 CHAPTER 104 THE BONE HOUSE OF THE CHURCHYARD OF ANDERBERRY, THE RECESSITATION, THE FIGHT AND THE ESCAPE OF THE DEAD, THE BOAT AND THE VAIN PERSUIT. The coroner, after the inquest was over, issued his precept for the interment of the body of the man who was found in the ice well of Anderbury House and whose body was deposited at the Bone House in Anderbury Churchyard. There was an end now to these proceedings, though it was much too fresh in people's minds to enable them to forget it, yet, once the coroner's inquiry over, it usually happens that a feeling of satiety arising from excitement in the first place or following that excitement and induced by the knowledge that all is done that can be towards unraveling the mystery that had caused such a sensation takes place. The town of Anderbury was first subsiding to its original quietude, and the only indication of any excitement was that among a few old topers who met in the early part of the evening to discuss anything that there might be stirring to talk about and to do that required but little inducement to talk being their principle not to say only amusement. Indeed, to have deprived them of that would have been to have deprived them of nearly their only inducement to work and to live, that they may indulge in their evening conversations at the alehouse. There was a very general belief among such people that, as the whole affair was unexplained, that it was mysterious and the nods and winks were numerous. Indeed it was thought that there was more than the usual amount of mystery. However, this has its limit, and when all is said that can be said, there must be an end to the discussion which is usually dropped for want of fuel to feed it. That night the baron sat alone in his apartment, apparently buried in deep thought, but now and then he might have been seen to lift up his eyes toward the east as if watching for something, and then he would cast them towards a magnificent timepiece on the mantelpiece and then he would again relapse into thoughtfulness. There were several such fits as these that were broken in the same manner as before, and at length he arose and took a small book off one of the tables and examined a certain page and a certain column, and then he half muttered to himself. Yes, yes, it is as I thought. The moon will rise in about an hour and a half. That will do. I will now go to the bone-house, and there watch the body, and ascertain if my fears are correct. If not, I shall be well repaid for my trouble, and should they be, why I must endeavor to make the affair take the best turn I can. I must try and prevent the completion of my own deed from being disturbed in its integrity. The dead must remain so, and if not, to that condition he must return and lie where no moon's ray will reach him. He arose and, wrapping his cloak around him, went to the door of his apartment and paused as if listening. No one is stirring, he muttered. No one is about. He stole softly out of the apartment and descended the stairs, making his way towards a small private door which opened into the garden which he secured behind him. Then he walked rapidly but softly through the garden which he quitted by another private door and which he also secured after him, and then proceeded quickly and silently towards the churchyard of Vandenbury Church, which was but ill-qualified to keep intruders out of it, seeing that there was but a low wall and a hedge for the purpose of offense which could at various places be easily scaled. Indeed there are few country-churchyards that cannot be so entered, and it does not appear usually the practice to endeavor to keep out human beings but rather to keep the yard clear of all brute intruders, for it was open to all who should choose to come. The scene was not very distinct, the moon was not yet risen, and darkness reigned upon the earth. He could see but a short way, and he cared but little for that. If darkness prevents my seeing, it also prevents others seeing me, therefore it is welcome. The moon will rise soon enough to aid me in my watch, and if it rise not at all, it would be agreeably satisfactory, seeing that there would be no probability of what I suspect happening without her rays. He hurried onwards towards the churchyard. The sea was close by, and the night breeze, as if swept across the face of the ocean, gave an indistinct roar which never ceases, but only increases and abates as a storm or calm prevails at the time, and as the wind increases or diminishes, thus increasing or diminishing the intensity of the roar, but it never entirely ceases at any time. The baron made his way towards the churchyard by an unfrequent path that was well known to him, but as he was about to get over a style into a field, he thought he heard a voice speaking on the other side of the hedge. He paused a moment and prepped along the hedge, until he came to the spot where the voice seemed to come from, and then he paused until he heard them speak again. I tell you what it is, Jack, it's a very strange affair, a very strange thing indeed. So it is. And one I can't understand at all, though I have endeavored to do all I can that way. I have thought the matter over very often, but it always comes to this, that it is a very strange affair. What can be the cause of it? I don't know. Have you seen it? I thought I did once, said the second, but it was misty and dark, but I think I couldn't be mistaken. Nor I. You have seen it oftener than I, have you not? Yes, yes, I have, several times. How did you see it? Why thus? I was looking out for the lager, and there away in the east I saw something white coming across the sea. It came very steady and slow, and looked small at first. Yes, yes? Well then, after that it came closer and closer, until I saw it changed its shape to a gigantic woman. A woman, exclaimed the other. Yes, or maybe a man in a winding sheet. That is most likely, though, after all. I think so, too, he replied. As sure as there are dead bodies in Andebury churchyard, it forbodes some great evil. Of that I am very well persuaded. What great evil do you think will happen? How can I tell? I am no prophet. I cannot imagine in what shape it should come, but come it will, depend upon it. If it comes not now, when it does come, remember my words. I will. And you will find them all true some day or other, if it don't come too soon to be pleasant. But I think something may happen to the lager. She has not been seen these two days, and it is now past the time when she ought to have been in. Thus it was with the other lager that the revenue cutter took. Did you see the apparition? No, but there was a token, I believe, but I was not in those parts at that time. Well, but how did it happen that they let the lager be taken by the king's men? Oh, they couldn't well help it. You may depend upon that. She was coming from Cherbourg, laden with brandy and with lace, a good cargo, and worth something, I assure you. She must have been worth something. She was. Well, she had a very good run for a part of the way, when a fog came on. Well, it wasn't well understood what they were to do. Some were for putting back, others for standing where they were, and some few for running in shore. I shall run in shore, said the captain. I know every hole upon the coast, and I know the exact spot where we are and how to steer. I can run the vessel to an inch. And that inch may do the business for us all, said one of the crew, but I am ready. And I too, said the captain, and I will run her where there will be no chance of any meeting with the preventive people. But the fact is, we can neither see nor be seen. We are safe, boys, a good run on shore in a swift voyage home. Huzzah, shouted the men, and the vessel was run towards the shore, and at the same time they were going under an easy sail, safe and secure, and had no thought of any evil. There was a lookout at the same time we could not see two yards beyond the vessel. The watch was alert, but he could see nothing. But suddenly he called out, Ship ahead, port your helm. What ships that, inquired a voice, and in another moment they found themselves alongside the revenue-cutter from whom they had so long and so often escaped. Bored, shouted the officer on board, and then he called upon our people to surrender. But the captain drew his sword and called out to the crew to do as he did and defend the ship. And as he spoke he cut one man down, but was immediately met by a pistol-shot which laid him dead on the deck. After that there was no resistance. The men didn't want to endanger their lives by resisting men who were doing their duty and protected by law. They were, moreover, outnumbered by the revenue-people, and if they resisted they would be liable to hanging, whereas they could but imprison them. They were all taken and they were all imprisoned for different crimes, all, however, getting free after a term. Did that ruin the owners? Oh, no, they calculated upon a last now and then, and can well afford it, too. Well, what do you think of the Baron at Andeberry House? Think, why think he's a trump? What a glorious hall there would be there if we could get hold of it. How do you mean? Buy the plate and other things that are valuable. Look you now, if we could load the lager with the contents of the house, what would they not fetch in Paris? We should not get it if we were to take it there. We should obtain a heavier profit than ever we should under any other circumstances, and I think it will be a very good plan indeed to take Andeberry House by storm. There's some thousands of pounds worth of plate and jewellery there. So there is. Well, what do you say to make the attempt? Attempt I say, but I shall not call it an attempt, for there will be no attempt at resistance. We shall have only to walk in and frighten a few servants. There will be nothing but to carry away what we lay our hands on. That will do anything that will pay. The Baron had been an attentive listener. He had, moreover, had some thoughts in his own mind of jumping over the hedge and seizing the two men, but upon second thoughts he believed that this was the worst that could be done. I will frighten them and thus prevent them from putting their designs into practice to my damage. The Baron silently collected several large stones and clods of earth into one space, and then he peeped through the hedge. He saw where they lay, and took up two clods, pitched one on each of their heads, and then he said when they started up. Full sinners, the eye of heaven is upon you. Go your ways and repent while there is time. The men were for a moment horrified and stood still, chained to the spot. But suddenly they were released, and in a moment they rushed from the spot with the fleetness of deer. The Baron watched them out of sight, and then he muttered to himself. "'Tis well, they are now out of sight, they are gone, and they will make no attempt upon Andeberry House, I'll warrant them they think their design will be penetrated by others, and they will suffer for it should they attempt it. I trust I can make a very good resistance, however it is worth thinking off.' He paused a few moments longer, and then turned towards the churchyard. He pursued his way, however, thoughtfully. Every now and then, however, he looked around to ascertain if anyone were present, but he was satisfied there was none, and thus he was quite and entirely alone in his walk. There was now light enough to enable him to distinguish objects at a short distance, and he quickened his pace as he thought of the moon's rising. But a few minutes brought him into view of the Church of Andeberry. The old church was seen to advantage at such an hour, for as the sky was cloudless and the stars were out, the tapering spire looked like some great and gigantic indication raised there for some purpose pointing heavenward. There was a deep gloom surrounding the whole place, for there was not a shadow cast by any one object, neither had the church one side that was lighter than the other. In a very short time the baron reached the charnel house or the bone house as it was more usually called. He was a small place attached to the church itself. The wants of the population were not great, and therefore all these public places were built with the view only of a limited use. It was large enough for all purposes, and as large as it is usual for them to be in such places. And the baron, before he attempted to enter the place, took a walk all the way round to ascertain if there was anyone lurking about. But finding none he returned to the door of the charnel house with the full intention of going in. However there was no key, and he could not therefore enter it by the usual way, and he must find some other. There is sure to be something or other, he muttered, to cause a temporary stop to one's career in some place or other, but I will not be deterred by such a trifle. There is a place in the roof somewhere here, I think, where I can get in with but little trouble. The baron looked about for a place that would enable him to climb up, but he suddenly withdrew his hand, exclaiming, Piloa, what have we here? It was soon settled, and the baron held up between him and the light the key of the charnel house which he had found as he put his fingers into a niche to assist him in lifting himself up to the roof. This is lucky and will save me much trouble, but I have not much time to spare. He put the key into the lock and found it fitted the lock, and he in another moment opened the door of the charnel house and entered its unwholesome precincts. There were but few who would have entered that place at that hour, knowing, too, that a man was lying dead that had died a violent death. Few indeed would have done so, but the baron was himself above such considerations, and besides he had an object in view which was of some importance. He desired to watch the body of the murdered man. He desired to stay there and watch the effects of the moons raise upon it. He now smelt where he was, for there was that fetid smell of death which always hangs about the bone-house which is a receptacle of all the mortal remains of man which have been once cast into the grave for which their friends have paid large fees, as well for the ceremony as for the quiet enjoyment of the home of death, but which bargain must be continually violated and the bones of a man's ancestor, instead of ornamenting some museum, or his carcass doing some good by way of instruction, lie rotting in the graveyard till the sexton digs up the same ground and takes fresh his fees, but burning the bones of the former. The baron entered the receptacle of the remains of mortality, one after the other have men's bones been thrown in here or perhaps they have been mixed together so that it would have puzzled an angel to have separated them from each other. What more could mortals expect? Their bones at least will form a fuel to be sure, but very indifferent fuel too. Here however the baron entered and stepped lightly into the place. It was an uncomfortable place at best, cold, cheerless, very bare, save of such things as would remind one of the sexton's duty and of the nature of the place in which he was. The first thing the baron did was to look towards the place where the window was placed, but no light came in. He advanced to it and gazed out upon the night. Well, well, he muttered, the moon is just rising. There will be time enough and I can remain in this place as long as any of its rays penetrate the windows. He paused a few moments, during which he looked out upon the country, but always wrapped up in gloom and darkness, save where some of the moon's beams fell, and then there could be seen some dark spots more prominent than the rest. And then, after a while, he could distinguish between the different objects, though he could not always tell their different parts. Well, he muttered, I am here now and am housed. Fa, how the place smells! I shall never be able to remain here. I shall never get the scent from my nostrils. He turned from the window and examined the place. It was a square room with bare walls, a few shelves and some odd lumber thrown into one corner, a ladder, some tools, trestles, and a lot of rubbish in the shape of old pieces of coffins, bones, and other matters that belonged to a churchyard. There was very little in all this to make the place at all likely to become popular with anybody. The shell in which the man had been placed was, from some cause or other, upset from off the trestles, and the body had rolled out. It lay in all its ghastly proportions at full length upon the ground, somewhat on one side, and looking towards the window. The posture showed the body was deprived of life. It was still and motionless, not a sound or motion escaped the lips of the barren as he gazed upon the victim of the ice well. Well did the barren mark the position of the body and marvel at the singularity of the accident which had exposed the body in the way in which it laid? I wonder what could have been the cause of such an accident? Who could have thought it would have happened? I am sure I never could have expected it should have happened. He took one of the trestles that lay near the body and placed it so he could gaze upon the corpse and out the window alternately without any disturbance to himself. Here I can watch the progress of the moon, he thought, and the body too, and if I find my conjectures are right I will soon prevent his quitting this place and put him in such a position as shall preclude the possibility of the revivifying powers of the moon ever reaching him again. He shall lie till corruption visits his body and then a return to life be impossible. Thus muttered the barren as he gazed fixedly at the body of the man who had met his death in the manner related and of whom the barren entertained some singular suspicions. The moon was rising above the horizon and shed a soft light over the fields and woods. It was strange and silent, save when the church clocks struck out the hours as they fled. It was a strange sound and almost startled the barren to hear the hour come booming through the building and gave such a sound that it broke the awful stillness of the night which reigned. The moon all the while rising higher and higher in the heavens until its beams came very near the window. The barren's patience became somewhat impaired. He saw that the time would soon arrive when his curiosity must be satisfied and when the truth would at once break in upon him. Can it be, he muttered, that the dead should ever again rise to communicate with the world and live to lead a loathsome life? Impossible, and yet it is said so by many who assert they speak but the evidence of their own senses. If it is to be depended upon at all, it will be as well for me as they. Why should I not be satisfied as well as they are? I have, moreover, more than ordinary motives for satisfaction. The human bloodsuckers shall not live. I am resolved upon that. The moon beams now entered the window of the charnel house. At first it was but a pencil-ray, so small and minute, that the barren himself could scarce perceive it, but he did see it and kept his eye intently fixed upon it, watching its increase in size and change of position with intense excitement. There was the moon rising high in the heaven with all its myriads of stars and black canopy studying the vault with innumerable gems, and as it rose so it gave a far greater change to the aspect of the landscape than would have been expected. The whole side of the charnel house was illuminated by the moon's rays, but they fell a slant and only entered the window in one direction, which cast them on one side near where the barren sat. He could now see how the place was furnished. The significant appurtenances of the charnel house were easily discernable and would have given a melancholy turn to the thoughts of anybody who might have examined them. But not so the barren. He was by far too excited to heed them, though he honored them with a passing glance. They were used by the sexton in the prosecution of his business, in the performance of his duties. Therefore there need be but little attention paid to them. It cannot harm any one, but are the means of frightening fools. To frighten the barren was, however, something more than a mere matter of course. His nerves were strung to the purpose with which he visited the place, and they were not to be disturbed by any insignia whatever. There were plenty of ghastly objects about, bones, legs, hands, arms, and even skulls, relying about in profusion, or rather they were heaped up in one corner of the place, and there was an attempt to hide them by heaping up old boards in front of them, as if it were done on purpose to prevent the prying eye of man from peeping and seeing the secrets of the charnel house. It is strange but true, being accustomed to such scenes as these causes a diminution of the awe and fear in which such things are usually held. Soldiers and sailors care not much for death. They are used to exposure, and the loss of life does not seem to them so terrible as to those who have never faced danger. So with the sexton, he turns up the remains of mortality as if they were so much rubbish and never had been endowed with life. Indeed it was only necessary to become familiar with the remains of man, and then much of the awe and mystery attending them dies away. What cares the grave-digger whether the burial-service has been read over the remains or not? What cares he if the ground in which they have been placed is consecrated ground? He can't tell the difference, and it matters not to him. He is above such consideration, and so is he and his patrons, as to whether the spot in which the remains lie has been bought and paid for long ago. He has no objection to sell again that which has been sold and that which has been used as the resting place of someone or other. No matter they say, the mystery, the freemasonry, and awe have been instituted for the multitude and not for those who are behind the curtain and pocket the fees. That is the great object of the conspirators. However, here they were all lumped up together on one side, or rather in one corner, with a few boards thrown over them as if to prevent their being seen by any incidental intruder. Here the Baron sat, watching the moonlight in its slow progress towards the dead body, and as it crept towards the object he felt more and more excited, but yet remained perfectly immovable. He turned his eyes sometimes from the body to the streak of moonlight that passed through the small window, and then to the small window itself, from which he could see the moon himself, but that was fast rising too high and was becoming invisible by changing its position so that the Baron could not see it. The moon travels fast, he muttered, and a few more minutes will tell me what I am to expect. As he spoke these words he felt in his pocket and appeared satisfied with what he found there, possibly some weapon. The moon's rays were now within an inch or so of the body, and all was still and silent as the grave. No sound, no motion, not even a breath of air stirred to interrupt the silence and stillness of the scene. Even the breathing of the Baron himself was suppressed, and he strove to watch without motion. The moonlight appeared to grow more brilliant, more beautifully white, and cast as he thought a stronger and more sickly light than usual into the charnel house. There was nothing that he had ever before seen like it, and he looked around him more than once to assure himself that he was where he was, and that he was alone with the body in the bone-house. At such moments the fancy is apt to play us strange freaks, and if not a strong and nervous man, capable of throwing off any extraneous influence, why he would soon be bowed down by the weight of mental terror and agony, that is, nothing short of temporary madness, and which probably would make a permanent impression and leave the seeds of mental disease forever. But the Baron was not easily moved. He had not been brought up in schools where the mind is bound and chained from infancy by artificial means which seemed to bind the powers of the mind in after-years and in moments of doubt and difficulty to render it dependent upon any extraneous circumstance rather than itself. However, there were few things thought of then by the Baron who sat intently watching the progress of the moon's beams towards the body which was now touched by them. The light fell strong. It edged the white garments that were thrown around the body. The Baron watched more and more intently, and each moment lessened the space of time when the truth would come out, and he would be assured of the truth of his conjectures. There was no ray on the body yet, but it slowly and slowly let the light approach the body. The edge was illumined, and then the moon beams fell more and more upon it. Gradually did they enlarge its surface till the whole body was in the light of the moon. The Baron's excitement and expectation were now at the highest, for the whole body was illuminated. Now, he exclaimed in a muted whisper, now is the moment. No sooner was the whole of the body, the breast, and the face illumined than there was a perceptible quiver through that form. Ha! exclaimed the Baron with a start. The features presented a ghastly spectacle. There was a peculiar sickly and horrible expression in the countenance, much of which was caused by the peculiar position in which it was placed, the peculiar color of the moon's rays, and the additional horrors of the place all seemed to give an effect to an object peculiarly ghastly and horrible. The body, after a few moments, as if awakening to life and recollection, lifted up its head and turned over upon one side towards the moonlight, and then, after a moment, it looked up in the moon's rays, which seemed to pour down upon the countenance that lifted up towards it. The Baron rose softly and stealthily. You shall feel that this is your last hour. The newly awakened life, which feeds upon the blood of others, shall never exist to carry on its disgusting career. As he muttered these thoughts to himself, he drew a short dagger from his pocket. At the same moment, the figure turned its face towards him. It gave a half unearthly scream as its eyes met those of the barons who exclaimed, now, now is the time, death to the monster. As he spoke, he threw himself headlong on the prostrate form of the vampire for such it was, which, as he did so, endeavored to rise up and escape. The Baron, who had aimed a deadly blow at him as he threw himself upon him, caused him to fall back again. But the fearful being had contrived to ward off the blow, either with its arms or by means of shifting its position or something of the sort. The Baron missed the blow and was now in a deadly struggle with the vampire. The struggle was fierce, no signs of shrinking on the part of the Baron who carried it on with the full intention of its ending fatally to his opponent while he was exerting himself to escape the muscular grasp of the Baron. The Baron, however, was not a match for the more than superhuman strength of the vampire, who, endued with all the energy of love of a newly acquired life, struggled with a desperation scarcely to be conceived. Had anyone looked in from without upon the struggle that was going on within, they would have believed that some demons of the dead had suddenly become endued with the power of appearing upon earth and had chosen that spot upon which they could exercise their malignity in combat with each other. Suddenly, however, the Baron was thrown with great force upon the ground and he lay for a moment half stunned. When the vampire, disengaged as he was, stopped to cast a magnificent look of triumph upon his fallen foe and dashed out of the Bone House by the same entrance as that which afforded ingress to the place, to the Baron. In another moment the Baron rose up and rushed after the flying vampire, his defeat by no means extinguishing his courage or ardor. He soon caught sight of the vampire as he was flying from the Bone House. Indeed the moonlight was now so strong that it seemed almost day. Every object far or near appeared distinct and observable, while the waves of the ocean appeared every now and then to throw off the silvery light like a thousand moving mirrors. Beautiful as the scene was, there was none there who stood to look upon it. The only living and breathing persons present were those who were engaged in the chase. Not a soul save these two were about. None saw them, none witnessed the fearful efforts of the two. The place looked like some spot of earth spoken of by the enchanters. All was motionless and still, save these two, and the ceaseless motion of the ocean waves. The vampire made for the shore, with the Baron a short distance behind him. They strained every nerve, and the Baron thought he should succeed in securing him on the beach. There were some boats that were secured on the beach, and towards these the vampire sped with the fleetness of the wind, and no sooner did he reach one than seizing its head, he caused it to run through the sand by the impetus he had acquired in running, and it was afloat in a moment. There was no time to lose, for just as he had pushed into deep water, the Baron had rushed down almost in time to seize the boat but missed it. He then made for the boats and succeeded in reaching one that was afloat, secured only by a rope. In this he pushed out in the waves in pursuit of the object of his search. A way they both went, the sea was comparatively smooth. They both rode with velocity that promised much as regarded their capability as rowers. The spray of the water was thrown up by their oars and by the boats' heads. The Baron, however, had the worst of it. He rode to disadvantage, because every now and then he had to turn his head to see which way the object of his pursuit was rowing, and, therefore, a loss of speed occurred, but yet he kept up well in the wake of the vampire. There was, however, no attention paid as to where he was going. As long as it was straight in the wake of the flying, he was satisfied. But he saw nothing else, nor looked at odd else. Indeed, the world might have been there, and he would not have been aware of the fact. His whole faculties were bound up in the object before him, to reach which he exerted his whole strength. However, upon looking up again, he could nowhere see the vampire. He looked long and steadily in all quarters, but saw him not. He had eluded him. CHAPTER 105 of Varni 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 Baroni. Varni the Vampire Volume 2 by Thomas Prescott-Prest, Chapter 105 The Baron proposes for Helen Williams, and is duly accepted, with a compliment on his beauty. The Baron had put out to sea in chase of the vampire, without considering that there was really great danger in so doing, in as much as that the elements were not quite in a kindly disposed condition, and there was a heavy sea. Where he had obtained his skill as a seaman, Heaven only knows, but certain it is he had obtained such knowledge somewhere, for he commenced navigating the boat with the greatest skill, and soon succeeded in getting close and sure. The moment the keel grated upon the beach, a man rushed into the water, and laid hold of the boat with one hand, and the Baron with the other, exclaiming, You are my prisoner. You took my boat, and I don't care who or what you are, I will have justice. How much money do you require? More than you would like to pay, I shan't let you off under a pound. Here are five pounds. Law, excuse me, Your Honor, I didn't mean what I said. If so be as your honor is such a gentleman as I now sees as your honor is, it don't make any matter in the world. I hope's as our Your Honor will always take my boat when you once won, and no mistake. The Baron made no reply to all these compliments, but walked away at once towards his own house on the cliffs. I have missed him. He muttered. And all my labour has been in vain. I thought that at least I had got rid of that affliction. I thought that he at least would have rotted in the tomb. Thus on the tardiness that left him unburied until the moon-beams had rested upon him. After that all was in vain, unless some new death had come over him. There was a flush of anger upon the Baron's face as he reached his own house, and led himself into it by a garden gate that he always kept the key of, which would have effectually prevented any of his servants from taking any notice of him had they met him. But at such an hour it was not likely he should meet any one. Or did he do so? He had once sought his own chamber, where he remained for some time immersed in deep thought. This thought was not wholly devoted to a consideration of his annoyance at the escape of the vampire, but he took into his most serious thoughts the circumstances attending upon his entertainment. The question of to marry or not to marry was not one that had to be settled by the Baron. No, that he had done already, and he had not made the announcement he had to Mr. Leek of his matrimonial intention unadvisedly. What the Baron now considered was whether he should propose to Miss Helen Williams or not. He certainly had been somewhat struck by the quiet beauty of the young girl, and probably he was aware that he was not just the sort of person to win a young maiden's heart, and that if he achieved such an honour at all, it would most probably be in consequence of acting upon the cupidity of her relations. As he was determined therefore to marry, it became necessary that he should select some one for his victim, who, in addition to the personal charms which appeared to him to be a decideratum, should be of so pliant and amiable a disposition as to give way to those solicitations and incessant remonstrances which she was likely to be assailed with if she resisted. It was fortunate for Mr. Leek that the Baron did fix his regards upon Helen Williams, because from what we know of Mrs. Williams we can well perceive that it is quite evident she will not let any considerations of her daughter's happiness stand in the way of an equitable arrangement with that gentleman. And although there might have been, and indeed were, persons at the Baron's entertainment whom he would more gladly have called by the name of Bride than Helen Williams, yet he was not slow to perceive that those parties had wills of their own, and if their relatives had pleased to do so, they would not themselves had admitted that they were up for sale to the highest bidder. The result of the Baron's considerations, therefore, was that Helen Williams would suit him very well, and that the poverty of her family was just the circumstance of all others which ensured his success. I will wed her," he said, although I cannot win her. She will be mine, because I shall purchase her, which, to my mind, is a much more admirable mode of embarking in a matrimonial career than the trouble of a tedious courtship with all its frivolities and follies. Whether or not the Baron was used to matrimonial affairs we cannot say, but certain it is he did not seem to consider that the proposing for a young lady and marrying her was a matter of very grave or serious moment, but really, by the style in which he considered it, anybody would have thought it one of the most ordinary concerns of life. During his short stay at Andebury he had managed, by the magic power of wealth, to procure everything he required in the shape of servants, carriages, and horses, and now, on the morning after his most strange and mysterious adventure with the corpse of the murdered man, he ordered his carriage, and went out to pay a number of visits to the parties who had been present at his entertainment. Among those visits he included one to the Williams's family, and by about twelve o'clock in the day reached their residence, and was received with such an extraordinary amount of bustle that it was quite ludicrous to see it, but still it suited him, because it showed how they worshipped wealth, with the exception of Helen, and she did not make her appearance at all. His Williams was all smiles and sweetness, paying so many compliments to the Baron, that although he knew nothing of the diplomatic arrangement of Mr. Leek, he yet felt quite certain that he had her with him most completely, and that none of her exertions would be wanting for the purpose of securing his victim. After these compliments had somewhat subsided, the Baron said, Madam, I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing your daughter Helen, who did me the honour of being at my poor entertainment the other evening, and attracted while there the eyes of all beholders. Oh, certainly, my Lord Baron, I have not the slightest doubt in my own mind, but that Helen is quite, quite panting, in a matter of speaking, for the honour of seeing you again. You are very obliging, madam, and I can assure you that one of the most gratifying circumstances that have occurred to me during my short residence in this neighbourhood, had consisted in the fact of my making the acquaintance of you and your amiable family. Will you excuse me for one moment? said Mrs. Williams, and after a courteous bow from the Baron, she left the apartment, and proceeded to the room of her daughter Helen, whom she addressed, saying, Helen, are you aware that the Baron is here, the great Baron, the Baron Stolmure of Salzburg? Good God! How can you be so foolish? He has actually asked for you, and you are not there. When you know as well as I do, Helen, that such a man is that to whom the expense is no object might pop in a moment? He might what, mother? Pop the question! Propose, of course. Don't tell me that you don't know what I mean. I have no patience with such nonsense. Only think how rich he is. You know as well as I that it would be the making of you and the whole family, and I can tell you, Helen, that if you are not a positive fool, in my opinion, he will pop, for there was quite a particular expression upon his face when he asked for you. But I fancy, mother, there is always a particular expression upon his face. A particularly ugly one, I mean, for beyond all question he is the most ordinary man I ever saw in my life. Now really, Helen, you are enough to vex a saint. What can a man's looks have to do with his property? But what's his property to me, mother? Oh, good gracious! Have I lived here a child of mine? Ask what a man's property is to her when he begins to be attentive? I did not expect it. I will confess I did not expect it. I did think there would be a little consideration on the part of a child of my own. When she knows I have to strive and strive and stretch our means like a thin piece of Indian rubber to make both ends meet. But, mother, if I cannot love this man, wherefore should I for one moment entertain the thought of making him my husband? Self! Self! exclaimed Mrs. Williams, lifting up her hands. Nothing but self! I cannot suppose, mother, that it is an extraordinary act to decline sacrificing one's whole existence for the sake of marrying a man with money, who cannot only not love, but who is an object of positive aversion as this man is to me. Yes, exclaimed Mrs. Williams, that's right. See me drag to prison and see us all without shoes to our feet. That's what you would do, rather than give up your nonsensical notion about people's looks. But why, said Helen, should these calamities which have never yet appeared all suddenly come over us, because I do not feel inclined to marry the barren stall-murder of Salzburg? And as for the man's looks, added Mrs. Williams, rather adroitly shifting the argument and declining to answer the rather home question put by Helen, as for the man's looks, I am quite ashamed of any daughter of mine talking about men's looks. It's indelicate, positively indelicate. I cannot see your argument, mother, and I implore you not to persecute me about this man whom I really cannot love. Persecute indeed! But I tell you what it is, Helen, you don't seem to be at all aware, first of all, that I am drowned in debt. Secondly, that I shall have to bring your brother Charles home from college to make him a tailor, or a shoemaker, or something of that sort, and you will have to go out as a daily governess while I rot away by slow degrees in a prison. But mother, if these evils are all about to fall upon us, cannot some fair means be adopted of extrication from them, your income I always understood was a certain one, and surely it almost amounts to criminality to live far beyond it. Not at all, when you expect your daughter to be a reasonable Christian, and to marry decently and respectably. Really, my dear, I must say that I little expected such remarks as you make from a child of mine, I can tell you. Mrs. Williams was right enough there, for it was a wonder that such remarks should come from a child of hers, who could not be supposed to have heard any such sentiments, but who must have from the mere force of a just and admirable disposition given utterance to them. Mother, she said after a pause, do not fancy that I would not do much to relieve you from any burdens you may have, and if difficulties have arisen, they are to be remedied in the best way we can, as well as regretted. But I pray you not to ask me to wed this man whom I cannot love. Well, well, I am sure you make a terrible fuss, and I don't know what about for my part. It's nothing, I'd rather suppose, and after all, the baron may not be going to propose it all for you, and I may be wrong. As Mrs. Williams thus admitted the possibility that she might be wrong, she looked with an expression of countenance as much to say, did you ever in all your life hear of such virtue as that or such self-denial? Then what do you wish for me to do, mother? To see him? You cannot put such a slight? Indeed, I might almost say an insult upon him as not to see him when he actually calls and asks for you? He is, you know, after all, a gentleman. Helen found it difficult to say that she would not see the baron, so although it was done with great reluctance, she followed her mother to the room in which that lady had left him, and where he did most anxiously expect her. He felt that his cause was not quite so good as it had been, and that the non-appearance of Helen got up some serious doubts as to the complying disposition he thought she had. When, however, he at length saw her, some of those fears were dispelled, and he began to imagine that his suit did not look quite so desperate. There was certainly about the baron a rather courtly air and manner, which as Mrs. Williams said showed that he lived in the best society, and Helen would not allow her aversion to the man to carry her so far as not to behave to him with politeness, so that for some moments that the conversation proceeded any one would have thought that those three persons were upon the most amicable of terms with each other. But Mrs. Williams, like some skillful old general, was well versed in matrimonial tactics, and after making a few remarks she deliberately left the room to pour Helen's great chagrin, for although she had consented out of ordinary civility to see the baron, she had by no means intended to have a tete with him. That was quite another affair, and one may well suppose what a degree of indignation she felt at being forced into such circumstances, and by her mother too, who of all persons in the world ought to have protected her, and to whom she ought to have looked certainly for very different things indeed. It was a very awkward situation to be placed in for poor Helen. Inasmuch as she now really could not leave the baron completely alone without great rudeness, and yet she much dreaded in consequence of the hints that her mother had thrown out what the interview would be that was about to ensue. How devoutly and particularly she hoped that after all the supposition of her mother that the baron had any matrimonial intentions toward her was a mistake, and she felt that the first words he might utter would be the means of chance letting her know if such really was the case, or if she was to be what she could not help styling the victim of his addresses. Of course the baron knew perfectly well that Mrs. Williams had taken her departure for the express purpose of giving him an opportunity of pressing his suit to her daughter, if he felt so disposed, and as he did feel so disposed he was not at all likely to neglect the opportunity. None but a man of great tact and discretion, however, could have made so good use of such an opportunity as the baron, for although he certainly did not succeed in removing from the mind of Helen Williams a strong feeling that he was an uncommonly disagreeable man, he did not add to that impression. Miss Williams, he said, I have not until now had an opportunity of thanking you for the very great favour you did me by making one at the party at Underbury House. The obligation, said Helen, was on my side, sir, and I beg that you will not pay me so empty a compliment as to endeavour to make it otherwise. You do yourself a great injustice. The grace which you lent to my entertainment was to my mind its greatest charm. I feel, I assure you, compelled to say so much, because it is the genuine truth, and not for the purpose of paying to you an empty compliment, which I have too much respect for you to do. Helen was silent, for she knew not very well what to reply to the speech, inasmuch as it was one of those general ones that require no reply, unless the persons to whom they are uttered choose to enter at length into a civil complementary kind of warfare for the express purpose of so doing. The baron waited for some reply to be made, and then as none came he spoke himself, saying after at least two minutes' pause. Miss Williams, you may or you may not have heard that my principal intention of settling in this neighbourhood, which I was informed, and I find correctly so, is celebrated for the respectability of its inhabitants, was to marry. Sir, said Helen, I know nothing of that matter, nor do I think it is one with which I ought to be in any way troubled. Without explanation certainly not, Miss Williams, but will you allow me to add that unless my speech had contained certainly something more than a mere compliment, or a mere desire to give you a piece of gossiping information, I should not have uttered it on any account, but I have something to add to it, which does concern your private ear most particularly, and which I do hope will meet with your favourable consideration. He paused again, and as Helen returned no answer, he after a time continued, saying in a still lower tone, May I venture to hope that no preconceived prejudice will have the effect of diminishing any expectations and hopes with which I have pleased myself. It is said, and said most truly too, that there are none so blind as those who won't see, and the same rule may be most unquestionably applied to those who won't hear or understand, and although it was, of course, impossible that Helen Williams could have any doubt as to what the Baron meant, she was resolved that he should speak out plainly in order that she might, without giving room for any ambiguity, likewise speak as plainly to him, in answer to the proposition that was upon his lips. Perhaps the Baron was wise enough to see that much, for he proceeded now with much more clearness to declare what he meant when he said, I told you, Miss Williams, that my object in coming here was to contract a matrimonial alliance, being tired of the solitary life I had been leading for some years. I should not have troubled you with such a communication had it not been in my power to add to it another that will explain why I did so. Helen merely inclined her head to signify that she heard him. That other communication, he continued, is to the effect that I have found the person on whom I feel convinced that I can fix my affections without the possibility of their ever wandering again from the dear object. Amid all the rank, beauty, and intelligence that graced my halls upon that occasion, which will ever be hallowed in my imagination, I had eyes but for one form and ears but for one voice. Still Helen was silent. There may be many who, in the possession of much attraction and much virtue, may make many happy homes, but the heart calls its own flower and will think that it presents the most delicate and most beautiful tints to the eye. That flower, from amidst all the galaxy of beauty, I think, nay, I know that I have selected. Can you not now guess the purport of my simple words, Helen? It was tolerably familiar to call her Helen upon so short an acquaintance, and she drew back, looking some astonishment, which he perceiving and divining the cause, for no one could accuse the barren of want of tact, replied to, Forgive me, if in conversing with you my heart seems to forget the distance that is between us, and I think of you by that name which certainly is presumptuous on my part to call you by, but there are persons in whose thoughts and feelings we so deeply sympathize, and who, from the first moment that we see them, become bound to us by so many mysterious links of feeling, that we seem as if we had known them for ages, and as if, from that moment, we could be as familiar, I much more so, than with many whom we may have met often in the great world. This was true, and what is more, it happened to be a truth that touched a right cord in the breast of Helen Williams, for she felt what he said recall recollections of the past, when there was one whom she had seen, and from the first moment that she had seen him, had felt that time and circumstances could affect no change in those first, dear and delightful impressions which had swept across her heart. The baron saw the contemplative aspect of her face, and he added, You feel the truth of what I utter? She started, for she had indeed felt the truth of the sentiment, although her heart was far away, and for a moment she had completely forgotten the existence of the baron, or that it was from his lips she had heard the sentiment expressed. It was a mortification to him to see this, for he did see it, and he said, Miss Williams, I hope I have said enough at all events to convince you that I am not one of those cold, worldly-minded spirits who have none of what may be truly called the higher and the nobler feelings of humanity, but who can and who do feel and think that there is much of beauty and much of innocence in life, and that both are the dearest and best gifts of heaven. I have nothing to say in contradiction to what you have uttered, said Helen, but you will, I trust, now excuse me, sir, from continuing a conversation which can have no good result, and which between persons who are nearly perfect strangers is scarcely desirable. This was a speech which, if anything, would was calculated to bring the baron to the point at once, and as she rose while she uttered it, as with an intention of leaving the room, he at once said, Nay, as I am here, allow me to utter that which I came to speak, and do not I pray you hastily decide upon a question of more importance to yourself and to me than any which can be ordinarily asked. Let me beg of you, Miss Williams, to be seated, and to believe that in my manner of putting this question to you, there shall be nothing which can, in the slightest degree, prove offensive to you. Thus urged it would have been something savoring of ill manners if Helen Williams had refused to accede to his request, and although there was nothing she so devoutly wished as that that interview should be over and over quickly, she felt that perhaps the surest way of accomplishing that object was to listen quietly to what he had to say, and accordingly she did so, reseating herself again on the chair she had so recently occupied, and determined in her own mind to give him a decisive answer. He then seemed rather in doubt as to how he should commence, and as he spoke there was an air of hesitation and doubt about him such as he indeed very seldom wore. Probably he felt it was rather a climax that he had arrived at, and that if he was to accomplish anything in the matrimonial way it was a very doubtful case as regarded his present application. I cannot but feel, he said, that what I am about to say sounds hasty and premature, considering that we have known each other for so short a space of time. It is not for me to enlarge upon circumstances which I fear will have but little weight with you, but still it is my duty to mention that I have a large fortune, and consequently can afford to place the object of my affections in such a position in life as that she shall feel surrounded with everything that can make her existence pleasant and desirable. Go on, sir, said Helen. I am staying to hear you in order that I might clearly and distinctly answer you. This was by no means encouraging, but still the baron proceeded. I wish to make you an offer of my hand and heart, and as the baroness stalmure of Salzburg I am quite certain that you will add a dignity to that title instead of receiving one from it. Sir, said Helen, an offer of this kind from any gentleman is a compliment which ought always to be appreciated, and I assure you it is one which I feel highly, but as one's future happiness in a marriage is by far too important in a fair to be trifled with, I must beg to decline the honour you intend me. Decline! said the baron. Yes, sir, I said decline, and I trust that the justice of the baron's stalmure will effectually preserve me from anything in the shape of a persecution for so declining. At this moment, and before the baron could make any answer to what was said to him by Helen in this firm and determined manner, the door was flung open and Mrs. Williams rushed into the room. My dear sir! she cried to the baron. Of course you understand these matters perfectly well. Girls, you know, are always so very unreasonable that you can't expect anything from them but a refusal at first, although they may really mean quite the reverse. Mother, is this just or fair? said Helen reproachfully. Oh, stuff! stuff! Don't speak to me about justice and fairness, indeed, when you are so absurd as to behave in this dreadful manner towards the baron. But, madam, said the baron, I fear, fear nothing, my lord, but if you will have the kindness to step into the next apartment for a few minutes I will join you, and we can talk this matter over. Mrs. Williams did not think it at all necessary to make any excuse for having listened to the baron's overtures, and perhaps indeed she thought that it was not necessary to do so, and that her interest in the affair was a sufficient extenuation of what certainly was a most abominable proceeding. Shame and disgust at her mother's conduct now kept Helen silent, and as the baron was perfectly willing to give himself all the chances he could, he made a low bow and left the apartment, in conformity with the desires of Mrs. Williams, wondering much in his own mind by what miracle she proposed influencing her daughter's decision after the extremely positive she had given to his proposal. He waited with much impatience, as well as curiosity, and as our readers may as well as the baron be a little curious to know what arguments Mrs. Williams used, we shall proceed to give them a brief outline of what she said. Are you mad? was the first ejaculation. Are you thoroughly and entirely out of your senses that you behave yourself in this extraordinary manner? In what extraordinary manner? A man asks me if I can wed him and love him, and as he asks me politely, I tell him as politely that I cannot, which is the whole of the affair. Is there anything so very extraordinary in such behavior as that? Indeed, I think there is something very extraordinary in it. I tell you what it is, Helen. Mr. Leek is firmly of the opinion that the baron's income must be at least ten thousand pounds a year. I do not think I shall marry a man for his income if it were ten times that amount. This is insanity, positive insanity. Have you really the least idea of what you are talking about? But I know what it is well enough. I know very well what it is. Of course, it's that fellow James Anderson that comes between you and your wits. That's the scant that prevents you from exercising a proper control over yourself, and you know it is. But he is gone to sea, and it is to be hoped we shall never look upon him again. I don't wish to see him, and I am quite sure you need not so you had better make up your mind to marry the baron at once. This is too cruel, much too cruel, and but that I see it with my own eyes I would not have believed it possible. She burst into tears as she spoke, and then for a brief moment, but it was only for a moment, the heart of the mother was a little touched. The love of money again assumed its sway, and the happiness of her child sunk into insignificance compared with that worst of passions. Listen to me, Helen, she said. It's all very well to make choice of who you like, and refuse who you like, when it can be done. But I tell you that in this case it cannot be done, for we are all of us on the brink of ruin, and if you will not by this marriage rescue us from that state, destruction must come upon us all. You can save me, you can save your sisters, and you can save your brother if you will. Of course if you will not, I cannot make you, and you will have the consolation of knowing that although you had it in your power to save us all from destruction, you did not do it. But why should I be placed in so cruel a situation as to be called upon to sacrifice myself completely for my family? Would it not be nobler to meet difficulties if they have arisen with a good spirit? As you please, as you please, I can say no more. Mrs. Williams moved towards the door, but Helen called to her, saying, Give me time to think. I only ask you to give me time to think. This was a grand concession, and Mrs. Williams at once acceded to the proposition that it was prudent to leave well enough alone in such a case, and that having once seen that persecution would do something, it was highly desirable to leave it to work its way. She accordingly at once left the room, and proceeded into the adjoining apartment to which the baron had retired, and where from his attitude it seemed highly probable that he had taken example by Mrs. Williams, and as she had listened to his conversation with her daughter, he had in like manner listened to her. I have the pleasure to inform you, baron, she said, that my daughter, although at first taken a little by surprise as regards your offer, now accepts it, and I can only add for my own part that it is with great pleasure I contemplate having so handsome and distinguished a son-in-law. Madam, I highly esteem your compliment, and I must beg of you as a favour that you will fix the wedding-day as quickly as you please or can, and that, as it must put you to some expense as well as your other daughters, and as it would be very unjust that on my account you should expend one penny-piece, you will do me the favour of accepting from me a five hundred pound note to cover those expenses. Mrs. Williams quite instinctively held out her hand, but the baron added with a bow that dampened her expectations a little, a sum which I shall have the pleasure of handing to you as soon as the wedding-day is fixed. It would be doing great injustice to the acuteness of Mrs. Williams if we did not say she quite understood this to be a bribe for expediting proceedings, and if anything was likely to clench the matter and to place the marriage of the baron with Helen beyond the shadow of a doubt, it certainly was this fact that five hundred pounds was offered to the mother for what we cannot help calling the sale of her child. But these kind of things are much more common in society than people are at all aware, and one half the marriages that take place at all are most unquestionably matters of barter, when the highest bidder obtains the prize, if prize that can be called, which generally consists of a shallow conceited heart nurtured in all kinds of selfishness and full of feelings not one of which can be considered great or estimable. It is sad indeed, when as in the case of Helen Williams the victim is made a victim on account of her better and nobler feelings and where it is not her own selfishness but the selfishness of others which she is condemned to be victimized to. Whether she will or will not consent under the circumstances we have narrated to become the bride of the baron's stole-mure of Salzburg we shall shortly discover, but certain it is that he entertained a strong notion she would and that Mrs. Williams thoroughly made up her mind that she should. Nothing can save Helen but a determination of character which we fear we cannot say she possesses. Her correct reason makes her say things which if she could carry them out would be as proper and as decisive as possible, but the great fault of her character consists in a weakness of purpose which effectually prevents her from carrying out the suggestion presented to her by her own superior intellect. 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 Avali Vani the Vampire Volume 2 by Thomas Bresquet Brest Chapter 106 The preparations for the baron's marriage the young lover and the remonstrance So it appeared that the baron was right and that with all his disqualifications he had succeeded in obtaining the promise of her wife because he had the one great qualification which outshone everything to his disadvantage namely wealth and he was not so blind or so foolish as not fully to understand and to know that it was to the relatives of the bride and not to the bride herself that he was indebted for an answer in the affirmative to his proposition. He well knew that although he had dazzled their eyes and awakened their cupidity he had produced no such an effect upon the young and beautiful being who was about thus to be sacrificed upon the altar of Mammon. And probably if anything could have added to his earnest desire to make her his it was that he saw she was untouched by the power of his gold and therefore he could not but respect as well as admire her and he much preferred taking to his arms one for whom he entertained a supreme and sovereign contempt. She felt that she was a victim and that if she consented to become his she must look upon herself as blighted and sacrificed forever but he was too selfish to hesitate on such a ground as that. His feelings were far from being so human as to stop short because he knew the alliance was viewed by her with hatred and horror and that she did view it with those feelings spared him at all events as he told himself some trouble for it took away from the necessity of keeping up the constant shew and glitter of wealth for that shew and glitter affected her not and therefore would have been presented to her imagination in vain. But far different was it regarded her friends and connections who had arrogated to themselves the power of deciding upon this matter of life and death to her. To them he felt that he must shew all the glitter of display that belonged to his extensive means or they would be disappointed but they not only wanted riches themselves but they wanted the worldly reputation contingent upon having so rich or relative. Therefore was it that he determined that nothing should be wanting at his approaching nuptials to make them most magnificent and he raked his imagination to discover a mode by which he could spend a large sum of money so as to get for it the greatest amount of display. This was a matter which a man such as he was imminently calculated to achieve and as he succeeded in fixing his nuptials to take place in a fortnight from that time he had ample time to make all such preparations as he might consider requisite. It so happened that on the following evening on that on which he had obtained so strange a consent through another party to his matrimonial speculation that the sun sunk upon the coast with every appearance of approaching stormy weather. Scarcely had its disk sunk below the western horizon when a furious gala rose and for the first time since his residence at Antipary Hall he felt what it was to hold an estate so near to the sea coast. The sea rose tempitiously appearing to shake the mansion to its very foundation and more than one half of the excavation leading from the grounds to the sea coast was filled with water. The gale blew off the sea and one or two trees upon the Antipary estate were torn up by their roots spreading destruction around them among the numerous shrubs and flowers. Some of the windows of the mansion were dashed in and the wind came roaring into the house whistling up the staircases opening and shutting doors and altogether procuring a scene of devastation and uproar which would have terrified most persons. The Baron Haviv on the contrary notwithstanding whatever damage was done was of course done to his property took the matter with the greatest ease and composure in the world and in fact rather seemed to enjoy the fury of the elements than to be awed by them. He remained out of doors the whole time and although the rain now and then fell in torrents and drenched him to the skin he seemed scarcely conscious of that circumstance or if he were he evidently thought it too trivial to take any notice of. The servants looked at him in amazement scarcely believing it possible that anyone in his senses could be so indifferent to the rage of the elements that was proceeding but they little knew the real character of the man whom they had for a master or they would have wondered at nothing and been surprised at nothing that they saw of him or heard of him. The storm continued until the night completely set in and still it sure no signs whatever of anything in the shape of an end and it seemed but too evident that it was likely to continue in all its wild and ungovernable fury for many an hour to come. He got as close as he could to the beach so as not to leave his own estate and from there he listened attentively to the howling of the blast seeming rather pleased with the idea than otherwise that much mischief was being done by that most terrific storm. A servant brought him a telescope so that he could look out upon the waste of waters and see some of the struggling vessels that with might and main were endeavouring to keep off the shore but which despite all their efforts were being hurried to destruction a destruction which they could not avoid and which must present itself in the most serious aspect because it appears inevitable and is invested with all the misery of a protracted execution and in particular he remarked one vessel which was drifting onward to certain and inevitable destruction. He could see the rockets and the blue lights that they burned now and then through the storm while ever an anon with a booming strange sound over the waste of waters they would come the signal gun of distress with its awful reverberations awakening feelings of sympathy in the breast of every one but the Baron and he seemed impenetrable to all human feeling for he looked on with a strange calmness a calmness that one might suppose would set upon some man who had nothing to do with human hopes human thoughts or human feelings but not by any means that calmness of a pure spirit looking upon things which it would aid if it could but which are beyond its power of action he saw the anxious strong of persons on the beach precisely below his own estate he saw them launch a boat and with a grim smile he saw it swamped in the surge and the brave bold men who had made the gallant endeavor to save their fellows met themselves with but one exception a watery grave and then even the Baron smiled and muttered to himself what is all this to me what have I to do with human hopes and feelings what is it to me whether they live or die or whether yarn ship that I now say struggling through the waste of waters reaches its destination or is engulfed forever in the forming surge what is it to me I repeat whether these bold brave men live or die will they not be the very persons to hunt me from the face of society will they not be the very persons who would declare that I was unfit to live and shall I trouble myself with one thought as to whether they live or die ah they come nearer nearer nearer still and I shall see such a sight as may not often be observed by one such as I am and on such a coast as this there was a strange wild wailing cry and the ship which was a large one struck heavily upon a rock about a mile distant from the shore and very close indeed to where the and debris estates commenced now as if seized with a sudden impulse although we cannot and do not think it was one of humanity the Baron descended by a large fissure in the rock to the beach this took him some time to accomplish for he had to walk completely through the grounds of the and debris hall half a mile beyond before he reached it and then it took him some time to walk down because he had to do so with extreme caution in as much as the heavy rain that had fallen had made the ground so slippery that it was with great difficulty he could at all keep his feet when he arrived in the site of the beach the ship was gone but a life boat was being launched amid the horrors of the multitude for the purpose of picking up some of the survivors of the wreck who were noticed drifting upon portions of its hull the Baron had brought his telescope with him and he placed it to his eye and took a long and steady look at the boat a muttered malediction came from his lips and having shut the telescope he turned and hastily pursued his path again to and debris house after the wedding jack Pringle really felt himself so upset by the quantity of health he had drunk and the general manner in which he had disposed of a quantity of rum that he told the admiral he found himself not quite so well as he ought to be and that he thought it was all owing to having been out of sight of water for so many months this was a plea which sounded very reasonable to the admiral and when jack said you know it ain't possible to live very long without a claims at least of an arm of the sea or something of that sort the old man ascended to the proposition at once and replied well that's true enough jack and i shall have to go somewhere myself soon or else get musty for you may depend it never was intended that human beings should live all their lives on land i should think not said jack and i what i was going to say was that you must try and take care of yourself you old baby for a day or two while i take a run to the coast it ain't above 25 miles and mind you don't get into any mischief till i come back confound your impudence it's a very odd thing that you can't come into my presence without a lie in your mouth you know you have been as much trouble to me as a cargo of monkeys in a storm be off with you and if i never see your face again it will be a good job jack considered that he had quite sufficiently announced his departure so he set off at once and made his way towards the coast not a little pleased as he added to fancy that every now and then he kept snuffing the seer and when the coach in which he went put him down within about four miles of a little village inhabited by fishermen he walked that distance although same alike it was an exercise he was by no means fond of and to his great joy once most stood upon a sandy beach and heard the murmur of the ocean and saw the waves curling at his feet he was quite delighted and really felt or fancied he felt which was the same thing wonderfully invigorated by the change and quite another thing to what he had been under such circumstances jack was sure not to be long in picking up a companion so in one of the cottages into which with all the free and easy manner of a sailor he strolled he found an old man of war's man retired there to spend the remainder of his days along with his son and daughter we feel that it would be quite impossible for us to do justice to the meeting between those two worthy's for they soon found out the capabilities of each some grog which jack thought the sweetest he had tasted for a long time because it was drunk within the sight of the ocean was produced and then the tales they set to telling each other of their adventures afloat would have been enough to stun anyone we have rather a fear likewise that in some cases they were not so strictly particular as they might have been had they been upon their oaths as regards truth but they seemed to be upon the principle of mutual forbearance and the implied understanding of you believe me and i'll believe you whenever this kind of rivalry however commences between invigorate storytellers there is no saying to what length they will go and jack certainly related some extraordinary things they happened both to have been to the same latitude but of course they had not both seen the same science exactly or enjoyed the same adventures so what one did not know or could not invent the other pretty soon did so that between them they made up a most entertaining conversation and one which really would to anyone who was willing to be amused and not very particular about veracity have had great charms i said the old sailor when i was in the coast of ingy the air melted off my head did it said jack oh that's nothing at all we had a couple of men roasted at the wheel with the heat and they didn't know it till they were both done brown you didn't say so yes i does and what's more we always had a meet cooked over again upon one of the gun slides and after that when we were a long way southward it was so cold not one of the crew shut his eyes for a week indeed but you spoke of a man as you called safety jack who was he i should like all for to know when i was on board the fame our captain was a no-nothing sort of sure-going lover who had been carved a pair of swabs over better men's heads and uncommon a fear he was of getting into any danger he was always coming on deck on a morning and grabbing a kind of a hurry scurry scared look all around him he'd say if so be as he said no land where are we is there any danger then our first love he'd say no danger sir only a little fear then the captain he'd say all the while looking as scared as a marine in a squall let us be safe let us be safe that's all so we called him safety jack in consequence of that peculiarity well you must know as we were running for the cape and safety jack he wouldn't be persuaded but insisted upon hugging the coast of africa all the way cause as he said it looked safer to see the land so as it happened when we neared the cape we got into a regular north westerly current that's set clear away southeast so it might be a few points more southerly the wind too blew in the same direction and it seemed a bad job all together our love then says say see to the captain that safety jack you must understand it will take us some time to work into the bay with this wind and current but we can do it is it safe said safety jack oh yes said the other though i have known a vessel of small draught to be capsized here way safety jack at this turns very pale and he says well run before the wind a few links to the south it's safer and and the gale may go down and we may get out of the current and and besides it's safer well everybody grumbled that safety jack would have his own way and we went spanking along with the wind and current nearly due south but instead of getting out of the current we got further into it and the gale increased to a hurricane we went through the water at such a rate that the men who stood facing the wind could not button their jackets or shut their eyes and there was the mate and five able-bodied men holding the captain's hair on his head the men's teeth too were all blown out of their mouths and kept rattling among the rigging like a half dozen old shot in a locker on we went faster and faster till all of a sudden we saw the rails flapping against the masts and the ship was evidently turning around in spite of the helm we are out of it mumbled safety jack i think we are in for it cried the mate this is a whirlpool and so it was round and round we flew like lightning coming nearer to one point at each turn the men all fell down on the deck as giddy as geese and safety jack he began screaming just to give you an idea of how we went around there was two of the crew as had a squabble about a bottle of rum and one of them says if i can't have it you shan't and there it goes shiking it behind him well you'll hardly believe it but the ship was going round so fast in a circle of about a mile that a further bottle could drop the man as through it was brought round to it again and it knocked his eye out well presently the ship gives a kind of shivering and stops for half a moment and safety jack he screams again then the water opened like a well hole and just for a moment we could see it bubbling and lashing like a boiling cauldron then down we went into the forming surge like a lump of lead you don't mean to swear to that yes i do at any time in any day i should think so and rather think i ought to know as i was there and how did you get saved that's the question my boy you ought to be satisfied about that i should think said jack by seeing me here if i had not escaped i rather suppose i shouldn't have been here to have told you about it that's all very well but i asked you how you escaped oh that's quite another thing i floated about for eight weeks upon an empty tar barrel eight weeks did you say yes eight weeks two days four hours and three quarters the dues you did how came you to be so mightily particular as to the three quarters because i thought some fool would be sure to ask me oh that indeed but the most odd thing that happened to me i will say was when i was once right on an island that we called a flea island flea island what a wrong name what made you call it that i should like to know oh a trifling circumstance there was nothing in it but fleas and they were asked because elephants very good said jack i can believe that because there is nothing outrageous about it i don't consider myself at all difficult to please and so long as you stick to such things as that nobody can doubt you will find it all right with me i'm very much obliged but should you happen ever to come across that captain of yours again yes but it were a good while afterwards i was on board veiler that i saw something floating that looked like a great hump of chalk and when we picked it up who should it turn out to be but safety jack and what they call putrified and turn to something like white coral you don't mean that yes i do we keep him out of curiosity for about a week lashed up to the main mast but the men of the night watch was scared at him and threw him overboard because they said when the moonlight fell upon him he for all the world looked like a ghost and they couldn't keep their eyes off him which i dare say was somewhere about the truth you certainly have seen a little service but makes yourself another glass of groan and i shall do the same for i don't mean to turn into hammock tonight what for because there's going to be a storm i have not been looking in the weather for so many years without being able to tell that before it comes there will be a storm before 24 hours are over and i think it will blow off the sea so that there will be no end of mischief jack pringle went to the door of the fisherman's hut and although the evening had set in he cast a scrutinizing glance at the heavens looked earnestly in the direction from whence the wind proceeded and when he came back again and sat down by the site of the old sailor he said you're right they will not only be a storm but such a want to as they haven't seen for some time so i shall no more think of turning in than you do who knows but what vessel may be drifted in shore and then we who are semen will be able to do more good than a score of your sure going fellows who are afraid if the salt water gets above their ankles that's true enough when the wind does rise in this way and blows a strong gale it's pretty clear that there will be something in the shape of wreck to look at the prognostications of jack and the old sailor turned out as we know to be tolerably correct for the strong which they had anticipated was precisely that severe one which roused the barren stoll moor of salt's perk from his lethargy and induced him to go down to the beach to see what was likely to be the fate of the vessel from which the signals of distress had proceeded as soon as the wind began to howl and the waves to dash upon the shore jack pringle and the old sailor left the cottage and stood with great anxiety upon the beach anxious to render what assistance they could to those who were suffering from the fury of the storm we have before mentioned that a boat that the barren stoll moor saw swamped had ventured out to the assistance of the crew in that boat had been jack pringle and he had refused to allow the old sailor to accompany him on account of his age no no said jack this is a work for youngsters and they and they only ought to set about it you remain where you are we know well enough that your well is good and let that be sufficient and now my lads who will go with me jack soon got a few good volunteers and started out on his chivalrous expedition to see what could be done towards rescuing some of the crew of the distressed ship which alas what the barren had said about the fate of that boat was true although he was incorrect as regarded the consequences of its swamping to all on board for jack pringle in consequence of being a first-rate swimmer and possessed likewise as he was of great coolness and presence of mind contrived to reach shore again although he was the only one of the ill-fated crew who really did so but as jack himself said they died in a noble cause and as everybody must die sometime in some sort of way he didn't see that they had anything very particular to complain of in that respect it wasn't a second occasion however that jack was going out with a live port that the barren reached the beach and then as if indignant that such daring attempts should be made to save what he evidently thought so little of namely human life he retired in indignation again to his home but not all the barrens in the world would have stopped jack in his chivalrous enterprise and so he proceeded at once to carry it out to the best of his ability and he did pick up a man who was nearly exhausted and clinging with but a faint hope of deliverance to a portion of rec end of chapter 106 chapter 107 of Vani 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 Vali Vani the vampire volume 2 by Thomas Press Get Press chapter 107 the young sailor saved by Jack Pringle turns out to be an important personage it was not the least gratifying part by any means of Jack Pringle's going to the seaside that in consequence of that occurrence he had been instrumental in saving the life of a fellow creature and when he returned to the cottage of the fishermen wearing in his arms the apparently lifeless remains of a young man who had been clinging to a portion of the rec the chair that greeted him from the bystanders was certainly the most grateful music that had ever greeted his ears he had a strong impression on his own mind that the young man whom he had removed from the rec would recover and that impression he was wonderfully well pleased to find verified by the fact the care and acidity of the family upon whose hospitality the young stranger was thus by the fury of the elements thrown succeeded shortly in restoring him to perfect consciousness he showed a disposition then to arise but this Jack Pringle and the old fisherman would not permit for they both knew from experience in such cases how essential rest was so the darkened the room in which he lay and left him to himself well said Jack as the sat together what do you think of that young fellow I cannot for my part make out very well what he is although I can say what he is not and that's a seaman no he's no sailor certainly and he's more likely to have been a passenger on both the merchant man than anything else and if so it's an odd thing that he should have been the only one saved out of the ship's crew when there much have been men used to such disasters and one would think capable of taking care of themselves it is an odd thing but there is no accounting for it we shall hear all about it though when he recovers sufficiently to speak to us without doing himself any mischief certainly and that will be after he has had a sleep for then he will be all right for mind you I don't think he was insensible on account of having been in the water so much as because he was so thoroughly tired out that he didn't know what he was about the stranger slept for about four hours and then he awakened greatly refreshed by the slumber and quite able to give some account of himself without fatigue after expressing his most grateful thanks for the service that had been rendered to him to which Jack listened with great impatience because he really did not consider it a service at all but one of the most natural things in the world for a man to do who saw another in distress he said I was captain's clerk on board a kings ship called Undyne and we had a smart affair with the nest of pirates on the African coast we were absolutely attacked by four or five of their vessels at once and having sunk three and captured the remainder during which however we lost some officers and a number of men our captain determined upon sending home a dispatch of the transaction which he entrusted to my care hang pirates said Jack they ought all to be hung up at the yard arm without judge or jury but I suppose they are by this time pretty well settled I have no doubt of it for it was the captain's intention to stare to the nearest port and there be evidence against them and get them in due course executed he put me on board a merchant vessel with my dispatchers and a more prosperous and pleasant voyage we could not have until the storm which arose off the coast here and proved the destruction of our vessel ah said jack it's always the case if anything happens it's within sight almost of the port you are bound to so it is said the old fisherman all is safe out in the blue waters but when you least expect it and things are looking quite pleasant and people are brushing themselves up to go unsure then all of a sudden something will occur and you'll find yourselves a wreck it would seem so said the young stranger and at all evens that was our evil fortune whatever it may be anyone else's for we were indeed just congratulating ourselves upon being at home or nearly so when this terrific storm arose and I suppose I'm the only survivor out a crew of 28 men the only one said jack I'm sorry to say all had sunk before the life port had reached you and what's more several brave fellows lost their lives in the first attempt to pick up some of the crew so it has been the most disastrous matter altogether but sure ups at the fisherman it might have been worse for I have known cases when a ship has gone down and not left one survivor to say who or what she was or tell the tale of her destruction and I too said jack on what part of the coast said the stranger am I for during the night we have drifted so far and been so beaten about by the gale that whether we came 20 miles or a hundred I cannot tell why the town at close here is called anterbury and a briefs claim the young man is it possible that my faculties have been so confused by the danger I have been in as not to know this coast this is the very place to which I should have proceeded post haste directly I concluded my business in London at that morality indeed then you had better stay here at once and go to that morality afterwards for I dare say that will answer the purpose just as well tolly wins and I suppose you have lost your dispatchers I have indeed but yet it is my duty to report myself as soon as possible but now that I'm in anterbury I cannot resist the opportunity of calling upon a dear friend who resides in this town do you happen to know a family of the name of Williams no said jack I never heard of them except you mean a bill Williams that was once on board the ocean frigate as a cook no no I mean a family residing here one of the members of which is dearer to me than life itself well said jack it is good fortune that has cast you here since that is the case it is not likely that I should know anything of the people you speak of because I'm a stranger in the place myself and have come a distance of 25 miles just to have a look at the sea and nothing else and good fortune brought me here in time it appears to save your life and I only hope you will find your sweetheart true to you I can have no doubt of that well it's a good thing to be confident but for my part I always had very serious doubts and when I came off a voyage I frequently found that my sweetheart had picked up with somebody else in the course of about a week after I was gone but in this case said the young stranger I would stake my life upon the fidelity of her whom I wish so much now to see well said jack of course you please yourself but before you make a fool of yourself by calling upon her just satisfy yourself upon the subject that's all and get some friend to make an inquiry for you or else perhaps you will be served as I was once how was that why the fact is when I was younger than I am now I took a fancy to a nice little creature of the name of Jemima West whom I fully intended to marry and so I told her before I started upon one voyage that I meant to be my last for you see I had a pretty good stock of prize money and I meant to set up a public school at Liverpool and did she prove false to you a little when I came home of course I walked off straight to where she lived her father and mother were very respectable people and amused themselves with selling coals and potatoes so in I walked as I used to do into the shop and so on bang into the parlor and their sad Jemima much as usual neither very clean and neither very dirty well on the other side of the fireplace was a fellow smoking a pipe and when I caught hold of her and gave her half a dozen regular kisses he takes his pipe out of his mouth and opens his eyes like an old crocodile why my girl I said how are you oh I don't know she said I didn't expect to see you anymore no said the fellow with the pipe and I'm damned if ever I expected to see you at all who the devil are you who the devil are you says I but however that don't much matter for be you whom you may if you don't pretty quick take yourself off I'll kick you out that's a good joke says he to talk of kicking a man out of his own house after coming in and kissing his wife like a steam engine a very good joke wife says I do you say you are this fellow's wife yes says she and she pretended to wipe something out of the corner of her eye with her apron yes says she I thought she would round long ago and so I thought I might as well be Mrs. Juggles now you may guess mess made what a damned fool I looked after that and how glad I was to back out so you see I advise you to make some inquiries just before you take upon yourself to be so positive about your sweetheart the young man laughed as he said I think I'll chance it and not withstanding your misadventure I have some reason to believe that I shall not be so unfortunate but at all evens I will take your advice and make some previous inquiries it shall not be said that I fell into any misadventure of that nature for want of ordinary caution that's right don't be above taking advice and do you know I shan't be at all surprised that you will find your sweetheart going to be Mrs. somebody else but come here's dinner will be ready directly yes said the old man it will as soon as my son returns from Antemory where he has gone to buy a bit of fresh meat for you for I thought you would be tired of fish and we had nothing else in the house I regret much giving you so much trouble but I shall have my pay to receive when I reach London and will take care that you are amply recompensed or don't mention that and by the by here he comes well Tom what have you brought a leg of mutton said Tom I ain't a judge of nothing else but I thought I might venture upon that at all evens I think somebody told me it was very good with shrimp sauce rather or not mixture that Tom and not quite usual I should say well the old fellow was on the grin that told me on account of an old woman that had been to them to ask for some credit for a month or two because her daughter was going to be married to a baron somebody who they say has taken Antemory on the mound and is immensely rich did you hear her name Tom oh yes I have seen her before in the town it's old mother Williams and it's her daughter Helen as is going to be married well I never cried Jack I say miss me didn't I tell you the murder is out now that's your sweetheart ain't it the young man turned very pale and for a few moments he did not speak but when he did so he said there must be some mistake I could stake my life upon her constancy then a precious goose you would be said Jack to do any such thing for I wouldn't stake my little finger upon any woman why man it's just what you ought to have expected it's the way with them all out of sight out of mind and I'm only surprised at a fellow of your sense not knowing that so you seem to be up to a thing or two it cannot be it cannot be I must go myself to seek Helen and at once put a stop to these rumors which I'm convinced arise from some misconstruction and probably a confusion of names I know that Mrs. Williams is a selfish woman and it is possible that she might not hesitate in sacrificing one of her daughters to gold but that one cannot be Helen who has pledged her faith to me well said Jack take advantage of any doubt you can but it would be very absurd for you to go interfering in a matter yourself you leave it to me to make the necessary inquiries well to use Romania's Nagan unknown and I promise you on the word of a British seaman that I'll bring you exact news all about it I accept your offer gratefully for if she be faithless to me I wish never to encounter her again but to leave her to enjoy what happiness she can with that other for whom she has broken her faith with me good said Jack that's the wisest plan for after all you're seeing these murders who's to blame but the girl herself and you can't very well give her a thrashing you know for as regards the fellow of course she don't say anything to him about you and he can't tell but what she is a regular free trader true true and the best thing therefore I can do to make certain of controlling my temper in the transaction is not to see her unless I can make certain that she is faithful to the vows she has plighted to me but let me beg of you as quickly as possible to end my state of suspense in doubt I believe you said Jack I'll go at once to find it all out you shan't be in doubt much longer and of course I hope that things will turn out to your satisfaction although I can't say I expect they will the hope that they will is life itself to me and I shall wait here with an impatience bordering upon positive agony for your report end of chapter 107