only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes which seemed red in the lamplight Give me the Herr’s luggage said the driver With great speed my bags were handed out and put into the carriage Then off the coach swept on their way to Bukovina A cloak was thrown over my shoulders and a rug across my knees Mein Herr my master the Count bade me take all care of you The carriage went at a hard pace straight along Soon we were hemmed in by trees It grew colder and fi ne powdery snow began to fall The baying of wolves sounded nearer and nearer as though they were closing round on us from all sides A dreadful fear came upon me I was afraid to speak or move We kept on ascending Then I realized the driver was pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined castle 10
chapter 2 Jonathan Harker’s Journal May 5 When the carriage stopped the driver jumped down and held out his hand to assist me His hand seemed like a steel vice that could have crushed mine He took out my luggage and put them on the ground beside me As I stood the driver jumped again into his seat and shook the reins Carriage and all disappeared down a dark opening I did not know what to do There was no sign of bell or knocker on the great old door Was this normal in the life of a lawyer’s clerk sent to explain the purchase of a London estate to a foreigner There was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of bolts drawn back The great door swung back A tall old man with a long 11
white mustache stood holding an antique silver lamp He was dressed in black from head to toe The old man said in excellent English Welcome to my house Enter freely and of your own will The instant I stepped over the threshold his hand grasped mine with a strength that made me wince His hand was also as cold as ice Count Dracula I asked I am Dracula I bid you welcome Mr Harker He insisted on carrying my luggage along the corridor and up a long winding stair At the end of another long corridor he threw open a heavy door I rejoiced to see a well-lit room in which a table was spread for supper The Count halted to close the door behind us and then moved onto another room Here was a bedroom that was well lit and warmed by a log fi re The Count left my luggage inside the room and withdrew from it You will need to refresh yourself When you are ready come into the other room 12
The light the warmth and the Count’s welcome eased all my fears After a hasty wash I went into the other room My host who stood by the stone fi replace said Be seated and sup how you please I trust you will excuse me that I do not join you I have dined already He came forward and took off the cover of a dish an excellent roast chicken While I was eating the Count asked me many questions about my journey I fi nished my supper and drew a chair up to the fi re by the Count I took the opportunity to observe him His face was strong and his eyebrows massive The mouth was cruel-looking with sharp teeth extending over his red lips The rest of his skin was extraordinarily pale I looked toward the window and saw the fi rst dim streak of the coming dawn I heard the howling of many wolves The Count’s eyes gleamed and he said Listen to them the children of the night What music they make 13
