"Bram Stoker - Dracula" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

of him in the mirror! The whole room behind me was displayed,
but there was no sign of a man in it, except myself.

This was startling, and coming on the top of so many
strange things, was beginning to increase that vague feeling
of uneasiness which I always have when the Count is near.
But at the instant I saw the the cut had bled a little,
and the blood was trickling over my chin. I laid down the razor,
turning as I did so half round to look for some sticking plaster.
When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a sort
of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat.
I drew away and his hand touched the string of beads
which held the crucifix. It made an instant change in him,
for the fury passed so quickly that I could hardly believe
that it was ever there.

"Take care," he said, "take care how you cut yourself.
It is more dangerous that you think in this country."
Then seizing the shaving glass, he went on, "And this is
the wretched thing that has done the mischief. It is a foul
bauble of man's vanity. Away with it!" And opening the window
with one wrench of his terrible hand, he flung out the glass,
which was shattered into a thousand pieces on the stones
of the courtyard far below. Then he withdrew without a word.
It is very annoying, for I do not see how I am to shave,
unless in my watch-case or the bottom of the shaving pot,
which is fortunately of metal.

When I went into the dining room, breakfast was prepared,
but I could not find the Count anywhere. So I breakfasted alone.
It is strange that as yet I have not seen the Count eat or drink.
He must be a very peculiar man! After breakfast I did
a little exploring in the castle. I went out on the stairs,
and found a room looking towards the South.

The view was magnificent, and from where I stood there was every
opportunity of seeing it. The castle is on the very edge
of a terrific precipice. A stone falling from the window
would fall a thousand feet without touching anything!
As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree tops,
with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm.
Here and there are silver threads where the rivers wind in deep
gorges through the forests.

But I am not in heart to describe beauty, for when I had seen
the view I explored further. Doors, doors, doors everywhere,
and all locked and bolted. In no place save from the
windows in the castle walls is there an available exit.
The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner!