20 JUNE

I WENT DOWN TO THE CRYPT ONCE MORE.

The Count was there again, and I thought he looked even younger and more alive than he had before, but nevertheless when he came home late that evening I was staggered to see him and found him more terrifying than ever.

He still remains polite in his manners towards me, but I clearly sense the ridicule and contempt lying underneath.

Today he told me,

“Time passes, my friend, and soon the moment will come when we must part ways. You shall return to your beautiful England”—this he said in a strange tone—“and I shall return to my work, which is laid out in such a way that it’s very unlikely I shall see you again. It may also happen that I leave here before you do, but even when I am not at home, my calèche can pick you up whenever you please and drive you to Bistritz. I truly owe you for your company.”

At first I was beside myself with joy when I heard him say this, for here at least I had his promise that I would get out of this imprisonment, which has almost been the death of me. But something in his words and expression kept me from believing him.

I cannot help but feel that he won’t let me leave here alive. I know too much.

I said something polite but meaningless in return, but added that, should he leave, I would have to go too—so why not today or tomorrow, if he no longer had use for me?

“No, that’s not possible, my friend,” he said. “My driver and horses are not present at the moment.”

“That doesn’t matter, I can go on foot and my luggage can be sent for later.”

“On foot, my dear friend? Are you in such a hurry?” He stared at me with a scoffing grin, sending chills throughout my entire body. “You do not know the Carpathians; even if I allowed my guests to leave here on foot, that walk would be your last—there are wolves here in the forest.” He went to the window and opened it. “Listen to them,” he said.

I heard the wolves howling in the woods outside.

“It’s not child’s play.²⁷³ It is safer for you to wait here at home.”²⁷⁴