Vampires vs. Werewolves – Ultimate Collection. Редьярд Джозеф Киплинг

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СКАЧАТЬ wages are owing to you?" said Henry.

      "Why, as to wages, I only comed here by the day."

      "Go, then, and settle with my mother. The sooner you leave this house, the better."

      "Oh, indeed. I'm sure I don't want to stay."

      This woman was one of those who were always armed at all points for a row, and she had no notion of concluding any engagement, of any character whatever, without some disturbance; therefore, to see Henry take what she said with such provoking calmness was aggravating in the extreme; but there was no help for such a source of vexation. She could find no other ground of quarrel than what was connected with the vampyre, and, as Henry would not quarrel with her on such a score, she was compelled to give it up in despair.

      When Henry found himself alone, and free from the annoyance of this woman, he turned his attention to the letter he held in his hand, and which, from the autograph in the corner, he knew came from his new neighbour, Sir Francis Varney, whom, by some chance or another, he had never yet seen.

      To his great surprise, he found that the letter contained the following words:—

      Dear Sir—"As a neighbour, by purchase of an estate contiguous to your own, I am quite sure you have excused, and taken in good part, the cordial offer I made to you of friendship and service some short time since; but now, in addressing to you a distinct proposition, I trust I shall meet with an indulgent consideration, whether such proposition be accordant with your views or not.

      "What I have heard from common report induces me to believe that Bannerworth Hall cannot be a desirable residence for yourself, or your amiable sister. If I am right in that conjecture, and you have any serious thought of leaving the place, I would earnestly recommend you, as one having some experience in such descriptions of property, to sell it at once.

      "Now, the proposition with which I conclude this letter is, I know, of a character to make you doubt the disinterestedness of such advice; but that it is disinterested, nevertheless, is a fact of which I can assure my own heart, and of which I beg to assure you. I propose, then, should you, upon consideration, decide upon such a course of proceeding, to purchase of you the Hall. I do not ask for a bargain on account of any extraneous circumstances which may at the present time depreciate the value of the property, but I am willing to give a fair price for it. Under these circumstances, I trust, sir, that you will give a kindly consideration to my offer, and even if you reject it, I hope that, as neighbours, we may live long in peace and amity, and in the interchange of those good offices which should subsist between us. Awaiting your reply,

      "Believe me to be, dear sir,

      "Your very obedient servant,

      "FRANCIS VARNEY.

      "To Henry Bannerworth, Esq."

      Henry, after having read this most unobjectionable letter through, folded it up again, and placed it in his pocket. Clasping his hands, then, behind his back, a favourite attitude of his when he was in deep contemplation, he paced to and fro in the garden for some time in deep thought.

      "How strange," he muttered. "It seems that every circumstance combines to induce me to leave my old ancestral home. It appears as if everything now that happened had that direct tendency. What can be the meaning of all this? 'Tis very strange—amazingly strange. Here arise circumstances which are enough to induce any man to leave a particular place. Then a friend, in whose single-mindedness and judgment I know I can rely, advises the step, and immediately upon the back of that comes a fair and candid offer."

      There was an apparent connexion between all these circumstances which much puzzled Henry. He walked to and fro for nearly an hour, until he heard a hasty footstep approaching him, and upon looking in the direction from whence it came, he saw Mr. Marchdale.

      "I will seek Marchdale's advice," he said, "upon this matter. I will hear what he says concerning it."

      "Henry," said Marchdale, when he came sufficiently near to him for conversation, "why do you remain here alone?"

      "I have received a communication from our neighbour, Sir Francis Varney," said Henry.

      "Indeed!"

      "It is here. Peruse it for yourself, and then tell me, Marchdale, candidly what you think of it."

      "I suppose," said Marchdale, as he opened the letter, "it is another friendly note of condolence on the state of your domestic affairs, which, I grieve to say, from the prattling of domestics, whose tongues it is quite impossible to silence, have become food for gossip all over the neighbouring villages and estates."

      "If anything could add another pang to those I have already been made to suffer," said Henry, "it would certainly arise from being made the food of vulgar gossip. But read the letter, Marchdale. You will find its contents of a more important character than you anticipate."

      "Indeed!" said Marchdale, as he ran his eyes eagerly over the note.

      When he had finished it he glanced at Henry, who then said—

      "Well, what is your opinion?"

      "I know not what to say, Henry. You know that my own advice to you has been to get rid of this place."

      "It has."

      "With the hope that the disagreeable affair connected with it now may remain connected with it as a house, and not with you and yours as a family."

      "It may be so."

      "There appears to me every likelihood of it."

      "I do not know," said Henry, with a shudder. "I must confess, Marchdale, that to my own perceptions it seems more probable that the infliction we have experienced from the strange visitor, who seems now resolved to pester us with visits, will rather attach to a family than to a house. The vampyre may follow us."

      "If so, of course the parting with the Hall would be a great pity, and no gain."

      "None in the least."

      "Henry, a thought has struck me."

      "Let's hear it, Marchdale."

      "It is this:—Suppose you were to try the experiment of leaving the Hall without selling it. Suppose for one year you were to let it to some one, Henry."

      "It might be done."

      "Ay, and it might, with very great promise and candour, be proposed to this very gentleman, Sir Francis Varney, to take it for one year, to see how he liked it before becoming the possessor of it. Then if he found himself tormented by the vampyre, he need not complete the purchase, or if you found that the apparition followed you from hence, you might yourself return, feeling that perhaps here, in the spots familiar to your youth, you might be most happy, even under such circumstances as at present oppress you."

      "Most happy!" ejaculated Henry.

      "Perhaps I should not have used that word."

      "I am sure you should not," said Henry, "when you speak of me."

      "Well—well; let us hope that the time may not be very far distant when I may use the term happy, as applied to you, in the most conclusive СКАЧАТЬ