"stoker-dracula-168" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law- all
relating to England and English life and customs and manners. There
were even such books of reference as the London Directory, the "Red"
and "Blue" books, Whitaker'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 the 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 thoroughly!" 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 a stranger. That
is not enough for me. Here I am noble; I am boyar; the common people
know me, and I am master. But a stranger in a strange land, he is no
one; men know him not- and to know not is to care not for. I am
content if I am like the rest, so that no man stops if he see me, or
pause in his speaking if he hear my words, 'Ha, ha! a stranger!' I
have been so long master that I would be master still- or at least
that none other should be master of me. You come to me not alone as
agent of my friend Peter Hawkins, of Exeter, to tell me all about my
new estate in London. You shall, I trust, rest here with me a while,
so that by our talking I may learn the English intonation; and I would
that you tell me when I make error, even of the smallest, in my
speaking. I am sorry that I had to be away so long to-day; but you
will, I know, forgive one who has so many important affairs in hand."

Of course I said all I could about being willing, and asked if I
might come into that room when I chose. He answered: "Yes, certainly,"