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

England, I to some work which may have such an end that we may never
meet. Your letter home has been despatched; to-morrow I shall not be
here, but all shall be ready for your journey. In the morning come the
Szgany, who have some labours of their own here, and also come some
Slovaks. When they have gone, my carriage shall come for you, and
shall bear you to the Borgo Pass to meet the diligence from Bukovina
to Bistritz. But I am in hopes that I shall see more of you at
Castle Dracula." I suspected him, and determined to test his
sincerity. Sincerity! it seems like a profanation of the word to write
it in connection with such a monster, so asked him point-blank:-

"Why may I not go to-night?"

"Because, dear sir, my coachman and horses are away on a mission."

"But I would walk with pleasure. I want to get away at once." He
smiled, such a soft, smooth, diabolical smile that I knew there was
some trick behind his smoothness. He said:-

"And your baggage?"

"I do not care about it. I can send for it some other time."

The Count stood up, and said, with a sweet courtesy which made me
rub my eyes, it seemed so real:-

"You English have a saying which is close to my heart, for its
spirit is that which rules our boyars: 'Welcome the coming; speed
the parting guest.' Come with me, my dear young friend. Not an hour
shall you wait in my house against your will, though sad am I at
your going, and that you so suddenly desire it. Come!" With a
stately gravity, he, with the lamp, preceded me down the stairs and
along the hall. Suddenly he stopped.

"Hark!"

Close at hand came the howling of many wolves. It was almost as if
the sound sprang up at the rising of his hand, just as the music of
a great orchestra seems to leap under the baton of the conductor.
After a pause of a moment, he proceeded, in his stately way, to the
door, drew back the ponderous bolts, unhooked the heavy chains, and
began to draw it open.

To my intense astonishment I saw that it was unlocked.
Suspiciously I looked all round, but could see no key of any kind.

As the door began to open, the howling of the wolves without grew
louder and angrier, their red jaws, with champing teeth, and their
blunt-clawed feet as they leaped, came in through the opening door.
I knew then that to struggle at the moment against the Count was