按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The chairs were as heavily carved as every bit of ornament in the room； and the arms were the paws of lions。 I found them beautiful as well as fortable。 I looked about myself at the many bookshelves； and mused as I have often done on how all libraries subdue me and seduce me。 I thought of books burnt and books lost。
May this be a safe place for books； I thought； this Talamasca。
〃I have been decades in a stone room；〃 I said in a muted voice。 〃I am quite fortable。 Will you send the boys away now？〃
〃Yes； yes； of course； only let them bring me some warm wine；〃 he replied。 〃I need it。〃
〃Please； how could I be so inconsiderate？〃 I replied。
We were now facing each other； and the fire had begun with a riot of deep good fragrance ing from the burning oak； and a warmth that I even enjoyed； I had to admit it。
One of the boys had brought Raymond a red velvet dressing gown； and once he was clothed in this； and settled in his chair； he did not seem so fragile。 His face was radiant after all； his cheeks actually rosy； and I could easily see the young man in him that I had once known。
〃My friend； should anything e between us；〃 he said； 〃let me give you to know that she still travels in her old way； rapidly through many European cities。 Never to England； for I don't think they want to cross the water； though no doubt they can； contrary to folklore。〃
I laughed。 〃Is that the folklore？ That we can't cross water？ It's
nonsense；〃 I said。 I would have said more； but I wondered if it were wise。
He apparently took no note of my hesitation。 He plunged on：
〃She has for the last few decades traveled under the name of the Marquisa De Malvrier； and her panion the Marquis of the same name； though it is she who goes to Court more often than he does。 They're seen in Russia； in Bavaria； in Saxony…in countries in which old ceremony is honored； seeming from time to time to need the courtly balls and the immense Roman church ceremonies。 But understand； I have gleaned my account of this from many different reports。 I'm sure of nothing。〃
The warm wine was being set upon a small stand beside him。 He took the cup in his hands。 His hands were shaking。 He drank from the wine。
〃But how do such reports e to you？〃 I asked。 I was fascinated。 There was no doubt he was telling me the truth。 As for the rest of the house； I could hear its many inhabitants all around us； waiting in silence it seemed for some kind of summons。
〃Forget them；〃 he said。 〃What can they learn from this audience？〃 he asked。 〃They are all faithful members。 To answer your questions； we go out sometimes in the guise of priests seeking information about those whom we call vampires。 We inquire as to mysterious deaths。 And so we gather information which is meaningful to us when it may not be meaningful to others。〃
〃Ah； of course。 And you take note of the name when it is mentioned in Russia or Saxony or Bavaria。〃
〃Exactly。 I tell you it is De Malvrier。 They have a liking for it。 And I shall tell you something else。〃
〃Please； you must。〃
〃Several times we have found upon the wall of a church inscribed the name； Pandora。〃
〃Ah； she's done this；〃 I said； desperately trying to conceal my emotion。
〃She wants to be discovered by me。〃 I paused。 〃This is painful for me；〃 I said。 〃I wonder if the one who travels with her even knows her by that name。 Ah； this is painful； but why do you assist me？〃
〃By my very life； I don't know；〃 he said； 〃except somehow I believe in you。〃
〃What do you mean believe； believe that I'm a wonder？ That I'm a demon？ Believe what； Raymond； tell me？ Oh； never mind； it doesn't matter； does it？ We do things because our hearts impel us。〃
〃Marius； my friend；〃 he said； leaning forward and touching my knee with his right hand； 〃long ago in Venice when I spied upon you； you know that I spoke to you with the purity of my mind。 I read your thoughts also。 I knew that you slew only those who were the degraded killers of their own sisters or brothers。〃
〃That's true； Raymond； and it was that way with Pandora。 But is it now？〃
〃Yes； I think so；〃 he said； 〃for every ghastly crime imputed to the vampires whom these creatures may in fact be is connected to one who was known to be guilty of many murders。 So you see it's not difficult for me to help you。〃
〃Ah； so she is true to our vow；〃 I whispered。 〃I didn't think so； not when I heard of her harsh panion。〃
I looked intently at Raymond； seeing with every passing moment more of the young man I had once known so briefly。 It was saddening to me。 It was dreadful。 And the more I felt it； the more I tried to conceal it。
What was my suffering to this； the slow triumph of old age？ Nothing。
〃Where was she seen last？〃 I asked。
〃On that point；〃 he said； 〃allow me to give you my interpretation of her behavior。 She and her panion follow a pattern in their roam…ings。 They go in rude circles； returning over and over again to one city。 Once they have been some time in that city they begin their circles once more until they have gone as far afield as Russia。 The central city of which I speak is Dresden。〃
〃Dresden！〃 I said。 〃I don't know the place。 I've never been there。〃
〃Oh； it cannot rival your gorgeous Italian cities。 It cannot equal Paris or London。 But it is the capital of Saxony and it lies on the Elbe River。 It has been much adorned by the various Dukes who have ruled there。 And invariably； I say invariably； these creatures…Pandora and her panion…return to Dresden。 It may not be for twenty years； but they e back to Dresden。〃
I fell silent in my excitement。 Was this some pattern meant for me to interpret？ Was this pattern meant for me to discover？ Was it like a great round spiderweb meant sooner or later to ensnare me？
Why else would Pandora and her panion follow such a life？ I couldn't imagine it。 But how did I dare to think Pandora even remembered
me。 She had written her name in the stone of the church wall； not mine。
At last I heaved a great sigh。
〃How can I tell you what all this means to me？〃 I asked。 〃You have given me marvelous news。 I'll find her。〃
〃Now；〃 he said in the most confident manner； 〃shall we take up the other matter which I mentioned to you in my letter？〃
〃Amadeo；〃 I whispered。 〃What happened to the infidel？ I sense no blood drinker in this place。 Am I deceived？ The creature's either very far afield or he's left you。〃
〃The monster left us soon after I wrote to you。 When he realized he could hunt for his victims throughout the countryside； he was gone。 We could do nothing to control him。 Our appeals to him that he feed only on evil men meant nothing to him。 I don't even know if he still exists。〃
〃You must guard yourselves against this individual；〃 I said。 I looked about myself at the spacious stone room。 〃This seems a castle of remarkable size and strength。 Nevertheless； we speak of a blood drinker。〃
He nodded。
〃We are well protected here； Marius。 We do not admit everyone as we admitted you； take my word for it。 But would you hear now what he told us？〃
I bowed my head。 I knew what Raymond would tell me。
〃The Satan worshipers；