 CHAPTER 89 OF VARNEY THE VAMPIRE, VOLUME II Chapter 89 tells what became of the second vampire who sought Varney. We left the Hungarian nobleman swimming down the stream. He swam slowly and used but little exertion in doing so. He appeared to use his hands only as a means of assistance. The stream carried him onwards and he sided himself so far that he kept the middle of the stream and floated along. Where the stream was broad and shallow it sometimes left him a moment or two without being strong enough to carry him onwards. Then he would pause as if gaining strength and finally he would, when he had rested and the water came a little faster and lifted him, make a desperate plunge and swim forward until he again came in deep water and then he went slowly along with the stream as he supported himself. It was strange thus to see a man going down slowly and without any effort whatever, passing through shade and through moonlight, now lost in shadow of tall trees and now emerging into that part of the stream which ran through meadows and cornfields, until the stream widened and then, at length, a ferry house was to be seen in the distance. Then came the ferryman out of his hut to look upon the beautiful moonlight scene. It was cold but pure and brilliantly light. The chaste moon was sailing through the heavens and the stars diminished in their luster by the power of the luminous goddess of night. There was a small cottage. True it was somewhat larger than was generally supposed by any casual observer who might look at it. The place was rambling and built chiefly of wood, but in it there lived the ferryman, his wife and family. Among these was a young girl of about 17 years of age, but at the same time very beautiful. They had been preparing their supper and the ferryman himself walked out to look at the river and the shadows of the tall trees that stood in the hill opposite. While thus employed he heard a plashing in the water and, on turning towards the quarter whence the sound proceeded for a few yards, he came to the spot where he saw the stranger struggling in the stream. Good God! he muttered to himself as he saw the struggle continued. Good God! he will sink and drown! As he spoke he jumped into his boat and pushed it off for the purpose of stopping the descent of the body down the stream, and in a moment or two it came near to him. He muttered, Come! Come! he tries to swim! Life is not gone yet. He will do now, if I can catch hold of him. Swimming with one's face under the stream doesn't say much for his skill, though it may account for the fact that he don't cry out. As the drowning man neared the ferryman held on by the boat-hook and, stooping down, he seized the drowning man by the hair of the head and then paused. After a time he lifted him up and placed him across the edge of the boat and then, with some struggling of his own, he was rolled over into the boat. You are safe now! muttered the ferryman. The stranger spoke not, but sat or leaned against the boat's head, sobbing and catching at his breath, and spitting off his stomach the water it might be presumed he had swallowed. The ferryman put back to the shore when he paused and secured his boat and then pulled the stranger out, saying, Do you feel any better now? Yes, said the stranger. I feel I am living. Thanks to you, my good friend, I owe you my life. You are welcome to that, replied the ferryman. It cost me nothing, and as for my little trouble, I should be sorry to think of that when a fellow of being's life was in danger. You have behaved very well, very well, and I can do little more now than thank you, for I have been robbed of all I possessed about me at the moment. Oh, you have been robbed? I, truly I have, and have been thrown into the water, and thus I have been nearly murdered. It is lucky you escaped from them without further injury, said the ferryman, but come indoors. You must be unfit to stand here in the cold. Thank you. Your hospitality is great, and at this moment of the greatest importance to me. Such as we have, said the honest ferryman, you shall be welcome to. Come in. Come in." He turned round and led the way to the house, which he entered, saying, as he opened the small door that led into the main apartment, where all the family were assembled, waiting for the almost only meal they had had that day, for the ferryman had not the means, before the sun had set, of sending for food, and then it was a long way before it could be found, and then it was late before they could get it. Wife, we have a stranger to sleep with us tonight, and for whom we must prepare a bed. A stranger, echoed the wife, a stranger, and we so poor? Yes, one whose life I have saved, and who is nearly drowned. We cannot refuse hospitality upon such an occasion as that, you know, wife. The wife looked at the stranger as he entered the room and sat down by the fire. I am sorry, he said, too intrude upon you, but I will make you amends for the interruption and inconvenience I may cause you. But it is too late to apply elsewhere, and yet I am doubtful if there were whether I could go any further. No, no, said the ferryman. I am sure a man who has been beaten and robbed and thrown into a rapid, and in some parts deep stream, is not fit to travel at this time of night. You are lonely about here, said the stranger, as he shivered by the fire. Yes, rather, but we are used to it. You have a family, too. That must help to lighten the hours away and help you over the long evenings. So you may think, stranger, and at times so it is. But when food runs short it is a long, wild-to-day light before any more money can be shed. To be sure, we have fish in the river, and we have what we can grow in the garden, but these are not all the wants that we feel, and those others are sometimes pinching. However, we are thankful for what we have, and complain but little when we can get no more. But sometimes we do repine, though I cannot say we ought, but I am merely relating the fact, whether it be right or wrong. Exactly. How old is your daughter? She is seventeen, come all hellos' eve. That is not far hence, said the stranger. I hope I may be in this part of the country, and I think I shall. I will on that eve pay you a visit, not one on which I shall be a burden to you, but one more useful to you, and more consonant to my character. The future will tell us all about that, said the ferryman. At present we will see what we can do without complaining or taxing anybody. The stranger and the ferryman sat conversing for some time before the fire, and then the latter pointed out to him which was his bed, one made up near the fire for the sake of its warmth, and then the ferryman retired to the next room, a place which was merely divided by an imperfect partition. However, they all fell soundly asleep. The hours on that day had been longer than usual. There was not that buoyancy of spirit. When they retire, they fell off into a heavy, deep slumber. From this they were suddenly aroused by loud cries and piercing screams from one of the family. So loud and shrill were the cries that they all started up, terrified and bewildered beyond measure, unable to apply their faculties to any one object. Help! Help, Father! Help!" shrieked the voice of the young girl whom we have before noticed. The ferryman jumped up and rushed to the spot where his daughter lay. Fanny! he said. Fanny, what ails thee? What ails thee? Tell me, what caused you to scream out in such a manner? I—I—that is, Father—thought, but no, I am sure it was reality. Where is the stranger? A light! A light! shouted the fisherman. He said to the ferryman. What ails thee? Tell me, what caused you to scream out in such a manner? I—I—that is, Father—thought, but no, I am sure it was reality. In another moment a light was brought him and he discovered the stranger reclining in his bed, but awake and looking around him as if in the utmost amazement. What has happened? he said. What has happened? That is more than I know as yet, the man replied. Come, Fanny, he added. Tell me what it is you fear. What caused you to scream out in that dreadful manner? Oh, Father, the vampire! Great God! What do you mean, Fanny, by that? I hardly know, Father. I was fast asleep when I thought I felt something at my throat, but being very sound asleep I did not immediately awake. Presently I felt the sharp pang of teeth being driven into the flesh of my neck. I awoke and found the vampire at his repast. Oh, God! Oh, God! What shall I do? Stay, my child, let us examine the wound, said the fisherman, and he held the candle to the spot where the vampire's teeth had been applied. There, sure enough, were teeth marks, such as a human beings would make where they applied, but no blood had been drawn therefrom. Come, come, Fanny, so far by divine providence you are not injured. Another moment, and the mischief would have been done entire and complete, and you would have been his victim. Then, turning to the stranger, he said, you have had some hand in this. No human being but you could come into this place. The cottage door is secured. You must be the vampire. I? Yes, who else could? I, as Heaven's my judge, but there it's useless to speak of it. I have not been out of my bed. In this place, dark as it is, and less used to darkness than you, I could not even find my way about. It is impossible. Get out of your bed and let me feel, said the ferryman, temporarily. Get out and I will soon tell. The stranger arose and began to dress himself, and the ferryman immediately felt the bed on which he had been lying. But it was ice-cold, so cold that he started upon his legs in an instant, exclaiming with vehemence. It is you, vile wretch, that has attempted to steal into the cottage of the poor man, and then to rob him of his only child, and that child of her is blood, base ingrate. My friend, you are wrong, entirely wrong. I am not the creature you believe me. I have slept and slept soundly, and awoke not until your daughter screamed. Scoundrel! Liar! Base wretch! You shall not remain alive to injure those who have but one life to lose. As he spoke, the ferryman made a desperate rush at the vampire, and seized him by the throat, and a violent struggle ensued, in which the superior strength of the ferryman prevailed, and he brought his antagonist to the earth, at the same time bestowing upon him some desperate blows. Thou shalt go to the same element from which I took thee, said the ferryman, and there swim or sink as thou wilt until someone shall drag thee ashore, and when they do, may they have a better return than I. As he spoke, he dragged along the stranger by main force until they came to the bank of the river, and then pausing to observe the deepest part, he said, Here, then, you shall go. The vampire struggled and endeavored to speak, but he could not. The grasp at his throat prevented all attempts at speech, and then, with a sudden exertion of his strength, the ferryman lifted the stranger up and heaved him some distance into the river. Then in deep water sank the body. The ferryman watched for some moments, and farther down the stream he saw the body again rise upon the current and struggling slightly as for life, now whirled around and around, and then carried forward with the utmost velocity. This continued as far as the moonlight enabled the ferryman to see, and then, with a slow step and clouded brow, he returned to his cottage which he entered and closed the door. End of Chapter 89. Recording by Roger Maline Chapter 90 of Varni the Vampire Vol. 2 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Varni the Vampire Vol. 2 by Thomas Prescott-Prest Chapter 90 Dr. Chillingworth at the Hall The Encounter of Mystery The Conflict The Rescue and the Picture There have been many events that have passed rapidly in this our narrative, but more have yet to come before we can arrive at that point which will clear up much that appears to be most mysterious and unaccountable. Dr. Chillingworth, but ill-satisfied with the events that had yet taken place, determined once more upon visiting the Hall and there to attempt a discovery of something respecting the mysterious apartment in which so much has already taken place. He communicated his design to no one. He resolved to prosecute the inquiry alone. He determined to go there and await whatever might turn up in the shape of events. He would not for once take any companion. Such adventures were often best prosecuted alone. They were most easily brought to something like an explanatory position. One person can often consider matters more coolly than more. At all events, there is more secrecy than under any other circumstances. Perhaps this often is of greater consequence than many others. And moreover, when there is more than one, something is usually overdone. Where one adventurous individual will rather draw back in a pursuit, more than one would induce them to urge each other on. In fact, one in such a case could act the part of a spy, a secret observer. And in that case can catch people at times when they could not under any other circumstances be caught or observed at all. I will go, he muttered, and should I be compelled to run away again, why nobody knows anything about it and nobody will laugh at me. This was all very well, but Mr. Chillingworth was not the man to run away without sufficient cause. But there was so much mystery in all this that he felt much interested in the issue of the affair. But this issue he could not command. At the same time he was determined to sit in watch and thus become certain that either something or nothing was to take place. Even the knowledge of that much, that some inexplicable action was still going on, was far preferable to the uncertainty of not knowing whether what had once been going on was still so or not, because if it had ceased it was probable that nothing more would ever be known concerning it, and the mystery would still be a mystery to the end of time. It shall be fathomed if there be any possibility of its being discovered, muttered Chillingworth. Who would have thought that so quiet and orderly a spot as this, our quiet village, would have suffered so much commotion and disturbance? Far from any cause of noise and strife, it is quite as great a matter of mystery as the vampire business itself. I have been so mixed up in this business that I must go through with it. By the way of the mysteries, the greatest that I have met with is the fact of the vampire having anything to do with so quiet a family as the Bannerworth's. Mr. Chillingworth pondered over the thought, but yet he could make nothing of it. It in no way tended to elucidate anything connected with the affair, and it was much too strange and singular in all its parts to be submitted to any process of thought with any hope of coming to anything like a conclusion upon the subject. That must remain until some facts were ascertained and to obtain them Mr. Chillingworth now determined to try. This was precisely what was most desirable in the present state of affairs. While things remained in the present state of uncertainty, there would be much more of mystery than could ever be brought to light. One or two circumstances cleared up, the minor ones would follow in the same train, and they would be explained by others, and if ever that happy state of things were to come about, why then there would be a perfect calm in the town. As Mr. Chillingworth was going along, he thought he observed two men sitting inside a hedge close to a hay-rick, and thinking neither of them had any business there, he determined to listen to their conversation and ascertain if it had any evil tendency or whether it concerned the lady vent. Having approached near the gate and they being on the other side, he got over without any noise, and, unperceived by either of them, crept close up to them. So you haven't long come from sea? No, I have just landed. How is it you have thrown aside your seamen's clothes and taken to these? Just to escape being found out. Found out? What do you mean by that? Have you been up to anything? Yes, I have, Jack. I have been up to something worse luck to me, but I'm not to be blamed either. What is it all about? inquired his companion. I always thought you were such a steady going old file that there was no going out of the even path with you. Nor would there have been, but for one simple circumstance. What was that? I will tell you, Jack. I will tell you. You will never betray me, I am sure. Never by heavens! Well then, listen, it was this. I had been some time aboard our vessel. I had sailed before, but the captain never showed any signs of being a bad man and I was willing enough to sail with him again. He knew I was engaged to a young woman in this country and that I was willing to work hard to save money to make up a comfortable home for us both and that I would sail again but that I intended to remain ashore and make up my mind to ashore life. Well, you would have a house then? Exactly, and that's what I wished to do. Well, I made a small venture in the cargo and thought by so doing that I should have a chance of realizing a sum of money that would put us both in a comfortable line of business. Well, we went on very smoothly until we were coming back. We had disposed of our cargo and I had received some money and this seemed to cause our captain to hate me because I had been successful. But I thought there was something else in it than that but I could not tell what it was that made him so intolerably cross in tyrannous. Well, I found out at length he knew my intended wife. He knew her very well and at the same time he made every effort he could to induce me to commit some act of disobedience and insubordination. But I would not for it seemed to me he was trying all he could to prevent my doing my duty with anything like comfort. However, I learned the cause of all this afterwards. It was told me by one of the crew. Bill, said my mate, look out for yourself. What's in the wind? said I. Only the captain has made a dead set at you and you'll be a lucky man if you escape. What's it all about? said I. What he means. I have done nothing wrong. I don't see why I should suddenly be treated in this way. It's all about your girl, Bill. Indeed, said I. What can that have to do with the captain? He knows nothing of her. Oh yes, he does, he said. If it were not for you, he would have the girl himself. I see now, said I. I and so can a blind man if you open his eyes. But he wants to make you do wrong, to goad you on to do something that will give him the power of disgracing you and perhaps of punishing you. He won't do that, said I. I am glad to hear you say so, Bill, for to my mind he has made up his mind to go the whole length against you. I can't make it out unless he wishes you were dead. I dare say he does, said I, but I will take care I will live to exact a reckoning that is the best and when we are paid off, Bill, if you will take it out of him and pay him off, why I don't care if I lend you a hand. We'll say more about that, said I, when we get ashore and are paid off. If we are overheard now, it will be said that we are conspiring or committing mutiny or something of that sort. You are right, Bill, he said, you are right. We'll say no even upon me when we are no longer under his orders. Then there's no danger, you know. Well, we said nothing about this, but I thought of it and I had cause enough, too, to think of it. For each day the captain grew more and more tyrannous and brutal. I knew not what to do, but kept my resolution of doing my duty in spite of all he could do, though I don't mind admitting I had more than one mind however I contrived to hold out for another week or two and then we came into port and were released from his tyranny. I got paid off and then I met my messmate and we had some talk about the matter. The worst of it is, said I, we shall have some difficulty to catch him and if we can I'll be sworn we shall give him enough to last him for at least a voyage or two. He ought to have it smart, do you at what hour? Late at night when he may be met with as he comes from a house where he spends his evenings. That will be the best time in the world when we shall have less interference than at any other time in the day, but we'll have a turn tonight if you will be with me as he will be able to make two good a defense to one. It will be a fight and not a chastisement. It will. I will be with you. You know where to meet me. I shall be at the old spot at the usual time and then we will go. We parted and in the evening we both went together and sought the place where we should find him out and set upon him to advantage. He was nearly two hours before he came but when he did come we saluted him with a wrap on the head that made him hold his tongue and then we set to and gave him such a tremendous drubbing that we left him and was soon taken away by some watchmen and we heard that he was doing well but he was dreadfully beaten. Indeed it would take him some weeks before he could be about in his duties. He was fearfully enraged and offered fifty pounds reward to anyone who could give him information as to who it was that assaulted him. I believe he had a pretty good notion of who it was but he could not swear to me but still much about me I had once walked away and went on my way to another part of the country. To get married? I and to get into business. Then things are not quite so bad as I thought for it first. No, no, not so bad but what they might have been worse a great deal only I cannot go to see anymore that's quite certain. You needn't regret that. I don't know. Why not know? Are you not going to be married? Ain't that much better? I can't say replied the sailor. There's no knowing how my bargain may turn out if she does well why then the cruising is over but nothing short of that will satisfy me for if my wife is not at all what I wish her to be why I shall be off to see. I don't blame you either I would do so too if it were possible but you see we can't do well on land as you do at sea we can be followed about from pillar to post and no bound set to our persecution that's true enough said the other we can cut and run when we have had enough of it however I must get to the village as I shall sleep there tonight if I find my quarters comfortable enough come on then at once said his companion it's getting dark now and you have no time to lose these two now got up and walked away towards the village and chilling worth arose also and pursued his way towards the hall while he remarked to himself well well they have nothing to do with that affair at all events by the by I wonder what amount of females are deserted in the Navy they certainly have an advantage over landsmen in the respect of being tied to tiresome partners they can at least for a season get a release from troubles and be free at sea however Mr. Chillingworth got to the hall and unobserved for he had been especially careful not to be seen he had watched on all sides and no signs of a solitary human being had he seen that could in any way make the slightest observation upon him indeed he had sheltered himself from observation at every point of his road especially so when near Bannerworth hall plenty of corners to enable him to do so and when he arrived there he entered at the usual spot and then sat down a few moments in the bower I will not sit here he muttered I will go and have a watch at that mysterious picture there is the center of attraction be it what it may as he spoke he arose and walked into the house and entered the same apartment which has been so often mentioned to the reader here he took a chair and sat down full before the picture and began to contemplate it well for a good likeness I cannot say I ever saw anything more unprepossessing I am sure such a countenance as that could never have won a female heart surely it is more calculated to terrify the imagination than to soothe the affections of the timid and shrinking female however I will have an inspection of the picture so that I can make anything of it as he spoke he put his hand upon the picture with the intention of removing it when it suddenly was thrust open and a man stepped down the doctor was for a moment completely staggered it was so utterly unexpected and he stepped back a pace or two in the first emotion of his surprise but this soon passed by and he prepared to close with his antagonist which he did without speaking a word there was a fair struggle for more than two or three minutes during which the doctor struggled and fought most manfully but it was evident that Mr. Chillingworth had met with a man who was his superior in point of strength for he not only withstood the utmost force that Chillingworth could bring against him but maintained himself and turned his strength against the doctor Chillingworth panted with exertion and found himself gradually losing ground and was upon the point of being thrown down at the mercy of his adversary who appeared to be inclined to take all advantages of him when an occurrence happened that altered the state of affairs altogether while they were struggling the doctor born partially to the earth but yet struggling suddenly his antagonist released his hold and staggered back a few paces there you swab take that I am yard arm and yard arm with you radical looking craft you loverly buccaneering son of a fish bag before however Jack Pringle for it was he who came so opportunity to the rescue of Dr. Chillingworth could find time to finish his sentence he found himself assailed by the very man who but a minute before he had as he thought placed order to combat a desperate fight ensued and the stranger made the greatest efforts to escape with the picture he could not get off without a desperate struggle he was at length compelled to relinquish the hope of carrying that off for both Dr. Chillingworth and Jack Pringle were engaged hand to hand but the stranger struck Jack so heavy a blow on the head that made him real a few yards and then he escaped through the window leaving Jack and Mr. Chillingworth masters of the field but by no means unscathed by the conflict in which they had been engaged End of Chapter 90 Chapter 91 of Barney the Vampire Vol. 2 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Barney the Vampire Vol. 2 by Thomas Prescott-Prest Chapter 91 The grand consultation broken up by Mrs. Chillingworth and the disappearance of Barney Remarkable was the change that had taken place in the circumstances of the Bannerworth family from a state of great despondency and indeed absolute poverty they had suddenly risen to comfort and independence It seemed as if the clouds that had obscured their destiny had now with one accord dissipated and that a brighter day was dawning not only had the circumstances of mental terror which had surrounded them had been weighed in a great measure to the light of truth and reflection but those pecuniary distresses which had pressed upon them for a time were likewise passing away and it seemed probable that they would be in a prosperous condition The acquisition of the tidal deeds of the estate which they thought had passed away from the family forever became to them in their present circumstances an immense acquisition and brought to their minds of resentment Many persons in their situation would have been extremely satisfied at having secured so strong an interest in the mind of the old admiral who was very wealthy and who from what he had already said and done no doubt fully intended to provide handsomely for the Bannerworth family and not only had they this to look forward to if they had chosen to regard it as an advantage but they knew that by the marriage of Helen she would have a fortune at her disposal while he Charles would be the last man in the world to demure at any reasonable amount of it being lavished upon her mother and her brothers but all this did not suit the high and independent spirit of Henry Bannerworth he was one who would rather have eaten the crust that he procured for himself by some meritorious exertion than have feasted on the most delicate vions and resources of another but now that he knew this small estate the title deeds of which had been so singularly obtained had once really belonged to the family but had been risked and lost at the gaming table he had no earthly scruple in calling such property again his own as to the large sum of money which Sir Francis Varney in his confessions had declared to have found its way into the possession of Marmaduke Bannerworth Henry did not expect and scarcely wished to become possessed of wealth through so tainted a source no he said to himself frequently no I care not if that wealth be never forthcoming which was so badly got possession of let it sink into the earth if indeed it be buried there or let it rot in some unknown corner of the old mansion I care not for it in this view of the case he was not alone for a family more unselfish or who cared so little for money could scarcely have been found but Admiral Bell and Charles Holland argued now that they had a right to the amount of money which Marmaduke Bannerworth had hidden somewhere and the old Admiral reasoned upon it rather ingeniously for he said I suppose you don't mean to dispute that the money belongs to somebody and in that case I should like to know who else it belonged to if not to you how do you get over that master Henry I don't attempt to get over it at all said Henry all I say is that I do dislike the whole circumstances connected with it and the manner in which it was come by and now that we have a small independence I hope it will not be found but Admiral we are going to hold a family consultation as to what we shall do and what is to become of Varney he has convinced me of his relationship to our family and although his conduct has certainly been extremely equivocal he has made all the amends in his power and now as he is getting old I do not like to throw him upon the wide world for a subsistence you don't contemplate said the Admiral letting him remain with you do you know that would be objectionable for a variety of reasons and I could not think of it for a moment I should think not the idea of sitting down to breakfast, dinner, tea and supper with a vampire and taking your grug with a fellow that sucks other people's blood really Admiral you do not really still cling to the idea that Sir Francis Varney is a vampire I really don't know he cling to it himself that's all I can say and I think under those circumstances I might as well give him the benefit of his own proposition and suppose that he is a vampire really uncle said Charles Holland I did think that you had discarded the notion did you I have been thinking of it and it ain't so desirable to be a vampire I am sure that anyone should pretend to it who is not therefore I take the fellow upon his own showing he is a vampire in his own opinion and so I don't see for the life of me why he should not be so in ours well said Henry what are we to do with him circumstances seem to have thrown him completely at our mercy what are we to do with him and what is to become of him for the future I'll tell you what I'll do said the Admiral if he were ten times a vampire there is some good in the fellow and I will give him enough to live upon if he will go to America and spend it they will take good care there that he sucks no blood out of them for although an American would rather lose a drop of blood than a dollar they keep a pretty sharp look out upon both the proposal can be made to him said Henry at all events it is one which I don't dislike and probably one that he would embrace at once because he seems to me to have completely done with ambition and to have abandoned those projects concerning which at one time he took such a world of trouble don't you trust to that said the Admiral what spread in the bone don't so easily get out of the flesh and once or twice when master Varney has been talking I have seen those odd looking eyes of his flash up for a moment as if he were quite ready to begin his old capers again and alarm the whole countryside I must confess said Charles Holland that I myself have had the impression once or twice that Varney was only subdued for a time with the proper amount of provocation he would become again a very serious fellow and to the full as troublesome as he has been do you doubt his sincerity said Henry no I do not do that Henry I think Varney fully means what he says but I think at the same time that he has for so long led a strange wild and reckless life that he will find it very far from easy if indeed possible I regret said Henry that you have such an impression but while I do so I cannot help admitting that it is to a considerable extent no more than a reasonable one and perhaps after all my expectation that Varney will give us no more trouble only amounts to a hope that he will not do so and nothing more but let us consider there seems to be some slight difference of opinion among us as to whether we should take up our residence at this new house of ours which we did not know we owned at Deerbrook or proceed to London and there establish ourselves for again return to Bannerworth Hall and by a judicious expenditure of some money make that a more habitable place than it has been for the last 20 years now I'll tell you what said the admiral I would do quite out of the question for anybody to live long unless they see a ship don't you think so Miss Flora why how can you ask Flora such a question uncle said Charles Holland when you know she don't care a straw about ships and only looks upon admirals as natural curiosities accepting one said Flora and he is an admiral who is natural but no curiosity unless it be that you can call him such just and generous and as for ships who can help admiring them and if admiral Bell proposes that we live in some pleasant marine villa by the sea coast he shall have my vote and interest for the proceeding Bravo! Huzzah! cried the admiral I tell you what it is master Charlie you horse marine I have a great mind to cut you out and have Miss Flora myself don't uncle he's so very cruel after she has promised me so faithfully how do you suppose I should like it come now be merciful at this moment and before anyone could make another remark there came rather a sharp ring at the garden gate bell and Henry exclaimed that's Mr. Chillingworth and I am glad he has come in time to join our conference his advice is always valuable and moreover I rather think he will bring us some news for our hearing the one servant who they had to wait upon them looked into the room and said if you please here is Mrs. Chillingworth Mistress you mean mister no it is Mrs. Chillingworth and her baby the devil said the admiral what can she want I'll come and let you know said Mrs. Chillingworth what I want and she darted into the room past the servant you know you great sea crab I want my husband and what with your vampire and one thing in another I haven't had him at home an hour for the last three weeks what am I to do there is all his patience getting well as fast as they can without him and when they find that out do you think they will take any more filthy physic no to be sure not people ain't such fools as to do anything of the sort I'll tell you what we will do ma'am said the admiral we'll all get ill at once on purpose to oblige and I'll begin by having the measles you are an old porpoise and I believe it all owing to you that my husband neglects his wife and family what's vampires to him I should like to know that he should go troubling about them I never heard of vampires taking drafts and pills no nor anybody else that had the sense of a goose said the admiral but if it's your husband you want ma'am it's no use you are looking for him here for here he is not then where is he he is running after some of your beastly vampire somewhere I'll be bound and you know where to send for him then you are mistaken for indeed we don't we want him ourselves ma'am and can't find him that's the fact it's all very well talking sir but if you were a married woman with a family about you and the last at the breast you'd feel very different from what you do now I'm damned if I don't suppose I should said the admiral but as for the last ma'am I'd soon settle that I'd ring its neck and shove it overboard you would you brute it's quite clear to me you never had a child of your own Mrs. Chillingworth said Henry I believe you have no right to complain to us of your domestic affairs where your husband goes and what he does is at his own will and pleasure and really I don't see that we are to be made answerable as to whether he is at home or abroad to say nothing of the bad taste and bad taste it most certainly is of talking of your private affairs to other people oh dear said Mrs. Chillingworth that's your idea is it you know whiskered puppy really madame I cannot see what my being destitute of whiskers has to do with the affair and I am inclined to think my opinion is quite as good without them as with them I will speak said flora to the doctor when I see him will you miss doll's eyes oh dear me you'll speak to the doctor will you what on earth do you want said Henry for your husband's sake whom we all respect treat you with every imaginable civility but we tell you candidly that he is not here and therefore we cannot conceive what more you can require of us oh it's a row said the admiral that's what she wants woman like damned a bit do they care what it's about as long as there's a disturbance and now ma'am will you sit down and have a glass of grog no I will not sit down and all I can say is upon this place as a den full of snakes and reptiles that's my opinion so I'll not stay any longer but wishing that great judgments may someday come home to you all and that you may know what it is to be a mother with five babies and one at the breast I despise you all and leave you so saying mrs. Chillingworth walked from the place feeling herself highly hurt and offended at what had ensued and they were compelled to let her go just as she was without giving her any information for they had a vivid recollection of the serious disturbance she had created on a former occasion when she had actually headed a mob for the purpose of hunting out Barney the vampire from Bannerworth Hall and putting an end consequently as she considered to that set of circumstances which kept the doctor so much from his house to the great detriment of a not very extensive practice Miss Doll said flora mrs. Chillingworth although she is not the most refined person in the world is to be pitied what cried the admiral Miss Doll's eyes are you taking her part oh that's nothing she may call me what she likes I believe she is a good wife to the doctor said Henry not withstanding her little eccentricities but suppose we now at once make the proposal we were thinking of to Sir Francis and so get him to leave England as quickly as possible and put an end to the possibility of his being any more trouble to anybody agreed agreed it's the best thing that can be done and it will be something gained to get his consent at once I'll run upstairs to him said Charles and call him down at once I scarcely doubt for a moment his acquiescence in the proposal Charles Holland rose the little staircase of the cottage to the Rome which by the kindness of the Bannerworth family had been devoted to the use of Varney he had not been gone above two minutes when he returned hastily with a small scrap of paper in his hand which he laid before Henry saying there what do you think of that Henry upon taking up the paper saw written upon it the words the farewell of Varney the vampire he is gone said Charles Holland the room is vacant I saw at a glance that he had removed his hat and cloak and all that belonged to him he's off and it's so short a warning and in so abrupt a manner that I fear the worst what can you fear I scarcely know what but we have a right to fear everything and anything from this most inexplicable being whose whole conduct has been of that mysterious nature I must all calculation as regards his motives, his objects or his actions I must confess that I would have hailed his departure from England with feelings of satisfaction but what he means now by this strange maneuver heaven and his own singular intellect can alone divine I must confess said Flora I should not at all have thought this of Varney it seems to me as if something new must have occurred to him I do not feel any alarm concerning his actions as regards us I am convinced of his sincerity and therefore do not view with sensations of uneasiness this new circumstance which appears at present so inexplicable but for which we may yet get some explanation that will be satisfactory to us all I cannot conceive said Henry what new circumstances could have occurred to produce this effect upon Varney and his actions remain just as they were and after all situated as he is if any change had taken place in matters out of doors I do not see how he could become acquainted with them so that his leaving must have been a matter of mere calculation or of impulse at the moment heaven knows which but can have nothing to do with actual information because it is quite evident he could not get it it is rather strange said Charles Holland but just as we were speculating upon the probability of his doing something of this sort he should suddenly do it and in the singular manner too oh said the old admiral I told you I saw his eye that was enough for me I knew he would do something as well as I know a main mast from a chain cable he can't help it it's in the nature of the beast and that's all you can say about it End of Chapter 91 Chapter 92 of Barney the Vampire, Volume 2 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Steve Smith Barney the Vampire, Volume 2 by Thomas Prescott-Prest Chapter 92 The Misadventure of the Doctor with the Picture The situation of Dr. Chillingworth and Jack Pringle was not of that character that permitted much conversation or even congratulation they were victors if was true and yet they had but little to boast of besides the victory Victory is a great thing it is like a gilded coat it bewilders and dazzles nobody can say much when you were victorious what a sound and yet how much misery is there not hidden beneath it this victory of the worthy doctor and his aide amounted to this they were as they were before better but much the worse seeing they were so much buffeted that they could hardly speak but sat for some moments opposite to each other gasping for breath and staring each other in the face without speaking the moonlight came in through the window and fell upon the floor and there were no sounds that came to disturb the stillness of the scene nor any object that moved to cast a shadow upon the floor all was still and motionless saved the two victors well said Jack Pringle with a hearty execution as he wiped his face on the back of his hand saving your presence doctor we are masters of the field doctor but it's plaguey like capturing an empty band box after a hard fight but we have got the picture Jack we have got the picture you see and that is something I am sure we saved that well that may be and a pretty dread-looking picture it is after all why is enough to frighten a lady into the sulks I think it would be a very good thing if it were burned well said the doctor I would soon as see it burned then in the hands of that what exclaimed Jack I don't know said Mr. Chillingworth but thief I should say for it was somewhat thief-like to break into another man's house and carry off the furniture a pirate Jack something that is not the same as an honest man Jack but at all events we have beaten him back this time yes said Jack a ship's cleared now company is better than bad company doctor so it is and yet it don't seem clear in terms but Jack if you hadn't come in time I should have been but scurvelly treated he was too powerful for me as now being killed as ever I have been but you were just in time to save me well it was a large ugly fellow sure enough and look like an old tree did you see him yes to be sure I did well I could not catch a glimpse of his features in fact I was too much employed to see anything and it was much too dark to notice anything particular even if I had had leisure while you had as much to do as you could well manage I must say that at all events I didn't see much of him myself only he was a tall out of the way sort of chap a long-legged shock gave me such a dig or two as I haven't had for a long while nor don't want to get again though I don't care if I face the devil himself a man can't do more than do his best doctor no Jack but there are very few who do do their best and that's the truth you have and have done it to some purpose too but I have had enough for one day he was almost strong enough to depend against us both yes so he was and besides that he almost carried away the picture that was a great hindrance to him don't you think we could have held him if we had not been fighting over the picture yes to be sure he could we could have gone at him boldly and held him he would not have been able to use his hands we could have hung on him and I am sure he would have told a different tale however that is neither here nor there how long had you been here not very long replied the doctor whose head was a little confused by the blows which he had received I can't now tell how long but only a short time I think where did he come from inquired Jack come from Jack yes doctor where did he come from a window I suppose the same way he went out a desk it's most likely oh no he came down from behind the picture there is some mystery in that picture I'll swear to it it's very strange you should make such a desperate attempt to carry it away yes one would think said Jack there was more in it than we can see that it is worth more than we can believe perhaps somebody sets a particular store by it I don't know said Mr. Chillingworth shaking his head I don't know how that may be but certain it is the picture was the object of his visit here that is very certain it was it was endeavouring to carry it off said Jack it would be a very good ornament to the black hole at Calcutta the utility of putting it where it cannot be seen remarked Mr. Chillingworth I cannot very well see though I dare say it might be all very well yes it's ugly features wouldn't be no longer seen so far would be a good job but are you going to remain here all night and so make a long watch of it doctor why Jack said the doctor I did intend watching here but now the game is disturbed it is of no use remaining here we have secured the picture and now there will be no need of remaining in the house in fact there is no fear of robbery now as we are here said Jack Pringle the smugglers won't show ahead while the revenue cutter is on the lookout certainly not Jack said Mr. Chillingworth I think we have scared them away the picture is safe yes so long as we are here and longer too I hope Jack shook his head as much to intimate that he had many doubts upon such a point and couldn't be hurried into any concession of opinion of the safety of such a picture as that much as he disliked it and as poor an opinion as he had of it don't you think it will be safe no said Jack and why not said Mr. Chillingworth willing to hear what Jack could advance against the opinion he had expressed especially as he had disturbed the marauder in the very act of robbery well you'll be watched by this very man and when you are gone he will return in safety and take this plucky picture away with him well he might do so said Mr. Chillingworth after some thought he even endangered his own escape for the purpose of carrying it off a once it said Jack what the picture I to be sure do you think anybody would have tried so hard to get away with it a once it and the long and the short of it is he will have it despite all that can be done to prevent it ask my opinion well there is much truth in that to do I don't know take it to the college suggested Jack the picture must be more than we think for suppose we carry along that is no bad plan of yours Jack said Mr. Chillingworth and though a little awkward yet it is not the worst I have heard but what will they say when they see this frightful face in that quiet yet contented house why they'll say you brought it I don't see what else they can say but that you've done well besides when you come to explain you'll make the matter all right to him yes yes said Chillingworth and as the picture now seems to be the incomprehensible object of attack I will secure that at all events I'll help you thank you Jack your aid will be welcome at least it was so just now all right doctor said Jack or maybe under your hand someday I'll physique you for nothing said Mr. Chillingworth you saved my life one good turn deserves another I'll not forget thank you said Jack as he made a wry face I hope you won't have occasion I'd sooner have a can of grog than any bottle of medicine you can give me I ain't ungrateful neither you needn't name it I'm getting my breath again I suppose we had better leave this place as soon as we conveniently can as soon as they're better we can take it more leisurely as we go the moon was up there were no clouds now but there was not a very strong light because the moon was on the way it was one of those nights during which an imperceptible vapor arises and renders the moon somewhat obscure or at least it robs the earth of her rays and then there were shadows cast by the moon yet they grew fainter and those cast upon the floor of the apartment were less distinct than at first there seemed to scarce a breath of air stirring everything was quiet and still no motion no sound saved that of the breathing of the two who sat in that mysterious apartment who gauged alternately round the place and then in each other's countenances suddenly the silence of the night was disturbed by a very slight but distinct noise which struck upon them with peculiar distinctness it was a gentle tap tap at the window as if someone was doing it with their finger now they gazed on each other for some moments in amazement and then at the window but they saw nothing and yet had there been anything they must have seen it but there was not even a shadow well said Mr. Jillingworth after he had listened to the tap several times without being able to find out or imagine what it could arise from what on earth can it be down now said Jack very composantly squinting up at the window can't see anything well but it must be something persisted Mr. Jillingworth it must be something I dare say it is but I don't see anything I can't think what it can be unless unless what speak out said the doctor impatiently well unless it is David Jones himself tapping with his long fingernails telling us how we've been too long already here then I presume we may as well go and yet I am more disposed to deem it some device of the enemy to dislodge us from this place for the purpose of enabling them to affect some nefarious scheme or other they have afloat it might be and is I dare say a do of some sort or other said Jack but what can it be there it is again said the doctor don't you hear it I can as plain as I can hear myself yes said Jack I can hear it plain enough and can see it too that is more yes yes I can tell all about it plain enough you can well then show me said the doctor as he strode up to the window before which Jack was standing gazing upon one particular spot of the shattered window with much earnestness where is it look there said Jack pointing with his finger to a particular spot to which the doctor directed his attention expecting to see a long skinny hand tapping against the glass but he saw nothing where is it do you see a twig of ivy or something of the sort inquired Jack yes I do right well watch that and when the wind catches it and there is what very little it lifts it up and then falling down again it tops the glass just as he spoke there came a slight gust of wind and it gave a practical illustration to his words for the tapping was heard as often as the plant was moved by the wind well said Mr. Tillingworth however simple and unimportant the matter may be yet I cannot but say I am always well pleased to find a practical explanation of it so that there will be no part left in doubt there is none about that said Jack none well we are not beset then we may as well consider of the matter of this place what sort of burden this picture may be I know not but I will make the attempt to carry it a vast there said Jack I will carry it at all events I'll take the first spell and if I can't go on we'll turn and turn about we can divide the weight from the first and then neither of us will be tired at all just as you please sir said Jack Pringle I'm willing to obey orders and if we are to get in tonight before they are all dead we had better go at once and then we shall not disturb them good Jack said Mr. Tillingworth very good let us begin to beat our retreat at once very good said Jack they both rose and approached the picture which stood up in one corner half for climbing against the wall the light at least so much as there was fell upon it and gave it a ghastly and deathly hue which made Mr. Tillingworth feel an emotion he could not at all understand but as soon as he could he withdrew his eyes from off the picture and they proceeded to secure it with some cord so that they might carry it between them the easier with less trouble and more safety these preparations did not take long in making and when completed they gave another inquiring look around the chamber and Mr. Tillingworth again approached the window engaged out upon the garden below but saw nothing to attract his attention turning away he came to the picture with which Jack Pringle had been standing they proceeded towards the stairs adopting every precaution they could take to prevent any surprise and any attempt upon the object of their solicitude then they came to the great hall and having opened the door they carried it out then shutting the door they both stood outside of Bannerworth hall and before taking the picture up in their hands they once more looked suspiciously around them there was nothing to be seen and so shouldering the ominous portrait they proceeded along the garden till they conveyed it into the roadway now said Jack we are off we can scut along on depressive sale you know I would rather not said the doctor for two reasons one of which is I can't do it myself and the other is we should run the risk of injuring the picture besides this there is no reason for so doing very well said Jack make it agreeable to yourself doctor see you Jacks alive and I am willing to do all I can to help you I am very glad of your aid said Mr. Chillingworth so we will proceed slowly I shall be glad when we are there for there are a few things more awkward than this picture to carry it is not heavy said Jack giving it a hitch up that first pulled the doctor back and then pushed him forward again no but stop don't do that often Jack or else I shall be obliged to let go to save myself from falling said the doctor very sorry said Jack hope it didn't inconvenience you but I could carry this by myself and so could I returned Mr. Chillingworth but the probability is there would be some mischief done to it and then we should be doing more harm than good so we should said Jack they proceeded along with much care and caution it was growing late now and no one was about at least they met none people did not roam about much after dark especially since the reports of the vampire became current four not withstanding all their bravery and violence while in a body yet to meet and contend with him singly and unseen was not at all a popular notion among them indeed they would sooner go a mile out of their way or remain indoors which they usually did the evening was not precisely dark there was moonlight enough to save it from that but there was a mist hanging about that rendered objects at a short distance very indistinct their walk was uninterrupted by anyone and they had got through half the distance without any disturbance or interruption whatever when they arrived at the precincts of the village Jack Pringle said to Dr. Chillingworth do you intend going through the village doctor why not there will be nobody about and if there should be we shall be safe enough for many molestation seeing there are none here who would dare to harm us it is the shortest way too said Jack I am agreeable and as for anyone harming me they know better but at all events there's company and there's less danger you know doctor though I'm always company to myself but haven't any objection to a messmate now and then they pursued their way in silence for some distance the doctor not caring about continuing the talk of Jack which amounted to nothing besides he had too much to do for not withstanding the lightness of the picture which Jack had endeavored to persuade the doctor of he found it was heavy and ungainly indeed had he been by himself he would have had some trouble to have got it away we are nearly there said Jack putting down his end of the picture which brought Dr. Chillingworth to a standstill yes we are but what made you stop what you see said Jack giving his trousers a hitch as I said before we are nearly there well what of that we intended to go there did we not inquired Chillingworth yes exactly that is you intended to do so I know but I didn't what do you mean by that inquired Chillingworth you are complete middle tonight Jack what is the matter with you nothing only you see I don't want to go into the cottage because you see the Admiral and I have had what you may call a bit of a growl and I am in disgrace there a little though I don't know why or where for I always did my duty by him as I did by my country the old man however takes fits into his head at the same time I shall take some too Jack is as good as his master sure at all events well then do you object to go in said Chillingworth that is the state of the case not that I am afraid of myself but I don't want to make anybody else uncomfortable by causing black looks very well Jack said the doctor I am much obliged to you and if you don't like to come I won't press you against your inclination I understand doctor I would leave you here if you can manage the rest of the way by yourself they are not two hundred yards now to go so you are all safe so goodbye goodbye Jack do you want a hand up first no thank you I can get it up very well without any trouble it's not so happy goodbye then said Jack and in a few moments more Jack Pringle was out of sight and the doctor was alone with the ominous picture he had not far to go and was within hail of the cottage but it was late and yet he believed he should find them up for the quietude and calmness of the evening hour was that which most chimed with their feelings at such a time they could look out upon the face of nature and the freedom of thought appeared the greater because there was no human being to clash with the silence and stillness of the scene well mother Chillingworth I'll go at once to the cottage with my burden how they will look at me and wonder what could induce me to bring this away I can hardly help smiling at the thought of the apparition I shall make thus filled with notions that appeared to please him the doctor shouldered the picture and walked slowly along until he reached the dead wall that ran up to the entrance or nearly so of the gardens there was a plantation of young trees that overhung the path and cast a deep shadow below a pleasant spot in hot weather the doctor had been carrying the picture resting the side of it on the small of his arm and against his shoulder but this was an inconvenient posture the weight of the picture cut his arm so much that he was compelled to pause and shift it more on his shoulder there he muttered that will do for the present and last until I reached the cottage garden he was proceeding along at a slow and steady pace bestowing all his care and attention to the manner of holding the picture when he was suddenly paralyzed by the sound of a great shout of such a peculiar character that he involuntarily stopped and the next moment something heavy came against him a great force just as if a man had jumped from the wall onto him this was the truth Thor in another moment and before he could recover himself he found that there was an attempt to deprive him of the picture this at once surprised him and he made an instant and a vigorous defense but he was compelled to let go his hold of the picture and turned to resist the infuriated attack that was now commenced upon himself for some moments it was doubtful who would be the victor but the wind and strength of the doctor were not enough to resist the powerful adversary against whom he had to contend and the heavy blows that were showered down upon him at first he was enabled to bear up against this attack and then he returned many of the blows with interest but the stunning effect of the blows he received himself was such that he could not help himself and felt his senses gradually failing his strength becoming less and less in a short time he received such a blow that he was laid senseless on the earth in an instant how long he remained thus he could not say but it could not have been long for all around him seemed just as it was before he was attacked the moon had scarcely moved and the shadows such as they were were falling in the same direction as before I have not been long here he muttered after a few moments of reflection but but he stopped short for on looking around him he saw the object of his solicitude was gone the picture was nowhere to be seen it had been carried off the instant he had been vanquished gone he said in a low disconsolid tone and after all I have done he wiped his hand across his brow and finding it cut he looked at the back of his hand and saw by the deep color that it was blood indeed he could now feel a trickle down his face what to do he hardly knew he could stand and after having got upon his feet he staggered back against the wall against which he leaned for support and afterwards he crept along with the aid of its support until he came to the door he was observed from the window where Henry and Charles Holland seeing him come up with such an unsteady gate rushed to the door to ascertain what was the matter what doctor exclaimed Henry Bannerworth what is the matter I am almost dead I think said Jillingworth let me oh I'm Henry Henry and Charles Holland immediately stepped out and took him between them into the parlor and placed him upon a couch what on earth has happened doctor have you gotten to disgrace with the populace no no give me some drink some water I am very faint very faint give him some wine or what's better some grog said the admiral why he's been yawning with some pirate or other and he's damaged about the figurehead you ain't heard in your lower works are you doctor said the admiral but the doctor took no notice of the inquiry but eerily sift the contents of a glass that Charles Holland had poured out of a bottle containing some strong Hollands and which appeared to nerve him much there said the admiral thoughtful do you good how did all this damage to you upper works come about huh let him wash his face and hands first you'll be better able to talk afterwards oh thank you said chillingworth I am much better but I have had some heart bruises how did it happen I went by myself to watch in the room where the picture was in Bannerworth Hall where the picture was said Henry where it is you mean do you not doctor no where it was and where it is not now gone yes gone away I'll tell you all about it I went there to watch but found nobody or nothing there but suddenly a man stepped out from behind the picture and we had a fight over it after which just as I was getting the worst of it jack Pringle came in the dog muttered the admiral yes he came in just in time I believe to save my life and whoever he was would not have hesitated about it well jack is a good man said the admiral there may be worse at least well we had a desperate encounter for some minutes during which this fellow wanted to carry off the picture carry off the picture yes we had a struggle for that but we could not capture him he was so violent that he broke away and got clear off no he left the picture behind well we were very tired and bruised and we sat down to recover ourselves from our fatigue and to consider what was best to be done but we were some time before we could leave and then we determined that we would take the picture away with us as it seemed to be coveted by the robber for what object we cannot tell well well where is the picture you shall hear all about it in a minute if you'll let me take my time I am tired and sore well we brought the picture out and jack helped me carry it so he came within a couple of hundred yards of the cottage and there left me the lover said the admiral interjectionally well I rested a while and then taking the picture on my shoulders I proceeded along with it until I came to the wall when suddenly I heard a great shout and then down came something heavy upon me just as if a man had jumped down upon me and and yes said the doctor it was was what? inquired the admiral just what you all seem to anticipate you are all before me but that was it a man yes I had a struggle with him and got nearly killed for I am not equal to him in strength I was sadly knocked about and finally all the senses were knocked out of me and I was I suppose left for dead and what became of the picture I don't know but I suppose it was taken away as when I came to myself it was gone indeed I have some faint recollection of seeing him seize the portrait as I was falling there was a pause of some moments during which all the party appeared to be employed with their own thoughts and the whole was silent do you think it was the same man who attacked you in the house that obtained the picture at last inquired Henry Bannerworth I cannot say but I think it most probable that it was the same indeed the general appearance as near as I could tell in the dark was the same but what I look upon as much stronger is the object appears to be the same in both cases that is very true said Henry Bannerworth very true and I think it's more than probable myself Doctor you will require rest and nursing after your dangers End of Chapter 92 Recorded by Steve Smith Chapter 93 of Varni the Vampire Vol. 2 This is a Librivox recording All Librivox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org Recording by Lucy Perry Varni the Vampire Vol. 2 by Thomas Prescott-Prest Chapter 93 The Alarm at Anderbury the suspicions of the Bannerworth family and the mysterious communication About 20 miles to the southward of Bannerworth Hall was a good-sized market town called Anderbury It was an extensive and flourishing place and from the beauty of its situation and its contiguity to the southern coast of England it was much admired and in consequence numerous mansions and villas of great pretension had sprang up in its immediate neighbourhood Besides, there were some mistakes of great value and one of these, called Anderbury on the Mount in consequence of the mansion itself which was of an immense extent being built upon an eminence was to be let or sold This town of Anderbury was remarkable not only for the beauty of its aspect but likewise for the quiet serenity of its inhabitants who were a prosperous thriving race and depended very much upon their own resources There were some peculiar circumstances why Anderbury on the Mount was to let it had been for a great number of years in possession of a family of the name of Miltown who had resided there in great comfort and respectability until an epidemic disorder broke out first among the servants and then spreading to the junior branches of the family and from them to their seniors produced such devastation that in the course of three weeks there was but one young man left of the whole family and he, by native vigor of constitution baffled the disorder and found himself alone in his ancestral halls the last of his race Soon a settled melancholy took possession of him and all that had formally delighted him now gave him pain in as much as it brought to his mind a host of recollections of the most agonising character In vain was it that the surrounding gentry paid him every possible attention and endeavoured to do all that was in their power to alleviate the unhappy circumstances in which he was placed If he smiled it was in a sad sort and that was very seldom and at length he announced his intention in broad and in change of scene for that solace which he could not expect to find in his ancestral home after what had occurred within its ancient walls There was not a chamber but which reminded him of the past there was not a tree or plant of any kind or description but which spoke to him plainly of those who were now no more and whose merry laughter had within his own memory made that ancient place echo with glee filling the sunny air with the most gladsome shouts such as comes from the lips of happy youth long before the world is robbed of any of its romance or beauty There was a general feeling of regret when this young man announced the fact of his departure to a foreign land for he was much respected in the known calamities which he had suffered and the grief under which he lay but invested his character with a great and painful interest An entertainment was given to him upon the eve of his departure and on the next day he was many miles from the place and the estate of Anderbury on the mount was understood to be sold or let The old mansion had remained then for a year or two vacant for it was a place of too much magnitude too expensive an establishment to keep it going to enable any person whose means were not very large to think of having anything to do with it So therefore it remained unlet and wearing that gloomy aspect which a large house untenanted so very quickly assumes It was quite a melancholy thing to look upon it and to think what it must have once been and what it might be still compared to what it actually was and the inhabitants of the neighbourhood had made up their minds that Anderbury on the mount would remain untenanted for many a year to come and perhaps ultimately fall into ruin and decay But in this they were doomed to be disappointed for on the evening of a dull and gloomy day about one week after the events we have recorded is taking place at Bannerworth Hall and its immediate neighbourhood A travelling carriage with four horses and an outrider came dashing into the place and drew up at the principal in the town which was called the Anderbury Arms The appearance of such an equipage although not the most unusual thing in the world in consequence of the many aristocratic families who resided in the neighbourhood caused, at all events, some sensation and perhaps the more so because it drove up to the inn instead of to any of the mansions of the neighbourhood thereby showing that the stranger, whoever he was came not as a visitor but either merely baited in the town being on his road somewhere else or had some special business in it which would soon be learned The outrider, who was in handsome livery galloped on in advance of the carriage a short distance for the purpose of ordering the best apartments he immediately prepared for the reception of his master Who is he? asked the landlord It's the Baron Stolmoyer Salzburg Bless my heart I have never heard of him before Why did he come from? Somewhere abroad I suppose I can't tell you anything of him further than that he is immensely rich and is looking for a house He has heard that there is one to let in this immediate neighbourhood and that's what has bought him from London I suppose Yes, there is one and it is called Anderbury on the Mount Well, he will very likely speak to you about it himself for here he comes By this time the carriage had halted at the door of the hotel and the door being opened and the steps lowered there alighted from it a tall man attired in a kind of police or cloak trimmed with rich fur for the body of it being composed of velvet Upon his head he wore a travelling cap and his fingers as he grasped the cloak around him were seen to be covered with rings of great value Such a personage coming in such style was, of course, likely to be honoured in every possible way by the landlord of the inn and accordingly he was shown most obsequiously to the handsomest apartment in the house and the whole establishment was put upon the alert to attend to any orders he might choose to give He had not been long in the place when he had sent for the landlord who, hastily scrambling on his best coat and getting his wife to arrange the tie of his neckcloth proceeded to obey the orders of his illustrious guest whatever they might chance to be He found the Baron Stolmoy reclining upon a sofa and having thrown aside his velvet cloak trimmed with rich fur he showed that underneath it he wore a costume of great richness and beauty although certainly the form of it covered was not calculated to set off to any great advantage for the Baron was mealy skin and bone and looked like a man who had just emerged from a long illness For his face was ghastly pale and the landlord could not help observing that there was a strange peculiarity about his eyes the reason of which he could not make out You were the landlord of the inn that I presume said the Baron, and consequently no doubt well acquainted with the neighbourhood I have the honour to be all that sir I have been here about sixteen years and in that time I certainly ought to know something of the neighbourhood Tiswell, someone told me there was a little cottage sort of place to let here and as I am simple and retired in my habits I thought that it might possibly suit me A little cottage sir there are certainly little cottages to let but not such as would suit you and if I might have presumed sir to think which is now to let would have been the place for you it is a large place sir and belonged to a good family although they are now all dead and gone except for one and it's he who wants to let the old place and debris on the mount said the Baron, was the name of the place mentioned to me but I understood it was a little place oh sir that is quite a mistake who told you so it is the largest place about here there are a matter of twenty seven rooms in it and it stands all together upon three hundred acres of ground and have you the assurance said the Baron to call it anything but a cottage when the castle of the Stolmoyers at Salzburg has one suite of reception rooms thirty in number opening into each other and the total number of apartments in the whole building is two hundred and sixty it is surrounded by eight miles of territory the devil said the landlord I beg your pardon sir but when I am astonished I generally say the devil they want eight hundred pounds a year for a hand debris on the mount a mere trifle, I will sleep here tonight and in the morning I will go and look at the place near the sea half a mile sir exactly from the beach and one of the most curious circumstances of all connected with it is that there is a subterranean passage from the grounds leading right away down to the sea coast a most curious place sir partly put out of the cliff with sellers in it for wine and other matters that in the height of summer are kept as cool as in the deep winter time it is more for curiosity than use such a place and the old couple that now take care of the house make a pretty penny at Arby Bound though they won't own to it it may suit me but I shall be able to give a decisive answer when I see it on the morrow you will let my attendants have what they require and see that my horses be well looked to certainly, oh certainly sir of course, you might go far indeed sir before you found an inn where everything would be done as things are done here is there anything in particular sir you would like for dinner how can I tell that idiot until the dinner time arrives well but sir in that case you know we scarcely know what to do because you see sir you understand it is very strange to me that you can either see or understand your duty I am accustomed to having the dinner table spread with all this money can procure that I choose but not before what it suits me to partake of well sir that is a very good way and perhaps we aint quite so used to that sort of thing as we ought to be in these parts but another time sir we shall know better what we are about without a doubt and I only hope sir that we shall have you in the neighbourhood for a long time and so sir putting one thing to another and then drawing a conclusion from both of them you see sir you will be able to understand peace, be gone by the use of all this bellowing to me I want it not I care not for it the Baron spoke these words so furiously that the landlord was rather terrified than otherwise and left the room hastily muttering to himself that he had never come across such a tiger and wondering where the Baron could possibly have come from and what amount of wealth he could be possessed of that would enable him to live in such a princely style as he mentioned if the Baron Stolmoyer of Salzburg had wished ever so much to impress upon the minds of all the persons in the neighbourhood the fact of his wealth and importance has not adopted a better plan to accomplish that object than by first of all impressing such facts upon the minds of the landlord of the Anderbury Arms for in the course of another hour it was tolerably well spread all over the town that never had there been such a guest at the Anderbury Arms and that he had called Anderbury on the Mount with all its rooms, all its outbuildings and its 300 acres of ground a cottage this new spread like wildfire awakening no end of speculation and giving rise to the most exaggerated rumours so that a number of persons came to the inn to get a look at the Baron but he did not stir from his apartments so that these wonder mongers were disappointed and even forced to go away as wise as they came but in the majority of cases they made up their minds that in the morning they should surely be able to obtain a glimpse of him which was considered a great treat for a man with an immense income is looked upon in England as a natural curiosity the landlord took his guest at his word as regards to the dinner and provided such a rapastor sell them indeed grace the board at the Anderbury Arms and certainly which was a monstrous thing to set before one individual the Baron however made no remark but selected a portion from some of the dishes and these dishes that he did select from were of the simplest kind and not such as the landlord expected him to take so that he really paid about 100 times the amount he ought to have done for what actually passed his lips and then what a fidget the landlord was in about his wines for he doubted not that such a guest would be extremely critical and hard to please but to his great relief he was not drinking any wine merely washing down his rapastor with a tumbler of cool water and then although the hour was very early he retired at once to rest the landlord was not disposed to disregard the injunction which the Baron had given him to attend carefully on his servants and horses and after giving orders that nothing should be stinted as regarding the latter he himself looked after to the creature comforts of the former and he did this with a double motive for not only was he anxious to make the most he could out of the Baron in the way of charges but he was positively panting with curiosity more about so singular a personage and he thought that surely the servants must be able to punish him with some particulars regarding their eccentric master in this however he was mistaken for although they told him all they knew that amounted to so little as really not to be worth the learning they informed him that they had been engaged all in the last week and that they knew nothing of the Baron whatever or where he came from or what he was accepting that he paid them the most liberal wages and was not very exacting in the service he required of them was satisfactory and when the landlord started on a mission which he considered himself bound to perform to a Mr. Leek in the town who had the letting of Anderbury on the Mount he was quite vexed to think what a small amount of information he was able to carry to him I can tell him, he said to himself as he went quickly towards the agent's residence I can tell him the Baron's name and that in the morning he wants to look at Anderbury on the Mount but that's all I know of him except that he is the most extraordinary man indeed the most extraordinary that I ever came near Mr. Leek, the house agent notwithstanding the deficiency of the facts contained in the landlord's statement was well enough satisfied to hear that anyone of apparent wealth was inquiring after the large premises to let for as he said truly to the landlord the commission on letting and receiving the rentals of such a property is no joke to me precisely said the landlord I thought it was better to come and tell you at once for there can be no doubt that he is enormously rich if that may be satisfactory proved it's of no consequence what he is or who he is and you may depend I shall be round to the inn early in the morning to attend upon him and in that case perhaps if you have any conversation with him you will be so good as to mention that I will show him over the premises at his own hour and you shall not be forgotten, you may depend if any arrangement did actually come to it will be just as well for you to tell him what a nice property it is and that it is to be let for 800 a year or sold out right for £8,000 I will, you may depend Mr. Leek a most extraordinary man you will find him not the handsomest in the world I can tell you say I and if he takes Anderbury on the mount I have no doubt that he will spend a lot of money in the neighbourhood and we shall all be the better of that of course as you well know sir this then was thoroughly agreed upon between these two high contracting powers and the landlord returned home very well satisfied indeed with the position in which he had put the affair and resolved upon urging on the baron as far as it lay within his power to do so to establish himself in the neighbourhood and to allow him to be pro-veyor in general to his household which if the baron continued in his libel of humour would be unquestionably a very pleasant post to occupy end of chapter 93 recording by Lucy Perry in Bath on the 17th of February 2009 by Thomas Prescott Prest about an hour and a half after the baron had retired to rest and while the landlord was still creeping about and joining silence on the part of the establishment so that the slumbers of a wealthy and no doubt illustrious personage should not be disturbed there arrived a horseman at the Anderbury arms he was rather a singular looking man with a shifting, uneasy looking glance as if you were afraid of being suddenly pounced upon and surprised by someone and although his apparel was plain yet it was good in quality and his whole appearance was such as to induce respectful attention the only singular circumstance was that such a traveller so well-mounted should be alone but that might have been his own fancy so that the absence of an attendant went for nothing doubtless if the whole inn had not been in such a commotion about the illustrious and wealthy baron this stranger would have received more consideration and attention than he did upon alighting he walked at once into what is called the coffee room of the hotel and after ordering some refreshments of which he partook but sparingly he said in a mild but solemn sort of tone to the waiter who attended upon him tell the baron's stole viewer of Salzburg that there is one here who wants to see him I beg your pardon sir said the waiter but the baron is gone to bed it matters not to me if you nor no one else in this establishment will deliver the message I charge you with I must do so myself I'll speak to my master sir but the baron is a very great gentleman indeed and I don't think my master would like to have him disturbed the stranger hesitated for a time and then he said show me the baron's apartment perhaps I ought not to ask any one person connected with this establishment to disturb him when I am quite willing to do so myself show me the way well but sir the baron may get in a rage and say very naturally that we had no business to let anybody walk up to his room and disturb him because we wouldn't do so ourselves so that you see sir when you come to consider it hardly seems the right sort of thing since said the stranger rising I cannot procure even the common courtesy of being shown to the apartment of the person whom I seek I must find him myself as he spoke he walked out of the room and began ascending the staircase despite the remonstrances of the waiter who called after him repeatedly but could not induce him to stop and when he found that such was the case he made his way to the landlord to give the alarm that for all he knew to the contrary someone had gone upstairs to murder the baron this information through the landlord into such a fix that he knew not what to be at at one moment he was for rushing upstairs and endeavoring to interfere and at another he thought the best plan would be to pretend that he knew nothing about it while he was in this state of uncertainty the stranger succeeded in making his way upstairs to the floor from which proceeded the bedrooms and apparently having no fear whatever of the baron stole mures indignation before his eyes he opened door after door until he came to one which led him into the apartment occupied by that illustrious individual the baron half undressed only lay in an uneasy slumber upon the bed and the stranger stood opposite to him for some minutes as if considering what he should do it would be easy he said to kill him but it will pay me better to spare him I may be wrong in supposing that he has the means which I hope he has but that I shall soon discover by his conversation stretching out his hand he tapped the baron lightly on the shoulder who thereupon opened his eyes and sprang to his feet instantly glancing with fixed earnestness at the intruder upon whose face shone the light of a lamp which was burning in the apartment then the baron shrank back and the stranger folding his arms said you know me let our interview be as brief as possible no explanations between us for we both know all that could be said by some accident you have become rich while I continue quite otherwise it matters not how this has occurred the fact is everything I don't know the amount of your possessions but from your style of living they must be great and therefore it is that I make no hesitation in asking of you as a price for not exposing who and what you are a moderate sum I thought you were dead I know you did but you behold me here and consequently that delusion vanishes what sum do you require and what assurance can I have that when you get it the demand will not be repeated at the first opportunity I can give you no such assurance perhaps that would satisfy you entirely but for more reasons than I choose to enter into I am extremely anxious to leave England at once and forever give me the power to do so that I require and you will never hear of me again the Baron hesitated for some few seconds during which he looked scrutinizingly at his companion and then he said in a tone of voice that seemed as if he were making the remark to himself rather than to the other you look no older than you did when last we parted and that was years ago why should I look older you know as well as I that I need not but to be brief I do not wish to interfere with any plans or projects you may have on hand I do not wish to be a hindrance to you let me have five thousand pounds and I am off at once and forever I tell you five thousand the man raves five thousand pounds say one thousand and it is yours no I have fixed my price and if you do not consent I now tell you I will blaze and forth even in this house you are and let your schemes of ambition or of cupidity be what they may you may be assured that I will blast them all this is no place in which to argue such a point come out into the open air walls have ears but come out and I will give you such special reasons why you should not now press your claim at all that you shall feel much beholden to me for them and not regret your visit if that we come to terms I know more desire than you can do that anyone should overhear our conversation I prefer the open air for any conference be it whatever it may much prefer it and therefore most willingly embrace your proposition come out Baron put on his traveling cap and the rich velvet cloak edged with fur that he possessed and leaving his chamber a few paces in advance of his strange visitor he descended the staircase followed by him in the hotel they found the landlord and almost the whole of the establishment assembled in deep consultation as to whether or not anyone was to go upstairs and ascertain if the stranger who had sought the Baron's chamber was really a friend or an enemy but when they saw the two men coming down at all events apparently amicably it was a great relief and the landlord rushed forward and opened the door for which piece of service he got a very stately bow from the Baron and a slight inclination of the head from his visitor and then they both passed out I have ascertained said the man who came on horseback that for the last week in London you have lived in a style of the most princely magnificence and that you came down here attended as if you were one of the first nobles of the land these things amused the vulgar said the Baron I do not mind admitting to you that I contemplate residing on this spot and perhaps contracting a marriage another marriage and why not if wives will die suddenly and no one knows why who is to help it I do not pretend to control the fates this between us is idle talk indeed most idle for we know there are certain circumstances which account for the strangest phenomena but what roaring sound is that which comes so regularly and steadily upon the ear it is the sea washing upon the coast the tide is no doubt advancing and as the eddying surges roll in upon the pebbly shore they make what to my mind is this pleasant music I did not think we were so near the ocean the moon is rising let us walk upon the beach and as that sound is such pleasant music you shall hear it while I convince you what unpleasant consequences will arise from a refusal of the modest and moderate terms I offer you we shall see we shall see but I must confess it does seem to me most extraordinary that you ask of me a positive fortune for fear you should deprive me of a portion of one but you cannot mean what you say while they were talking they reached a long strip of sand which was by the seashore at the base of some cliffs through which was excavated the passage from the coast into the grounds of anderbury house upon the landlord of the inn in his description of the advantages attendant upon that property there were some rude steps leading to a narrow arched doorway which constituted an entrance to this subterraneous region and as the moonlight streamed over the wide waste of waters and fell upon this little doorway in the face of the cliff he became convinced that it was the entrance to that excavation and he eyed it curiously what place is that it is a private entrance to the grounds of a mansion in this neighborhood private enough I should presume for if there be any other means of reaching the house surely no one would go through such a dismal hole as that towards it but come make up your mind at once there need be no quarreling upon the subject of our conference but let it be a plain matter of yes or no is it worth your while to be left alone in peace or is it not it is worth my while at such a price as that you mentioned and I cannot help thinking that some cheaper mode of accomplishing the same object will surely present itself very shortly I do not understand you you talk ambiguously but my axe said the Baron shall be clear and plain enough as you shall see could you believe it possible that I was a sort of person to submit timely to any amount of extortion you chose to practice upon me there was a time when I thought you had great sense and judgment when I thought that you were a man who weighed well the chances of what you were about but now I know to the contrary and I think for less than a thousand pounds I may succeed in ridding myself of you I do not understand you you had better beware how you tamper with me for I am not one who will be calmly disposed to put up with much the sense, tact, and worldly knowledge which you say you have before from time to time belongs to me still and I am not likely easily to commit myself indeed do you think you bear such a charmed life that nothing can shake it I think nothing of the sort but I know what I can do I am armed and I and since it comes to this take the reward of your villainy for it was you who made me what I am and would now seek to destroy my every hope of satisfaction I have addressed a small pistol which with the quickness of thought he held full in the face of his companion and pulled the trigger there can be no doubt on earth but that his intention was to commit the murder but the pistol missed fire and he was defeated in his intention at that moment then the stranger laughed scornfully and drawing a pistol from his pocket he presented it at the Baron's head saying do I not bear a charmed life if I had not should I have escaped death from you now no I could not but you perceive that even a weapon that might not fail you upon another occasion is harmless against me and can you expect that I will hesitate now to take full and ample revenge upon you for this dastardly attempt these words were spoken with great fallibility so much so indeed that they only occupied a few very brief seconds in delivering and then perhaps the Baron's career might have ended for it seemed to be fully the intention of the other to conclude what he said by firing the pistol in his face but the wily aspect of the Baron's countenance was after all but a fair index of the mind and just as the last words passed the lips of his irritated companion he suddenly dropped in a crouching position to the ground and seizing his legs threw him over his head in an instant the pistol was discharged at the same moment and then with a shout of rage and satisfaction the Baron sprang upon his foe and kneeling upon his breast he held aloft in his hand a glittering dagger the highly polished blade of which caught the moon beams and reflected them into the dazzled eyes of the conquered man whose fate now appeared to be certain Fool said the Baron you must needs then try conclusions with me and not content with the safety of insignificance you must be absurd enough to think it possible you could extort from me whatever sums your fancy dictated or with any effect threaten me if I complied not with your desires have mercy upon me I meant not to take your life and therefore why should you take mine you would have taken it and therefore you shall die no too at this your last moment that vampire as you are and as I of all men best know you to be I will take a special care that you shall be placed in some position after death where the revivifying moon beams may not touch you so that this shall truly be your end and you shall rot away leaving no trace behind of your existence sufficient to contain that vital principle no no you cannot will not you must have mercy ask the famished tiger for mercy when you intrude upon his den as he spoke the Baron ground his teeth together with rage and in an instant buried the pondured in the throat of his victim the blade went through to the yellow sand beneath and the murderer still knelt upon the man's chest while he who had thus received so fatal a blow tossed his arms about with agony and tried in vain to shriek the nature of the wound however prevented him from uttering anything but a low gurgling sound for he was nearly choked with his own blood and soon his eyes became fixed with a glassy appearance he stretched out his two arms and dug his fingers deep into the sand the Baron drew forth the pondured and a gush of blood immediately followed it and then one deep groan testified to the fact that the spirit, if there be a spirit had left its mortal habitation and winged its flight to other realms if there be other realms for it to wing its flight to he is dead said the Baron and at the same moment a roll of the advancing tide swept over the body drenching the living as well as the dead with the brine of the ocean the Baron stooped and rinsed the dagger in the advancing tide from the clotted blood which had clung to it and then, wiping it carefully he returned it to its sheath which was hidden within the folds of his dress and rising from his kneeling posture upon the body he stood by its side with folded arms gazing upon it for some minutes in silence heedless of the still advancing water which was already considerably above his feet then he spoke in his ordinary accents and evidently carrying nothing for the fact that he had done such a deed I must dispose of this carcass he said which now seems so lifeless for the moon is up and if its beams fall upon it I know from former experience what will happen it will rise again and walk the earth seeking for vengeance upon me and the thirst for that vengeance will become such a part of its very nature that it will surely accomplish something if not all that it desires after a few moments consideration he stooped and with more strength than one would have thought it possible a man reduced almost as he was to a skeleton could have exerted he lifted the body and carried it rapidly up the beach towards the cliffs he threw it down upon the stone steps that led to the small door of the excavation in the cliff and it fell upon them with a sickening sound as if some of the bones were surely broken by the fall the object then of the Baron seemed to be to get this door open if he possibly could but that was an object easier to be desired than carried into effect for although he exerted his utmost power he did not succeed in moving it an inch and he began evidently to think that it would be impossible to do so but yet he did not give up the attempt at once but looking about upon the beach he found a very large heavy stone he raised it in his arms and approaching the door he flung it against it with such tremendous force that it flew open instantly disclosing within a dark and narrow passage apparently rejoiced that he had accomplished this much he stepped cautiously within the entrance and then taking from a concealed pocket that was in the velvet cloak which he wore a little box he produced from it some wax lights and then he went on to explore the passage and treading with extreme caution as he went for fear of falling into any of the ice-wells which were reported to be in that place after proceeding about twenty yards and finding that there was no danger he became less cautious but in consequence of such less caution he very nearly sacrificed his life and then he went on to explore the passage for the most caution he very nearly sacrificed his life for he came upon an ice-well which seemed a considerable depth and into which he had nearly plunged headlong he started back with some degree of horror but that soon left him and then after a moment's thought he sought for some little nook in the wall in which he might place the candle and soon finding one that answered the purpose well he there left it having all the appearance of a little shrine again to the mouth of that singular and cavernous looking place he had evidently quite made up his mind what to do for without a moment's hesitation he lifted the body again and carried it within the entrance walking boldly and firmly now that he knew there was no danger between him and the light which shed a gleam through the darkness of the place of a very faint and flickering character he reached it rapidly and when he got to the side of the well a moment's hesitation flung it headlong down and listening attentively he heard it fall with a slight plush as if there was some water at the bottom of the pit it was an annoyance however for him to find that the distance was not so deep as he had anticipated and when he took the light from the niche where he had placed it and looked earnestly down he could see the livid, ghastly looking face of the dead man for the body had accidentally fallen upon its back in the circumstance he had not counted upon and one which increased the chances greatly of its being seen should anyone be exploring from curiosity that not very inviting place this was annoyance but how could it be prevented unless indeed he chose to descend and make an alteration in the disposition of the corpse but this was evidently what he did not choose to do so after muttering to himself a few words expressive of his intention to leave it where it was placed the candle after extinguishing it in the box from whence he had taken it and carefully walked out of the dismal place the moonbeams were shining very brightly and beautifully upon the face of the cliffs when he emerged from the subterranean passage so that he could see the door, the steps and every object quite distinctly and to his gratification he found that he had not destroyed any fastening that was to the door but that when it was slam shut it struck so hard and fast that the strength of one man could not possibly move it even the smallest fraction of an inch I shall be shown all this tomorrow he said and if I take this house I must have an alteration made in this door so that it may open with a lock instead of by main violence as at present but if in the morning when I view Anderbury house I can avoid an entrance into this region I will do so and at my leisure if I become the possessor of the estate I can explore every nook and cranny of it he then folded his cloak about him after pulling the door as closely as he could he walked slowly and thoughtfully back to the inn it was quite evident that the idea of the murder he had committed did not annoy him in the least and that in his speculations upon the subject he congratulated himself much upon having so far succeeded in getting rid of certainly a most troublesome acquaintance tis well indeed he said just at this juncture he should throw himself in my way and enable me so easy to feel certain that I shall never more be troubled with him truly I ran some risk and when my pistol missed fire it seemed as if my evil star was in its ascendant and that I was doomed myself to become the victim of him who I have laid in so cold a grave but I have been victorious and I am willing to accept the circumstances as an omen of the past that my fortunes are on the change I think I shall be successful now and with the ample means which I now possess surely in this country where gold is loved so well I shall be able to overcome all difficulties and to unite myself to someone who but no matter her fate is an after consideration End of Chapter 94 Read by Richard Wallace Liberty, Missouri 7 April 2009