DRACULA.
Just as I had come to this conclusion I heard a heavy step approaching behind
the great door, and saw through the chinks the gleam of a coming light. Then
there was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of massive bolts drawn
back. A key was turned with the loud grating noise of long disuse, and the great
door swung back.
Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache,
and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him
anywhere. He held in his hand an antique silver lamp, in which the flame burned
without a chimney or globe of any kind, throwing long quivering shadows as it
flickered in the draught of the open door.
The old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly gesture, saying
in excellent English, but with a strange intonation.
"Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own free will!"
He made no motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as though
his gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone.
The instant, however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved
impulsively forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which
made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed cold
as ice, more like the hand of a dead than a living man.
Again he said.
"Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of
the happiness you bring!" The strength of the handshake was so much akin to
that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had not seen, that for a
moment I doubted if it were not the same person to whom I was speaking.
So to make sure, I said interrogatively, "Count Dracula?" He bowed
in a courtly was as he replied, "I am Dracula, and I bid you welcome, Mr.
Harker, to my house. Come in, the night air is chill, and you must need to eat
and rest." As he was speaking, he put the lamp on a bracket on the wall,
and stepping out, took my luggage. He had carried it in before I could forestall
him. I protested, but he insisted. "Nay, sir, you are my guest. It is late,
and my people are not available.
Let me see to your comfort myself. "He insisted on carrying my traps
along the passage, and then up a great winding stair, and along another great
passage, on whose stone floor our steps rang heavily.
At the end of this he threw open a heavy door, and I rejoiced to see within a
well-lit room in which a table was spread for supper, and on whose mighty hearth
a great fire of logs, freshly replenished, flamed and flared.
The Count halted, putting down my bags, closed the door, and crossing the
room, opened another door, which led into a small octagonal room lit by a single
lamp, and seemingly without a window of any sort. Passing through this, he
opened another door, and motioned me to enter. It was a welcome sight. For here
was a great bedroom well lighted and warmed with another log fire, also added to
but lately, for the top logs were fresh, which sent a hollow roar up the wide
chimney. The Count himself left my luggage inside and withdrew, saying, before
he closed the door.
"You will need, after your journey, to refresh yourself by making your
toilet. I trust you will find all you wish. When you are ready, come into the
other room, where you will find your supper prepared."
The light and warmth and the Count's courteous welcome seemed to have
dissipated all my doubts and fears. Having then reached my normal state, I
discovered that I was half famished with hunger. So making a hasty toilet, I
went into the other room.
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