Кармилла
The Story
Hewasinnomasquerade—intheplaineveningdressofagentleman;andhesaid,withoutasmile,butwithacourtlyandunusuallylowbow:—
"‘WillMadamelaComtessepermitmetosayaveryfewwordswhichmayinteresther?’
"Theladyturnedquicklytohim,andtouchedherlipintokenofsilence;shethensaidtome,‘Keepmyplaceforme,General;IshallreturnwhenIhavesaidafewwords.’
"Andwiththisinjunction,playfullygiven,shewalkedalittleasidewiththegentlemaninblack,andtalkedforsomeminutes,apparentlyveryearnestly.Theythenwalkedawayslowlytogetherinthecrowd,andIlostthemforsomeminutes.
"Ispenttheintervalincudgelingmybrainsforaconjectureastotheidentityoftheladywhoseemedtoremembermesokindly,andIwasthinkingofturningaboutandjoiningintheconversationbetweenmyprettywardandtheCountess’sdaughter,andtryingwhether,bythetimeshereturned,Imightnothaveasurpriseinstoreforher,byhavinghername,title,chateau,andestatesatmyfingers’ends.Butatthismomentshereturned,accompaniedbythepalemaninblack,whosaid:
"‘IshallreturnandinformMadamelaComtessewhenhercarriageisatthedoor.’
"Hewithdrewwithabow."
