登陆注册
4709600000008

第8章

I handed to him the sealed letter which Mr. Hawkins had entrusted to me.

He opened it and read it gravely. Then, with a charming smile, he handed it to me to read. One passage of it, at least, gave me a thrill of pleasure.

"I must regret that an attack of gout, from which malady I am a constant sufferer, forbids absolutely any travelling on my part for some time to come.

But I am happy to say I can send a sufficient substitute, one in whom I have every possible confidence. He is a young man, full of energy and talent in his own way, and of a very faithful disposition.

He is discreet and silent, and has grown into manhood in my service.

He shall be ready to attend on you when you will during his stay, and shall take your instructions in all matters."

The count himself came forward and took off the cover of a dish, and I fell to at once on an excellent roast chicken.

This, with some cheese and a salad and a bottle of old tokay, of which I had two glasses, was my supper. During the time I was eating it the Count asked me many question as to my journey, and I told him by degrees all I had experienced.

By this time I had finished my supper,and by my host's desire had drawn up a chair by the fire and begun to smoke a cigar which he offered me, at the same time excusing himself that he did not smoke.

I had now an opportunity of observing him, and found him of a very marked physiognomy.

His face was a strong, a very strong, aquiline, with high bridge of the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils, with lofty domed forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely elsewhere.

His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion.

The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth. These protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years.

For the rest, his ears were pale, and at the tops extremely pointed.

The chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin.

The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor.

Hitherto I had noticed the backs of his hands as they lay on his knees in the firelight, and they had seemed rather white and fine.

But seeing them now close to me, I could not but notice that they were rather coarse, broad, with squat fingers.

Strange to say, there were hairs in the centre of the palm.

The nails were long and fine, and cut to a sharp point.

As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me, I could not repress a shudder. It may have been that his breath was rank, but a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, do what I would, I could not conceal.

The Count, evidently noticing it, drew back. And with a grim sort of smile, which showed more than he had yet done his protruberant teeth, sat himself down again on his own side of the fireplace.

We were both silent for a while, and as I looked towards the window I saw the first dim streak of the coming dawn.

There seemed a strange stillness over everything. But as I listened, I heard as if from down below in the valley the howling of many wolves.

The Count's eyes gleamed, and he said.

"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!"

Seeing, I suppose, some expression in my face strange to him, he added, "Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city cannot enter into the feelings of the hunter." Then he rose and said.

"But you must be tired. Your bedroom is all ready, and tomorrow you shall sleep as late as you will. I have to be away till the afternoon, so sleep well and dream well!"

With a courteous bow, he opened for me himself the door to the octagonal room, and I entered my bedroom.

I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt. I fear.

I think strange things, which I dare not confess to my own soul.

God keep me, if only for the sake of those dear to me!

7 May.--It is again early morning, but I have rested and enjoyed the last twenty-four hours. I slept till late in the day, and awoke of my own accord. When I had dressed myself I went into the room where we had supped, and found a cold breakfast laid out, with coffee kept hot by the pot being placed on the hearth. There was a card on the table, on which was written--"I have to be absent for a while.

Do not wait for me. D." I set to and enjoyed a hearty meal.

When I had done, I looked for a bell, so that I might let the servants know I had finished, but I could not find one.

There are certainly odd deficiencies in the house, considering the extraordinary evidences of wealth which are round me.

The table service is of gold, and so beautifully wrought that it must be of immense value. The curtains and upholstery of the chairs and sofas and the hangings of my bed are of the costliest and most beautiful fabrics, and must have been of fabulous value when they were made, for they are centuries old, though in excellent order. I saw something like them in Hampton Court, but they were worn and frayed and moth-eaten. But still in none of the rooms is there a mirror.

There is not even a toilet glass on my table, and I had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before I could either shave or brush my hair. I have not yet seen a servant anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolves.

Some time after I had finished my meal, I do not know whether to call it breakfast of dinner, for it was between five and six o'clock when I had it, I looked about for something to read, for I did not like to go about the castle until I had asked the Count's permission. There was absolutely nothing in the room, book, newspaper, or even writing materials, so I opened another door in the room and found a sort of library.

The door opposite mine I tried, but found locked.

In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of English books, whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes of magazines and newspapers.

同类推荐
  • 养生肤语

    养生肤语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 练中丞集

    练中丞集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜀宫应制

    蜀宫应制

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 石初集

    石初集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大威力乌枢瑟摩明王经

    大威力乌枢瑟摩明王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 诸上善人咏

    诸上善人咏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 青少年植物百科

    青少年植物百科

    对于人类来说,植物无疑是最为亲密的物种,而同样对于人类来说,植物恰恰又是最为神秘的存在。可以说,自从人类诞生之时,就与植物结下了不解之缘。在人类数百万年的历史进程中,从停止过对植物的探索——植物的起源、植物的进化、植物的繁衍、植物的消亡,每一项都与人类的生活紧密相连,每一点都与人类的命运息息相关。古老的神话与现代的科学相结合,轻松的故事与严谨的分析相交织,让我们借着那细密如根茎般的思绪,回首人类探索植物的历史,一道来探究我们身边最不可思议的生物——植物,那个拥有着流动的绿色血液和众多不为人知的秘密的地球的主宰者。
  • 古剑奇谭之怦然星动

    古剑奇谭之怦然星动

    曾经的执念,如今的誓言。分分合合,却剪不断的情缘
  • 都市终极至尊

    都市终极至尊

    (新书:贫道许仙道门至尊,已发布,求兄弟们助攻!)身披金甲圣衣,脚踏黄金追云靴,试问苍茫宇宙谁最牛逼?都市终极第一!ps:本书纯属虚构。ps:粉丝群216536066
  • 爱上我你输定了

    爱上我你输定了

    “你休想逃,这辈子你只能呆在我身边,任何人碰了你,他的下场就只有一个---死!如果你不想连累别人,以后就给我规矩点。”她放纵自己去感受着他的阳刚气息,如果要让易云轩陷入,那她势必也要跟着他一起沉沦,因为他太聪明了,他知道她的每一点心思,她总感觉,易云轩比她本人还要了解她。她就这样让人惊心动魄的站在崖边上,对着易云轩凄然一笑,“你爱我,我知道,但是,你也应该知道,我不能爱你。所以,我的爱,只能永别了......”说完,她留了个绝美的笑容和绝美的背影给他,神情绝然的跳入深渊中。留下他一个人,绝望得如同野兽般的在那里狂吼着......五年以后。她带着儿子下山,却惊闻他已登基,而且身边有了肖似她的宠妃,不行,她得去夺回他的所有权,他都没有问过她,怎么可能爱上别人???费尽心机以一个宫女的身份进去,却被他伤得体无完肤的出宫,一不做,二不休,让他知道了她的真面目后,她带着儿子一走了之!当他知道,原来他以为无关紧要的小宫女,竟然是他至爱所妆扮成,错误已经铸成,他该如何去挽回?他想起了她曾经说过的话:易云轩,你要我跪她一次,以后,你就是在我面前跪十次,也休想我会原谅你。。。【本书已入五折特价书库,看完全文只需二块八毛。】*【推荐懒懒的其它文】:《独宠娇颜》《情惑妖郎》《神仙总裁也贪欢》《鹰王的悍妃》(五折)《重生-豪门佳人》(五折)《爱上我,你输定了!》(五折)《绝色逍遥》(1女N男)《凤御九龙》(1女N男)《女王御狼》(1女N男)《咱家后宫缺俊男》(1女N男)《重生一豪门酷女》(1女N男)重磅推出【重生豪门】系列新文:第三部《重生一豪门妖女》:
  • 总裁大人就这样爱上我

    总裁大人就这样爱上我

    她无意间在街头发现受伤的他,身为医生的姜映雪救了他,第二天起来却已不见他的踪影,但他却深深的把姜映雪的容颜烙在心中……再次见面已是两年后的一次宴会中,他一眼就认出了她,姜映雪却已将他忘记了。靳斯辰认定了姜映雪便是自己人生的那第二根肋骨,这时,姜映雪的初恋男友回国,居然还是靳斯辰的好兄弟,靳斯辰会放手吗?还是姜映雪会和初恋男友旧情复燃呢?三人之间又会有着怎样的纠葛!
  • 农民工传记

    农民工传记

    祖传贴膜、刮痧、看风水,姻缘、命理、开神器?不,祖传搬砖术才是驰骋三界的利器。...“小丽啊!快来给客人倒茶。”那大胖子老板语罢,一窈窕妹纸推门而入,胖子又道:“这是我的秘书,赵丽影,叫小丽就好。”...“我这里家大业大,连海绵宝宝都在我这里兼职。”“哦?什么兼职。”“诺,看到那洗碗池没,它就兼职个洗碗海绵。”...
  • 望海的船

    望海的船

    我想在这段人世间满纸的梦幻里,写一种最真实的生活。
  • 古道

    古道

    湘黔古道上,客栈招待三教九流客人,挑夫跋山涉水贩运货物,土匪出没无常杀人掠货,彼此恩怨纠结。日寇铁蹄踏进家园,家仇国恨不共戴天,他们毅然捐弃恩怨,不惜舍弃生命血染古道,奏响了共御外侮的号角……古道歇脚思义亭上抒豪情崇山峻岭间,一条青石板路蜿蜒盘旋,走着一溜二十四条担子。挑夫个个赤膊,身上的疙瘩肉显出紫铜一般的颜色。翻过滚马坡,脚上的草鞋差不多已经磨穿了底,好在是下坡路,青石板早就被磨得光溜溜的,踏在上面说不出的凉爽舒适,肩膀上的桑木扁担随着脚步的节奏不住颤悠,发出“吱呀吱呀”的吟唱,给幽静的古道增添了生气活力。
  • 奇遇无限

    奇遇无限

    万丈之木,生于毫末;参天之台,起于累土;苍穹之旅,始于足下;纵有千世福缘,犹要慎终如始,则无败事。——项杨这里有着最萌的宠宝,融化你的心;也有最牛的气运,一路奇遇爽不停。许你仰慕,拒绝后宫,慢慢品味真挚感情。一本绝不小白的仙侠爽文!起点老牌仙侠作者回归之作,敬请品鉴!