 CHAPTER 17 THE EXPLANATION So sudden and so utterly unexpected a cry of alarm from Flora at such a time might well have the effect of astounding the nerves of any one, and to no wonder that Charles was, for a few seconds, absolutely petrified and almost unable to think. Mechanically then he turned his eyes towards the door of the summer house, and there he saw a tall, thin man, rather elegantly dressed, whose countenance, certainly, in its wonderful resemblance to the portrait on the panel, might well appall anyone. The strangers stood in the irresolute attitude on the threshold of the summer house, of one who did not wish to intrude, but who found it as awkward, if not more so now, to retreat than to advance. Before Charles Holland could summon any words to his head, or think of freeing himself from the clinging grasp of Flora, which was wound around him, the stranger made a very low and courtly bow, after which he said, in winning accents, I very much fear that I am an intruder here, allow me to offer my warmest apologies, and to assure, sir, and you, madam, that I had no idea that any one was in the arbor. You perceived the rain as falling smartly, and I made towards here, seeing it was likely to shelter me from the shower. These words were spoken in such a plausible and courtly tone of voice, that they might well have become any drawing-room in the kingdom. Flora kept her eyes fixed upon him during the utterance of these words, and as she convulsively clutched the arm of Charles she kept on whispering, The vampire, the vampire! I much fear, added the stranger in the same bland tones, that I have been the cause of some alarm to the young lady. Release me, whispered Charles to Flora. Release me, I will follow him at once. No, no! Do not leave me, do not leave me, the vampire, the dreadful vampire! But Flora, hush, hush, hush, it speaks again. Perhaps I had to account for my appearance in the garden at all, added the insinuating stranger. The fact is, I came on a visit, Flora shuttered. To Mr. Henry Bannerworth, continued the stranger, and finding the garden-gate open, I came in without troubling the servants, which I much regret, as I can perceive I have alarmed and annoyed the lady. Madame, pray except of my apologies. In the name of God, who are you? said Charles. My name is Varney. Oh yes, you are the Sir Francis Varney, residing close by, who bears so fearful a resemblance to- Pray go on, sir, I am all attention. To a portrait here. Indeed. Now I reflect a moment, Mr. Henry Bannerworth did incidentally mention something of the sort. It's a most singular coincidence. The sound of approaching footsteps was now plainly heard, and in a few moments Henry and George, along with Mr. Marchdale, reached the spot. Their appearance showed that they had made haste, and Henry at once exclaimed, We heard, or fancied we heard, a cry of alarm. You did hear it, said Charles Holland. Do you know this gentleman? It is Sir Francis Varney. Indeed. Varney bowed to the newcomers, and was altogether as much a disease as everybody else seemed quite the contrary. Even Charles Holland found the difficulty of going up to such a well-bred gentlemanly man and saying, Sir, we believe you to be a vampire, to be almost, if not, insurmountable. I cannot do it, he thought. But I will watch him. Take me away, whispered Flora. Tis he, tis he, oh, take me away, Charles. Hush, Flora Hush, you are in some error. The accidental resemblance should not make us be rude to this gentleman. The vampire, it is the vampire. Are you sure, Flora? Do I know your features? My own? My brother's? Do not ask me to doubt. I cannot. I am quite sure. Take me from his hideous presence, Charles. The young lady, I fear, is very much indisposed, remarked Sir Francis Varney in a sympathetic tone of voice. If she will take my arm, I shall esteem it a great honour. No, no, no, God, no! cried Flora. Madam, I will not press you. I am very proud, and Charles led Flora from the summer house towards the hall. Flora, he said, I am bewildered. I know not what to think. That man most certainly has been fashioned after the portrait which is on the panel in the room you formerly occupied, or it has been painted from him. He is my midnight visitor, exclaimed Flora. He is the vampire. This Sir Francis Varney is the vampire. Good God! What can be done? I know not. I am nearly distracted. Be calm, Flora. If this man be really what you name him, we now know from what quarter the mischief comes, which is, at all events, a point gained. Be assured we shall place a watch upon him. Oh, it is terrible to meet him here. And he is so wonderfully anxious, too, to possess the hall. He is. He is. It looks strange, the whole affair. Flora, be assured of one thing, and that is for your own safety. Can I be assured of that? Most certainly. Go to your mother now. Here we are. You see? Fairly within doors. Go to your mother, dear Flora, and keep yourself quiet. I will return to this mysterious man now with a cooler judgment than I left him. You will watch him, Charles? I will indeed. And you will not let him approach the house here alone? I will not. Oh, that the Almighty should allow such beings to haunt the earth. Hush, Flora, hush! We cannot judge of his all-wise purpose. It is hard that the innocent should be inflicted with its presence. Charles bowed his head in mournful assent. Is it not very, very dreadful? Hush, hush! Calm yourself, dearest, calm yourself. Recollect that all we have to go upon in this matter is a resemblance, which, after all, may be accidental. But leave it all to me, and be assured that now I have some clues to this affair. I will not lose sight of it, or of Sir Francis Varney. So saying, Charles surrendered Flora to the care of her mother, and then was hastening back to the summer-house when he met the whole party coming towards the hall, for the rain was each moment increasing in intensity. We are returning, remarked Sir Francis Varney with a half-bow and a smile to Charles. Allow me, said Henry, to introduce you, Mr. Holland, to our neighbor, Sir Francis Varney. Charles felt himself compelled to behave with courtesy, his mind was so full of conflicting feelings as regarded Varney, but there was no avoiding, without such brutal rudeness as was inconsistent with all his pursuits and habits, replying in something like the same strain to the extreme courtly politeness of the supposed vampire. I will watch him closely, thought Charles. I can do no more than watch him closely. Sir Francis Varney seemed to be a man of the most general and discursive information. He talked fluently and pleasantly upon all sorts of topics, and notwithstanding he could not but have heard what Flora had said of him, he asked no questions, whatever, upon that subject. This silence, as regarded a matter which would at once have induced some sort of inquiry from any other man, Charles felt told much against him, and he trembled to believe for a moment that, after all, it really might be true. Is he a vampire, he asked himself. Are there vampires, and is this man of fashion, this courtly, talented, educated gentleman one? It was a perfectly hideous question. You are charmingly situated here, remarked Varney, as, after ascending the few steps that led to the hall door, he turned and looked at the view from that slight altitude. The place has been much esteemed, said Henry, for its picturesque beauties of scenery. And while it may be, I trust, Mr. Holland, the young lady is much better. She is, sir, said Charles. I was not honoured by an introduction. It was my fault, said Henry, who spoke to his extraordinary guest with an air of forced hilarity. It was my fault for not introducing you to my sister. That was your sister. It was, sir. Report has not belied her. She is beautiful. But she looks rather pale, I thought. Has she bad health? The best of health. Indeed. Perhaps the little disagreeable circumstance, which has made so much food for gossip in the neighbourhood, has affected her spirits. It has. You allude to the supposed visit here of a vampire, said Charles as he fixed his eyes upon Varney's face? Yes. I allude to the supposed appearance of the supposed vampire in this family, said Sir Francis Varney as he returned the earnest gaze of Charles with such unshrinking assurance that the young man was compelled, after about a minute, nearly to withdraw his own eyes. He will not be cowed, thought Charles. Use has made him familiar to such cross-questioning. It appeared now suddenly to occur to Henry that he had said something at Varney's own house, which should have prevented him from coming to the hall, and he now remarked, We scarcely expected the pleasure of your company here, Sir Francis Varney. Oh, my dear sir, I am aware of that. But you roused my curiosity. You mentioned to me that there was a portrait here amazingly like me. Did I? Indeed you did. Or how could I know of it? I wanted to see if the resemblance was so perfect. Did you hear, sir, added Henry, that my sister was alarmed at your likeness to the portrait? No. Really? I pray you walk in, and we will talk more at large upon that matter. With great pleasure. One leads a monotonous life in the country when compared with the brilliancy of a court existence. Just now I have no particular engagement. As we are near neighbours, I see no reason why we should not be good friends and often interchange such civilities as make up the amenities of existence and which, in the country, more particularly, are valuable. Henry could not be hypocrite enough to assent to this, but still, under the present aspect of affairs, it was impossible to return any but a civil reply. So he said, Oh yes, of course, certainly. My time is very much occupied and my sister and mother see no company. Oh now, how wrong. Wrong, sir? Yes, surely. If anything more than another tends to harmonise individuals, it is the society of that fair half of the creation which we love for their very foibles. I am much attached to the softer sex. To young persons of health. I like to see the rosy cheeks where the warm blood mantles in the superficial veins and all is loveliness and life. Charles shrank back and the word demon unconsciously escaped his lips. Sir Francis took no manner of notice of the expression but went on talking as if he had been on the very happiest terms with everyone present. Will you follow me at once to the chamber where the portrait hangs, said Henry, or will you partake of some refreshment first? No refreshment for me, said Varni. My dear friend, if you will permit me to call you such, this is a time of the day at which I never do take any refreshment. Nor at any other, thought Henry. I went to the chamber where Charles had passed one very disagreeable night and when they arrived Henry pointed to the portrait on the panel saying, There, Sir Francis Varni, is your likeness. He looked and, having walked up to it in an undertone, rather as if he were conversing with himself than making a remark for anyone else to hear, he said, It is wonderfully like. It is indeed, said Charles. If I stand beside it thus, said Varni, placing himself in a favourable attitude for comparing the two faces, I daresay you will be more struck with the likeness than before. So accurate was it now that the same light fell upon his face as that under which the painter had executed the portrait that all started back a step or two. Some artists, remarked Varni, had the sense to ask where a portrait is to be hung before they paint it and then they adapt their lights and shadows to those which would fall upon the original where it similarly situated. I cannot stand this, said Charles to Henry. I must question him farther. As you please, but do not insult him. I will not. He is beneath my roof now and, after all, it is but a hideous suspicion we have of him. Rely upon me. Charles stepped forward and, once again confronting Varni with an earnest gaze, he said, Do you know, sir, that Miss Bannerworth declares the vampire she fancies to have visited this chamber to be, in features, the exact counterpart of this portrait? Does she indeed? She does indeed. And perhaps, then, that accounts for her thinking that I am the vampire, because I bear a strong resemblance to the portrait. I should not be surprised, said Charles. How very odd. Very. And yet, entertaining. I am rather amused than otherwise. The idea of being a vampire. If ever I go to a masquerade again, I shall certainly assume the character of a vampire. You would do it well. I dare say now I should make quite a sensation. I am certain you would. Do you not think, gentlemen, that Sir Francis Varni would enact the character to the very life? By heavens, he would do it so well that one might, without much difficulty, really imagine him a vampire. Bravo! Bravo! said Varni as he gently folded his hands together with that gentile applause that may even be indulged in in a box at the opera itself. Bravo! I like to see young persons enthusiastic. It looks as if they had some of the real fire of genius in their composition. Bravo! Bravo! This was, Charles thought, the very height and acme of impudence. And yet, what could he do? What could he say? He was foiled by the downright coolness of Varni. As for Henry, George, and Mr. Marchdale, they had listened to what was passing between Sir Francis and Charles in silence. They feared to diminish the effects of anything Charles might say by adding a word of their own, and likewise they did not wish to lose one observation that might come from the lips of Varni. But now Charles appeared to have said all he had to say. He turned to the window and looked out. He seemed like a man who had made up his mind for a time to give up some contest in which he had been engaged. And perhaps, not so much to give it up from any feeling or consciousness of being beaten, as from a conviction that it could be more effectually, at some other and far more eligible opportunity, renewed. Varni now addressed Henry, saying, I presume the subject of our conference, when you did me the honour of a call, is no secret to anyone here. None whatever, said Henry. Then perhaps I am too early in asking you if you have made up your mind. I have scarcely certainly had time to think. My dear Sir, do not let me hurry you. I much regret indeed the intrusion. You seem anxious to possess the hall, remarked Mr. Marchdale to Varni. I am. Is it new to you? Not quite. I have some boyish recollections connected with this neighbourhood, among which Bannerworth Hall stands sufficiently prominent. May I ask how long ago that was? said Charles Holland, rather abruptly. I do not recollect my enthusiastic young friend, said Varni. How old are you? Just about twenty-one. You are then, for your age, quite a model of discretion. It would have been difficult for the most accurate observer of human nature to have decided whether this was said truthfully or ironically, so Charles made no reply to it whatever. I trust, said Henry, we shall induce you, as this is your first visit, Sir Francis Varni, to the hall, to partake of something. Well, well, a cup of wine. Is that your service? Henry now led the way to a small parlor, which, although by no means one of the showiest rooms of the house, was, from the care and exquisite carving with which it abounded, much more to the taste of any who possessed an accurate judgment in such works of art. Then wine was ordered, and Charles took an opportunity of whispering to Henry, notice well, if he drinks. I will. Do you see that beneath his coat there is a raised place, as if his arm was bound up? I do. There, then, was where the bullet from the pistol fired by Flora when we were at the church hit him. Hush! For God's sake, hush! You're getting into a dreadful state of excitement, Charles. Hush! Hush! And can you blame? No. No, but what can we do? You are right. Nothing we can do at present. We have a clue now, and to be at our mutual inclination, as well as a duty, to follow it. Oh, you shall see how calm I will be. For heaven's sake, be so. I have noted that his eyes flash upon yours with no friendly feeling. His friendship were a curse. Hush! He drinks. Watch him. I will. Gentlemen all, said Sir Francis Varney in such soft, dulcet tones that it was quite a fascination to hear him speak. Gentlemen all, being as I am, much delighted with your company, do not accuse me of presumption, if I drink now, poor drinker that I am, to our future merry meetings. He raised the wine to his lips and seemed to drink, after which he replaced the glass upon the table. Charles glanced at it. It was still full. You have not drank, Sir Francis Varney, he said. Pardon me, enthusiastic young sir, said Varney. Perhaps you will have the liberty to allow me to take my wine how I please and when I please. Your glass is full. Well, sir? Will you drink it? Not at any man's bidding, most certainly. If the fair Flora Bannerworth would grace the board with her sweet presence, me thinks I could then drink. On, on, on. Hark you, sir! cried Charles, I can bear no more of this. We have had in this house most horrible and damning evidence that there are such things as vampires. Have you really? I suppose you eat raw pork at supper, and so have the nightmare? A jest is welcome in its place, but pray hear me out, sir, if it suits your lofty courtesy to do so. Oh, certainly. Then I say we believe, as far as human judgment has a right to go, that a vampire has been here. Go on, it's interesting. I always was a lover of the wild and the wonderful. We have, too, continued Charles, some reason to believe that you are the man. Varney tapped his forehead as he glanced at Henry and said, oh, dear, I did not know. You should have told me he was a little wrong about the brain. I might have quarreled with the lad. Dear me, how lamentable for his poor mother. This will not do, Sir Francis Varney, alias Bannerworth. Oh, oh, be calm, be calm. I defy you to your teeth, sir. No, God, no, your teeth. Poor lad, poor lad, you are a cowardly demon, and here I swear to devote myself to your destruction. Sir Francis Varney drew himself up to his full height, and that was immense, and he said to Henry, I pray you, Mr. Bannerworth, since I am thus grievously insulted beneath your roof, to tell me if your friend here be mad or sane. He is not mad. Then, hold, sir, the quarrel shall be mine in the name of my persecuted sister in the name of heaven, Sir Francis Varney, I defy you. Sir Francis, in spite of his impenetrable calmness, appeared somewhat moved as he said, I have endured insult sufficient. I will endure no more. If there are weapons at hand, my young friend, interrupted Mr. Marchdale, stepping between the excited men, is carried away by his feelings and knows not what he says. You will look upon it in that light, Sir Francis. We need no interference, exclaimed Varney, his hitherto bland voice changing to one of fury, the hot-blooded fool wishes to fight, and he shall, to the death, to the death. And I say he shall not, exclaimed Mr. Marchdale, taking Henry by the arm. George, he added, turning to the young man, missed me in persuading your brother to leave the room, conceived the agony of your sister and mother if anything should happen to him. Varney smiled with a devilish sneer as he listened to these words, and then he said, As you will, as you will. There will be plenty of time, and perhaps better opportunity, gentlemen. I bid you good day. And with provoking coolness, he then moved towards the door and quitted the room. Remain here, said Mr. Marchdale. I will follow him and see that he quits the premises. He did so, and the young men, from the window, beheld Sir Francis walking slowly across the garden, and then saw Mr. Marchdale follow on his track. While they were thus occupied, a tremendous ringing came at the gate, but their attention was so riveted to what was passing in the garden that they paid not the least attention to it. End of Chapter 17 The Admiral's Advice That Challenged the Vampire The New Servant at the Hall The violent ringing of the bell continued uninterruptedly until at length George volunteered to answer it. The fact was that now there was no servant at all in the place for after the one who had recently demanded of Henry Hurd as Missal had left, the other was terrified to remain alone and had precipitately gone from the house without even going through the ceremony of announcing her intention to do so. To be sure, she sent a boy for her money afterwards, which may be considered as a great act of condescension. Suspecting then this state of things, George himself hastened to the gate, and, being not over well pleased at the continuous and unnecessary ringing which was kept up at it, he opened it quickly and cried with more impatience by a vast amount than was usual with him. Who is so impatient that he cannot wait a seasonable time for the door to be opened? And who the dead are you? cried the one who was immediately outside. What do you want? cried George. Shiver my timbers, cried Admiral Bell, for it was no other than that personage. What's it to you? Aye-aye! added Jack. After that, if you can, you sure-going-looking swab. Two madmen, I suppose, ejaculated George, and he would have closed the gate upon them, but Jack introduced between it and the post the end of a thick stick, saying, That's there, none of that. We have had trouble enough to get in. If you are the family lawyer or the chaplain, perhaps you'll tell us where Mr. Charlie is. Once more I demand of you who you want, said George, who is now perhaps a little amused at the conduct of the impatient visitors. We want the Admiral's Neve, said Jack. But how do I know who is that Admiral's Neve, as you call him? Why, Charles Orlin, to be sure, have you caught him aboard or not? Mr. Charles Holland is certainly here, and, if you had said it once, and explicitly, that you wished to see him, I would have given you a direct answer. He is here, cried the Admiral, most certainly. Come along then, yet stop a bit. I say, young fella, just before we go any further, tell us if he has maimed the vampire. The what? The vampire, said Jack, by way of being as he considered a little more explanatory than the Admiral. I do not know what you mean, said George. If you wish to see Mr. Charles Holland, walk in and see him. He is in this house, but for myself, as you are strangers to me, I decline answering any questions. Let their import be what they may. Hello! Who are they? Suddenly cried Jack, as he pointed to fingers some distance off in the meadows, who appeared to be angrily conversing. George glanced in the direction towards which Jack pointed, and there he saw Sir Francis Varney and Mr. Marchdale standing in a few paces of each other and apparently engaged in some angry discussion. His first impulse was to go immediately towards them, but before he could execute even that suggestion of his mind, he served Varney strike, Marchdale, and the latter fell to the ground. Allow me to pass, cried George, as he endeavored to get by the rather unwieldy form of the Admiral. But before he could accomplish this, for the gate was narrow, he saw Varney, with great swiftness, make off, and Marchdale, rising to his feet, came towards the hall. When Marchdale got near enough to the garden gate to see George, he motioned to him to remain where he was, and then, by quickening his pace, he soon came up to the spot. Marchdale, cried George, have you had an encounter with Sir Francis Varney? I have, said Marchdale in an excited manner. I threatened to follow him, but he struck me to the earth nearly as I could a child. His strength is superhuman. I saw you fall. I believe, but that he was observed he would have murdered me. Indeed! What, do you mean to say that lanky horse marine fellow is as bad as that, said the Admiral? Marchdale now turned his attention to the two newcomers, upon whom he looked with some surprise, and then, turning to George, he said, is this gentleman a visitor? To Mr. Holland, I believe he is, said George, but I have not the pleasure of knowing his name. Oh, you may know my name as soon as you like, cried the Admiral. The enemies of Old England know it, and I don't care if all the world knows it. I am old Admiral Bell, something of a hulk now, but still able to hit a quarter-deck if there was any need to do so. Aye aye, cried Jack, and taking from his pocket a boat swaying swissle, he blew a blast so long and loud and shrill that George was feigned to cover his ears with his hands to shut out the brain-piercing and, to him, unusual sound. And you are then a relative, said Mr. Marchdale, of Mr. Holland, sir, may I ask? I am his uncle, and bid to him, if you must know, and someone has told me that the young scamp thinks of marrying a mermaid, or a ghost or vampire, so for the sake of the memory of his poor mother, I've come to say no to the bargain, and, me, who cares? Come in, sir, said George. I will conduct you to Mr. Holland. I presume this is your servant? Why, not exactly. That's Jack Pringle. He was my boat swaying, you see, and now he's a kind of something to extend between, not exactly a servant. Aye aye, sir, said Jack. Have it all your own way, though we is paid off. Hold your tongue, Yardesis Scoundrel, will you? Oh, I forgot. You don't like anything said about paying off, because it puts you in mind of— Now, Dern, you— I'll have you strung up to the hard arm, you dog, if you don't believe that. I'm done. All's right. By this time the party, including the admiral, Jack, George Bannerworth and Marchdale, had got more than halfway across the garden, and were observed by Charles Holland and Henry, who had come to the steps of the hall to see what was going on. The moment Charles saw the admiral a change of colour came over his face, and he exclaimed, By all that's surprising, there is my uncle. Your uncle, said Henry. Yes, as good a lighthearted man as ever drew breath, and yet with all as full of prejudices, and as ignorant of life as a child. And without waiting for any reply from Henry, Charles Holland rushed forward and, seizing his uncle by the hand, he cried in tones of genuine affection. Uncle, dear uncle, how came you to find me out? Charlie, my boy, cried the old man, pressed you, I mean, couldn't found your dind, impudence, your rascal. I'm glad to see you. No, I ain't. You're young mutineer. What do you mean by it? You're ugly, ill-looking dind. Fine fellow, my dear boy. Oh, you infernal scoundrel. All this accompanied by a shaking of the hand, which was enough to dislocate anybody's shoulder, and which Charles was compelled to bear as well as he could. It quite prevented him from speaking, however, for a few moments, for it nearly shook the breath out of him. When, then, he could get a word in, he said, Uncle, I dare say you are surprised. Surprised? Didn't me. I am surprised. Well, I shall be able to explain all to your satisfaction. This faction, I am sure, allow me now to introduce you to my friends. Turning then to Henry, Charles said, This is Mr. Henry Bannerworth, Uncle, and this is Mr. George Bannerworth, both good friends of mine, and this is Mr. Marchdale, a friend of theirs, Uncle. Oh, indeed. And here you see Admiral Bell, my most worthy, but rather eccentric Uncle. Couldn't found your impudence. What brought him here, I cannot tell, but he is a brave officer and a gentleman. None of your nonsense, said the Admiral. And here you see Jack Bringle, said that individual, introducing himself, since no one appeared inclined to do that office for him. A tar for all withers, one who hates the French, and is never so happy as when he's alongside a small, these lovely, craft-blazing way. That's uncommonly true, remarked the Admiral. Will you walk in, sir? said Henry courteously. Any friend of Charles Holland is most welcome here. You will have much to excuse us for, because we are deficient in servants at present, in consequence of some occurrences in our family, which your nephew has our full permission to explain to you in full. Oh, very good. I'll tell you what it is, all of you, what I've seen of you. I, like, so here goes. The Admiral walked into the house, and as he went, Charles Holland said to him, How came you to know I was here, Uncle? Some fellow wrote me a dispatch. Indeed? Yes, saying as you were going to bury some odd sort of fish that wasn't at all the thing to introduce into the family. Was, was a vampire mentioned? That's the very thing. Hush, Uncle, hush. What for? Do not, I implore, hint at such a thing before these kind friends of mine. I will take an opportunity within the next hour of explaining all to you, and you shall form your own kind and generous judgment upon circumstances in which my honour and my happiness are so nearly concerned. Come on, said the Uncle. What, Uncle? Oh, I know you want to plover me into saying it's all right. I suppose if my judgment and generosity doesn't like it, I shall be an old fool, and a cursed goose. Now, Uncle, now, Nivee. Well, well, no more at present. We will talk over this at leisure. You promise me not to say anything about it until you have heard my explanation, Uncle. Very good. Make it as soon as you can, and as short as you can. That's all I ask of you. I will, I will. Charles was to the full as anxious as his Uncle could be to enter upon the subject. Some remote information of which he felt convinced brought the old man down to the hall. Who it could have been that so far intermeddled with his affairs as to write to him he could not possibly conceive. A very few words will suffice to explain the precise position in which Charles Holland was. A considerable sum of money had been left to him, but it was saddled with the condition that he should not come into possession of it until he was one year beyond the age which is usually denominated that of discretion, namely, twenty-one. His Uncle, the Admiral, was the trustee of his fortune, and he, with rare discretion, had got the active and zealous assistance of a professional gentleman of great honour and eminence to conduct the business for him. This gentleman had advised that for the two years between the ages of twenty and twenty-two, Charles Holland should travel. In as much as in English society he would find himself in an awkward position, being for one whole year of age and yet waiting for his property. Under such circumstances, reasoned the lawyer, a young man, unless he is possessed of a very rare discretion indeed, is almost sure to get fearfully involved with moneylenders. Being of age, his notes and bills and bonds would all be good, and he would be in a ten times worse situation than a wealthy minor. All this was duly explained to Charles, who, rather equally than otherwise, caught at the idea of a two years wander on the continent, where he could visit so many places which to a well-read young man like himself and one of a lively imagination were full of the most delightful associations. But the acquaintance with Flora Bannerworth affected a great revolution in his feelings. The dearest, sweetest spot on earth became that which she inhabited. When the Bannerworths left him abroad, he knew not what to do with himself. Everything and every pursuit in which he had before taken a delight became most distasteful to him. He was, in fact, in a short time completely used up, and then he determined upon returning to England and finding out the dear object of his attachment at once. This resolution was no sooner taken than his health and spirits returned to him, and with what rapidity he could he now made his way to his native shores. The two years were so nearly expired that he made up his mind he would not communicate either with his uncle, the admiral, or the professional gentleman upon whose judgment he set so high and so just a value, and at the hall he considered he was in perfect security from any interruption, and so he would have been, but for that letter which was written to Admiral Bell and signed Josiah Crinkles, but which Josiah Crinkles so emphatically denied all knowledge of, who wrote it remains at present one of those mysteries which time in the progress of our narrative will clear up. The opportune or rather the painful juncture at which Charles Holland had arrived at Bannerworth Hall we are well cognizant of. Where he expected to find smiles he found tears, and the family with whom he had fondly hoped he should pass a time of uninterrupted happiness he found plunged into the gloom incidental to an occurrence of the most painful character. Our readers will perceive too that coming as he did with utter disbelief in the vampire Charles had been compelled in some measure to yield to the overwhelming weight of evidence which had been brought to bear upon the subject and although he could not exactly be said to believe in the existence and the appearance of the vampire at Bannerworth Hall he was upon the subject in a most painful state of doubt and indecision. Charles now took an opportunity to speak to Henry privately and inform him exactly how he stood with his uncle adding now my dear friend if you forbid me I will not tell my uncle of this sad affair but I must own I would rather do so fully and freely and trust to his own judgment upon it I implore you to do so said Henry let him know the precise situation and circumstances of the family by all means there is nothing so mischievous as secrecy I have the greatest dislike of it I beg you tell him all I will and with it Henry I will tell him that my heart is irrevocably for us your generous clinging to one whom your heart saw and loved under very different auspices believe me Charles sinks deep into my heart she has related to me something of a meeting she had with you oh Henry she may tell you what I said but there are no words which can express the depth of my tenderness it is only time which can prove how much I love her go to your uncle said Henry in a voice of emotion God bless you Charles it is true you would have been fully justified in leaving my sister the cobbler and the more generous path you have chosen has endeared you to us all where is Flora now said Charles she is in her own room I have persuaded her by some occupation to withdraw her mind from a too close and consequently painful contemplation of the distrusting circumstances in which she feels herself placed you all right what occupation best places her the pages of a romance once had charms for her gentle spirit then come with me and from among the few articles I brought with me here I can find some papers which may help her to pass some merry hours Charles took Henry to his room and unstrapping a small release he took from it some manuscript paper one of which he handed to Henry saying give that to her it contains an account of a wild adventure and shows that human nature are much more and that wrongfully too then came ever under our present mysterious affliction I will said Henry and coming from you I am sure it will have a more than ordinary value in her eyes I will now said Charles seek my uncle I will tell him how I love her and at the end of my narration if he should not object I would feign introduce her to him I might himself see that what beauty may have met his gaze her peer he never yet met with and may in vain hope to do so you are partial Charles not so it is true I look upon her with a lover's eyes but I look still with those of truthful observation well I will speak to her about seeing your uncle and let you know I will not be at all adverse to an interview with anyone who stands high in your esteem the young men now separated Henry to seek his beautiful sister and Charles to communicate to his uncle the strange particulars connected with Varney the Vampire End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of Varney the Vampire 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 Lisa Tobias Varney the Vampire Volume 1 by Thomas Prescott-Prest Chapter 19 Flora in her Chamber Her Fears The Manuscript and Adventure Henry found Flora in her Chamber She was in deep thought when he tapped at the door of the room and such was the state of nervous excitement in which she was that even the demand for admission made by him to the room was sufficient to produce from her a sudden cry of alarm Who? Who is there? She then said, in accents full of terror to his eye dear Flora said Henry She opened the door in an instant and with a feeling of grateful relief she exclaimed Henry, is it only you? Who did you suppose it was, Flora? She shuddered I do not know but I am so foolish now and so weak-spirited that the slightest noise is enough to alarm me You must, dear Flora, fight up as I had hoped you were doing against this nervousness I will endeavor Did not some strangers come at a short time since, brother? Strangers to us, Flora but not to Charles Holland relative of his, an uncle whom he much respects has found him out here and has now come to see him and to advise him, said Flora as she sunk into a chair and wept bitterly to advise him, of course to desert as he would have pestilence of vampire bride Hush, hush for the sake of heaven never make use of such a phrase, Flora you know not what a pang it brings to my heart to hear you No, forgive me, brother Say no more of it, Flora heed it not it may be possible in fact it may well be supposed as more than probable that the relative of Charles Holland may shrink from sanction in the alliance but do you rest securely in the possession of the heart which I feel convinced is wholly yours and which I am sure would break Eric's surrender to you a smile of joy came across Flora's pale but beautiful face as she cried and you, dear brother you think so much of Charles's faith as heaven is my judge I do then I will bear up with what strength God may give me against all things that seek to depress me I will not be conquered You are right, Flora I rejoice to find in you such a disposition Here is some manuscript which Charles thinks will amuse you and he bade me ask you if you would be introduced to his uncle Yes, yes, willingly I will tell him so I know he wishes it and I will tell him so Be patient, dear Flora and all may yet be well but, brother on your sacred word tell me, do you not think this Sir Francis Varney is the vampire I know not what to think and do not press me for a judgment now he shall be watched Henry left his sister and she sat for some moments in silence with the papers before her that Charles had sent her Yes she then said gently he loves me Charles loves me I ought to be very, very happy he loves me in those words are concentrated a whole world of joy Charles loves me he will not forsake me was there ever such dear love such fond devotion never, never dear Charles, he loves me he loves me the very repetition of these words had a charm for Flora a charm which was sufficient to banish much sorrow even the much dreaded vampire was forgotten while the light of love was beaming upon her and she told herself he is mine, he is mine he loves me truly at that time she turned to the manuscript which her brother had brought her and with a far greater concentration of mind than she had thought it possible she could bring to it considering the many painful subjects of contemplation that she might have occupied herself with she read the pages with very great pleasure and interest the tale was one which changed her attention both by its incidents and the manner of its recital it commenced as follows and was titled Hugo de Virol or the double plot in a very mountainous part of Hungary lived a nobleman whose paternal estates covered many a mile of rock and mountain land as well as some fertile valleys in which were posed a hearty and contented peasantry the old Count Hugo de Virol had quitted life early and had left his only son the then Count Hugo de Virol a boy of scarcely ten years under the guardianship of his mother an arbitrary and unscrupulous woman the Count, her husband had been one of those quiet even tempered men who have no desire to step beyond the sphere in which they are placed he had no cares saved those included in the management of his estate the prosperity of his serfs and the happiness of those around him his death caused much lamentation throughout his domains it was so sudden and unexpected being in the enjoyment of his health and strength until a few hours previous and then his energies became prostrated by pain and disease there was a splendid funeral ceremony which, according the usages of his house took place by torchlight so great and rapid were the ravages of disease that the Count's body quickly became a mass of corruption all were amazed at the phenomena and were heartily glad when the body was disposed of in the place prepared for its reception in the vaults of his own castle the guests who came to witness the funeral and attend the Count's obsequies and to condole with the widow and the loss she had sustained were entertained sumptuously for many days the widow sustained her part well she was inconsolable for the loss of her husband and mourned his death bitterly her grief appeared profound but she, with difficulty subdued it to within decent bounds that she might not offend any of her numerous guests however they left her with the assurances of their profound regard and then when they were gone when the last guest had departed and were no longer visible to the eye of the Countess as she gazed from all the battlements then her behavior changed totally she descended from the battlements and then with an imperious gesture she gave her orders that all the gates of the castle should be closed and a watch set all signs of mourning she ordered to be laid on one side save her own which she wore and then she retired to her own apartment where she remained unseen here the Countess remained in profound meditation for nearly two days during which time the attendants believed she was praying for the welfare of the soul of their deceased master and they feared she would starve herself to death if she remained any longer just as they had assembled together for the purpose of either recalling her from her vigils or breaking open the door they were amazed to see the Countess open the room door and stand in the midst of them what do you do here? she demanded in a stern voice we came, my lady, to see see if if you were well and why? because we hadn't seen your lady shift these two days and we thought that your grief was so excessive that we feared some harm might befall you the Countess's brows contracted for a few seconds and she was about to make a hasty reply but she conquered the desire to do so and merely said I am not well I am faint but, had I been dying I should not have thanked you for interfering to prevent me however, you acted for the best but do so no more now, prepare me some food the servants thus dismissed repaired to their stations but with such degree of alacrity that they sufficiently showed how much they feared their mistress the young Count who was only in his sixth year knew little about the loss he had sustained but after a day or two's grief there was an end of his sorrow for the time that night there came to the castle gate a man dressed in a black cloak attended by a servant they were both mounted on good horses and they demanded to be admitted to the presence of the Countess de Hugo de Virol the message was carried to the Countess who started but said admit the stranger accordingly the stranger was admitted and shown into the apartment where the Countess was sitting at a signal the servants retired leaving the Countess and the stranger alone it was some moments there they spoke and then the Countess said in a low tone you are come I am come you cannot now you see perform your threat my husband the Count caught a putrid disease and he is no more I cannot indeed do what I intended inform your husband if you are moors but I can do something as good and which will give you as much annoyance indeed I more if it will cause you to be hated I can spread reports you can and these may ruin you they may what do you intend to do do you intend that I shall be an enemy or a friend I can be either according to my will what do you desire to be either inquired the Countess with a careless tone if you refuse my terms you can make me an implacable enemy and if you grant them you can make me a useful friend and auxiliary said the stranger what would you do if you were my enemy inquired the Countess it is hardly my place said the stranger to furnish you with a knowledge of my intentions but I will say this much that the bankrupt Count of Morvan is your lover and in the second place that you were the cause of the death of your husband how dare you sir I dare say so much and I dare say also that the Count of Morvan bought you the drug of me and that he gave it to you and that you gave it to the Count your husband and what could you do if you were my friend inquired the Countess in the same tone and without emotion I should abstain from doing all this I should be able to put anyone else out of your way for you when you get rid of this Count of Morvan as you assuredly will for I know him too well not to be sure of that get rid of him exactly in the same manner you got rid of the old Count then I accept your terms it is agreed then yes quite well then you must order me some rooms in a tower where I can pursue my studies in quiet you will be seen and noticed all will be discovered no indeed I will take care of that I can so far disguise myself that he will not recognize me and you can give out I'm a philosopher or a necromancer or what you will no one will come to me they will be terrified very well and the gold shall be forthcoming as soon as I can get it the Count has placed all his gold in safe keeping and all I can seize are the rents as they become due very well but let me have them in the meantime you must provide for me as I have come here with the full intention of staying here or in some neighboring town indeed yes and my servant must be discharged as I want none here the Count has called to an attendant and gave the necessary orders and afterward remained some time with the stranger who had thus so unceremoniously thrust himself upon her and insisted upon staying under such strange and awful circumstances the Count of Morvin came a few weeks after and remained some days with the Countess they were ceremonious and polite until they had a moment to retire from before people when the Countess changed her cold disdain to a cordial and familiar address and now my dear Morvin she exclaimed as soon as they were unobserved and now my dear Morvin that we are not seen tell me what have you been doing with yourself why I have been in some trouble I never had gold that would stay by me you know my hand was always open the old complained again no but having come to the end of my store I began to grow serious ah Morvin said the Countess reproachfully well never mind when my purse is low my spirit sink as the mercury does with the cold you used to say my spirits were mercurial I think they were well what did you do oh nothing was that what you were about to tell me inquired the Countess oh dear no you recollect the Italian quack of whom I bought the drug you gave to the Count and which put an end to his days he wanted more money well as I had no more to spare no more to him and he turned vicious and threatened I threatened too and he knew I was fully able and willing to perform any promise I might make to him on that score I endeavored to catch him as he had already begun to set people off on the suspicious and marvelous concerning me and if I could have come across him I would have laid him very low indeed and you could not find him no I could not well then I will tell you where he is at this present moment you yes I I can scarcely credit my senses at what you say said Count Morvin my worthy doctor you are a little better than a candidate for divine honors but where is he will you promise to be guided by me said the Countess if you make it a condition upon which you grant the information I must well then I take that as a promise you may where oh where is he remember your promise your doctor is at this moment in this castle this castle yes this castle surely there must be some mistake it is too much fortune at once he came here for the same purpose he went to you indeed yes to get more money by extortion poison anybody I liked damn it is the offer he made to me and he named you he named you to me and said I should be soon tired of you you have caged him oh dear no he has a suite of apartments in the eastern tower where he passes for a philosopher or a wizard as people like best how I have given him leave there indeed yes and what is more amazing is that he is to aid me in poisoning you when I have become tired of you this is a riddle I cannot unravel tell me the solution well dear listen he came to me and told me of something I already knew and demanded money and a residence for his convenience and I have granted him the asylum you have I have I see I will give him an inch or two of my money no no do you countenance him for a time listen we want men in the mines my late husband sent very few men to them in late years and therefore they are getting short of men there aye aye the thing will be for you to feign ignorance of the man and then you will be able to get him seized and placed in the mines for such men as he are dangerous and carry poisoned weapons would he not be better out of the world at once there would be no escape and no future contingencies no no I will have no more lives taken and he will be made useful and moreover he will have time to reflect upon the mistake he made in threatening me he was paid for the job and he had no future claim but what about the child oh he may remain for some time longer here with us he is dangerous to do so said the count he is now ten years old and there is no knowing what may be done for him by his relatives they dare not enter the gates of this castle more than well well but you know he might have traveled the same road as his father and all would be settled no more lives as I told you but we can easily secure him in some other way and we shall be equally as free from him and them that is enough there are dungeons I know in this castle and he can be kept there safe enough he can but this is not what I propose we can put him in the mines and can find him as a lunatic excellent you see we must make those mines more productive somehow or other they would be so but the count would not hear of it he said it was so inhuman they were so destructive of life Pasha what were the mines intended for not for use exactly I often said so but he always put a negative to it we'll make use of an affirmative my dear countess and see what will be the result in a change of policy by the way when will our marriage be celebrated not for some months how so long I am impatient you must restrain your impatience but we must have the boy settled first and the count will have been dead a longer time then and we shall not give so much scandal to the weak minded fools that were his friends for it will be dangerous to have so many events happen about the same period you shall act as you think proper but the first thing to be done will be to get this cunning doctor quietly out of the way yes I must contrive to have him seized and carried to the mines beneath the tower in which he lives is a trap door and a vault from which another trap and vault is a long subterranean passage that leads to a door that opens into one end of the mines near this end lives several men whom you must give some reward to and they will, by concert seize him and set him to work and if he will not work why they will scourge him in such a manner that he will be afraid even of a threat of repetition of the same treatment that will do I think the worthy doctor will split himself with rage and malice he will be like a caged tiger but he will be denuded of his teeth and claws, replied the countess smiling, therefore he will have leisure to repent of having threatened his employers some weeks passed over and the count of Morvin contrived to become acquainted with the doctor they appeared to be utter strangers to each other, though each knew the other the doctor having disguised himself he believed the disguise impenetrable and therefore sat at ease worthy doctor said the count to him one day you have, no doubt, in your studies become acquainted with many of the secrets of science I have, my lord count I may say there are few that are not known to father Aldrovani I have spent many years in research indeed yes, the midnight lamp has burned till the glorious sun has reached the horizon and brings back the day and yet I have been found beside my books tis well, men like you should well know the value of the purest and most valuable metals the earth produces I know of but one that is gold tis what I mean but tis hard to procure from the bowels of the earth from the heart of these mountains by which we are surrounded yes, that is true but no you not the owners of this castle possess these mines and work them I believe they do but I thought they had discontinued working them some years oh no, that was given out to deceive the government who claimed so much out of its products oh, ah, I see now and ever since they have been working it privately and storing bars of gold up in the vaults of this here in this castle yes, beneath this very tower it being the least frequented the strongest and perfectly inaccessible from all sides save the castle it was placed there for the safest deposit I see and there is much gold deposited in the vaults I believe there is an immense quantity in the vaults and what is your motive for telling me of this horde of the precious metal why doctor, I thought that you or I could use a few bars and that if we acted in concert we might be able to take away at various times and secrete in some place or other enough to make us rich men for all our lives I should like to see this gold before I said anything about it replied the doctor thoughtfully as you please do you find a lamp that will not go out by the sudden drafts of air or have the means of relighting it and I will accompany you when? this very night, good doctor when you shall see such a golden harvest you never yet hoped for or even believed in tonight be it then, replied the doctor I will have a lamp that will answer our purpose and some other matters do, good doctor and the count left the philosopher sell the plan takes, said the count to the countess give me the keys and the worthy man will be in safety before daylight is he not suspicious? not at all tonight, about an hour before midnight the count Morven stole toward the philosopher's room he tapped at the door enter, said the philosopher the count entered and saw the philosopher seated and by him a lamp of peculiar construction and encased in God's wire and a cloak are you ready, inquired the count quite, he replied is that your lamp? it is follow me then and hold the lamp tolerably high as the way is strange and the steps steep lead on you have made up your mind, I dare say as to what share of the undertaking you will accept of with me and what if I will not said the philosopher Cooley it falls to the ground and I return the keys to their place I dare say I shall not refuse if you have not deceived me as to the quality and purity of the store it up I am no judge of these metals doctor I am no assaist but I believe you will find what I have to show you will far exceed your expectations on that head tis well, proceed they had now got to the first vault in which stood the first door and with some difficulty they opened the vault door it has not been opened for some time said the philosopher I dare say not they seldom used to go here from what I can learn though it has kept a great secret and we can keep it so likewise true they now entered the vault and came to the second door which opened into a kind of flight of steps cut out of the solid rock and then along a passage cut out of the mountain of some kind of stone but not so hard as the rock itself you see said the count what care has been taken to isolate the place and detach it from the castle so that it should not be dependent upon the possessor of the castle this is the last door but one and now, prepare yourself for a surprise doctor this will be an extraordinary one so saying the count opened the door and stepped on one side when the doctor approached the place and was immediately thrust forward by the count and he rolled down some steps into the mine and was immediately seized by some of the miners who had been stationed there for that purpose and carried to a distant part of the mine there to work for the remainder of his life the count seeing all secure re-fastened the doors and returned to the castle a few weeks after this the body of a youth mangled and disfigured was brought to the castle which the countess said was her son's body the count had immediately secured the real air and thrust him into the mines there to pass a life of labour and hopeless misery there was a high feast held the castle gates were thrown open and everybody who came were entertained without question this was on the occasion of the counts and countess's marriage it seemed many months after the death of her son whom she affected to mourn for a long time however the marriage took place and in all magnificence and splendor the countess again appeared arrayed in splendor and beauty she was proud and haughty and imperious in the meantime the young count de Hugo de Verrol was confined in the mines and the doctor with him by a strange coincidence the doctor and the young count became companions and the former meditating projects of revenge educated the young count as well as he was able for several years in the mines and cherished in the young man a spirit of revenge they finally escaped together and proceeded to laden where the doctor had friends and where he placed his pupil at the university and thus made him a most efficient means of revenge because the education of the count gave him a means of appreciating the splendor and rank he had been deprived of he, therefore determined to remain at laden until he was of age and then apply to his father's friends and then to his sovereign to dispossess and punish them both for their double crimes the count and countess lived on in a state of regal splendor the immense revenue of his territory and the treasure of the late count had amassed as well as the revenue that the mines brought in would have supported a much larger expenditure than even their tastes disposed them to enjoy they had heard nothing of the escape of the doctor and the young count indeed those who knew of it held their peace and said nothing about it for they feared the consequences of their negligence the first intimation they received was at the hands of a state messenger summoning them to deliver up the castle revenues and treasure of the late count this was astonishing to them and they refused to do so but were soon after seized upon by a regiment of curisers sent to take them and they were accused of the crime of murder at the instance of the doctor they were arraigned and found guilty and, as they were of the patrician order their execution was delayed and they were committed to exile this was done out of favor to the young count who did not wish to have his family name tainted by a public execution or their being confined like convicts the count and countess quitted Hungary and settled in Italy where they lived upon the remains of the count of Morven's property shorn of all their splendor but enough to keep them from being compelled to do any menial office the young count took possession of his patrimony and his treasure at last such as was left by his mother and her paramour the doctor continued to hide his crimes from the young count and the perpetrators denying all knowledge of it he escaped but he returned to his native place Leiden with a reward for his services from the young count Flora rose from her perusal of the manuscript which here ended and even as she did so she heard a footstep approaching her chamber door End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Varney the Vampire 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 Roger Maline Varney the Vampire Volume 1 The Dreadful Mistake The Terrific Interview in the Chamber The Attack of the Vampire The footstep which Flora upon the close of the tale she had been reading heard approaching her apartment came rapidly along the corridor It is Henry returned to conduct me to an interview with Charles's uncle, she said I wonder now what manner of man he is I wonder what manner of man he is He should in some respect resemble Charles And if he do so I shall bestow upon him some affection for that alone Tap, tap came upon the chamber door Flora was not at all alarmed now as she had been when Henry brought her the manuscript From some strange action of the nervous system she felt quite confident But then she felt quite sure that it was Henry and before the knocking had taken her by surprise Come in, she said in a cheerful voice Come in The door opened with wonderful swiftness A figure stepped into the room and then closed it as rapidly and stood against it Flora tried to scream but her tongue refused its office A confused whirl of sensations passed through her brain She trembled and an icy coldness came over her It was Sir Francis Varney the Vampire He had drawn up his tall gaunt figure to its full height and crossed his arms upon his breast There was a hideous smile upon his shallow countenance and his voice was deep and supplecural as he said Flora Bannerworth hear that which I have to say and hear it calmly You need have nothing to fear Make an alarm scream or shout for help and by the hell beneath us you are lost There was a death-like cold passionless manner about the utterance of these words as if they were spoken mechanically and came from no human lips Flora heard them and yet scarcely comprehended them She stepped slowly back till she reached a chair and there she held for support The only part of the address of Varney that thoroughly reached her ears was that if she gave any alarm some dreadful consequences were to ensue but it was not on account of these words that she really gave no alarm it was because she was utterly unable to do so Answer me said Varney Promise that you will hear that which I must say In so promising you commit yourself to no evil and you shall hear that which shall give you much peace It was in vain she tried to speak her lips moved but she uttered no sound You are terrified said Varney and yet I know not why I do not come to do you harm although harm you have done me Girl I come to rescue your aldim of the soul under which you now labor There was a pause of some moment's duration and then faintly Flora managed to say Help, help oh help me heaven Varney made a gesture of impatience as he said Heaven works no special matters now Flora Bannerworth if you have as much intellect as your nobility and beauty would warrant the world is listen to me I hear said Flora as she still dragging the chair with her increased the distance between them Tis well you are now more composed She fixed her eyes upon the face of Varney with a shutter there could be no mistake it was the same which with the strange glassy looking eyes had glared upon her on that awful night form when she was visited by the vampire and Varney returned that gaze unflinchingly there was a hideous and strange contortion of his face now as he said you are beautiful the most cunning statuary might well model some rare work of art from those rounded limbs that were surely made to be witch the gazer your skin rivals the driven snow loneliness and what a form of enchantment she did not speak but a thought came across her mind which at once crimsoned her cheek she knew she had fainted on the first visit of the vampire and now he with a hideous reverence praised beauties which he might have cast his demonic eyes over at such a time you understand me he said well let that pass I am something allied to humanity yet speak your errand gasps flora or come what may I scream for help to those who will not be slow to render it I know it you know I will scream no you will hear me I know they would not be slow to render help to you but you will not call for it I will present to you no necessity say on say on you perceive I do not attempt to approach you my errand is one of peace peace from you horrible being if you be really what even now my appalled imagination shrinks from naming you would not even to you absolute annihilation be a blessing peace peace I came not here to talk on such a subject I must be brief flora banna worth for time presses I do not hate you wherefore should I you are young and you are beautiful and you bear a name which should command and does command some portion of my best regard there is a portrait said flora in this house no more no more I know what you would say it is yours the house and all within I covet he said uneasily let that suffice I have quarreled with your brother I have quarreled with one who just now fancies he loves you Charles Holland loves me truly it does not suit me now to dispute that point with you I have the means of knowing more of the secrets of the human heart than common men flora banna worth that he who talks to you of love loves you not but with the fleeting fancy of a boy and there is one who hides deep in his heart a world of passion one who has never spoken to you of love and yet who loves you with a love as far surpassing the effervescent fancy of this boy holland as does the mighty ocean the most placid lake that ever basked in idleness beneath the summer sun there was a wonderful fascination in the manner now of Varney his voice sounded like music itself his words flowed from his tongue each gently and properly accented with all the charm of eloquence despite her trembling horror of that man despite her fearful opinion which might be said to amount to a conviction of what he really was flora felt an irresistible wish to hear him speak on I, despite to the ungrateful theme to her heart which he had now chosen as the subject of his discourse she felt her fear of him gradually dissipating and now when he made a pause she said you are much mistaken on the constancy and truth of Charles Holland I would stake my life no doubt no doubt have you spoken now say no I tell you I covet this place I would purchase it but having with your bad tempered brothers quarreled they will hold no further converse with me and well they may refuse be that as it may sweet lady I come to you to be my mediator in the shadows of the future I can see many events which are to come indeed it is so borrowing some wisdom from the past and some from resources I would not detail to you I know that if I have inflicted much misery upon you I can spare you much more your brother or your lover will challenge me oh no no I say such will happen and I can kill either my skill as well as my strength I will spare either or both on a condition what fearful condition it is not a fearful one your terrors go far beyond the fact all I wish Maiden of you is to induce these imperious brothers of yours to sell or let the hall to me is that all it is it is I ask no more and in return I promise you not only that I will not fight with them but that you shall never see me again rest securely Maiden you will be undisturbed by me oh god that were indeed an assurance worth the striving for said Flora it is one you may have but oh I knew my heart told me there was yet a condition to come you are wrong again I only ask of you that you keep this meeting a secret no no no I cannot nay what so easy I will not I have no secrets from those I love indeed you will find soon the expediency of a few at least but if you will not I cannot urge it longer God-woman's nature prompts you there was a slight but a very slight tone of aggravation in these words and the manner in which they were uttered as he spoke he moved from the door towards the window which opened into a kitchen garden Flora shrunk as far from him as possible and for a few minutes they regarded each other in silence young blood said Varney in your veins she shuddered with terror be mindful of the condition I have proposed to you I covet Bannerworth Hall I I hear and I must have it I will have it although my path to it be through a sea of blood you understand me Maiden repeat what has passed between us or not as you please I say beware of me if you keep not the condition I have proposed heaven knows that this place is becoming daily more hateful to us all said Flora indeed you well might know so much it is no sacrifice to urge it now I will urge my brothers thanks a thousand thanks you may not live to regret having made a friend of Varney the vampire said Flora he advanced towards her a step and she involuntarily uttered a scream of terror in an instant his hand clasped her waist with the power of an iron vice she felt his hot breath flushing on her cheek her senses reeled and she found herself sinking she gathered all her breath and all her energies into one piercing shriek and then she fell to the floor there was a sudden crash of broken glass and then all was still end of chapter 20 recording by Roger Maline recording by Mark Schenker chapter 21 the conference between the uncle and nephew and the alarm meanwhile Charles Haaland had taken his uncle by the arm and led him into a private room dear uncle he said be seated and I will explain everything without reserve seated nonsense I'll walk about said the admiral darn me I have no patience to be seated well well you abuse me but I am quite sure had you been in my situation you would have conducted your actions precisely as I have done no I shouldn't well but uncle don't think to come over me by calling me uncle hark you Charles from this moment I won't be your uncle anymore very well sir it ain't very well and how dare you you buccaneer call me sir I say how dare you I will call you anything I like but I won't be called anything I like you might as well call me at once Morgan the pirate for he was called anything he liked hello sir how dare you laugh hey I'll teach you to laugh at me I wish I had you on board ship that's all you young rascal I'd soon teach you to laugh at your superior officer I would oh uncle but I did not laugh at you what did you laugh at then at a joke tell me there was no joke at all oh very good and it ain't very good Charles knew very well that this sort of humor in which the old general would soon pass away and then that he would listen to him comfortably enough so he would not allow the least exhibition of petulance and mere impotence to escape himself but contended himself by waiting until the aboliation of feeling fairly worked itself out well well that length said the old man you have dragged me here into a very small and very dull room under pretense of having something to tell me and I have heard nothing yet then I will tell you now said Charles I fell in love but with flora bannerworth abroad she is not only the most beautiful of created beings but but her mind is of the greatest order of intelligence honor candor and amiable feelings but really uncle if you say in everything I cannot go on and what the deuce difference sir doesn't make to you whether I say bar or not well I love her she came to england and as I could not exist but was getting ill and should no doubt have died if I had not done so I came to england but uh I want to know about the mermaid the vampire you mean sir well well the vampire then uncle all I can tell you is that it is supposed a vampire came on one night and inflicted a wound upon flora's neck with his teeth and that he is still endeavoring to renew his horrible existence from the young pure blood that flows through her veins the devil he is yes I am bewildered I must confess by the massive circumstances that have combined to give the affair a horrible truthfulness poor flora is much injured in health and spirits and when I came home she at once implored me to give her up and think of her no more she could not think of allowing me to unite my faith with hers under such circumstances she did such were her words uncle she implored me she used the word implore to fly from her to leave her to her fate to endeavor to find happiness with someone else well but I saw her heart was breaking what of that much of what much of that uncle I told her when I had deserted her in the hour of misfortune that I hoped heaven would desert me I told her that if her happiness was wrecked to cling yet to me and that with that power and that strength God had given me I would stand between her and all ill and what then she she fell upon my breast and wept and blessed me could I desert her could I say to her my dear girl when you were full of health and beauty I loved you but now that sadness is in your heart I leave you could I tell her that uncle and yet call myself a man no! roared the old admiral in a voice that made the room echo again and I tell you what if you had done so darn you you puppy I'd have braced you and married the girl myself I would dar I would dear uncle don't dear me sir think of deserting a girl with the signal of distress my dear is in her eye but I you are a wretch a confounded blubberly boy a swab adorbs of jar old grumpus you mistake uncle no I don't God bless you Charles you shall have her if a ship's whole crew of vampire said no you shall have her let me see her let me see her the admiral gave his lips a vigorous wipe with his sleeve and Charles said hastily my dear uncle you will recollect that Miss Banner's worth is quite a young lady I suppose she is well then for God's sake don't attempt to kiss her not kiss her don't they like it not kiss her because she's a young lady no do you think I'd kiss a corporal of marines no uncle but you know young ladies are very delicate and ain't I delicate shiver me timbers ain't I delicate where is she that's what I want to know then you approve of what I have done you are a young scamp and you have got some of the old admiral's family blood in you so don't take any credit for acting like an honest man you couldn't help it but if I had not so acted said Charles with a smile what would have become of the family blood then what's that to you I would have disowned you because that very thing would have convinced me you were an imposter and did not belong to the family at all well that would have been one way of getting over the difficulty no difficulty at all the man who deserts the good ship that carries him through the waves or the girl who trusts her heart to him ought to be cropped off into meat or for wild monkeys well I think so too of course you do why what course because it's so reasonable that being a nephew of mine you can't possibly help it I had no idea you were so argumentative hadn't you a spoonie you'd be an ornament in the gun room you would but there's the young lady with so infernal delicate what is she I say I'll fetch her uncle do all we bound now she's one of the right build a good figure head and don't make too much stern away well well whatever you do don't pay her any compliments for your efforts in the line are such a very doubtful order I shall dread to hear you you should be often find your own business I haven't been at sea forty years without picking up some out and out delicate compliments to say to the young lady but do you really imagine now that the deck of a man of war is a nice place to pick up courtly compliments then of course I do there you hear the best language and you don't know what you are talking about you fellows have stuck on shore all your lives it's we seamen life well well hark what's that a cry did you hear a cry a signal of distress by good in their efforts to leave the room the uncle and the nephew were about a minute actually blocked by the doorway but the superior bulk of the admiral prevailed and after nearly squeezing poor Charles flat he got out first but this did not avail him for he knew not where to go now the second scream which Flora had uttered when the vampire had clasped her waist came upon in their ears and as they were outside the room it acted well as a guide in which direction to come Charles fancied correctly through at once that it proceeded from the room which was called Flora's own room and thither ward accordingly he dashed at tremendous speed Henry however happened to be nearer at hand and more ever he did not hesitate a moment because he knew that Flora was in her own room so he reached it first and Charles saw him rush in a few moments before he could reach the room the difference in time however was very slight and Henry had only just raised Flora from the floor as Charles appeared God of heaven cried the latter what has happened I know not said Henry as God is my judge I know not Flora, Flora, speak to us Flora, Flora she has fainted cried Charles some water may restore her oh Henry Henry is not this terrible courage, courage said Henry though his voice betrayed what a terrible state of anxiety he was himself in you will find water in that decanter Charles here is my mother too another visit God help us Miss Bannerworth sat down on the edge of the sofa which was in the room and could only wring her hands and weep a vast cried the admiral making his appearance where's the enemy lads uncle said Charles uncle uncle the vampire has been here again the dreadful vampire dawned me and he's gone too when carried half the window with him look here it was literally true the window which had long lads one was smashed through help oh help said Flora as the water was dashed in her face began to recover her you are safe said Henry you are safe Flora said Charles do you know my voice dear Flora look up and you will see none here but those who love you Flora opened her eyes timidly as she said has it gone yes yes dear said Charles look around you there are none but true friends and tried friends my dear said admiral bell accepting me and whenever you like to try me a float or a shore darn me shoe old Nick himself and I won't shrink yard arm and yard arm grapnel and grapnel pitch pots and grenades this is my uncle Flora said Charles I thank you sir said Flora faintly all right whispered the admiral to Charles what a figure had to be sure Paul at Swansea would have made just about four out of her but she wasn't so delicate darn me I should think not you are right for once to say Charlie what was it that alarmed you said Charles tenderly as he now took one of Flora's hands in his Varney the Vampire Varney exclaimed Henry Varney here yes he came in at that door and when I screamed I suppose for I hardly was conscious he darted out through the window this said Henry is beyond all human patients by heaven I cannot and will not endure it it shall be my quarrel said Charles I shall go at once and defy him he shall meet me oh no no no no no no there is a better way what way that place has become full of terrors let us leave it let him as he wishes have it let him have it yes yes God knows if it purchase and immunity from these visits we may well be overjoyed remember that we have ample reasons to believe him more than human why should you allow yourselves to risk a personal encounter with such a man he might be glad to kill you that he might have an opportunity of replenishing his own hideous existence with your best heart's blood the young men looked aghast besides added Flora you cannot tell what dreadful powers of mischief he may have against such human courage might be of no avail there is truth and reason said Mr. Marchdale stepping forward and what Flora says only let me come across him soon find out what he is I suppose he is some long slab of lubber after all ain't he with no strength his strength is immense said Marchdale I tried to seize him and I fell beneath his arm as if I had been struck by the hammer of a cyclops a what? cried the admiral a cyclops darn me I served aboard the cyclops seven years and never saw a very big hammer aboard of her oh chimed in the admiral there's something a bother about what's to be done on earth now at sea I could soon tell you what is to be done we must hold a solemn constitution over this matter said Henry you are safe now Flora oh be ruled by me give up a haul you tremble I do tremble brother for what may yet ensue I implore you to give up the haul it is such a terror to us now give it up to do with it let us take terms with Sir Francis Varney remember we dare not kill him he might be smothered said the admiral it is true Martinry you dare not even holding all the terrible suspicions we do take his life by foul mean certainly not said Charles we are ten times a vampire I cannot however believe that he is so vulnerable as he is represented no one represents him here said Marchdale I speak sir because I saw you glance at me I only know that having made two successful attempts to seize him he eluded me once by leaving in my grasp a piece of his coat and next time he struck me down and I still feel the effects of the terrific blow you here said Flora yes I hear said Charles for some reason added Marchdale in a tone of emotion what I say seems to fall always badly upon Mr. Haaland's ear I know not why but if it will give him any satisfaction I will leave Bannerworth Hall tonight no no no said Henry for the love of heaven do not let us quarrel here here cried the admiral we can never fight the enemy well if the ship's crew are in bad terms come now you Charles this appears to be an honest gentlemanly fellow give him your hand if Mr. Charles Haaland said Marchdale knows ought to my prejudice in any way however slight I hear beg of him to declare it at once and openly I cannot assert that I do said Charles then what the deuce do you make yourself agreeable for, eh? cried the general one cannot help one's impression and feeling said Charles but I am willing to take Mr. Marchdale's hand and I yours young sir said Marchdale in all sincerity of spirit and with good will towards you they shook hands it required no conjurer to perceive that it was not done willingly or cordially it was a handshaking of that character which seemed to imply on each side I do not like you but I don't know positively any harm of you there now said the admiral that's better now let us hold council with this Varney said Henry come to the parlor all of you and we will endeavor to come to some decided arrangement do not weep mother said Flora all may be well we will leave this place we will consider that question Flora said Henry and believe me your wishes will go along way with all of us as you may well suppose they always would they left Mrs. Bannerworth with Flora and proceeded to the small oaken parlor in which were the elaborate and beautiful carvings which have been before mentioned Henry's countenance perhaps wore the most determined expression of all he appeared now as if he had thoroughly made up his mind to do something which should have a decided tendency to put a stop to the terrible scenes which were now day by day taking place beneath that roof Charles Hogland looked serious and thoughtful as if he were revolving some course of action in his mind concerning which he was not very clear Mr. Marchdale was more sad and depressed to all appearance than any of them as for the admiral he was evidently in a state of amazement and knew not what to think he was anxious to do something and yet what that was to be he had not the most remote idea any more than as if he was not at all cognizant of any of these circumstances yet one of which was so completely out of the line of his form of life and experience George had gone to call Mr. Chillingworth so he was not present at the first part of this serious council of war End of Chapter 21 Recorded by Mark Schenker audiou.com You can also find me on voice123.com Wexford Pennsylvania This is Good Friday March 21st, 2008