Conclusion

           Iwriteallthisyousupposewithcomposure.Butfarfromit;Icannotthinkofitwithoutagitation.Nothingbutyourearnestdesiresorepeatedlyexpressed,couldhaveinducedmetositdowntoataskthathasunstrungmynervesformonthstocome,andreinducedashadowoftheunspeakablehorrorwhichyearsaftermydeliverancecontinuedtomakemydaysandnightsdreadful,andsolitudeinsupportablyterrific.

           LetmeaddawordortwoaboutthatquaintBaronVordenburg,towhosecuriouslorewewereindebtedforthediscoveryoftheCountessMircalla’sgrave.

           HehadtakenuphisabodeinGratz,where,livinguponamerepittance,whichwasallthatremainedtohimoftheonceprincelyestatesofhisfamily,inUpperStyria,hedevotedhimselftotheminuteandlaboriousinvestigationofthemarvelouslyauthenticatedtraditionofVampirism.Hehadathisfingers’endsallthegreatandlittleworksuponthesubject.

           "MagiaPosthuma,""PhlegondeMirabilibus,""AugustinusdecuraproMortuis,""PhilosophicaeetChristianaeCogitationesdeVampiris,"byJohnChristoferHerenberg;andathousandothers,amongwhichIrememberonlyafewofthosewhichhelenttomyfather.Hehadavoluminousdigestofallthejudicialcases,fromwhichhehadextractedasystemofprinciplesthatappeartogovern—somealways,andothersoccasionallyonly—theconditionofthevampire.Imaymention,inpassing,thatthedeadlypallorattributedtothatsortofrevenants,isameremelodramaticfiction.