Кармилла
The Story
Millarca,there,ismydaughter;Icannotthenbeyoung,evenintheopinionofpeoplewhomtimehastaughttobeindulgent,andImaynotliketobecomparedwithwhatyourememberme.Youhavenomasktoremove.Youcanoffermenothinginexchange.’
"‘Mypetitionistoyourpity,toremoveit.’
"‘Andminetoyours,toletitstaywhereitis,’shereplied.
"‘Well,then,atleastyouwilltellmewhetheryouareFrenchorGerman;youspeakbothlanguagessoperfectly.’
"‘Idon’tthinkIshalltellyouthat,General;youintendasurprise,andaremeditatingtheparticularpointofattack.’
"‘Atallevents,youwon’tdenythis,’Isaid,‘thatbeinghonoredbyyourpermissiontoconverse,Ioughttoknowhowtoaddressyou.ShallIsayMadamelaComtesse?’
"Shelaughed,andshewould,nodoubt,havemetmewithanotherevasion—if,indeed,Icantreatanyoccurrenceinanintervieweverycircumstanceofwhichwasprearranged,asInowbelieve,withtheprofoundestcunning,asliabletobemodifiedbyaccident.
"‘Astothat,’shebegan;butshewasinterrupted,almostassheopenedherlips,byagentleman,dressedinblack,wholookedparticularlyelegantanddistinguished,withthisdrawback,thathisfacewasthemostdeadlypaleIeversaw,exceptindeath
