foundthatthewomanwasbenumbedandhardlyabletomove。EvenwhenIaskedhertoenter，andsupplementedmywordswithgesturesincasesheshouldnotunderstandmylanguage，shestoodstock—still，onlyrockingslightlytoandfroasthoughshehadjuststrengthenoughlefttobalanceherselfonherfeet。Iwasafraid，fromtheconditioninwhichshewas，thatshemightdropdowndeadatanymoment。SoItookherbythehandtoleadherin。Butsheseemedtooweaktoevenmaketheattempt。WhenIpulledherslightlyforward，thinkingtohelpher，shetottered，andwouldhavefallenhadInotcaughtherinmyarms。Then，halfliftingher，Imovedherforwards。Herfeet，relievedofherweight，nowseemedabletomakethenecessaryeffort；andso，Ialmostcarryingher，wemovedintotheroom。Shewasattheveryendofherstrength；Ihadtoliftheroverthesill。Inobediencetohermotion，IclosedtheFrenchwindowandboltedit。Isupposedthewarmthoftheroom——thoughcool，itwaswarmerthanthedampairwithout——affectedherquickly，forontheinstantsheseemedtobegintorecoverherself。Inafewseconds，asthoughshehadreacquiredherstrength，sheherselfpulledtheheavycurtainacrossthewindow。Thisleftusindarkness，throughwhichIheardhersayinEnglish：
\"Light。Getalight！\"
Ifoundmatches，andatoncelitacandle。Asthewickflared，shemovedovertothedooroftheroom，andtriedifthelockandboltwerefastened。Satisfiedastothis，shemovedtowardsme，herwetshroudleavingatrailofmoistureonthegreencarpet。Bythistimethewaxofthecandlehadmeltedsufficientlytoletmeseeherclearly。Shewasshakingandquiveringasthoughinanague；shedrewthewetshroudaroundherpiteously。InstinctivelyIspoke：
\"CanIdoanythingforyou？\"
Sheanswered，stillinEnglish，andinavoiceofthrilling，almostpiercingsweetness，whichseemedsomehowtogostraighttomyheart，andaffectedmestrangely：\"Givemewarmth。\"
Ihurriedtothefireplace。Itwasempty；therewasnofirelaid。I
turnedtoher，andsaid：
\"Waitjustafewminuteshere。Ishallcallsomeone，andgethelp——
andfire。\"
Hervoiceseemedtoringwithintensityassheansweredwithoutapause：
\"No，no！RatherwouldIbe\"——hereshehesitatedforaninstant，butasshecaughtsightofhercerementswentonhurriedly——\"asIam。I
trustyou——notothers；andyoumustnotbetraymytrust。\"Almostinstantlyshefellintoafrightfulfitofshivering，drawingagainherdeath—clothesclosetoher，sopiteouslythatitwrungmyheart。
IsupposeIamapracticalman。Atanyrate，Iamaccustomedtoaction。ItookfromitsplacebesidemybedathickJaegerdressing—
gownofdarkbrown——itwas，ofcourse，ofextralength——andhelditouttoherasIsaid：
\"Putthaton。Itistheonlywarmthingherewhichwouldbesuitable。Stay；youmustremovethatwet——wet\"——Istumbledaboutforawordthatwouldnotbeoffensive——\"thatfrock——dress——costume——
whateveritis。\"Ipointedtowhere，inthecorneroftheroom，stoodachintz—coveredfolding—screenwhichfencesinmycoldspongebath，whichislaidreadyformeovernight，asIamanearlyriser。
Shebowedgravely，andtakingthedressing—gowninalong，white，finely—shapedhand，boreitbehindthescreen。Therewasaslightrustle，andthenahollow\"flop\"asthewetgarmentfellonthefloor；morerustlingandrubbing，andaminutelatersheemergedwrappedfromheadtofootinthelongJaegergarment，whichtrailedonthefloorbehindher，thoughshewasatallwoman。Shewasstillshiveringpainfully，however。Itookaflaskofbrandyandaglassfromacupboard，andofferedhersome；butwithamotionofherhandsherefusedit，thoughshemoanedgrievously。
\"Oh，Iamsocold——socold！\"Herteethwerechattering。Iwaspainedathersadcondition，andsaiddespairingly，forIwasatmywits’endtoknowwhattodo：
\"TellmeanythingthatIcandotohelpyou，andIwilldoit。Imaynotcallhelp；thereisnofire——nothingtomakeitwith；youwillnottakesomebrandy。WhatonearthcanIdotogiveyouwarmth？\"
Heranswercertainlysurprisedmewhenitcame，thoughitwaspracticalenough——sopracticalthatIshouldnothavedaredtosayit。Shelookedmestraightinthefaceforafewsecondsbeforespeaking。Then，withanairofgirlishinnocencewhichdisarmedsuspicionandconvincedmeatonceofhersimplefaith，shesaidinavoicethatatoncethrilledmeandevokedallmypity：
\"Letmerestforawhile，andcovermeupwithrugs。Thatmaygivemewarmth。Iamdyingofcold。AndIhaveadeadlyfearuponme——adeadlyfear。Sitbyme，andletmeholdyourhand。Youarebigandstrong，andyoulookbrave。Itwillreassureme。Iamnotmyselfacoward，butto—nightfearhasgotmebythethroat。Icanhardlybreathe。DoletmestaytillIamwarm。IfyouonlyknewwhatI
havegonethrough，andhavetogothroughstill，Iamsureyouwouldpitymeandhelpme。\"
TosaythatIwasastonishedwouldbeamilddescriptionofmyfeelings。Iwasnotshocked。ThelifewhichIhaveledwasnotonewhichmakesforprudery。Totravelinstrangeplacesamongststrangepeopleswithstrangeviewsoftheirownistohaveoddexperiencesandpeculiaradventuresnowandagain；amanwithouthumanpassionsisnotthetypenecessaryforanadventurouslife，suchasImyselfhavehad。Butevenamanofpassionsandexperiencescan，whenherespectsawoman，beshocked——evenprudish——wherehisownopinionofherisconcerned。Suchmustbringtoherguardinganygenerositywhichhehas，andanyself—restraintalso。Evenshouldsheplaceherselfinadoubtfulposition，herhonourcallstohishonour。Thisisacallwhichmaynotbe——MUSTnotbe——unanswered。Evenpassionmustpauseforatleastawhileatsoundofsuchatrumpet—call。
ThiswomanIdidrespect——muchrespect。Heryouthandbeauty；hermanifestignoranceofevil；hersuperbdisdainofconvention，whichcouldonlycomethroughhereditarydignity；herterriblefearandsuffering——fortheremustbemoreinherunhappyconditionthanmeetstheeye——wouldalldemandrespect，evenifonedidnothastentoyieldit。Nevertheless，Ithoughtitnecessarytoenteraprotestagainstherembarrassingsuggestion。Icertainlydidfeelafoolwhenmakingit，alsoacad。Icantrulysayitwasmadeonlyforhergood，andoutofthebestofme，suchasIam。Ifeltimpossiblyawkward；andstutteredandstumbledbeforeIspoke：
\"Butsurely——theconvenances！Yourbeingherealoneatnight！Mrs。
Grundy——convention——the——\"
Sheinterruptedmewithanincomparabledignity——adignitywhichhadtheeffectofshuttingmeuplikeaclasp—knifeandmakingmefeeladecidedinferior——andapoorshowatthat。Therewassuchagracioussimplicityandhonestyinit，too，suchself—respectingknowledgeofherselfandherposition，thatIcouldbeneitherangrynorhurt。I
couldonlyfeelashamedofmyself，andofmyownlittlenessofmindandmorals。Sheseemedinhericycoldness——nowspiritualaswellasbodily——likeanincarnatefigureofPrideassheanswered：
\"Whatareconvenancesorconventionstome！IfyouonlyknewwhereI
havecomefrom——theexistence（ifitcanbecalledso）whichIhavehad——theloneliness——thehorror！Andbesides，itisformetoMAKE
conventions，nottoyieldmypersonalfreedomofactiontothem。
EvenasIam——evenhereandinthisgarb——Iamaboveconvention。
Convenancesdonottroublemeorhamperme。That，atleast，IhavewonbywhatIhavegonethrough，evenifithadnevercometomethroughanyotherway。Letmestay。\"Shesaidthelastwords，inspiteofallherpride，appealingly。Butstill，therewasanoteofhighprideinallthis——inallshesaidanddid，inherattitudeandmovement，inthetonesofhervoice，intheloftinessofhercarriageandthesteadfastlookofheropen，starliteyes。Altogether，therewassomethingsorarelyloftyinherselfandallthatcladherthat，facetofacewithitandwithher，myfeebleattemptatmoralprecautionseemedpuny，ridiculous，andoutofplace。Withoutawordinthedoing，Itookfromanoldchiffonierchestanarmfulofblankets，severalofwhichIthrewoverherasshelay，forinthemeantime，havingreplacedthecoverlet，shehadlaindownatlengthonthebed。Itookachair，andsatdownbesideher。Whenshestretchedoutherhandfrombeneaththepileofwraps，Itookitinmine，saying：
\"Getwarmandrest。Sleepifyoucan。Youneednotfear；Ishallguardyouwithmylife。\"
Shelookedatmegratefully，herstarryeyestakinganewlightmorefullofilluminationthanwasaffordedbythewaxcandle，whichwasshadedfromherbymybody……Shewashorriblycold，andherteethchatteredsoviolentlythatIfearedlestsheshouldhaveincurredsomedangerousevilfromherwettingandthecoldthatfollowedit。
Ifelt，however，soawkwardthatIcouldfindnowordstoexpressmyfears；moreover，Ihardlydaredsayanythingatallregardingherselfafterthehaughtywayinwhichshehadreceivedmywell—meantprotest。ManifestlyIwasbuttoherasasortofrefugeandproviderofheat，altogetherimpersonal，andnottoberegardedinanydegreeasanindividual。InthesehumiliatingcircumstanceswhatcouldIdobutsitquiet——andwaitdevelopments？
Littlebylittlethefiercechatteringofherteethbegantoabateasthewarmthofhersurroundingsstolethroughher。Ialsofelt，eveninthisstrangelyawakeningposition，theinfluenceofthequiet；andsleepbegantostealoverme。SeveraltimesItriedtofenditoff，but，asIcouldnotmakeanyovertmovementwithoutalarmingmystrangeandbeautifulcompanion，Ihadtoyieldmyselftodrowsiness。
IwasstillinsuchanoverwhelmingstuporofsurprisethatIcouldnoteventhinkfreely。Therewasnothingformebuttocontrolmyselfandwait。BeforeIcouldwellfixmythoughtsIwasasleep。
Iwasrecalledtoconsciousnessbyhearing，eventhroughthepallofsleepthatboundme，thecrowingofacockinsomeoftheout—officesofthecastle。Atthesameinstantthefigure，lyingdeathlystillbutforthegentleheavingofherbosom，begantostrugglewildly。
Thesoundhadwonthroughthegatesofhersleepalso。Withaswift，glidingmotionsheslippedfromthebedtothefloor，sayinginafiercewhisperasshepulledherselfuptoherfullheight：
\"Letmeout！Imustgo！Imustgo！\"
BythistimeIwasfullyawake，andthewholepositionofthingscametomeinaninstantwhichIshallnever——cannever——forget：thedimlightofthecandle，nownearlyburneddowntothesocket，allthedimmerfromthefactthatthefirstgreygleamofmorningwasstealinginroundtheedgesoftheheavycurtain；thetall，slimfigureinthebrowndressing—gownwhoseover—lengthtrailedonthefloor，theblackhairshowingglossyinthelight，andincreasingbycontrastthemarblewhitenessoftheface，inwhichtheblackeyessentthroughtheirstarsfierygleams。Sheappearedquiteinafrenzyofhaste；hereagernesswassimplyirresistible。
Iwassostupefiedwithamazement，aswellaswithsleep，thatIdidnotattempttostopher，butbeganinstinctivelytohelpherbyfurtheringherwishes。Assheranbehindthescreen，and，asfarassoundcouldinformme，——beganfranticallytodisrobeherselfofthewarmdressing—gownandtodonagaintheice—coldwetshroud，Ipulledbackthecurtainfromthewindow，anddrewtheboltoftheglassdoor。AsIdidsoshewasalreadybehindme，shivering。AsIthrewopenthedoorsheglidedoutwithaswiftsilentmovement，buttremblinginanagonizedway。Asshepassedme，shemurmuredinalowvoice，whichwasalmostlostinthechatteringofherteeth：
\"Oh，thankyou——thankyouathousandtimes！ButImustgo。IMUST！
IMUST！Ishallcomeagain，andtrytoshowmygratitude。Donotcondemnmeasungrateful——tillthen。\"Andshewasgone。
Iwatchedherpassthelengthofthewhitepath，flittingfromshrubtoshruborstatueasshehadcome。Inthecoldgreylightoftheundevelopeddawnsheseemedevenmoreghostlythanshehaddoneintheblackshadowofthenight。
Whenshedisappearedfromsightintheshadowofthewood，Istoodontheterraceforalongtimewatching，incaseIshouldbeaffordedanotherglimpseofher，fortherewasnownodoubtinmymindthatshehadformesomestrangeattraction。IfelteventhenthatthelookinthosegloriousstarryeyeswouldbewithmealwayssolongasImightlive。Therewassomefascinationwhichwentdeeperthanmyeyesormyfleshormyheart——downdeepintotheverydepthsofmysoul。Mymindwasallinawhirl，sothatIcouldhardlythinkcoherently。Itallwaslikeadream；therealityseemedfaraway。
Itwasnotpossibletodoubtthatthephantomfigurewhichhadbeensoclosetomeduringthedarkhoursofthenightwasactualfleshandblood。Yetshewassocold，socold！AltogetherIcouldnotfixmymindtoeitherproposition：thatitwasalivingwomanwhohadheldmyhand，oradeadbodyreanimatedforthetimeortheoccasioninsomestrangemanner。
Thedifficultywastoogreatformetomakeupmyminduponit，evenhadIwantedto。But，inanycase，Ididnotwantto。Thiswould，nodoubt，comeintime。ButtillthenIwishedtodreamon，asanyonedoesinadreamwhichcanstillbeblissfulthoughtherebepausesofpain，orghastliness，ordoubt，orterror。
SoIclosedthewindowanddrewthecurtainagain，feelingforthefirsttimethecoldinwhichIhadstoodonthewetmarbleflooroftheterracewhenmybarefeetbegantogetwarmonthesoftcarpet。
TogetridofthechillfeelingIgotintothebedonwhichSHEhadlain，andasthewarmthrestoredmetriedtothinkcoherently。ForashortwhileIwasgoingoverthefactsofthenight——orwhatseemedasfactstomyremembrance。ButasIcontinuedtothink，thepossibilitiesofanyresultseemedtogetless，andIfoundmyselfvainlytryingtoreconcilewiththelogicoflifethegrimepisodeofthenight。Theeffortprovedtobetoomuchforsuchconcentrationaswaslefttome；moreover，interruptedsleepwasclamant，andwouldnotbedenied。WhatIdreamtof——ifIdreamtatall——Iknownot。I
onlyknowthatIwasreadyforwakingwhenthetimecame。Itcamewithaviolentknockingatmydoor。Isprangfrombed，fullyawakeinasecond，drewthebolt，andslippedbacktobed。Withahurried\"MayIcomein？\"AuntJanetentered。Sheseemedrelievedwhenshesawme，andgavewithoutmyaskinganexplanationofherperturbation：
\"Oh，laddie，Ihaebeensouneasyabootyeallthenicht。Ihaehaddreamsan’veesionsan’a’sortso’uncannyfancies。Ifearthat——\"
Shewasbynowdrawingbackthecurtain，andashereyestookinthemarksofwetalloverthefloorthecurrentofherthoughtschanged：
\"Why，laddie，whativerhaeyebeendoin’wi’yerbaith？Oh，themessyehaemade！’Tissinfultogiesictroublean’waste……\"Andsoshewenton。Iwasgladtohearthetirade，whichwasonlywhatagoodhousewife，outragedinhersentimentsoforder，wouldhavemade。
Ilistenedinpatience——withpleasurewhenIthoughtofwhatshewouldhavethought（andsaid）hadsheknowntherealfacts。Iwaswellpleasedtohavegotoffsoeasily。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
April10，1907。
ForsomedaysafterwhatIcall\"theepisode\"Iwasinastrangeconditionofmind。Ididnottakeanyone——notevenAuntJanet——intoconfidence。Evenshedear，andopen—heartedandliberal—mindedassheis，mightnothaveunderstoodwellenoughtobejustandtolerant；andIdidnotcaretohearanyadversecommentonmystrangevisitor。SomehowIcouldnotbearthethoughtofanyonefindingfaultwithherorinher，though，strangelyenough，Iwaseternallydefendinghertomyself；for，despitemywishes，embarrassingthoughtsWOULDcomeagainandagain，andagaininallsortsandvariantsofqueriesdifficulttoanswer。Ifoundmyselfdefendingher，sometimesasawomanhardpressedbyspiritualfearandphysicalsuffering，sometimesasnotbeingamenabletolawsthatgoverntheLiving。Indeed，IcouldnotmakeupmymindwhetherI
lookedonherasalivinghumanbeingorasonewithsomestrangeexistenceinanotherworld，andhavingonlyachancefootholdinourown。Insuchdoubtimaginationbegantowork，andthoughtsofevil，ofdanger，ofdoubt，evenoffear，begantocrowdonmewithsuchpersistenceandinsuchvariedformsthatIfoundmyinstinctofreticencegrowingintoasettledpurpose。ThevalueofthisinstinctiveprecautionwaspromptlyshownbyAuntJanet’sstateofmind，withconsequentrevelationofit。ShebecamefullofgloomyprognosticationsandwhatIthoughtweremorbidfears。ForthefirsttimeinmylifeIdiscoveredthatAuntJanethadnerves！Ihadlonghadasecretbeliefthatshewasgifted，tosomedegreeatanyrate，withSecondSight，whichquality，orwhateveritis，skilledinthepowersifnottheloreofsuperstition，managestokeepatstretchnotonlythemindofitsimmediatepathic，butofothersrelevanttoit。PerhapsthisnaturalqualityhadreceivedafreshimpetusfromthearrivalofsomecasesofherbookssentonbySirColin。Sheappearedtoreadandrereadtheseworks，whichwerechieflyonoccultsubjects，dayandnight，exceptwhenshewasimpartingtomechoiceexcerptsofthemostbalefulandfearsomekind。Indeed，beforeaweekwasoverIfoundmyselftobeanexpertinthehistoryofthecult，aswellasinitsmanifestations，whichlatterIhadbeenversedinforagoodmanyyears。
Theresultofallthiswasthatitsetmebrooding。Such，atleast，IgatheredwasthefactwhenAuntJanettookmetotaskforit。Shealwaysspeaksoutaccordingtoherconvictions，sothatherthinkingIbroodedwastomeaproofthatIdid；andafterapersonalexaminationIcame——reluctantly——totheconclusionthatshewasright，sofar，atanyrate，asmyouterconductwasconcerned。ThestateofmindIwasin，however，keptmefrommakinganyacknowledgmentofit——therealcauseofmykeepingsomuchtomyselfandofbeingsodistrait。AndsoIwenton，torturingmyselfasbeforewithintrospectivequestioning；andshe，withhermindsetonmyactions，andendeavouringtofindacauseforthem，continuedandexpoundedherbeliefsandfears。
Hernightlychatswithmewhenwewerealoneafterdinner——forIhadcometoavoidherquestioningatothertimes——keptmyimaginationathighpressure。Despitemyself，Icouldnotbutfindnewcauseforconcernintheperennialfountsofhersuperstition。Ihadthought，yearsago，thatIhadthensoundedthedepthsofthisbranchofpsychicism；butthisnewphaseofthought，foundedonthereallydeepholdwhichtheexistenceofmybeautifulvisitorandhersadanddreadfulcircumstanceshadtakenuponme，broughtmeanewconcerninthematterofself—importance。IcametothinkthatImustreconstructmyself—values，andbeginafreshunderstandingofethicalbeliefs。DowhatIwould，mymindwouldkeepturningontheuncannysubjectsbroughtbeforeit。Ibegantoapplythemonebyonetomyownlateexperience，andunconsciouslytotrytofittheminturntothepresentcase。
TheeffectofthisbroodingwasthatIwas，despitemyownwill，struckbythesimilarityofcircumstancesbearingonmyvisitor，andtheconditionsapportionedbytraditionandsuperstitiontosuchstrangesurvivalsfromearlieragesasthesepartialexistenceswhichareratherUndeadthanLiving——stillwalkingtheearth，thoughclaimedbytheworldoftheDead。AmongstthemaretheVampire，ortheWehr—Wolf。TothisclassalsomightbelonginameasuretheDoppelganger——oneofwhosedualexistencescommonlybelongstotheactualworldaroundit。So，too，thedenizensoftheworldofAstralism。Inanyofthesenamedworldsthereisamaterialpresence——whichmustbecreated，ifonlyforasingleorperiodicpurpose。Itmattersnotwhetheramaterialpresencealreadycreatedcanbereceptiveofadisembodiedsoul，orasoulunattachedcanhaveabodybuiltupforitoraroundit；or，again，whetherthebodyofadeadpersoncanbemadeseemingquickthroughsomediabolicinfluencemanifestedinthepresent，oraninheritanceorresultofsomebalefuluseofmaleficpowerinthepast。Theresultisthesameineachcase，thoughthewaysbewidelydifferent：asoulandabodywhicharenotinunitybutbroughttogetherforstrangepurposesthroughstrangermeansandbypowersstillmorestrange。
Throughmuchthoughtandaprocessofexclusionstheeerieformwhichseemedtobemostincorrespondencewithmyadventure，andmostsuitabletomyfascinatingvisitor，appearedtobetheVampire。
Doppelganger，Astralcreations，andallsuch—like，didnotcomplywiththeconditionsofmynightexperience。TheWehr—WolfisbutavariantoftheVampire，andsoneedednottobeclassedorexaminedatall。Thenitwasthat，thusfocussed，theLadyoftheShroud（forsoIcametoholdherinmymind）begantoassumeanewforce。AuntJanet’slibraryaffordedmeclueswhichIfollowedwithavidity。InmysecretheartIhatedthequest，anddidnotwishtogoonwithit。
ButinthisIwasnotmyownmaster。DowhatIwould——brushawaydoubtsneversooften，newdoubtsandimaginingscameintheirstead。
ThecircumstancealmostrepeatedtheparableoftheSevenDevilswhotooktheplaceoftheexorcisedone。DoubtsIcouldstand。
ImaginingsIcouldstand。ButdoubtsandimaginingstogethermadeaforcesofellthatIwasdriventoacceptanyreadingofthemysterywhichmightpresumablyaffordafootholdforsatisfyingthought。AndsoIcametoaccepttentativelytheVampiretheory——acceptit，atleast，sofarastoexamineitasjudiciallyaswasgivenmetodo。
Asthedaysworeon，sotheconvictiongrew。ThemoreIreadonthesubject，themoredirectlytheevidencespointedtowardsthisview。
ThemoreIthought，themoreobstinatebecametheconviction。I
ransackedAuntJanet’svolumesagainandagaintofindanythingtothecontrary；butinvain。Again，nomatterhowobstinateweremyconvictionsatanygiventime，unsettlementcamewithfreshthinkingovertheargument，sothatIwaskeptinaharassingstateofuncertainty。
Briefly，theevidenceinfavourofaccordbetweenthefactsofthecaseandtheVampiretheorywere：
Hercomingwasatnight——thetimetheVampireisaccordingtothetheory，freetomoveatwill。
Sheworehershroud——anecessityofcomingfreshfromgraveortomb；
forthereisnothingoccultaboutclothingwhichisnotsubjecttoastralorotherinfluences。
Shehadtobehelpedintomyroom——instrictaccordancewithwhatonescepticalcriticofoccultismhascalled\"theVampireetiquette。\"
Shemadeviolenthasteingettingawayatcock—crow。
Sheseemedpreternaturallycold；hersleepwasalmostabnormalinintensity，andyetthesoundofthecock—crowingcamethroughit。
ThesethingsshowedhertobesubjecttoSOMElaws，thoughnotinexactaccordwithinthosewhichgovernhumanbeings。Underthestressofsuchcircumstancesasshemusthavegonethrough，hervitalityseemedmorethanhuman——thequalityofvitalitywhichcouldoutliveordinaryburial。Again，suchpurposeasshehadshownindonning，understressofsomecompellingdirection，herice—coldwetshroud，and，wraptinit，goingoutagainintothenight，washardlynormalforawoman。
Butifso，andifshewasindeedaVampire，mightnotwhateveritmaybethatholdssuchbeingsinthrallbebysomemeansorotherexorcised？Tofindthemeansmustbemynexttask。Iamactuallypiningtoseeheragain。NeverbeforehaveIbeenstirredtomydepthsbyanyone。ComeitfromHeavenorHell，fromtheEarthortheGrave，itdoesnotmatter；Ishallmakeitmytasktowinherbacktolifeandpeace。IfshebeindeedaVampire，thetaskmaybehardandlong；ifshebenotso，andifitbemerelythatcircumstanceshavesogatheredroundherastoproducethatimpression，thetaskmaybesimplerandtheresultmoresweet。No，notmoresweet；forwhatcanbemoresweetthantorestorethelostorseeminglylostsoulofthewomanyoulove！There，thetruthisoutatlast！IsupposethatI
havefalleninlovewithher。Ifso，itistoolateformetofightagainstit。IcanonlywaitwithwhatpatienceIcantillIseeheragain。ButtothatendIcandonothing。Iknowabsolutelynothingabouther——notevenhername。Patience！