Дракула / Dracula - стр. 6
“But, Count,” I said, “You know and speak English thoroughly!”
He bowed gravely.
“I thank you, my friend, for your estimate. True, I know the grammar and the words, but I do not know how to speak them.”
“Indeed,” I said, “you speak excellently.”
“Not so,” he answered. “Well, I am sure, when I move and speak in your London, the people will know me for a stranger.[33] That is not enough for me. Here I am noble; I am a Count; the common people know me, and I am the master. But a stranger in a strange land, he is no one. ‘Ha, ha! A stranger!’ You came to me not alone as[34] agent of my friend Peter Hawkins, to tell me all about my new estate in London. You will, I hope, rest here with me a little; and, please, tell me when I make errors, even the smallest, in my speaking.”
Of course I said that I would, and asked if I could use his library. He answered, “Yes, certainly,” and added.
“Tell me of London and of the house which you have prepared for me.”
With an apology, I went into my room to get the papers from my bag. When I returned the Count put away the books and papers from the table and we went into plans and figures of all sorts. He was interested in everything, and asked me a thousand questions about the place and its surroundings.
We discussed the purchase of the estate at Purfleet.[35] When I had told him the facts and got his signature to the necessary papers, he had written a letter to Mr. Hawkins. Then he said, “I am glad that it is old and big house. I am of an old family, and to live in a new house means to kill me. I love the shade and the shadow, and I want to be alone with my thoughts.”
He asked me to put all my papers together and left. I began to look at some of the books around me. One was an atlas of England. I found certain places marked with little rings,[36] one was near London on the east side, where his new estate was situated; the other two were Exeter[37] and Whitby[38] on the Yorkshire coast.[39]
In an hour the Count returned. “Aha!” he said. “Still at your books? Good! But you must not work always. Come; your supper is ready.”
He took my arm, and we went into the next room, where I found an excellent supper ready on the table. The Count again excused himself, as he had dined already. But he sat as on the previous night, and chatted while I ate.
After supper I smoked, as on the last evening, and the Count stayed with me, chatting and asking different questions, hour after hour. All at once[40] we heard the crow of a cock; Count Dracula jumped to his feet and said, “Why, there is the morning again! You must make your conversation regarding my dear new country of England less interesting, so that I may not forget how time flies,” and, with a courtly bow, he quickly left me.