Dracula. Bram Stoker

there were hairs in the centre of the pahn. 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 o\ er me, which, do what I would, I could not con-

      ceal. The Count, evidently noticing it, drew back; and with a

      grim sort of smile, which showed more than he had yet done his

      protuberant 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 fr^m 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:

      i8 Dracula

      «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 to-

      morrow you shall sleep as late as you will. I have to be away

      till the afternoon; so sleep well and dream well!» With a cour-

      teous bow, he 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!

      f

      7 May. It is again early morning, but I have rested and en-

      joyed 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

      heartK. 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 beauti-

      fully 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 there 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 or 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 door in the room and

      found a sort of library. The door opposite mine I tried, but found

      it locked.

      In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of

      Jonathan Marker’s Journal 19

      English books, whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes

      of magazines and newspapers. A table in the centre was littered

      with English magazines and newspapers, though none of them

      were of very recent date. The books were of the most varied

      kind history, geography, politics, political economy, botany,

      geology, law all relating to England and English life and cus-

      toms and manners. There were even such books of reference as

      the London Directory, the «Red» and «Blue» books, Whit-

      aker’s Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and it somehow

      gladdened my heart to see it the Law List.

      Whilst I was looking at the books, the door opened, and tr^p

      Count entered. He saluted me in a hearty way, and hoped that

      I had had a good night’s rest. Then he went on:

      «I am glad you found your way in here, for I am sure there is

      much that will interest you. These companions» and he laid

      his hand on some of the books «have been good friends to me,

      and for some years past, ever since I had the idea of going to

      London, have given me many, many hours of pleasure. Through

      them I have come to know your great England; and to know her

      is to love her. I long to go through the crowded streets of your

      mighty London, to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of

      humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, and all that

      makes it what it is. But alas! as yet I only know your tongue

      through books. To you, my friend, I look that I know it to

      speak.»

      «But, Count,» I said, «you know and speak English thor-

      oughly!» He bowed gravely.

      «I thank you, my friend, for your all too-flattering estimate,

      but yet I fear that I am but a little way on the road I would

      travel. True, I know the grammar and the words, but yet I

      know not how to speak them.»

      «Indeed,» I said, «you speak excellently.»

      «Not so,» he answered. «Well, I know that, did I move and

      speak in your London, none there are who would not know me

      for