May 4 Just before I was leaving the old lady came to my room and said Must you go Oh Young Herr must you go She was in such an excited state she seemed to have lost her grip on what German she knew She mixed it up with some other language I did not know at all I told her I was engaged in important business She asked Do you know what day it is I answered that it was the fourth of May She shook her head It is the eve of St George’s Day Do you not know that tonight when the clock strikes midnight all the evil things in the world will have full sway Do you know where you are going Finally she begged me not to go There was business to be done and I could allow nothing to interfere with it Taking a cross from around her neck she offered it to me It seemed ungracious to refuse an old lady I am writing up this part of the diary while I am waiting for the coach and the cross is still 6
around my neck I am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual If this book should ever reach Mina before I do let it bring my good-bye Here comes the coach May 5 The Castle When I got on the coach I saw the driver talking with the lady Every now and then they looked at me Some of the people sitting on a bench outside the door came and listened I could hear a lot of words repeated strange words I quietly got my dictionary from my bag and looked them up I must say they were not cheering to me Among them were Satan hell witch and something that is either werewolf or vampire I must ask the Count about these superstitions When we started the crowd round the door all made the sign of the cross and pointed two fi ngers towards me With some diffi culty I got a fellow passenger to tell me what they meant 8
The fellow explained it was a charm against the evil eye This was not very pleasant for me but everyone seemed so kindhearted Our driver cracked his big whip over his four small horses and we set off on our journey The road was rugged but still we seemed to fl y over it with a feverish haste The only stop the driver would make was a moment’s pause to light his lamps When it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement among the passengers They kept speaking to the driver as though urging him to more speed The crazy coach rocked on its leather springs and swayed like a boat tossed on a stormy sea We were nearing the Borgo Pass We could now see the sandy road lying white before us Among a chorus of screams from the peasants a carriage came up behind and pulled up beside the coach The horses were driven by a tall man with a long brown beard and a tall black hat I could 9
