Дракула / Dracula

We got to Bistritz in the evening. It was a very interesting old place. Earlier, Count Dracula directed me to go to the Golden Krone Hotel.[8 - Golden Krone Hotel – гостиница «Золотая крона»] An elderly woman in the usual peasant dress smiled, and gave me a letter:

My Friend, welcome to the Carpathians[9 - Carpathians – Карпаты]. I am anxiously expecting you. Sleep well tonight. At the Borgo Pass[10 - Borgo Pass – перевал Борго]my carriage will await you and will bring you to me. I hope that your journey from London has been a happy one, and that you will enjoy your stay on my beautiful land.

Your friend,

Dracula.

4 May. – My landlord got a letter from the Count to give the best place on the coach[11 - the best place on the coach – лучшее место в дилижансе] for me. He and his wife, the old lady who had received me, looked frightened. When I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could tell me anything of his castle, both he and his wife said that they knew nothing at all, and simply refused to speak further.

It was all very mysterious and suspicious.

Just before I was leaving, the old lady came up to my room and said in a very hysterical way, “Must you go? Oh! Young Herr, must you go?”

She was very excited, and mixed German with some other language which I did not know at all. When I told her that I must go at once, and that I had important business, she asked again, “Do you know what day it is? It is the eve of St.

George’s Day.[12 - the eve of St. George’s Day – канун Св. Георгия] Do you not know that tonight, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world[13 - all the evil things in the world – вся нечисть этого мира] will have full power on the earth? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?”

She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort her, but without effect. Finally she went down on her knees and implored me not to go; at least to wait a day or two.

It was all very ridiculous but I did not feel comfortable. However, there was business to be done, and I couldn’t allow anything to interfere. I thanked her, and said that my duty was imperative, and that I must go. She then rose, dried her eyes, and gave me a little cross from her neck. She put the rosary round my neck, and said, “For your mother’s sake,[14 - For your mother’s sake – Ради вашей матери]” and went out of the room.