Publisher's Synopsis
WHEN IfoundthatIwasaprisonerasortofwildfeelingcameoverme. Irushed up and down the stairs, trying every door and peering out of every window I could find; but after a little the conviction of my helplessness overpowered all otherfeelings. When I look back after a few hoursI think I must havebeen mad for the time, for I behaved much as a rat does in a trap. When, however, the conviction had come to me that I was helpless I sat down quietly-as quietly as I have ever done anything in my life-and began to think over what was best to be done. I am thinking still, and as yet have come to no definite conclusion. Of one thing only am I certain; that it is no use making my ideas known to the Count. He knows well that I am imprisoned; and as he has done it himself, and has doubtless his own motives for it, he would only deceive me if I trusted him fully with the facts. So far as I can see, my only plan will be to keep my knowledge and my fears to myself, and my eyes open. I am, I know, either being deceived, like a baby, by my own fears, or else I am in desperate straits; andifthelatterbeso, Ineed, andshallneed, allmybrainstogetthrough. I had hardly come to this conclusion when I heard the great door below shut, and knew that the Count had returned. He did not come at once into the library, so I went cautiously to my own room and found him making the bed. This was odd, but only confirmed what I had all along thought-that there were no servants in the house. When later I saw him through the chink of the hinges of the door laying the table in the dining-room, I was assured of it; for if he does himself all these menial offices, surely it is proof that there is no one else to do them. This gaveme a fright, for if there is no one elsein the castle, it must have been the Count himself who was the driver of the coach that brought me here. This is a terrible thought; for if so, what does it mean that he could control the wolves, ashedid, byonlyholdinguphishandinsilence.Howwasitthatallthe people at Bistritz and on the coach had some terrible fear for me? What meant the giving of the crucifix, of the garlic, of the wild rose, of the mountain ash? Bless that good, good woman who hung the crucifix round my neck! for it is a comfort and a strength to me whenever I touch it. It is odd that a thing which I have been taught to regard with disfavour and as idolatrous should in a time of lonelinessandtroublebeofhelp.Isitthatthereissomethingintheessenceofthethingitself, orthatit isamedium, atangiblehelp, inconveyingmemoriesof sympathy and comfort? Some time, if it may be, I must examine this matter and try tomake upmy mind aboutit.In themeantime I must findout all I can about Count Dracula, as it may help me to understand. To-night he may talk of himself, if I turn the conversation that way. I must bevery careful, however, not toawakehissus