Dracula's Guest
Bram Stoker
eBook
(, Aug. 8, 2020)
When we started for our drive the sun was shining brightly on Munich, and the air was full of thejoyousness of early summer. Just as we were about to depart, Herr Delbruck (the maitre d'hotel of theQuatre Saisons, where I was staying) came down bareheaded to the carriage and, after wishing me apleasant drive, said to the coachman, still holding his hand on the handle of the carriage door,"Remember you are back by nightfall. The sky looks bright but there is a shiver in the north wind thatsays there may be a sudden storm. But I am sure you will not be late." Here he smiled and added,"foryou know what night it is."Johann answered with an emphatic, "Ja, mein Herr," and, touching his hat, drove off quickly. When wehad cleared the town, I said, after signalling to him to stop:"Tell me, Johann, what is tonight?"He crossed himself, as he answered laconically: "Walpurgis nacht." Then he took out his watch, agreat, old-fashioned German silver thing as big as a turnip and looked at it, with his eyebrows gatheredtogether and a little impatient shrug of his shoulders. I realized that this was his way of respectfullyprotesting against the unnecessary delay and sank back in the carriage, merely motioning him toproceed. He started off rapidly, as if to make up for lost time. Every now and then the horses seemed tothrow up their heads and sniff the air suspiciously. On such occasions I often looked round in alarm. Theroad was pretty bleak, for we were traversing a sort of high windswept plateau. As we drove,I saw aroad that looked but little used and which seemed to dip through a little winding valley. It looked soinviting that, even at the risk of offending him, I called Johann to stop—and when he had pulled up, Itold him I would like to drive down that road. He made all sorts of excuses and frequently crossedhimself as he spoke. This somewhat piqued my curiosity, so I asked him various questions. He answeredfencingly and repeatedly looked at his watch in protest.Finally I said, "Well, Johann, I want to go down this road. I shall not ask you to come unless you like;but tell me why you do not like to go, that is all I ask." For answer he seemed to throw himself off thebox, so quickly did he reach the ground. Then he stretched out his hands appealingly to me andimplored me not to go. There was just enough of English....