Varney the Vampire. James Malcolm Rymer

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СКАЧАТЬ came over them, which prompted some conversation to get rid of it.

      "How bright the moon is now," said Henry, in a low tone.

      "I never saw it brighter," replied Marchdale. "I feel as if I were assured that we shall not to-night be interrupted."

      "It was later than this," said Henry.

      "It was—it was."

      "Do not then yet congratulate us upon no visit."

      "How still the house is!" remarked George; "it seems to me as if I had never found it so intensely quiet before."

      "It is very still."

      "Hush! she moves."

      Flora moaned in her sleep, and made a slight movement. The curtains were all drawn closely round the bed to shield her eyes from the bright moonlight which streamed into the room so brilliantly. They might have closed the shutters of the window, but this they did not like to do, as it would render their watch there of no avail at all, inasmuch as they would not be able to see if any attempt was made by any one to obtain admittance.

      A quarter of an hour longer might have thus passed when Mr. Marchdale said in a whisper—

      "A thought has just struck me that the piece of coat I have, which I dragged from the figure last night, wonderfully resembles in colour and appearance the style of dress of the portrait in the room which Flora lately slept in."

      "I thought of that," said Henry, "when first I saw it; but, to tell the honest truth, I dreaded to suggest any new proof connected with last night's visitation."

      "Then I ought not to have drawn your attention to it," said Mr. Marchdale, "and regret I have done so."

      "Nay, do not blame yourself on such an account," said Henry. "You are quite right, and it is I who am too foolishly sensitive. Now, however, since you have mentioned it, I must own I have a great desire to test the accuracy of the observation by a comparison with the portrait."

      "That may easily be done."

      "I will remain here," said George, "in case Flora awakens, while you two go if you like. It is but across the corridor."

      Henry immediately rose, saying—

      "Come, Mr. Marchdale, come. Let us satisfy ourselves at all events upon this point at once. As George says it is only across the corridor, and we can return directly."

      "I am willing," said Mr. Marchdale, with a tone of sadness.

      There was no light needed, for the moon stood suspended in a cloudless sky, so that from the house being a detached one, and containing numerous windows, it was as light as day.

      Although the distance from one chamber to the other was only across the corridor, it was a greater space than these words might occupy, for the corridor was wide, neither was it directly across, but considerably slanting. However, it was certainly sufficiently close at hand for any sound of alarm from one chamber to reach another without any difficulty.

      A few moments sufficed to place Henry and Mr. Marchdale in that antique room, where, from the effect of the moonlight which was streaming over it, the portrait on the panel looked exceedingly life like.

      And this effect was probably the greater because the rest of the room was not illuminated by the moon's rays, which came through a window in the corridor, and then at the open door of that chamber upon the portrait.

      Mr. Marchdale held the piece of cloth he had close to the dress of the portrait, and one glance was sufficient to show the wonderful likeness between the two.

      "Good God!" said Henry, "it is the same."

      Mr. Marchdale dropped the piece of cloth and trembled.

      "This fact shakes even your scepticism," said Henry.

      "I know not what to make of it."

      "I can tell you something which bears upon it. I do not know if you are sufficiently aware of my family history to know that this one of my ancestors, I wish I could say worthy ancestors, committed suicide, and was buried in his clothes."

      "You—you are sure of that?"

      "Quite sure."

      "I am more and more bewildered as each moment some strange corroborative fact of that dreadful supposition we so much shrink from seems to come to light and to force itself upon our attention."

      There was a silence of a few moments duration, and Henry had turned towards Mr. Marchdale to say something, when the cautious tread of a footstep was heard in the garden, immediately beneath that balcony.

      A sickening sensation came over Henry, and he was compelled to lean against the wall for support, as in scarcely articulate accents he said—

      "The vampyre—the vampyre! God of heaven, it has come once again!"

      "Now, Heaven inspire us with more than mortal courage," cried Mr. Marchdale, and he dashed open the window at once, and sprang into the balcony.

      Henry in a moment recovered himself sufficiently to follow him, and when he reached his side in the balcony, Marchdale said, as he pointed below—

      "There is some one concealed there."

      "Where—where?"

      "Among the laurels. I will fire a random shot, and we may do some execution."

      "Hold!" said a voice from below; "don't do any such thing, I beg of you."

      "Why, that is Mr. Chillingworth's voice," cried Henry.

      "Yes, and it's Mr. Chillingworth's person, too," said the doctor, as he emerged from among some laurel bushes.

      "How is this?" said Marchdale.

      "Simply that I made up my mind to keep watch and ward to-night outside here, in the hope of catching the vampyre. I got into here by climbing the gate."

      "But why did you not let me know?" said Henry.

      "Because I did not know myself, my young friend, till an hour and a half ago."

      "Have you seen anything?"

      "Nothing. But I fancied I heard something in the park outside the wall."

      "Indeed!"

      "What say you, Henry," said Mr. Marchdale, "to descending and taking a hasty examination of the garden and grounds?"

      "I am willing; but first allow me to speak to George, who otherwise might be surprised at our long absence."

      Henry walked rapidly to the bed chamber of Flora, and he said to George—

      "Have you any objection to being left alone here for about half an hour, George, while we make an examination of the garden?"

      "Let me have some weapon and I care not. Remain here СКАЧАТЬ