m y
very so ul w ith h orro r. T here la y th e C ount, b ut lo okin g a s if h is y outh h ad
been h alf re n ew ed , fo r th e w hite h air a n d m ousta ch e w ere c h an ged to d ark
ir o n-g re y ; th e ch eek s w ere fu lle r, an d th e w hite sk in se em ed ru by-re d
undern eath ; t h e m outh w as r e d der t h an e v er, f o r o n t h e l ip s w ere g outs o f f re sh
blo od, w hic h tr ic k le d f ro m th e c o rn ers o f th e m outh a n d r a n o ver th e c h in a n d
neck . E ven th e d eep , b urn in g e y es s e em ed s e t a m ongst s w olle n f le sh , f o r th e
lid s a n d p ouch es u ndern eath w ere b lo ate d . It se em ed a s if th e w hole a w fu l
cre atu re w ere s im ply g org ed w ith b lo od. H e la y lik e a f ilth y le ech , e x hau ste d
with h is r e p le tio n. I s h uddere d a s I b en t o ver to to uch h im , a n d e v ery s e n se in
me r e v olte d a t t h e c o nta ct; b ut I h ad t o s e arc h , o r I w as l o st. T he c o m in g n ig ht
mig ht s e e m y o w n b ody a b an quet in a s im ila r w ay to th ose h orrid th re e. I f e lt
all o ver th e b ody, b ut n o sig n c o uld I fin d o f th e k ey. T hen I sto pped a n d
lo oked a t th e C ount. T here w as a m ock in g s m ile o n th e b lo ate d fa ce w hic h
se em ed to d riv e m e m ad . T his w as th e b ein g I w as h elp in g to tr a n sfe r to
London, w here , p erh ap s, f o r c en tu rie s to c o m e h e m ig ht, a m ongst its te em in g
millio ns, s a tia te h is lu st f o r b lo od, a n d c re ate a n ew a n d e v er- w id en in g c ir c le
of s e m i- d em ons to b atte n o n th e h elp le ss. T he v ery th ought d ro ve m e m ad . A
te rrib le d esir e c am e u pon m e t o r id t h e w orld o f s u ch a m onste r. T here w as n o
le th al w eap on a t h an d, b ut I se iz ed a sh ovel w hic h th e w ork m en h ad b een
usin g to f ill th e c ase s, a n d lif tin g it h ig h, s tr u ck , w ith th e e d ge d ow nw ard , a t
th e h ate fu l f a ce. B ut a s I d id s o t h e h ead t u rn ed , a n d t h e e y es f e ll f u ll u pon m e,
with a ll t h eir b la ze o f b asilis k h orro r. T he s ig ht s e em ed t o p ara ly se m e, a n d t h e
sh ovel tu rn ed in m y h an d a n d g la n ced fro m th e fa ce, m ere ly m ak in g a d eep
gash a b ove th e f o re h ead . T he s h ovel f e ll f ro m m y h an d a cro ss th e b ox, a n d a s
I p ulle d it a w ay th e fla n ge o f th e b la d e c au ght th e e d ge o f th e lid w hic h fe ll
over a g ain , a n d h id t h e h orrid t h in g f ro m m y s ig ht. T he l a st g lim pse I h ad w as
of t h e b lo ate d f a ce, b lo od-s ta in ed a n d f ix ed w ith a g rin o f m alic e w hic h w ould
hav e h eld i ts o w n i n t h e n eth erm ost h ell.
I th ought a n d th ought w hat s h ould b e m y n ex t m ove, b ut m y b ra in s e em ed
on f ir e , a n d I w aite d w ith a d esp air in g f e elin g g ro w in g o ver m e. A s I w aite d I
heard in th e d is ta n ce a g ip sy s o ng s u ng b y m erry v oic es c o m in g c lo se r, a n d
th ro ugh th eir s o ng th e r o llin g o f h eav y w heels a n d th e c ra ck in g o f w hip s; th e
Szg an y a n d th e S lo vak s o f w hom th e C ount h ad s p oken w ere c o m in g. W ith a
la st lo ok a ro und a n d a t th e b ox w hic h c o nta in ed th e v ile b ody, I r a n f ro m th e
pla ce a n d g ain ed th e C ount’s r o om , d ete rm in ed to r u sh o ut a t th e m om en t th e
door s h ould b e o pen ed . W ith s tr a in ed e ars , I l is te n ed , a n d h eard d ow nsta ir s t h e
grin din g o f th e k ey in th e g re at lo ck a n d th e fa llin g b ack o f th e h eav y d oor. There m ust h av e b een s o m e o th er m ean s o f e n tr y , o r s o m e o ne h ad a k ey f o r
one o f t h e l o ck ed d oors . T hen t h ere c am e t h e s o und o f m an y f e et t r a m pin g a n d
dyin g a w ay in s o m e p assa g e w hic h s e n t u p a c la n gin g e ch o. I tu rn ed to ru n
dow n a g ain to w ard s th e v au lt, w here I m ig ht f in d th e n ew e n tr a n ce; b ut a t th e
mom en t th ere se em ed to c o m e a v io le n t p uff o f w in d, a n d th e d oor to th e
win din g sta ir b le w to w ith a sh ock th at se t th e d ust fro m th e lin te ls fly in g.
When I r a n to p ush it o pen , I f o und th at it w as h opele ssly f a st. I w as a g ain a
pris o ner, a n d t h e n et o f d oom w as c lo sin g r o und m e m ore c lo se ly .
As I w rite t h ere i s i n t h e p assa g e b elo w a s o und o f m an y t r a m pin g f e et a n d
th e c ra sh o f w eig hts b ein g s e t d ow n h eav ily , d oubtle ss th e b oxes, w ith th eir
fre ig ht o f e arth . T here is a so und o f h am merin g; it is th e b ox b ein g n aile d
dow n. N ow I c an h ear t h e h eav y f e et t r a m pin g a g ain a lo ng t h e h all, w ith m an y
oth er i d le f e et c o m in g b eh in d t h em .
The d oor is s h ut, a n d th e c h ain s r a ttle ; th ere is a g rin din g o f th e k ey in th e
lo ck ; I c an h ear th e k ey w ith dra w : th en a n oth er d oor o pen s a n d s h uts ; I h ear
th e c re ak in g o f l o ck a n d b olt.
Hark ! in th e c o urty ard a n d d ow n th e ro ck y w ay th e ro ll o f h eav y w heels ,
th e c ra ck o f w hip s, a n d t h e c h oru s o f t h e S zg an y a s t h ey p ass i n to t h e d is ta n ce.
I a m a lo ne i n t h e c astle w ith t h ose a w fu l w om en . F au gh! M in a i s a w om an ,
an d t h ere i s n ought i n c o m mon. T hey a re d ev ils o f t h e P it!
I sh all n ot re m ain alo ne w ith th em ; I sh all tr y to sc ale th e castle w all
fa rth er th an I h av e y et a tte m pte d . I s h all ta k e s o m e o f th e g old w ith m e, le st I
wan t i t l a te r. I m ay f in d a w ay f ro m t h is d re ad fu l p la ce.
And th en a w ay fo r h om e! a w ay to th e q uic k est a n d n eare st tr a in ! a w ay
fro m th is c u rs e d s p ot, f ro m th is c u rs e d la n d, w here th e d ev il a n d h is c h ild re n
still w alk w ith e arth ly f e et!
At le ast G od’s m erc y is bette r th an th at of th ese m onste rs , an d th e
pre cip ic e i s s te ep a n d h ig h. A t i ts f o ot a m an m ay s le ep — as a m an . G ood-b ye,
all! M in a!
CH APT ER V
Lette r f r o m M is s M in a M urra y t o M is s L ucy W este n ra .
“9 M ay.
“M y d eare st L ucy,—
“F org iv e m y lo ng d ela y in w ritin g, b ut I h av e b een s im ply o verw helm ed with w ork . T he lif e o f a n a ssis ta n t s c h oolm is tr e ss is s o m etim es tr y in g. I a m
lo ngin g to b e w ith y ou, a n d b y th e s e a, w here w e c an ta lk to geth er f re ely a n d
build o ur c astle s in th e a ir. I h av e b een w ork in g v ery h ard la te ly , b ecau se I
wan t to k eep u p w ith J o nath an ’s s tu die s, a n d I h av e b een p ra ctis in g s h orth an d
very a ssid uously . W hen w e a re m arrie d I s h all b e a b le t o b e u se fu l t o J o nath an ,
an d if I c an s te n ogra p h w ell e n ough I c an ta k e d ow n w hat h e w an ts to s a y in
th is w ay an d w rite it out fo r him on th e ty pew rite r, at w hic h als o I am
pra ctis in g v ery h ard . H e a n d I s o m etim es w rite le tte rs in s h orth an d, a n d h e is
keep in g a s te n ogra p hic jo urn al o f h is tr a v els a b ro ad . W hen I a m w ith y ou I
sh all k eep a d ia ry in th e s a m e w ay. I d on’t m ean o ne o f th ose tw o-p ag es-to -
th e-w eek -w ith -S unday -s q ueezed -in -a -c o rn er dia rie s, but a so rt of jo urn al
whic h I c an w rite in w hen ev er I fe el in clin ed . I d o n ot s u ppose th ere w ill b e
much o f in te re st to o th er p eo ple ; b ut it is n ot in te n ded f o r th em . I m ay s h ow it
to J o nath an s o m e d ay i f t h ere i s i n i t a n yth in g w orth s h arin g, b ut i t i s r e ally a n
ex erc is e b ook. I s h all t r y t o d o w hat I s e e l a d y j o urn alis ts d o: i n te rv ie w in g a n d
writin g d esc rip tio ns a n d t r y in g t o r e m em ber c o nvers a tio ns. I a m t o ld t h at, w ith
a little p ra ctic e, o ne c an re m em ber a ll th at g oes o n o r th at o ne h ears sa id
durin g a d ay. H ow ev er, w e s h all s e e. I w ill t e ll y ou o f m y l ittle p la n s w hen w e
meet. I h av e j u st h ad a f e w h urrie d l in es f ro m J o nath an f ro m T ra n sy lv an ia . H e
is w ell, a n d w ill b e re tu rn in g in a b out a w eek . I a m lo ngin g to h ear a ll h is
new s. It m ust b e so n ic e to se e str a n ge c o untr ie s. I w onder if w e— I m ean
Jo nath an a n d I— sh all e v er se e th em to geth er. T here is th e te n o ’c lo ck b ell
rin gin g. G ood-b ye.
“Y our l o vin g
“M in a.
“T ell m e a ll t h e n ew s w hen y ou w rite . Y ou h av e n ot t o ld m e a n yth in g f o r a
lo ng tim e. I h ear ru m ours , a n d e sp ecia lly o f a ta ll, h an dso m e, c u rly -h air e d
man ???”
Lette r, L ucy W este n ra t o M in a M urra y.
“1 7, C hath am S tr e et,
“W ed nesd ay.
“M y d eare st M in a,—
“I m ust sa y y ou ta x m e v ery u nfa ir ly w ith b ein g a b ad c o rre sp onden t. I
wro te to y ou tw ic e s in ce w e p arte d , a n d y our la st le tte r w as o nly y our s e co nd.
Besid es, I h av e n oth in g to te ll y ou. T here is re ally n oth in g to in te re st y ou.
Tow n i s v ery p le asa n t j u st n ow , a n d w e g o a g ood d eal t o p ic tu re -g alle rie s a n d
fo r w alk s a n d rid es in th e p ark . A s to th e ta ll, c u rly -h air e d m an , I s u ppose it
was th e o ne w ho w as w ith m e a t th e la st P op. S om e o ne h as e v id en tly b een
te llin g ta le s. T hat w as M r. H olm wood. H e o fte n c o m es to s e e u s, a n d h e a n d mam ma g et o n v ery w ell to geth er; th ey h av e s o m an y th in gs to ta lk a b out in
co m mon. W e m et s o m e t im e a g o a m an t h at w ould j u st d o f o r y ou, i f y ou w ere
not a lr e ad y e n gag ed to Jo nath an . H e is a n e x celle n t p arti, b ein g h an dso m e,
well o ff , a n d o f g ood b ir th . H e is a d octo r a n d r e ally c le v er. J u st f a n cy ! H e is
only n in e-a n d-tw en ty , a n d h e h as a n i m men se l u natic a sy lu m a ll u nder h is o w n
care . M r. H olm wood in tr o duced h im to m e, a n d h e c alle d h ere to s e e u s, a n d
ofte n c o m es n ow . I t h in k h e i s o ne o f t h e m ost r e so lu te m en I e v er s a w , a n d y et
th e m ost calm . H e se em s ab so lu te ly im pertu rb ab le . I can fa n cy w hat a
wonderfu l p ow er h e m ust h av e o ver h is p atie n ts . H e h as a c u rio us h ab it o f
lo okin g o ne s tr a ig ht in th e fa ce, a s if tr y in g to re ad o ne’s th oughts . H e tr ie s
th is o n v ery m uch w ith m e, b ut I f la tte r m yse lf h e h as g ot a t o ugh n ut t o c ra ck .
I k now th at f ro m m y g la ss. D o y ou e v er tr y to r e ad y our o w n f a ce? I d o, a n d I
can t e ll y ou i t i s n ot a b ad s tu dy, a n d g iv es y ou m ore t r o uble t h an y ou c an w ell
fa n cy if you hav e nev er tr ie d it. H e sa y s th at I aff o rd him a cu rio us
psy ch olo gic al stu dy, a n d I h um bly th in k I d o. I d o n ot, a s y ou k now , ta k e
su ff ic ie n t in te re st in d re ss to b e a b le to d esc rib e th e n ew fa sh io ns. D re ss is a
bore . T hat i s s la n g a g ain , b ut n ev er m in d; A rth ur s a y s t h at e v ery d ay. T here , i t
is a ll o ut. M in a, w e h av e to ld a ll o ur se cre ts to e ach o th er sin ce w e w ere
ch ild re n ; w e h av e sle p t to geth er a n d e ate n to geth er, a n d la u ghed a n d c rie d
to geth er; a n d n ow , th ough I h av e sp oken , I w ould lik e to sp eak m ore . O h,
Min a, c o uld n’t y ou g uess? I lo ve h im . I a m b lu sh in g a s I w rite , f o r a lth ough I
th in k h e lo ves m e, h e h as n ot to ld m e s o in w ord s. B ut o h, M in a, I lo ve h im ; I
lo ve h im ; I lo ve h im ! T here , th at d oes m e g ood. I w is h I w ere w ith y ou, d ear,
sittin g b y th e fir e u ndre ssin g, a s w e u se d to s it; a n d I w ould tr y to te ll y ou
what I fe el. I d o n ot k now h ow I a m w ritin g th is e v en to y ou. I a m a fra id to
sto p, o r I s h ould t e ar u p t h e l e tte r, a n d I d on’t w an t t o s to p, f o r I d o s o w an t t o
te ll y ou a ll. L et m e h ear f ro m y ou a t o nce, a n d te ll m e a ll th at y ou th in k a b out
it. M in a, I m ust s to p. G ood-n ig ht. B le ss m e in y our p ra y ers ; a n d, M in a, p ra y
fo r m y h ap pin ess.
“L U CY.
“P .S .— I n eed n ot t e ll y ou t h is i s a s e cre t. G ood-n ig ht a g ain .
“L .”
Lette r, L ucy W este n ra t o M in a M urra y.
“2 4 M ay.
“M y d eare st M in a,—
“T han ks, a n d th an ks, a n d th an ks a g ain f o r y our s w eet le tte r. I t w as s o n ic e
to b e a b le t o t e ll y ou a n d t o h av e y our s y m path y.
“M y d ear, it n ev er r a in s b ut it p ours . H ow tr u e th e o ld p ro verb s a re . H ere
am I , w ho s h all b e tw en ty in S ep te m ber, a n d y et I n ev er h ad a p ro posa l till to - day, n ot a re al p ro posa l, an d to -d ay I h av e h ad th re e. Ju st fa n cy ! T H REE
pro posa ls in o ne d ay ! I s n ’t it a w fu l! I f e el s o rry , r e ally a n d tr u ly s o rry , f o r tw o
of th e p oor fe llo w s. O h, M in a, I a m s o h ap py th at I d on’t k now w hat to d o
with m yse lf . A nd th re e p ro posa ls ! B ut, fo r g oodness’ s a k e, d o n’t te ll a n y o f
th e g ir ls , o r th ey w ould b e g ettin g a ll s o rts o f e x tr a v ag an t id eas a n d i m ag in in g
th em se lv es in ju re d a n d s lig hte d if in th eir v ery f ir s t d ay a t h om e th ey d id n ot
get s ix a t l e ast. S om e g ir ls a re s o v ain ! Y ou a n d I , M in a d ear, w ho a re e n gag ed
an d a re g oin g t o s e ttle d ow n s o on s o berly i n to o ld m arrie d w om en , c an d esp is e
van ity . W ell, I m ust te ll y ou a b out th e th re e, b ut y ou m ust k eep it a se cre t,
dear, f ro m e v ery o ne, e x cep t, o f c o urs e , J o nath an . Y ou w ill te ll h im , b ecau se I
would , i f I w ere i n y our p la ce, c erta in ly t e ll A rth ur. A w om an o ught t o t e ll h er
husb an d e v ery th in g— don’t y ou th in k s o , d ear? — an d I m ust b e f a ir. M en lik e
wom en , c erta in ly th eir w iv es, to b e q uite a s f a ir a s th ey a re ; a n d w om en , I a m
afra id , a re n ot a lw ay s q uite a s fa ir a s th ey s h ould b e. W ell, m y d ear, n um ber
One c am e ju st b efo re lu nch . I to ld y ou o f h im , D r. J o hn S ew ard , th e lu natic -
asy lu m m an , w ith th e str o ng ja w a n d th e g ood fo re h ead . H e w as v ery c o ol
outw ard ly , b ut w as n erv ous a ll th e sa m e. H e h ad e v id en tly b een sc h oolin g
him se lf a s to a ll so rts o f little th in gs, a n d re m em bere d th em ; b ut h e a lm ost
man ag ed to s it d ow n o n h is s ilk h at, w hic h m en d on’t g en era lly d o w hen th ey
are c o ol, a n d th en w hen h e w an te d to a p pear a t e ase h e k ep t p la y in g w ith a
la n cet in a w ay th at m ad e m e n early sc re am . H e sp oke to m e, M in a, v ery
str a ig htf o rw ard ly . H e t o ld m e h ow d ear I w as t o h im , t h ough h e h ad k now n m e
so little , a n d w hat h is lif e w ould b e w ith m e to h elp a n d c h eer h im . H e w as
goin g to te ll m e h ow u nhap py h e w ould b e if I d id n ot c are f o r h im , b ut w hen
he s a w m e c ry h e s a id th at h e w as a b ru te a n d w ould n ot a d d to m y p re se n t
tr o uble . T hen h e b ro ke o ff a n d a sk ed if I c o uld lo ve h im in tim e; a n d w hen I
sh ook m y h ead h is h an ds t r e m ble d , a n d t h en w ith s o m e h esita tio n h e a sk ed m e
if I c are d a lr e ad y f o r a n y o ne e ls e . H e p ut i t v ery n ic ely , s a y in g t h at h e d id n ot
wan t to w rin g m y co nfid en ce fro m m e, but only to know , becau se if a
wom an ’s h eart w as f re e a m an m ig ht h av e h ope. A nd th en , M in a, I f e lt a s o rt
of d uty to te ll h im th at th ere w as s o m e o ne. I o nly to ld h im th at m uch , a n d
th en h e s to od u p, a n d h e l o oked v ery s tr o ng a n d v ery g ra v e a s h e t o ok b oth m y
han ds in h is a n d s a id h e h oped I w ould b e h ap py, a n d th at if I e v er w an te d a
frie n d I m ust c o unt h im o ne o f m y b est. O h, M in a d ear, I c an ’t h elp c ry in g:
an d y ou m ust e x cu se th is le tte r b ein g a ll b lo tte d . B ein g p ro pose d to is a ll v ery
nic e a n d a ll t h at s o rt o f t h in g, b ut i t i s n ’t a t a ll a h ap py t h in g w hen y ou h av e t o
se e a poor fe llo w , w hom you know lo ves you honestly , goin g aw ay an d
lo okin g a ll b ro ken -h earte d , a n d t o k now t h at, n o m atte r w hat h e m ay s a y a t t h e
mom en t, y ou a re p assin g q uite o ut o f h is lif e . M y d ear, I m ust s to p h ere a t
pre se n t, I f e el s o m is e ra b le , t h ough I a m s o h ap py.
“E ven in g.
“A rth ur h as ju st g one, a n d I f e el in b ette r s p ir its th an w hen I le ft o ff , s o I can g o o n te llin g y ou a b out th e d ay. W ell, m y d ear, n um ber T w o c am e a fte r
lu nch . H e is su ch a n ic e fe llo w , a n A m eric an fro m T ex as, a n d h e lo oks so
young a n d so fre sh th at it se em s a lm ost im possib le th at h e h as b een to so
man y p la ces a n d h as h ad s u ch a d ven tu re s. I s y m path is e w ith p oor D esd em ona
when s h e h ad s u ch a d an gero us s tr e am p oure d i n h er e ar, e v en b y a b la ck m an .
I s u ppose th at w e w om en a re s u ch c o w ard s th at w e th in k a m an w ill s a v e u s
fro m f e ars , a n d w e m arry h im . I k now n ow w hat I w ould d o if I w ere a m an
an d w an te d to m ak e a g ir l lo ve m e. N o, I d on’t, fo r th ere w as M r. M orris
te llin g u s h is s to rie s, a n d A rth ur n ev er to ld a n y, a n d y et— — M y d ear, I a m
so m ew hat p re v io us. M r. Q uin cey P . M orris fo und m e a lo ne. It s e em s th at a
man a lw ay s d oes fin d a g ir l a lo ne. N o, h e d oesn ’t, fo r A rth ur tr ie d tw ic e to
mak e a c h an ce, a n d I h elp in g h im a ll I c o uld ; I a m n ot a sh am ed t o s a y i t n ow . I
must te ll y ou b efo re h an d th at M r. M orris d oesn ’t a lw ay s s p eak s la n g— th at is
to sa y, h e n ev er d oes so to str a n gers o r b efo re th em , fo r h e is re ally w ell
ed ucate d a n d h as e x quis ite m an ners — but h e fo und o ut th at it a m use d m e to
hear h im ta lk A m eric an s la n g, a n d w hen ev er I w as p re se n t, a n d th ere w as n o
one to b e s h ock ed , h e s a id s u ch f u nny th in gs. I a m a fra id , m y d ear, h e h as to
in ven t it a ll, fo r it fits e x actly in to w hate v er e ls e h e h as to s a y. B ut th is is a
way s la n g h as. I d o n ot k now m yse lf i f I s h all e v er s p eak s la n g; I d o n ot k now
if A rth ur lik es it, a s I h av e n ev er h eard h im u se a n y a s y et. W ell, M r. M orris
sa t d ow n b esid e m e a n d l o oked a s h ap py a n d j o lly a s h e c o uld , b ut I c o uld s e e
all th e s a m e th at h e w as v ery n erv ous. H e to ok m y h an d in h is , a n d s a id e v er
so s w eetly :—
“ ‘M is s L ucy, I k now I a in ’t g ood e n ough to re g ula te th e fix in ’s o f y our
little s h oes, b ut I g uess if y ou w ait till y ou f in d a m an th at is y ou w ill g o jo in
th em s e v en y oung w om en w ith th e l a m ps w hen y ou q uit. W on’t y ou j u st h itc h
up a lo ngsid e o f m e a n d le t u s g o d ow n th e lo ng ro ad to geth er, d riv in g in
double h arn ess? ’
“W ell, h e d id lo ok s o g ood-h um oure d a n d s o jo lly th at it d id n’t s e em h alf
so h ard t o r e fu se h im a s i t d id p oor D r. S ew ard ; s o I s a id , a s l ig htly a s I c o uld ,
th at I d id n ot k now a n yth in g o f h itc h in g, a n d t h at I w asn ’t b ro ken t o h arn ess a t
all y et. T hen h e s a id t h at h e h ad s p oken i n a l ig ht m an ner, a n d h e h oped t h at i f
he h ad m ad e a m is ta k e i n d oin g s o o n s o g ra v e, s o m om en to us, a n o ccasio n f o r
him , I w ould fo rg iv e h im . H e re ally d id lo ok s e rio us w hen h e w as s a y in g it,
an d I c o uld n’t h elp f e elin g a b it s e rio us to o— I k now , M in a, y ou w ill th in k m e
a h orrid flir t— th ough I c o uld n’t h elp fe elin g a s o rt o f e x ulta tio n th at h e w as
num ber t w o i n o ne d ay. A nd t h en , m y d ear, b efo re I c o uld s a y a w ord h e b eg an
pourin g o ut a p erfe ct to rre n t o f lo ve-m ak in g, la y in g h is v ery h eart a n d s o ul a t
my f e et. H e lo oked s o e arn est o ver it th at I s h all n ev er a g ain th in k th at a m an
must b e p la y fu l a lw ay s, a n d n ev er e arn est, b ecau se h e is m erry a t tim es. I
su ppose h e sa w so m eth in g in m y fa ce w hic h c h eck ed h im , fo r h e su dden ly
sto pped , a n d s a id w ith a s o rt o f m an ly f e rv our th at I c o uld h av e lo ved h im f o r if I h ad b een f re e:—
“ ‘L ucy, y ou are an h onest- h earte d g ir l, I k now . I sh ould n ot b e h ere
sp eak in g t o y ou a s I a m n ow i f I d id n ot b elie v e y ou c le an g rit, r ig ht t h ro ugh t o
th e v ery d ep th s o f y our s o ul. T ell m e, lik e o ne g ood f e llo w to a n oth er, is th ere
an y o ne e ls e th at y ou c are fo r? A nd if th ere is I’ll n ev er tr o uble y ou a h air ’s
bre ad th a g ain , b ut w ill b e, i f y ou w ill l e t m e, a v ery f a ith fu l f rie n d.’
“M y d ear M in a, w hy are m en so n oble w hen w e w om en are so little
worth y o f th em ? H ere w as I a lm ost m ak in g fu n o f th is g re at- h earte d , tr u e
gen tle m an . I b urs t in to te ars — I a m a fra id , m y d ear, y ou w ill th in k th is a v ery
slo ppy le tte r in m ore w ay s th an o ne— an d I r e ally f e lt v ery b ad ly . W hy c an ’t
th ey le t a g ir l m arry th re e m en , o r a s m an y a s w an t h er, a n d sa v e a ll th is
tr o uble ? B ut t h is i s h ere sy , a n d I m ust n ot s a y i t. I a m g la d t o s a y t h at, t h ough I
was c ry in g, I w as a b le t o l o ok i n to M r. M orris ’s b ra v e e y es, a n d I t o ld h im o ut
str a ig ht:—
“ ‘ Y es, t h ere i s s o m e o ne I l o ve, t h ough h e h as n ot t o ld m e y et t h at h e e v en
lo ves m e.’ I w as r ig ht t o s p eak t o h im s o f ra n kly , f o r q uite a l ig ht c am e i n to h is
fa ce, a n d h e p ut o ut b oth h is h an ds a n d to ok m in e— I th in k I p ut th em in to h is
—an d s a id i n a h earty w ay :—
“ ‘ T hat’s m y b ra v e g ir l. I t’s b ette r w orth b ein g l a te f o r a c h an ce o f w in nin g
you th an b ein g in tim e f o r a n y o th er g ir l in th e w orld . D on’t c ry , m y d ear. I f
it’s fo r m e, I’m a h ard n ut to c ra ck ; a n d I ta k e it sta n din g u p. If th at o th er
fe llo w d oesn ’t k now h is h ap pin ess, w ell, h e’d b ette r lo ok f o r it s o on, o r h e’ll
hav e to d eal w ith m e. L ittle g ir l, y our h onesty a n d p lu ck h av e m ad e m e a
frie n d, a n d th at’s r a re r th an a lo ver; it’s m ore u nse lf is h a n yhow . M y d ear, I ’m
goin g to h av e a p re tty lo nely w alk b etw een th is a n d K in gdom C om e. W on’t
you g iv e m e o ne k is s? It’ ll b e s o m eth in g to k eep o ff th e d ark ness n ow a n d
th en . Y ou c an , y ou k now , i f y ou l ik e, f o r t h at o th er g ood f e llo w — he m ust b e a
good fe llo w , m y d ear, a n d a fin e fe llo w , o r y ou c o uld n ot lo ve h im — hasn ’t
sp oken y et.’ T hat q uite w on m e, M in a, f o r it w as b ra v e a n d s w eet o f h im , a n d
noble , to o, to a riv al— wasn ’t it? — an d h e s o s a d ; s o I le an t o ver a n d k is se d
him . H e s to od u p w ith m y tw o h an ds in h is , a n d a s h e lo oked d ow n in to m y
fa ce— I a m a fra id I w as b lu sh in g v ery m uch — he s a id :—
“ ‘L ittle g ir l, I h old y our h an d, a n d y ou’v e k is se d m e, a n d if th ese th in gs
don’t m ak e u s f rie n ds n oth in g e v er w ill. T han k y ou f o r y our s w eet h onesty to
me, a n d g ood-b ye.’ H e w ru ng m y h an d, a n d ta k in g u p h is h at, w en t s tr a ig ht
out o f th e ro om w ith out lo okin g b ack , w ith out a te ar o r a q uiv er o r a p au se ;
an d I a m c ry in g lik e a b ab y. O h, w hy m ust a m an lik e th at b e m ad e u nhap py
when th ere a re lo ts o f g ir ls a b out w ho w ould w ors h ip th e v ery g ro und h e tr o d
on? I k now I w ould if I w ere f re e— only I d on’t w an t to b e f re e. M y d ear, th is
quite u pse t m e, a n d I f e el I c an not w rite o f h ap pin ess ju st a t o nce, a fte r te llin g you o f i t; a n d I d on’t w is h t o t e ll o f t h e n um ber t h re e u ntil i t c an b e a ll h ap py.
“E ver y our l o vin g
“L ucy.
“P .S .— Oh, a b out n um ber T hre e— I n eed n’t t e ll y ou o f n um ber T hre e, n eed
I? B esid es, it w as a ll s o c o nfu se d ; it s e em ed o nly a m om en t f ro m h is c o m in g
in to th e r o om till b oth h is a rm s w ere r o und m e, a n d h e w as k is sin g m e. I a m
very , v ery h ap py, a n d I d on’t k now w hat I h av e d one t o d ese rv e i t. I m ust o nly
tr y in th e f u tu re to s h ow th at I a m n ot u ngra te fu l to G od f o r a ll H is g oodness
to m e i n s e n din g t o m e s u ch a l o ver, s u ch a h usb an d, a n d s u ch a f rie n d.
“G ood-b ye.”
Dr. S ew ard ’s D ia ry .
(K ep t i n p honogra p h)
25 M ay.— Ebb tid e in a p petite to -d ay. C an not e at, c an not re st, so d ia ry
in ste ad . S in ce m y r e b uff o f y este rd ay I h av e a s o rt o f e m pty f e elin g; n oth in g i n
th e w orld s e em s o f s u ff ic ie n t im porta n ce to b e w orth th e d oin g.... A s I k new
th at th e o nly c u re fo r th is s o rt o f th in g w as w ork , I w en t d ow n a m ongst th e
patie n ts . I p ic k ed o ut o ne w ho h as a ff o rd ed m e a s tu dy o f m uch i n te re st. H e i s
so q uain t th at I a m d ete rm in ed to u nders ta n d h im a s w ell a s I c an . T o-d ay I
se em ed t o g et n eare r t h an e v er b efo re t o t h e h eart o f h is m yste ry .
I q uestio ned h im m ore f u lly th an I h ad e v er d one, w ith a v ie w to m ak in g
myse lf m aste r o f th e f a cts o f h is h allu cin atio n. I n m y m an ner o f d oin g it th ere
was, I n ow se e, so m eth in g o f c ru elty . I se em ed to w is h to k eep h im to th e
poin t o f h is m ad ness— a th in g w hic h I a v oid w ith th e p atie n ts a s I w ould th e
mouth o f h ell.
(M em ., under w hat cir c u m sta n ces w ould I not av oid th e pit of hell? )
Om nia R om æ v en alia s u nt. H ell h as its p ric e! v erb . s a p . If th ere b e a n yth in g
beh in d t h is i n stin ct i t w ill b e v alu ab le t o t r a ce i t a fte rw ard s a ccu ra te ly , s o I h ad
bette r c o m men ce t o d o s o , t h ere fo re —
R. M . R en fie ld , æ ta t 5 9.— San guin e te m pera m en t; g re at p hysic al s tr e n gth ;
morb id ly ex cita b le ; p erio ds o f g lo om , en din g in so m e fix ed id ea w hic h I
can not m ak e o ut. I p re su m e th at th e sa n guin e te m pera m en t its e lf an d th e
dis tu rb in g in flu en ce en d in a m en ta lly -a cco m plis h ed fin is h ; a possib ly
dan gero us m an , p ro bab ly d an gero us if u nse lf is h . In s e lf is h m en c au tio n is a s
se cu re a n a rm our f o r t h eir f o es a s f o r t h em se lv es. W hat I t h in k o f o n t h is p oin t
is , w hen se lf is th e fix ed p oin t th e cen tr ip eta l fo rc e is b ala n ced w ith th e
cen tr if u gal; w hen d uty , a cau se , etc ., is th e fix ed p oin t, th e la tte r fo rc e is
para m ount, a n d o nly a ccid en t o r a s e rie s o f a ccid en ts c an b ala n ce i t.
Lette r, Q uin cey P . M orris t o H on. A rth ur H olm wood. “2 5 M ay.
“M y d ear A rt,—
“W e’v e to ld yarn s by th e cam p-fir e in th e pra ir ie s; an d dre sse d one
an oth er’s w ounds a fte r tr y in g a la n din g a t th e M arq uesa s; a n d d ru nk h ealth s
on th e s h ore o f T itic aca. T here a re m ore y arn s to b e to ld , a n d o th er w ounds to
be h eale d , a n d a n oth er h ealth to b e d ru nk. W on’t y ou le t th is b e a t m y c am p-
fir e to -m orro w n ig ht? I h av e n o h esita tio n in a sk in g y ou, a s I k now a c erta in
la d y i s e n gag ed t o a c erta in d in ner- p arty , a n d t h at y ou a re f re e. T here w ill o nly
be o ne o th er, o ur o ld p al a t th e K ore a, J a ck S ew ard . H e’s c o m in g, to o, a n d w e
both w an t to m in gle o ur w eep s o ver th e w in e-c u p, a n d to d rin k a h ealth w ith
all o ur h earts to th e h ap pie st m an in a ll th e w id e w orld , w ho h as w on th e
noble st h eart th at G od h as m ad e a n d th e b est w orth w in nin g. W e p ro m is e y ou
a h earty w elc o m e, a n d a l o vin g g re etin g, a n d a h ealth a s t r u e a s y our o w n r ig ht
han d. W e s h all b oth s w ear to le av e y ou a t h om e if y ou d rin k to o d eep to a
certa in p air o f e y es. C om e!
“Y ours , a s e v er a n d a lw ay s,
“Q uin cey P . M orris .”
Tele g ra m f ro m A rth ur H olm wood t o Q uin cey P . M orris .
“2 6 M ay.
“C ount m e in e v ery tim e. I b ear m essa g es w hic h w ill m ak e b oth y our e ars
tin gle .
“A rt.”
CH APT ER V I
MIN A M URRAY ’S J O URNAL
24 J u ly . W hitb y.— Lucy m et m e a t t h e s ta tio n, l o okin g s w eete r a n d l o velie r
th an e v er, a n d w e d ro ve u p to th e h ouse a t th e C re sc en t in w hic h th ey h av e
ro om s. T his is a lo vely p la ce. T he little riv er, th e E sk , ru ns th ro ugh a d eep
valle y, w hic h b ro ad en s o ut a s it c o m es n ear th e h arb our. A g re at v ia d uct r u ns
acro ss, w ith h ig h p ie rs , th ro ugh w hic h th e v ie w s e em s s o m eh ow f u rth er a w ay
th an it re ally is . T he v alle y is b eau tif u lly g re en , a n d it is s o s te ep th at w hen
you a re o n th e h ig h la n d o n e ith er s id e y ou lo ok r ig ht a cro ss it, u nle ss y ou a re
near e n ough to s e e d ow n. T he h ouse s o f th e o ld to w n— th e s id e a w ay f ro m u s
—are a ll re d -ro ofe d , a n d s e em p ile d u p o ne o ver th e o th er a n yhow , lik e th e
pic tu re s w e se e o f N ure m berg . R ig ht o ver th e to w n is th e ru in o f W hitb y Abbey, w hic h w as sa ck ed b y th e D an es, a n d w hic h is th e sc en e o f p art o f
“M arm io n,” w here th e g ir l w as b uilt u p in th e w all. I t is a m ost n oble r u in , o f
im men se s iz e, a n d f u ll o f b eau tif u l a n d r o m an tic b its ; th ere is a le g en d th at a
white la d y is s e en in o ne o f th e w in dow s. B etw een it a n d th e to w n th ere is
an oth er c h urc h , th e p aris h o ne, ro und w hic h is a b ig g ra v ey ard , a ll fu ll o f
to m bsto nes. T his is to m y m in d th e n ic est s p ot in W hitb y, f o r it lie s r ig ht o ver
th e to w n, a n d h as a fu ll v ie w o f th e h arb our a n d a ll u p th e b ay to w here th e
head la n d c alle d K ettle n ess str e tc h es o ut in to th e se a. It d esc en ds so ste ep ly
over th e h arb our th at p art o f th e b an k h as f a lle n a w ay, a n d s o m e o f th e g ra v es
hav e b een d estr o yed . I n o ne p la ce p art o f t h e s to new ork o f t h e g ra v es s tr e tc h es
out o ver th e sa n dy p ath w ay fa r b elo w . T here are w alk s, w ith se ats b esid e
th em , t h ro ugh t h e c h urc h yard ; a n d p eo ple g o a n d s it t h ere a ll d ay l o ng l o okin g
at th e b eau tif u l v ie w a n d e n jo yin g th e b re eze. I s h all c o m e a n d s it h ere v ery
ofte n m yse lf a n d w ork . I n deed , I a m w ritin g n ow , w ith m y b ook o n m y k nee,
an d l is te n in g t o t h e t a lk o f t h re e o ld m en w ho a re s ittin g b esid e m e. T hey s e em
to d o n oth in g a ll d ay b ut s it u p h ere a n d t a lk .
The h arb our lie s b elo w m e, w ith , o n th e fa r sid e, o ne lo ng g ra n ite w all
str e tc h in g o ut i n to t h e s e a, w ith a c u rv e o utw ard s a t t h e e n d o f i t, i n t h e m id dle
of w hic h i s a l ig hth ouse . A h eav y s e a-w all r u ns a lo ng o uts id e o f i t. O n t h e n ear
sid e, th e se a-w all m ak es a n e lb ow c ro oked in vers e ly , a n d its e n d to o h as a
lig hth ouse . B etw een th e tw o p ie rs th ere is a n arro w o pen in g in to th e h arb our,
whic h t h en s u dden ly w id en s.
It is n ic e a t h ig h w ate r; b ut w hen th e tid e is o ut it s h oals a w ay to n oth in g,
an d t h ere i s m ere ly t h e s tr e am o f t h e E sk , r u nnin g b etw een b an ks o f s a n d, w ith
ro ck s h ere a n d t h ere . O uts id e t h e h arb our o n t h is s id e t h ere r is e s f o r a b out h alf
a m ile a g re at r e ef, th e s h arp e d ge o f w hic h r u ns s tr a ig ht o ut f ro m b eh in d th e
so uth lig hth ouse . A t th e e n d o f it is a b uoy w ith a b ell, w hic h s w in gs in b ad
weath er, a n d s e n ds in a m ourn fu l s o und o n th e w in d. T hey h av e a le g en d h ere
th at w hen a s h ip i s l o st b ells a re h eard o ut a t s e a. I m ust a sk t h e o ld m an a b out
th is ; h e i s c o m in g t h is w ay....
He is a f u nny o ld m an . H e m ust b e a w fu lly o ld , f o r h is f a ce is a ll g narle d
an d t w is te d l ik e t h e b ark o f a t r e e. H e t e lls m e t h at h e i s n early a h undre d , a n d
th at h e w as a s a ilo r in th e G re en la n d f is h in g f le et w hen W ate rlo o w as f o ught.
He is , I a m a fra id , a v ery s c ep tic al p ers o n, fo r w hen I a sk ed h im a b out th e
bells a t s e a a n d t h e W hite L ad y a t t h e a b bey h e s a id v ery b ru sq uely :—
“I w ould n’t fa sh m ase l’ a b out th em , m is s. T hem th in gs b e a ll w ore o ut.
Min d, I d on’t s a y t h at t h ey n ev er w as, b ut I d o s a y t h at t h ey w asn ’t i n m y t im e.
They b e a ll v ery w ell f o r c o m ers a n d tr ip pers , a n ’ th e lik e, b ut n ot f o r a n ic e
young la d y lik e y ou. T hem fe et- fo lk s fro m Y ork a n d L eed s th at b e a lw ay s
eatin ’ c u re d h errin ’s a n ’ d rin kin ’ te a a n ’ lo okin ’ o ut to b uy c h eap je t w ould
cre ed a u ght. I w onder m ase l’ w ho’d b e b oth ere d te llin ’ lie s to th em — ev en th e new sp ap ers , w hic h i s f u ll o f f o ol- ta lk .” I t h ought h e w ould b e a g ood p ers o n t o
le arn in te re stin g th in gs fro m , so I ask ed h im if h e w ould m in d te llin g m e
so m eth in g a b out t h e w hale -fis h in g i n t h e o ld d ay s. H e w as j u st s e ttlin g h im se lf
to b eg in w hen t h e c lo ck s tr u ck s ix , w here u pon h e l a b oure d t o g et u p, a n d s a id :
—
“I m ust g an g a g eean w ard s h om e n ow , m is s. M y g ra n d-d au ghte r d oesn ’t
lik e to b e k ep t w aitin ’ w hen th e te a is r e ad y, f o r it ta k es m e tim e to c ra m mle
ab oon th e g re es, fo r th ere b e a m an y o f ’e m ; a n ’, m is s, I la ck b elly -tim ber
sa ir ly b y t h e c lo ck .”
He h obble d a w ay, a n d I c o uld s e e h im h urry in g, a s w ell a s h e c o uld , d ow n
th e s te p s. T he s te p s a re a g re at f e atu re o n th e p la ce. T hey le ad f ro m th e to w n
up to th e c h urc h , th ere a re h undre d s o f th em — I d o n ot k now h ow m an y— an d
th ey w in d u p i n a d elic ate c u rv e; t h e s lo pe i s s o g en tle t h at a h ors e c o uld e asily
walk u p a n d d ow n t h em . I t h in k t h ey m ust o rig in ally h av e h ad s o m eth in g t o d o
with th e a b bey. I s h all g o h om e to o. L ucy w en t o ut v is itin g w ith h er m oth er,
an d a s t h ey w ere o nly d uty c alls , I d id n ot g o. T hey w ill b e h om e b y t h is .
1 A ugust.— I c am e u p h ere a n h our a g o w ith L ucy, a n d w e h ad a m ost
in te re stin g ta lk w ith m y o ld frie n d a n d th e tw o o th ers w ho a lw ay s c o m e a n d
jo in h im . H e is e v id en tly th e S ir O ra cle o f th em , a n d I s h ould th in k m ust h av e
been in h is tim e a m ost d ic ta to ria l p ers o n. H e w ill n ot a d m it a n yth in g, a n d
dow nfa ces e v ery body. If h e c an ’t o ut- a rg ue th em h e b ullie s th em , a n d th en
ta k es th eir sile n ce fo r a g re em en t w ith h is v ie w s. L ucy w as lo okin g sw eetly
pre tty in h er w hite la w n fro ck ; sh e h as g ot a b eau tif u l c o lo ur sin ce sh e h as
been h ere . I n otic ed th at th e o ld m en d id n ot lo se a n y tim e in c o m in g u p a n d
sittin g n ear h er w hen w e s a t d ow n. S he is s o s w eet w ith o ld p eo ple ; I th in k
th ey a ll f e ll i n l o ve w ith h er o n t h e s p ot. E ven m y o ld m an s u ccu m bed a n d d id
not c o ntr a d ic t h er, b ut g av e m e d ouble s h are in ste ad . I g ot h im o n th e s u bje ct
of th e le g en ds, a n d h e w en t o ff a t o nce in to a s o rt o f s e rm on. I m ust tr y to
re m em ber i t a n d p ut i t d ow n:—
“It b e a ll f o ol- ta lk , lo ck , s to ck , a n d b arre l; th at’s w hat it b e, a n ’ n ow t e ls e .
These b an s a n ’ w afts a n ’ b oh-g hosts a n ’ b arg uests a n ’ b ogle s a n ’ a ll a n en t t h em
is o nly fit to s e t b air n s a n ’ d iz zy w om en a -b eld erin ’. T hey b e n ow t b ut a ir -
ble b s. T hey, a n ’ a ll g rim s a n ’ s ig ns a n ’ w arn in ’s , b e a ll i n ven te d b y p ars o ns a n ’
ills o m e b eu k-b odie s a n ’ ra ilw ay to ute rs to s k eer a n ’ s c u nner h aff lin ’s , a n ’ to
get f o lk s to d o s o m eth in ’ th at th ey d on’t o th er in clin e to . I t m ak es m e ir e fu l to
th in k o ’ th em . W hy, it’s th em th at, n ot c o nte n t w ith p rin tin ’ lie s o n p ap er a n ’
pre ach in ’ th em o ut o f p ulp its , d oes w an t to b e c u ttin ’ th em o n th e to m bsto nes.
Look h ere a ll a ro und y ou in w hat a ir t y e w ill; a ll th em s te an s, h old in ’ u p th eir
head s a s w ell a s th ey c an o ut o f th eir p rid e, is a can t— sim ply tu m blin ’ d ow n
with th e w eig ht o ’ th e lie s w ro te o n th em , ‘H ere lie s th e b ody’ o r ‘S acre d to
th e m em ory ’ w ro te o n a ll o f th em , a n ’ y et in n ig h h alf o f th em th ere b ean ’t n o bodie s a t a ll; a n ’ th e m em orie s o f th em b ean ’t c are d a p in ch o f s n uff a b out,
much l e ss s a cre d . L ie s a ll o f t h em , n oth in ’ b ut l ie s o f o ne k in d o r a n oth er! M y
gog, b ut i t’ ll b e a q uare s c o w derm en t a t t h e D ay o f J u dgm en t w hen t h ey c o m e
tu m blin ’ u p in th eir d eath -s a rk s, a ll jo uped to geth er a n ’ tr y in ’ to d ra g th eir
to m bste an s w ith th em to p ro ve h ow g ood th ey w as; s o m e o f th em tr im mlin ’
an d d ith erin ’, w ith th eir h an ds th at d ozzen ed a n ’ s lip py fro m ly in ’ in th e s e a
th at t h ey c an ’t e v en k eep t h eir g ru p o ’ t h em .”
I c o uld s e e f ro m th e o ld f e llo w ’s s e lf -s a tis fie d a ir a n d th e w ay in w hic h h e
lo oked ro und fo r th e a p pro val o f h is c ro nie s th at h e w as “ sh ow in g o ff ,” s o I
put i n a w ord t o k eep h im g oin g:—
“O h, M r. S w ale s, y ou c an ’t b e s e rio us. S ure ly th ese to m bsto nes a re n ot a ll
wro ng?”
“Y ab blin s! T here m ay b e a p ooris h f e w n ot w ro ng, s a v in ’ w here t h ey m ak e
out t h e p eo ple t o o g ood; f o r t h ere b e f o lk t h at d o t h in k a b alm -b ow l b e l ik e t h e
se a, if o nly it b e th eir o w n. T he w hole th in g b e o nly lie s. N ow lo ok y ou h ere ;
you c o m e h ere a s tr a n ger, a n ’ y ou s e e th is k ir k -g arth .” I n odded , f o r I th ought
it b ette r to a sse n t, th ough I d id n ot q uite u nders ta n d h is d ia le ct. I k new it h ad
so m eth in g to d o w ith th e c h urc h . H e w en t o n: “ A nd y ou c o nsa te th at a ll th ese
ste an s b e a b oon fo lk th at b e h ap ped h ere , s n od a n ’ s n og?” I a sse n te d a g ain .
“T hen th at b e ju st w here th e lie c o m es in . W hy, th ere b e s c o re s o f th ese la y -
bed s t h at b e t o om a s o ld D un’s ’ b acca-b ox o n F rid ay n ig ht.” H e n udged o ne o f
his co m pan io ns, an d th ey all la u ghed . “A nd m y g og! h ow co uld th ey b e
oth erw is e ? L ook a t th at o ne, th e a fte st a b aft th e b ie r- b an k: re ad it! ” I w en t
over a n d r e ad :—
“E dw ard S pen cela g h, m aste r m arin er, m urd ere d b y p ir a te s o ff th e c o ast o f
Andre s, A pril, 1 854, æ t. 3 0.” W hen I c am e b ack M r. S w ale s w en t o n:—
“W ho b ro ught h im h om e, I w onder, to h ap h im h ere ? M urd ere d o ff th e
co ast o f A ndre s! a n ’ y ou c o nsa te d h is b ody l a y u nder! W hy, I c o uld n am e y e a
dozen w hose b ones lie in th e G re en la n d s e as a b ove”— he p oin te d n orth w ard s
—“o r w here th e c u rre n ts m ay h av e d rif te d th em . T here b e th e s te an s a ro und
ye. Y e c an , w ith y our y oung e y es, re ad th e s m all- p rin t o f th e lie s fro m h ere .
This B ra ith w aite L ow re y — I k new h is f a th er, lo st in th e L iv ely o ff G re en la n d
in ’2 0; o r A ndre w W oodhouse , d ro w ned in th e sa m e se as in 1 777; o r Jo hn
Pax to n, d ro w ned o ff C ap e F are w ell a y ear la te r; o r o ld J o hn R aw lin gs, w hose
gra n dfa th er s a ile d w ith m e, d ro w ned i n t h e G ulf o f F in la n d i n ’ 5 0. D o y e t h in k
th at all th ese m en w ill h av e to m ak e a ru sh to W hitb y w hen th e tr u m pet
so unds? I h av e m e a n th eru m s a b oot i t! I te ll y e t h at w hen t h ey g ot h ere t h ey ’d
be jo m mlin ’ a n ’ jo stlin ’ o ne a n oth er th at w ay th at it ’ u d b e lik e a f ig ht u p o n
th e i c e i n t h e o ld d ay s, w hen w e’d b e a t o ne a n oth er f ro m d ay lig ht t o d ark , a n ’
tr y in ’ t o t ie u p o ur c u ts b y t h e lig ht o f t h e a u ro ra b ore alis .” T his w as e v id en tly lo cal p le asa n tr y , f o r t h e o ld m an c ack le d o ver i t, a n d h is c ro nie s j o in ed i n w ith
gusto .
“B ut,” I sa id , “su re ly you are not quite co rre ct, fo r you sta rt on th e
assu m ptio n th at a ll th e p oor p eo ple , o r th eir sp ir its , w ill h av e to ta k e th eir
to m bsto nes w ith th em o n th e D ay o f Ju dgm en t. D o y ou th in k th at w ill b e
re ally n ecessa ry ?”
“W ell, w hat e ls e b e t h ey t o m bsto nes f o r? A nsw er m e t h at, m is s!”
“T o p le ase t h eir r e la tiv es, I s u ppose .”
“T o p le ase th eir re la tiv es, y ou s u ppose !” T his h e s a id w ith in te n se s c o rn .
“H ow w ill it p le asu re th eir r e la tiv es to k now th at lie s is w ro te o ver th em , a n d
th at e v ery body in th e p la ce k now s th at th ey b e lie s? ” H e p oin te d to a s to ne a t
our fe et w hic h h ad b een la id d ow n a s a s la b , o n w hic h th e s e at w as re ste d ,
clo se to th e e d ge o f th e c lif f . “ R ead th e lie s o n th at th ru ff -s te an ,” h e s a id . T he
le tte rs w ere u psid e d ow n to m e f ro m w here I s a t, b ut L ucy w as m ore o pposite
to t h em , s o s h e l e an t o ver a n d r e ad :—
“S acre d to th e m em ory o f G eo rg e C an on, w ho d ie d , in th e h ope o f a
glo rio us re su rre ctio n, o n J u ly , 2 9, 1 873, fa llin g fro m th e ro ck s a t K ettle n ess.
This t o m b w as e re cte d b y h is s o rro w in g m oth er t o h er d early b elo ved s o n. ‘ H e
was th e o nly s o n o f h is m oth er, a n d s h e w as a w id ow .’ R eally , M r. S w ale s, I
don’t s e e a n yth in g v ery f u nny in th at! ” S he s p oke h er c o m men t v ery g ra v ely
an d s o m ew hat s e v ere ly .
“Y e d on’t s e e a u ght f u nny! H a! h a! B ut th at’s b ecau se y e d on’t g aw m th e
so rro w in ’ m oth er w as a h ell- c at th at h ate d h im b ecau se h e w as a cre w k’d — a
re g ula r l a m ite r h e w as— an ’ h e h ate d h er s o t h at h e c o m mitte d s u ic id e i n o rd er
th at s h e m ig htn ’t g et a n in su ra n ce s h e p ut o n h is lif e . H e b le w n ig h th e to p o f
his h ead o ff w ith an o ld m usk et th at th ey h ad fo r sc arin ’ th e cro w s w ith .
’T w arn ’t f o r c ro w s th en , f o r it b ro ught th e c le g s a n d th e d ow ps to h im . T hat’s
th e w ay h e f e ll o ff th e r o ck s. A nd, a s to h opes o f a g lo rio us r e su rre ctio n, I ’v e
ofte n h eard h im s a y m ase l’ t h at h e h oped h e’d g o t o h ell, f o r h is m oth er w as s o
pio us t h at s h e’d b e s u re t o g o t o h eav en , a n ’ h e d id n’t w an t t o a d dle w here s h e
was. N ow is n ’t th at s te an a t a n y ra te ”— he h am mere d it w ith h is s tic k a s h e
sp oke— “a p ack o f lie s? an d w on’t it m ak e G ab rie l k eck le w hen G eo rd ie
co m es p an tin ’ u p t h e g re es w ith t h e t o m bste an b ala n ced o n h is h um p, a n d a sk s
it t o b e t o ok a s e v id en ce!”
I d id n ot k now w hat to s a y, b ut L ucy tu rn ed th e c o nvers a tio n a s s h e s a id ,
ris in g u p:—
“O h, w hy d id y ou t e ll u s o f t h is ? I t i s m y f a v ourite s e at, a n d I c an not l e av e
it; a n d n ow I f in d I m ust g o o n s ittin g o ver t h e g ra v e o f a s u ic id e.” “T hat w on’t h arm y e, m y p re tty ; a n ’ it m ay m ak e p oor G eo rd ie g la d so m e
to h av e s o tr im a la ss s ittin ’ o n h is la p . T hat w on’t h urt y e. W hy, I ’v e s a t h ere
off a n ’ o n f o r n ig h tw en ty y ears p ast, a n ’ it h asn ’t d one m e n o h arm . D on’t y e
fa sh a b out t h em a s l ie s u nder y e, o r t h at d oesn ’ l ie t h ere e ith er! I t’ ll b e t im e f o r
ye to b e g ettin g s c art w hen y e s e e th e to m bste an s a ll ru n a w ay w ith , a n d th e
pla ce a s b are a s a s tu bble -fie ld . T here ’s t h e c lo ck , a n ’ I m ust g an g. M y s e rv ic e
to y e, l a d ie s!” A nd o ff h e h obble d .
Lucy a n d I s a t a w hile , a n d it w as a ll s o b eau tif u l b efo re u s th at w e to ok
han ds a s w e s a t; a n d s h e to ld m e a ll o ver a g ain a b out A rth ur a n d th eir c o m in g
marria g e. T hat m ad e m e ju st a little heart- s ic k , fo r I hav en ’t heard fro m
Jo nath an f o r a w hole m onth .
The s a m e d ay. I c am e u p h ere a lo ne, f o r I a m v ery s a d . T here w as n o l e tte r
fo r m e. I h ope th ere c an not b e a n yth in g th e m atte r w ith J o nath an . T he c lo ck
has ju st s tr u ck n in e. I s e e th e lig hts s c atte re d a ll o ver th e to w n, s o m etim es in
ro w s w here th e s tr e ets a re , a n d s o m etim es s in gly ; th ey ru n rig ht u p th e E sk
an d d ie a w ay in th e c u rv e o f th e v alle y. T o m y le ft th e v ie w is c u t o ff b y a
bla ck lin e o f ro of o f th e o ld h ouse n ex t th e a b bey. T he s h eep a n d la m bs a re
ble atin g in th e fie ld s a w ay b eh in d m e, a n d th ere is a c la tte r o f a d onkey ’s
hoofs u p th e p av ed r o ad b elo w . T he b an d o n th e p ie r is p la y in g a h ars h w altz
in g ood tim e, a n d f u rth er a lo ng th e q uay th ere is a S alv atio n A rm y m eetin g in
a b ack s tr e et. N eith er o f th e b an ds h ears th e o th er, b ut u p h ere I h ear a n d s e e
th em b oth . I w onder w here J o nath an is a n d if h e is th in kin g o f m e! I w is h h e
were h ere .
Dr. S ew ard ’s D ia ry .
5 Ju ne.— The c ase o f R en fie ld g ro w s m ore in te re stin g th e m ore I g et to
unders ta n d th e m an . H e has certa in qualitie s very la rg ely dev elo ped ;
se lf is h ness, s e cre cy, a n d p urp ose . I w is h I c o uld g et a t w hat i s t h e o bje ct o f t h e
la tte r. H e s e em s t o h av e s o m e s e ttle d s c h em e o f h is o w n, b ut w hat i t i s I d o n ot
yet k now . H is r e d eem in g q uality is a lo ve o f a n im als , th ough, in deed , h e h as
su ch c u rio us tu rn s in it th at I s o m etim es im ag in e h e is o nly a b norm ally c ru el.
His p ets are o f o dd so rts . Ju st n ow h is h obby is catc h in g flie s. H e h as at
pre se n t su ch a quan tity th at I hav e had m yse lf to ex postu la te . To m y
asto nis h m en t, h e d id n ot b re ak o ut in to a fu ry , a s I e x pecte d , b ut to ok th e
matte r in s im ple s e rio usn ess. H e th ought f o r a m om en t, a n d th en s a id : “ M ay I
hav e th re e d ay s? I s h all c le ar th em a w ay.” O f c o urs e , I s a id th at w ould d o. I
must w atc h h im .
18 J u ne.— He h as tu rn ed h is m in d n ow to s p id ers , a n d h as g ot s e v era l v ery
big f e llo w s in a b ox. H e k eep s f e ed in g th em w ith h is f lie s, a n d th e n um ber o f
th e la tte r is b eco m in g s e n sib ly d im in is h ed , a lth ough h e h as u se d h alf h is f o od
in a ttr a ctin g m ore f lie s f ro m o uts id e t o h is r o om . 1 J u ly .— His s p id ers a re n ow b eco m in g a s g re at a n uis a n ce a s h is f lie s, a n d
to -d ay I to ld h im th at h e m ust g et r id o f th em . H e lo oked v ery s a d a t th is , s o I
sa id th at he m ust cle ar out so m e of th em , at all ev en ts . H e ch eerfu lly
acq uie sc ed in th is , a n d I g av e h im th e s a m e tim e a s b efo re fo r re d uctio n. H e
dis g uste d m e m uch w hile w ith h im , fo r w hen a h orrid b lo w -fly , b lo ate d w ith
so m e c arrio n f o od, b uzzed in to th e r o om , h e c au ght it, h eld it e x ulta n tly f o r a
fe w m om en ts b etw een h is f in ger a n d th um b, a n d, b efo re I k new w hat h e w as
goin g to d o, p ut it in h is m outh a n d a te it. I s c o ld ed h im f o r it, b ut h e a rg ued
quie tly th at it w as v ery g ood a n d v ery w hole so m e; th at it w as lif e , s tr o ng lif e ,
an d g av e lif e to h im . T his g av e m e a n id ea, o r th e ru dim en t o f o ne. I m ust
watc h h ow h e g ets r id o f h is s p id ers . H e h as e v id en tly s o m e d eep p ro ble m in
his m in d, fo r h e k eep s a little n ote -b ook in w hic h h e is a lw ay s jo ttin g d ow n
so m eth in g. W hole p ag es o f it are fille d w ith m asse s o f fig ure s, g en era lly
sin gle n um bers ad ded u p in b atc h es, an d th en th e to ta ls ad ded in b atc h es
ag ain , a s t h ough h e w ere “ fo cu ssin g” s o m e a cco unt, a s t h e a u dito rs p ut i t.
8 J u ly .— There i s a m eth od i n h is m ad ness, a n d t h e r u dim en ta ry i d ea i n m y
min d is g ro w in g. It w ill b e a w hole id ea so on, an d th en , o h, u nco nsc io us
cere b ra tio n! y ou w ill h av e to g iv e th e w all to y our c o nsc io us b ro th er. I k ep t
aw ay f ro m m y f rie n d f o r a f e w d ay s, s o th at I m ig ht n otic e if th ere w ere a n y
ch an ge. T hin gs r e m ain a s t h ey w ere e x cep t t h at h e h as p arte d w ith s o m e o f h is
pets a n d g ot a n ew o ne. H e h as m an ag ed to g et a s p arro w , a n d h as a lr e ad y
partia lly ta m ed it. H is m ean s o f ta m in g is s im ple , f o r a lr e ad y th e s p id ers h av e
dim in is h ed . T hose th at d o r e m ain , h ow ev er, a re w ell f e d , f o r h e s till b rin gs in
th e f lie s b y t e m ptin g t h em w ith h is f o od.
19 Ju ly .— We are pro gre ssin g. M y frie n d has now a w hole co lo ny of
sp arro w s, a n d h is f lie s a n d s p id ers a re a lm ost o blite ra te d . W hen I c am e in h e
ra n to m e a n d sa id h e w an te d to a sk m e a g re at fa v our— a v ery , v ery g re at
fa v our; a n d a s h e s p oke h e f a w ned o n m e lik e a d og. I a sk ed h im w hat it w as,
an d h e s a id , w ith a s o rt o f r a p tu re i n h is v oic e a n d b earin g:—
“A k itte n , a n ic e little , s le ek p la y fu l k itte n , th at I c an p la y w ith , a n d te ach ,
an d fe ed — an d fe ed — an d fe ed !” I w as n ot u npre p are d fo r th is re q uest, fo r I
had n otic ed h ow h is p ets w en t o n in cre asin g in s iz e a n d v iv acity , b ut I d id n ot
care th at h is p re tty f a m ily o f ta m e s p arro w s s h ould b e w ip ed o ut in th e s a m e
man ner a s th e flie s a n d th e s p id ers ; s o I s a id I w ould s e e a b out it, a n d a sk ed
him i f h e w ould n ot r a th er h av e a c at t h an a k itte n . H is e ag ern ess b etr a y ed h im
as h e a n sw ere d :—
“O h, y es, I w ould l ik e a c at! I o nly a sk ed f o r a k itte n l e st y ou s h ould r e fu se
me a c at. N o o ne w ould r e fu se m e a k itte n , w ould t h ey ?” I s h ook m y h ead , a n d
sa id t h at a t p re se n t I f e are d i t w ould n ot b e p ossib le , b ut t h at I w ould s e e a b out
it. H is fa ce fe ll, a n d I c o uld se e a w arn in g o f d an ger in it, fo r th ere w as a
su dden f ie rc e, s id elo ng lo ok w hic h m ean t k illin g. T he m an is a n u ndev elo ped hom ic id al m an ia c. I s h all te st h im w ith h is p re se n t c ra v in g a n d s e e h ow it w ill
work o ut; t h en I s h all k now m ore .
10 p . m .— I h av e v is ite d h im ag ain an d fo und h im sittin g in a co rn er
bro odin g. W hen I cam e in h e th re w h im se lf o n h is k nees b efo re m e an d
im plo re d m e to le t h im h av e a c at; th at h is s a lv atio n d ep en ded u pon it. I w as
fir m , h ow ev er, a n d to ld h im th at h e c o uld n ot h av e it, w here u pon h e w en t
with out a w ord , a n d s a t d ow n, g naw in g h is f in gers , in th e c o rn er w here I h ad
fo und h im . I s h all s e e h im i n t h e m orn in g e arly .
20 J u ly .— Vis ite d R en fie ld v ery e arly , b efo re t h e a tte n dan t w en t h is r o unds.
Found h im u p a n d h um min g a tu ne. H e w as s p re ad in g o ut h is s u gar, w hic h h e
had sa v ed , in th e w in dow , an d w as m an if e stly beg in nin g his fly -c atc h in g
ag ain ; a n d b eg in nin g it c h eerfu lly a n d w ith a g ood g ra ce. I lo oked a ro und f o r
his bir d s, an d not se ein g th em , ask ed him w here th ey w ere . H e re p lie d ,
with out t u rn in g r o und, t h at t h ey h ad a ll f lo w n a w ay. T here w ere a f e w f e ath ers
ab out t h e r o om a n d o n h is p illo w a d ro p o f b lo od. I s a id n oth in g, b ut w en t a n d
to ld t h e k eep er t o r e p ort t o m e i f t h ere w ere a n yth in g o dd a b out h im d urin g t h e
day.
11 a . m .— The a tte n dan t h as ju st b een to m e to s a y th at R en fie ld h as b een
very s ic k a n d h as d is g org ed a w hole lo t o f f e ath ers . “ M y b elie f is , d octo r,” h e
sa id , “ th at h e h as e ate n h is b ir d s, a n d t h at h e j u st t o ok a n d a te t h em r a w !”
11 p . m .— I g av e R en fie ld a s tr o ng o pia te to -n ig ht, e n ough to m ak e e v en
him s le ep , a n d to ok a w ay h is p ock et- b ook to lo ok a t it. T he th ought th at h as
been b uzzin g a b out m y b ra in la te ly is c o m ple te , a n d th e th eo ry p ro ved . M y
hom ic id al m an ia c is of a pecu lia r kin d. I sh all hav e to in ven t a new
cla ssif ic atio n f o r h im , a n d c all h im a z o öphag ous ( lif e -e atin g) m an ia c; w hat h e
desir e s is to a b so rb a s m an y liv es a s h e c an , a n d h e h as la id h im se lf o ut to
ach ie v e it in a c u m ula tiv e w ay. H e g av e m an y flie s to o ne s p id er a n d m an y
sp id ers to o ne b ir d , a n d th en w an te d a c at to e at th e m an y b ir d s. W hat w ould
hav e b een h is la te r ste p s? It w ould a lm ost b e w orth w hile to c o m ple te th e
ex perim en t. It m ig ht be done if th ere w ere only a su ff ic ie n t cau se . M en
sn eere d a t v iv is e ctio n, a n d y et lo ok a t its re su lts to -d ay ! W hy n ot a d van ce
sc ie n ce i n i ts m ost d if f ic u lt a n d v ita l a sp ect— th e k now le d ge o f t h e b ra in ? H ad
I e v en th e s e cre t o f o ne s u ch m in d— did I h old th e k ey to th e fa n cy o f e v en
one lu natic — I m ig ht a d van ce m y o w n b ra n ch o f s c ie n ce to a p itc h c o m pare d
with w hic h B urd on-S an ders o n’s physio lo gy or Ferrie r’s bra in -k now le d ge
would b e a s n oth in g. I f o nly t h ere w ere a s u ff ic ie n t c au se ! I m ust n ot t h in k t o o
much o f th is , o r I m ay b e te m pte d ; a g ood c au se m ig ht tu rn th e s c ale w ith m e,
fo r m ay n ot I t o o b e o f a n e x cep tio nal b ra in , c o ngen ita lly ?
How w ell th e m an r e aso ned ; lu natic s a lw ay s d o w ith in th eir o w n s c o pe. I
wonder a t h ow m an y liv es h e v alu es a m an , o r if a t o nly o ne. H e h as c lo se d th e a cco unt m ost a ccu ra te ly , a n d to -d ay b eg un a n ew r e co rd . H ow m an y o f u s
beg in a n ew r e co rd w ith e ach d ay o f o ur l iv es?
To m e it se em s o nly y este rd ay th at m y w hole lif e e n ded w ith m y n ew
hope, an d th at tr u ly I beg an a new re co rd . S o it w ill be until th e G re at
Reco rd er s u m s m e u p a n d c lo se s m y l e d ger a cco unt w ith a b ala n ce t o p ro fit o r
lo ss. O h, L ucy, L ucy, I c an not b e a n gry w ith y ou, n or c an I b e a n gry w ith m y
frie n d w hose h ap pin ess is y ours ; b ut I m ust o nly w ait o n h opele ss a n d w ork .
Work ! w ork !
If I o nly c o uld h av e a s str o ng a c au se a s m y p oor m ad frie n d th ere — a
good, u nse lf is h c au se t o m ak e m e w ork — th at w ould b e i n deed h ap pin ess.
Min a M urra y ’s J o urn al.
26 J u ly .— I a m a n xio us, a n d it s o oth es m e to e x pre ss m yse lf h ere ; it is lik e
whis p erin g to o ne’s se lf an d lis te n in g at th e sa m e tim e. A nd th ere is als o
so m eth in g a b out th e s h orth an d s y m bols th at m ak es it d if f e re n t f ro m w ritin g. I
am u nhap py a b out L ucy a n d a b out J o nath an . I h ad n ot h eard f ro m J o nath an f o r
so m e tim e, a n d w as v ery c o ncern ed ; b ut y este rd ay d ear M r. H aw kin s, w ho is
alw ay s s o k in d, s e n t m e a le tte r f ro m h im . I h ad w ritte n a sk in g h im if h e h ad
heard , a n d h e s a id th e e n clo se d h ad ju st b een r e ceiv ed . I t is o nly a lin e d ate d
fro m C astle D ra cu la , a n d s a y s t h at h e i s j u st s ta rtin g f o r h om e. T hat i s n ot l ik e
Jo nath an ; I d o n ot u nders ta n d it, a n d it m ak es m e u neasy . T hen , to o, L ucy,
alth ough sh e is so w ell, h as la te ly ta k en to h er o ld h ab it o f w alk in g in h er
sle ep . H er m oth er h as s p oken t o m e a b out i t, a n d w e h av e d ecid ed t h at I a m t o
lo ck th e d oor o f o ur ro om e v ery n ig ht. M rs . W este n ra h as g ot a n id ea th at
sle ep -w alk ers a lw ay s g o o ut o n ro ofs o f h ouse s a n d a lo ng th e e d ges o f c lif f s
an d t h en g et s u dden ly w ak en ed a n d f a ll o ver w ith a d esp air in g c ry t h at e ch oes
all o ver t h e p la ce. P oor d ear, s h e i s n atu ra lly a n xio us a b out L ucy, a n d s h e t e lls
me t h at h er h usb an d, L ucy ’s f a th er, h ad t h e s a m e h ab it; t h at h e w ould g et u p i n
th e n ig ht a n d d re ss h im se lf a n d g o o ut, if h e w ere n ot s to pped . L ucy is to b e
marrie d in th e a u tu m n, a n d s h e is a lr e ad y p la n nin g o ut h er d re sse s a n d h ow
her h ouse is to b e a rra n ged . I sy m path is e w ith h er, fo r I d o th e sa m e, o nly
Jo nath an a n d I w ill s ta rt in lif e in a v ery s im ple w ay, a n d s h all h av e to tr y to
mak e b oth en ds m eet. M r. H olm wood— he is th e H on. A rth ur H olm wood,
only s o n o f L ord G odalm in g— is c o m in g u p h ere v ery s h ortly — as s o on a s h e
can le av e to w n, fo r h is fa th er is n ot v ery w ell, an d I th in k d ear L ucy is
co untin g th e m om en ts till h e c o m es. S he w an ts to ta k e h im u p to th e s e at o n
th e c h urc h yard c lif f a n d s h ow h im th e b eau ty o f W hitb y. I d are sa y it is th e
waitin g w hic h d is tu rb s h er; s h e w ill b e a ll r ig ht w hen h e a rriv es.
27 J u ly .— No n ew s fro m J o nath an . I a m g ettin g q uite u neasy a b out h im ,
th ough w hy I s h ould I d o n ot k now ; b ut I d o w is h th at h e w ould w rite , if it
were o nly a sin gle lin e. L ucy w alk s m ore th an ev er, an d each n ig ht I am aw ak en ed b y h er m ovin g a b out th e ro om . F ortu nate ly , th e w eath er is s o h ot
th at sh e can not get co ld ; but still th e an xie ty an d th e perp etu ally bein g
wak en ed is b eg in nin g to te ll o n m e, a n d I a m g ettin g n erv ous a n d w ak efu l
myse lf . Than k G od, Lucy ’s health keep s up. M r. H olm wood has been
su dden ly c alle d to R in g to se e h is fa th er, w ho h as b een ta k en se rio usly ill.
Lucy f re ts a t th e p ostp onem en t o f s e ein g h im , b ut it d oes n ot to uch h er lo oks;
sh e is a tr if le s to ute r, a n d h er c h eek s a re a lo vely r o se -p in k. S he h as lo st th at
an æ m ic l o ok w hic h s h e h ad . I p ra y i t w ill a ll l a st.
3 A ugust.— Anoth er w eek g one, a n d n o n ew s fro m J o nath an , n ot e v en to
Mr. H aw kin s, f ro m w hom I h av e h eard . O h, I d o h ope h e is n ot ill. H e s u re ly
would h av e w ritte n . I lo ok a t th at la st le tte r o f h is , b ut s o m eh ow it d oes n ot
sa tis fy m e. It d oes n ot re ad lik e h im , a n d y et it is h is w ritin g. T here is n o
mis ta k e o f t h at. L ucy h as n ot w alk ed m uch i n h er s le ep t h e l a st w eek , b ut t h ere
is a n o dd c o ncen tr a tio n a b out h er w hic h I d o n ot u nders ta n d; e v en i n h er s le ep
sh e s e em s to b e w atc h in g m e. S he tr ie s th e d oor, a n d fin din g it lo ck ed , g oes
ab out t h e r o om s e arc h in g f o r t h e k ey.
6 A ugust.— Anoth er th re e d ay s, an d n o n ew s. T his su sp en se is g ettin g
dre ad fu l. If I o nly k new w here to w rite to o r w here to g o to , I sh ould fe el
easie r; b ut n o o ne h as h eard a w ord o f J o nath an s in ce th at la st le tte r. I m ust
only pra y to G od fo r patie n ce. L ucy is m ore ex cita b le th an ev er, but is
oth erw is e w ell. L ast n ig ht w as v ery t h re ate n in g, a n d t h e f is h erm en s a y t h at w e
are i n f o r a s to rm . I m ust t r y t o w atc h i t a n d l e arn t h e w eath er s ig ns. T o-d ay i s
a gre y day, an d th e su n as I w rite is hid den in th ic k clo uds, hig h over
Kettle n ess. E very th in g is gre y — ex cep t th e gre en gra ss, w hic h se em s lik e
em era ld a m ongst it; g re y e arth y r o ck ; g re y c lo uds, tin ged w ith th e s u nburs t a t
th e fa r e d ge, h an g o ver th e g re y s e a, in to w hic h th e s a n d-p oin ts s tr e tc h lik e
gre y f in gers . T he s e a is tu m blin g in o ver th e s h allo w s a n d th e s a n dy f la ts w ith
a ro ar, m uff le d in th e s e a-m is ts d rif tin g in la n d. T he h oriz o n is lo st in a g re y
mis t. A ll is v astn ess; th e c lo uds a re p ile d u p lik e g ia n t ro ck s, a n d th ere is a
“b ro ol” o ver th e s e a th at s o unds lik e s o m e p re sa g e o f d oom . D ark f ig ure s a re
on th e b each h ere a n d th ere , s o m etim es h alf s h ro uded in th e m is t, a n d s e em
“m en lik e tr e es w alk in g.” T he f is h in g-b oats a re r a cin g f o r h om e, a n d r is e a n d
dip in th e gro und sw ell as th ey sw eep in to th e harb our, ben din g to th e
sc u ppers . H ere c o m es o ld M r. S w ale s. H e is m ak in g s tr a ig ht f o r m e, a n d I c an
se e, b y t h e w ay h e l if ts h is h at, t h at h e w an ts t o t a lk ....
I h av e b een q uite to uch ed b y th e c h an ge in th e p oor o ld m an . W hen h e s a t
dow n b esid e m e, h e s a id i n a v ery g en tle w ay :—
“I w an t t o s a y s o m eth in g t o y ou, m is s.” I c o uld s e e h e w as n ot a t e ase , s o I
to ok h is p oor o ld w rin kle d h an d in m in e a n d a sk ed h im to s p eak f u lly ; s o h e
sa id , l e av in g h is h an d i n m in e:— “I’m a fra id , m y d eary , th at I m ust h av e sh ock ed y ou b y a ll th e w ic k ed
th in gs I’v e b een sa y in ’ a b out th e d ead , a n d su ch lik e, fo r w eek s p ast; b ut I
did n’t m ean th em , a n d I w an t y e to re m em ber th at w hen I’m g one. W e a u d
fo lk s th at b e d aff le d , a n d w ith o ne f o ot a b aft th e k ro k-h ooal, d on’t a lto geth er
lik e t o t h in k o f i t, a n d w e d on’t w an t t o f e el s c art o f i t; a n ’ t h at’s w hy I ’v e t o ok
to m ak in ’ l ig ht o f i t, s o t h at I ’d c h eer u p m y o w n h eart a b it. B ut, L ord l o ve y e,
mis s, I a in ’t a fra id o f d yin ’, n ot a b it; o nly I d on’t w an t to d ie if I c an h elp it.
My tim e m ust b e n ig h a t h an d n ow , fo r I b e a u d, a n d a h undre d y ears is to o
much fo r a n y m an to e x pect; a n d I’m s o n ig h it th at th e A ud M an is a lr e ad y
whettin ’ h is s c y th e. Y e s e e, I c an ’t g et o ut o ’ th e h ab it o f c aff in ’ a b out it a ll a t
once; th e c h afts w ill w ag a s th ey b e u se d to . S om e d ay so on th e A ngel o f
Death w ill so und his tr u m pet fo r m e. B ut don’t ye dooal an ’ gre et, m y
deary !” — fo r h e s a w th at I w as c ry in g— “if h e s h ould c o m e th is v ery n ig ht I ’d
not r e fu se to a n sw er h is c all. F or lif e b e, a fte r a ll, o nly a w aitin ’ f o r s o m eth in ’
els e t h an w hat w e’re d oin ’; a n d d eath b e a ll t h at w e c an r ig htly d ep en d o n. B ut
I’m c o nte n t, fo r it’s c o m in ’ to m e, m y d eary , a n d c o m in ’ q uic k . It m ay b e
co m in ’ w hile w e b e lo okin ’ a n d w onderin ’. M ay be it’s in th at w in d o ut o ver
th e s e a th at’s b rin gin ’ w ith it lo ss a n d w re ck , a n d s o re d is tr e ss, a n d s a d h earts .
Look! lo ok!” h e c rie d s u dden ly . “ T here ’s s o m eth in g in th at w in d a n d in th e
hoast b ey ont th at s o unds, a n d lo oks, a n d ta ste s, a n d s m ells lik e d eath . It’s in
th e a ir ; I f e el i t c o m in ’. L ord , m ak e m e a n sw er c h eerfu l w hen m y c all c o m es!”
He h eld u p h is a rm s d ev outly , a n d r a is e d h is h at. H is m outh m oved a s th ough
he w ere p ra y in g. A fte r a fe w m in ute s’ s ile n ce, h e g ot u p, s h ook h an ds w ith
me, a n d b le sse d m e, a n d s a id g ood-b ye, a n d h obble d o ff . It a ll to uch ed m e,
an d u pse t m e v ery m uch .
I w as g la d w hen th e c o astg uard c am e a lo ng, w ith h is s p y-g la ss u nder h is
arm . H e sto pped to ta lk w ith m e, a s h e a lw ay s d oes, b ut a ll th e tim e k ep t
lo okin g a t a s tr a n ge s h ip .
“I c an ’t m ak e h er o ut,” h e s a id ; “ sh e’s a R ussia n , b y th e lo ok o f h er; b ut
sh e’s k nock in g a b out in th e q ueere st w ay. S he d oesn ’t k now h er m in d a b it;
sh e s e em s t o s e e t h e s to rm c o m in g, b ut c an ’t d ecid e w heth er t o r u n u p n orth i n
th e o pen , o r to p ut in h ere . L ook th ere a g ain ! S he is s te ere d m ig hty s tr a n gely ,
fo r s h e d oesn ’t m in d th e h an d o n th e w heel; c h an ges a b out w ith e v ery p uff o f
win d. W e’ll h ear m ore o f h er b efo re t h is t im e t o -m orro w .”
CH APT ER V II
CUTTIN G F R O M “ T H E D AIL Y G RAPH ,” 8 A UG UST
(P aste d i n M in a M urra y ’s J o urn al.) Fro m a C orre sp onden t.
Whitb y.
O ne
g re ate st a n d su dden est sto rm s o n re co rd h as ju st b een e x perie n ced
here , w ith re su lts b oth s tr a n ge a n d u niq ue. T he w eath er h ad b een s o m ew hat
su ltr y , b ut n ot to a n y d eg re e u nco m mon in th e m onth o f A ugust. S atu rd ay
ev en in g w as a s f in e a s w as e v er k now n, a n d th e g re at b ody o f h olid ay -m ak ers
la id o ut y este rd ay f o r v is its to M ulg ra v e W oods, R obin H ood’s B ay, R ig M ill,
Runsw ic k , S ta ith es, a n d t h e v ario us t r ip s i n t h e n eig hbourh ood o f W hitb y. T he
ste am ers E m ma a n d S carb oro ugh m ad e tr ip s u p a n d d ow n th e c o ast, a n d th ere
was a n u nusu al a m ount o f “ tr ip pin g” b oth to a n d fro m W hitb y. T he d ay w as
unusu ally fin e till th e a fte rn oon, w hen s o m e o f th e g ossip s w ho fre q uen t th e
East C lif f c h urc h yard , a n d fro m th at c o m man din g e m in en ce w atc h th e w id e
sw eep o f s e a v is ib le t o t h e n orth a n d e ast, c alle d a tte n tio n t o a s u dden s h ow o f
“m are s’-ta ils ” h ig h in th e s k y to th e n orth -w est. T he w in d w as th en b lo w in g
fro m th e so uth -w est in th e m ild d eg re e w hic h in b aro m etr ic al la n guag e is
ra n ked “ N o. 2 : l ig ht b re eze.” T he c o astg uard o n d uty a t o nce m ad e r e p ort, a n d
one old fis h erm an , w ho fo r m ore th an half a cen tu ry has kep t w atc h on
weath er s ig ns f ro m th e E ast C lif f , f o re to ld in a n e m phatic m an ner th e c o m in g
of a s u dden s to rm . T he a p pro ach o f s u nse t w as s o v ery b eau tif u l, s o g ra n d in
its m asse s o f s p le n did ly -c o lo ure d c lo uds, th at th ere w as q uite a n a sse m bla g e
on th e w alk a lo ng th e c lif f in th e o ld c h urc h yard to e n jo y th e b eau ty . B efo re
th e s u n d ip ped b elo w t h e b la ck m ass o f K ettle n ess, s ta n din g b old ly a th w art t h e
weste rn s k y, i ts d ow nw ard w ay w as m ark ed b y m yria d c lo uds o f e v ery s u nse t-
co lo ur— fla m e, p urp le , p in k, g re en , v io le t, a n d a ll th e tin ts o f g old ; w ith h ere
an d t h ere m asse s n ot l a rg e, b ut o f s e em in gly a b so lu te b la ck ness, i n a ll s o rts o f
sh ap es, a s w ell o utlin ed a s c o lo ssa l s ilh ouette s. T he e x perie n ce w as n ot l o st o n
th e p ain te rs , a n d d oubtle ss s o m e o f th e s k etc h es o f th e “ P re lu de to th e G re at
Sto rm ” w ill g ra ce t h e R . A . a n d R . I . w alls i n M ay n ex t. M ore t h an o ne c ap ta in
mad e u p h is m in d th en a n d th ere th at h is “ co bble ” o r h is “ m ule ,” a s th ey te rm
th e d if f e re n t c la sse s o f b oats , w ould re m ain in th e h arb our till th e s to rm h ad
passe d . T he w in d f e ll a w ay e n tir e ly d urin g th e e v en in g, a n d a t m id nig ht th ere
was a d ead c alm , a su ltr y h eat, a n d th at p re v ailin g in te n sity w hic h ,