graceful wave of his hand to the table, and said,
"I pray you, be seated and sup how you please. You will I trust,
excuse me that I do not join you, but I have dined already, and I
do not sup."
I handed to him the sealed letter which Mr. Hawkins had
entrusted to me. He opened it and read it gravely. Then, with a
charming smile, he handed it to me to read. One passage of it, at
least, gave me a thrill of pleasure.
"I must regret that an attack of gout, from which malady I am a
constant sufferer, forbids absolutely any travelling on my part for
some time to come. But I am happy to say I can send a sufficient
substitute, one in whom I have every possible confidence. He is a
young man, full of energy and talent in his own way, and of a very
faithful disposition. He is discreet and silent, and has grown into
manhood in my service. He shall be ready to attend on you when you
will during his stay, and shall take your instructions in all
matters."
The count himself came forward and took off the cover of a dish,
and I fell to at once on an excellent roast chicken. This, with
some cheese and a salad and a bottle of old tokay, of which I had
two glasses, was my supper. During the time I was eating it the
Count asked me many question as to my journey, and I told him by
degrees all I had experienced.
By this time I had finished my supper, and by my host's desire
had drawn up a chair by the fire and begun to smoke a cigar which
he offered me, at the same time excusing himself that he did not
smoke. I had now an opportunity of observing him, and found him of
a very marked physiognomy.
His face was a strong, a very strong, aquiline, with high bridge
of the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils, with lofty domed
forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely
elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the
nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion.
The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, wasThe mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was
fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth.
These protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed
astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears
were pale, and at the tops extremely pointed. The chin was broad
and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was
one of extraordinary pallor.
Hitherto I had noticed the backs of his hands as they lay on his
knees in the firelight, and they had seemed rather white and fine.
But seeing them now close to me, I could not but notice that they
were rather coarse, broad, with squat fingers. Strange to say,
there were hairs in the centre of the palm. The nails were long and
fine, and cut to a sharp point. As the Count leaned over me and his
hands touched me, I could not repress a shudder. It may have been
that his breath was rank, but a horrible feeling of nausea came
over me, which, do what I would, I could not conceal.
The Count, evidently noticing it, drew back. And with a grim
sort of smile, which showed more than he had yet done his
protruberant teeth, sat himself down again on his own side of the
fireplace. We were both silent for a while, and as I looked towards
the window I saw the first dim streak of the coming dawn. There
seemed a strange stillness over everything. But as I listened, I
heard as if from down below in the valley the howling of many
wolves. The Count's eyes gleamed, and he said.
"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they
make!" Seeing, I suppose, some expression in my face strange to
him, he added,"Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city cannot enter into
the feelings of the hunter." Then he rose and said.
"But you must be tired. Your bedroom is all ready, and tomorrow
you shall sleep as late as you will. I have to be away till the
afternoon, so sleep well and dream well!" With a courteous bow, he
opened for me himself the door to the octagonal room, and I entered
my bedroom.opened for me himself the door to the octagonal room, and I entered
my bedroom.
I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt. I fear. I think strange
things, which I dare not confess to my own soul. God keep me, if
only for the sake of those dear to me!
7 May.—It is again early morning, but I have rested and enjoyed
the last twenty-four hours. I slept till late in the day, and awoke
of my own accord. When I had dressed myself I went into the room
where we had supped, and found a cold breakfast laid out, with
coffee kept hot by the pot being placed on the hearth. There was a
card on the table, on which was written—
"I have to be absent for a while. Do not wait for me. D." I set
to and enjoyed a hearty meal. When I had done, I looked for a bell,
so that I might let the servants know I had finished, but I could
not find one. There are certainly odd deficiencies in the house,
considering the extraordinary evidences of wealth which are round
me. The table service is of gold, and so beautifully wrought that
it must be of immense value. The curtains and upholstery of the
chairs and sofas and the hangings of my bed are of the costliest
and most beautiful fabrics, and must have been of fabulous value
when they were made, for they are centuries old, though in
excellent order. I saw something like them in Hampton Court, but
they were worn and frayed and moth-eaten. But still in none of the
rooms is there a mirror. There is not even a toilet glass on my
table, and I had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before
I could either shave or brush my hair. I have not yet seen a
servant anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the
howling of wolves. Some time after I had finished my meal, I do not
know whether to call it breakfast of dinner, for it was between
five and six o'clock when I had it, I looked about for something to
read, for I did not like to go about the castle until I had asked
the Count's permission. There was absolutely nothing in the room,
book, newspaper, or even writing materials, so I opened another