Дракула / Dracula

“I must regret that my malady forbids absolutely any travelling; but I am happy to say I can send a talented clerk. He is a young man, full of energy and talent. He is discreet and silent. He will be ready to attend, and take your instructions in all matters.[28 - and take your instructions in all matters – и выполнит все ваши распоряжения]”

The Count came forward and took off the cover of a dish, and I saw an excellent roast chicken. This, with some cheese and a salad and a bottle of old wine, of which I had two glasses, was my supper. During the time I was eating it the Count asked me many questions about my journey.

His face was a strong, a very strong aquiline, with high bridge of the thin nose and arched nostrils;[29 - arched nostrils – изогнутые ноздри] with domed forehead. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose. The mouth was rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth. His ears were pale, and at the tops extremely pointed;[30 - at the tops extremely pointed – сильно заострённые кверху] the chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks were firm and thin. His hands seemed white and fine; but 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.

We were both silent for a while. There seemed a strange stillness over everything; but as I listened I heard 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!” Then he rose and said, “But you must be tired. Your bedroom is all ready, and tomorrow you will 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 the door to the octagonal room for me, and I entered my bedroom.

7 May. – It is again early morning. I slept till late in the day. When I had dressed myself I went into the room where we had supper, and found a cold breakfast. There was a card on the table, on which was written:

I have to be absent for a while[31 - for a while – ненадолго]. Do not wait for me.

    – D.

I enjoyed a great meal. When I had done, I looked for a bell, but I could not find it. The table service is of gold and very beautiful. The curtains are of the most expensive and most beautiful fabrics. But there are no mirrors at all. There is not even a toilet glass on my table, and I had to use 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 or dinner, for it was between five and six o’clock when I had it – I looked about for something to read. There was absolutely nothing in the room, book, newspaper; so I opened another door in the room and found a library.

In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of English books and volumes of magazines and newspapers. The books were on history, geography, politics, political economy, botany, geology, law – all relating to England and English life, customs and manners.

While I was looking at the books, the door opened, and the Count entered. He saluted me in a hearty way.[32 - in a hearty way – сердечно] Then he went on.

“I am glad you found your way in here. These books have been good friends to me, and for some years past, since I had the idea of going to London, they have given me many, many hours of pleasure. Through them I knew your great England; and to know it is to love it. I studied English through books, and you, my friend, will you help me to speak it better?”

“But, Count,” I said, “You know and speak English thoroughly!”

He bowed gravely.

“I thank you, my friend, for your estimate. True, I know the grammar and the words, but I do not know how to speak them.”

“Indeed,” I said, “you speak excellently.”

“Not so,” he answered. “Well, I am sure, when I move and speak in your London, the people will know me for a stranger.[33 - the people will know me for a stranger – люди узнают во мне иностранца] That is not enough for me. Here I am noble; I am a Count; the common people know me, and I am the master. But a stranger in a strange land, he is no one. ‘Ha, ha! A stranger!’ You came to me not alone as[34 - not alone as – не только как] agent of my friend Peter Hawkins, to tell me all about my new estate in London. You will, I hope, rest here with me a little; and, please, tell me when I make errors, even the smallest, in my speaking.”

Of course I said that I would, and asked if I could use his library. He answered, “Yes, certainly,” and added.

“Tell me of London and of the house which you have prepared for me.”

With an apology, I went into my room to get the papers from my bag. When I returned the Count put away the books and papers from the table and we went into plans and figures of all sorts. He was interested in everything, and asked me a thousand questions about the place and its surroundings.

We discussed the purchase of the estate at Purfleet.[35 - Purfleet – Перфлит] When I had told him the facts and got his signature to the necessary papers, he had written a letter to Mr. Hawkins. Then he said, “I am glad that it is old and big house. I am of an old family, and to live in a new house means to kill me. I love the shade and the shadow, and I want to be alone with my thoughts.”

He asked me to put all my papers together and left. I began to look at some of the books around me. One was an atlas of England. I found certain places marked with little rings,[36 - certain places marked with little rings – некоторые места обведены кружками] one was near London on the east side, where his new estate was situated; the other two were Exeter[37 - Exeter – Эксетер (главный город английского графства Девоншир)] and Whitby[38 - Whitby – Уитби (город в английском графстве Норт-Йоркшир)] on the Yorkshire coast.[39 - Yorkshire coast – йоркширское побережье]

In an hour the Count returned. “Aha!” he said. “Still at your books? Good! But you must not work always. Come; your supper is ready.”

He took my arm, and we went into the next room, where I found an excellent supper ready on the table. The Count again excused himself, as he had dined already. But he sat as on the previous night, and chatted while I ate.

After supper I smoked, as on the last evening, and the Count stayed with me, chatting and asking different questions, hour after hour. All at once[40 - all at once – вдруг, внезапно] we heard the crow of a cock; Count Dracula jumped to his feet and said, “Why, there is the morning again! You must make your conversation regarding my dear new country of England less interesting, so that I may not forget how time flies,” and, with a courtly bow, he quickly left me.

I went into my own room and drew the curtains; my window opened into the courtyard, all I could see was the warm grey sky. So I pulled the curtains again.

8 May. – I have only the Count to speak with, and he – I fear I am myself the only living soul here.

I only slept a few hours when I went to bed, and got up. I had hung my shaving glass by the window, and was just beginning to shave. And I made a cut. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, and heard the Count’s voice saying to me, “Good morning.” But I had not seen him, even though the reflection of the glass covered the whole room behind me. I answered the Count’s salutation and turned to the glass again to see how I had been mistaken. This time there was no error, for the man was close to me, and I could see him over my shoulder. But there was no reflection of him in the mirror! The whole room behind me was displayed; but there was no sign of a man in it, except myself. At the instant I saw that the cut had bled a little,[41 - the cut had bled a little – ранка слегка кровоточила] and the blood was trickling over my chin. I laid down the razor, and turned to look for some plaster. When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I drew away, and his hand touched the little cross. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed very quickly.

“Take care!,[42 - Take care! – Будьте осторожны!]” he said, “It is more dangerous than you think in this country.”

Then he seized my shaving glass and went on, “It is guilty, this wretched thing! Away with it!”

He opened the heavy window and flung out the glass, which has shattered into a thousand pieces on the stones of the courtyard far below. Then he left without a word.

When I went into the dining room, the breakfast was prepared; but I could not find the Count anywhere. So I had my breakfast alone. It is strange but it seems to me that the Count does not eat or drink. He must be a very peculiar man!

After breakfast I did a little exploring in the castle. First, about the castle. It is situated on the edge of a terrible precipice. As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree tops.

I explored further; doors, doors, doors everywhere, and all locked. There is no place to exit from the castle. The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner!

When I found that I was a prisoner, I rushed up and down the stairs. I was trying to open every door and every window I could find. I understood that I was helpless, and I sat down quietly and began to think over what to do best of all.

I heard some noise and knew that the Count had returned. He did not come at once into the library, so I went to my room. He was making the bed. This was odd, but only confirmed the idea that there were no servants in the house. But if there is no one else in the castle, it was the Count himself who was the driver of the carriage that brought me here. This is a terrible thought; for if so, does it mean that he could control the wolves, as he did, when he just held up his hand in silence? Bless that good, good woman who hung the little cross round my neck! I feel comfort and strength whenever I touch it. I must find out all I can about Count Dracula. Tonight he may talk of himself, if I turn the conversation that way. I must be very careful, however, not to awake his suspicion.

8 May, midnight. – I have had a long talk with the Count. I asked him a few questions on Transylvania history, and he spoke of things and people, and especially of battles, as if he had been present at them all.[43 - as if he had been present at them all – как будто он сам в них участвовал]

We went to bed in the morning.

12 May. – Let me begin with facts – bare, meagre facts, of which there can be no doubt. I must not confuse them with experiences, or my memory of them. Last evening when the Count came from his room he began to ask me questions on legal matters and on the doing of certain kinds of business.[44 - on the doing of certain kinds of business – о совершении различных дел] First, he asked if a man in England might have two solicitors or more. I told him he could have a dozen solicitors if he wished. But it is not be wise to have more than one solicitor. We solicitors have a system of agency, so the client usually has no further trouble.

“Have you written since your first letter to our friend Mr. Peter Hawkins, or to any other?” asked he.

I answered no, because I could not send letters to anybody.

“Then write now, my young friend,” he said, “write to our friend and to any other; and say that you will stay with me for a month.”

“Do you wish me to stay so long?” I asked, for my heart grew cold at the thought.

“I desire it much; nay, I will take no refusal. When your master, employer, sent someone here, it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted.[45 - my needs only were to be consulted – принимались бы во внимание только мои интересы] Is it not so?”

What could I do? It was Mr. Hawkins’s interest, not mine, and I had to think of him, not myself; and besides, I was a prisoner, I had no choice.

“I pray you, my good young friend, that you will discuss only business in your letters. Your friends will be happy to know that you are well. Is it not so?”

As he spoke he handed me three sheets of paper and three envelopes. So I decided to write only formal notes now, but to write fully to Mr. Hawkins in secret, and also to Mina, for to her I could write in shorthand.[46 - in shorthand – с помощью стенографии] When I had written my two letters I sat quiet, reading a book. The Count took my two letters and left, the door closed behind him.

Soon the Count entered the room. He took up the letters on the table and stamped them carefully, and then said, “I hope you will forgive me, but I have much work to do this evening. You will, I hope, find all things as you wish.”

At the door he turned, and after a moment’s pause said, “Let me advise you, my dear young friend – let me warn you with all seriousness. If you leave these rooms don’t go to sleep in any other part of the castle. It is old, and has many memories, and there are bad dreams for those who sleep unwisely. Be careful! In your own chamber your rest will then be safe. But if you be not careful in this respect, then…”