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