Дракула

           Iknowthemsteps,‘avin’‘adtocarrytheboxesupwiththreeloaferswhatcomeroundtoearnacopper. Theoldgentgivethemshillin’s,an’theyseein’theygotsomuch,theywantedmore. But‘etookoneofthembytheshoulderandwasliketothrow’imdownthesteps,tillthelotofthemwentawaycussin’." 

           IthoughtthatwiththisdescriptionIcouldfindthehouse,sohavingpaidmyfriendforhisinformation,IstartedoffforPiccadilly. Ihadgainedanewpainfulexperience. TheCountcould,itwasevident,handletheearthboxeshimself. Ifso,timewasprecious,fornowthathehadachievedacertainamountofdistribution,hecould,bychoosinghisowntime,completethetaskunobserved. AtPiccadillyCircusIdischargedmycab,andwalkedwestward. BeyondtheJuniorConstitutionalIcameacrossthehousedescribedandwassatisfiedthatthiswasthenextofthelairsarrangedbyDracula. Thehouselookedasthoughithadbeenlonguntenanted. Thewindowswereencrustedwithdust,andtheshutterswereup. Alltheframeworkwasblackwithtime,andfromtheironthepainthadmostlyscaledaway. Itwasevidentthatuptolatelytherehadbeenalargenoticeboardinfrontofthebalcony. Ithad,however,beenroughlytornaway,theuprightswhichhadsupporteditstillremaining. BehindtherailsofthebalconyIsawthereweresomelooseboards,whoserawedgeslookedwhite. Iwouldhavegivenagooddealtohavebeenabletoseethenoticeboardintact,asitwould,perhaps,havegivensomecluetotheownershipofthehouse.