Кармилла
We Compare Notes
"Sheisabsolutelybeautiful,"threwinMademoiselle,whohadpeepedforamomentintothestranger’sroom.
"Andsuchasweetvoice!"addedMadamePerrodon.
"Didyouremarkawomaninthecarriage,afteritwassetupagain,whodidnotgetout,"inquiredMademoiselle,"butonlylookedfromthewindow?"
"No,wehadnotseenher."
Thenshedescribedahideousblackwoman,withasortofcoloredturbanonherhead,andwhowasgazingallthetimefromthecarriagewindow,noddingandgrinningderisivelytowardstheladies,withgleamingeyesandlargewhiteeyeballs,andherteethsetasifinfury.
"Didyouremarkwhatanill-lookingpackofmentheservantswere?"askedMadame.
"Yes,"saidmyfather,whohadjustcomein,"ugly,hang-doglookingfellowsaseverIbeheldinmylife.Ihopetheymayn’trobthepoorladyintheforest.Theyarecleverrogues,however;theygoteverythingtorightsinaminute."
"Idaresaytheyarewornoutwithtoolongtraveling—saidMadame.
"Besideslookingwicked,theirfacesweresostrangelylean,anddark,andsullen.Iamverycurious,Iown;butIdaresaytheyoungladywilltellyouallaboutittomorrow,ifsheissufficientlyrecovered."
"Idon’tthinkshewill,"saidmyfather,withamysterioussmile,andalittlenodofhishead,asifheknewmoreaboutitthanhecaredtotellus.
Thismadeusallthemoreinquisitiveastowhathadpassedbetweenhimandtheladyintheblackvelvet,inthebriefbutearnestinterviewthathadimmediatelyprecededherdeparture.
