"Polidori_The Vampyre" - читать интересную книгу автора (Polidori John William)

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THE VAMPYRE

by

John Polidori

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It happened that in the midst of the dissipations attendant upon London
winter, there appeared at the various parties of the leaders of the ton a
nobleman more remarkable for his singularities, than his rank. He gazed upon
the mirth around him, as if he could not participate therein. Apparently,
the light laughter of the fair only attracted his attention, that he might
by a look quell it and throw fear into those breasts where thoughtlessness
reigned. Those who felt this sensation of awe, could not explain whence it
arose: some attributed it to the dead grey eye, which, fixing upon the
object's face, did not seem to penetrate, and at one glance to pierce
through to the inward workings of the heart; but fell upon the cheek with a
leaden ray that weighed upon the skin it could not pass. His peculiarities
caused him to be invited to every house; all wished to see him, and those
who had been accustomed to violent excitement, and now felt the weight of
ennui, were pleased at having something in their presence capable of
engaging their attention. In spite of the deadly hue of his face, which
never gained a wanner tint, either from the blush of modesty, or from the
strong emotion of passion, though its form and outline were beautiful, many
of the female hunters after notoriety attempted to win his attentions, and
gain, at least, some marks of what they might term affection: Lady Mercer,
who had been the mockery of every monster shewn in drawing-rooms since her
marriage, threw herself in his way, and did all but put on the dress of a
mountebank, to attract his notice -- though in vain; -- when she stood
before him, though his eyes were apparently fixed upon hers, still it seemed
as if they were unperceived; -- even her unappalled impudence was baffled,
and she left the field. But though the common adultress could not influence
even the guidance of his eyes, it was not that the female sex was
indifferent to him: yet such was the apparent caution with which he spoke to
the virtuous wife and innocent daughter, that few knew he ever addressed
himself to females. He had, however, the reputation of a winning tongue; and
whether it was that it even overcame the dread of his singular character, or
that they were moved by his apparent hatred of vice, he was as often among
those females who form the boast of their sex from their domestic virtues,
as among those who sully it by their vices.

About the same time, there came to London a young gentleman of the name of
Aubrey: he was an orphan left with an only sister in the possession of great
wealth, by parents who died while he was yet in childhood. Left also to
himself by guardians, who thought it their duty merely to take care of his
fortune, while they relinquished the more important charge of his mind to
the care of mercenary subalterns, he cultivated more his imagination than