Дракула / Dracula

[22 - by daylight – при дневном свете]

When the carriage stopped, the driver jumped down and assisted me. Again I noticed his prodigious strength. His hand actually seemed like a steel vice[23 - a steel vice – стальные тиски] that could crush mine. I stood close to a great old door. As I stood, the driver jumped again into his seat and went away.

I stood in silence where I was, for I did not know what to do. There was no sign of a bell or a knocker. The time I waited seemed endless. What sort of place had I come to, and among what kind of people? I was a solicitor’s clerk,[24 - a solicitor’s clerk – помощник стряпчего] here to explain the purchase of a London estate to a foreigner.

Solicitor’s clerk! No, no, no. Just before leaving London I passed my examination successfully; and I am now a solicitor!

I heard a heavy step behind the great door. Then it opened. Within, stood a tall old man, with a long white moustache. He was dressed in black from head to foot.[25 - from head to foot – с головы до ног] He held in his hand an antique silver lamp.

The old man made a courtly and said in excellent English, but with a strange intonation.

“Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own free will!” He stood like a statue, but when I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and shook my hand. His hand was as cold as ice – more like the hand of a dead than a living man.

Again he said, “Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring!”

The strength of the handshake was so much akin to that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had not seen.

Maybe it is the same person to whom I was speaking. I asked, “Count Dracula?”

“Yes, I am Dracula; and welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in; the night air is chill, and you need to eat and rest.”

As he was speaking, he took my luggage. I protested, but he insisted.

“No, sir, you are my guest. It is late, and my servants are not available.

”

We entered a long passage, and then went up a great winding stair, and along another great passage, on whose stone floor our steps rang heavily. At the end of the passage he opened a heavy door, and I saw a table.

The Count stopped, put down my bags, closed the door, and crossed the room. He opened another door, which led into a small octagonal room. He then opened another door, and invited me to enter. Here was a great bedroom with a big bed and a log fire.