DRACULA

DRACULA

ust as i had come to this conclusion i Heard a heavy and step approaching behind the great door, and saw through the chinks the gleam 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 safe 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 burnet 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 raight 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 in to stone.

The instant, however, that i had steeped over the threshold, he move impulsively forwar, and holding out his hand grasped mine whit a strength which made me wince, an affect which was not lessened by the fact that it a strength witch made me wince, an effect which was not lessened y 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, an leave something of the happiness you bring!” the strength of the handshake was so much akin to that witch i had noticed in the driver, wise faced 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 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 reset.” As the was speaking, he put the lamp n 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 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 a long another great passage, on whose stone floor our steps rang heavily.

At the end of this the 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

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