Дракула

           12May. —Letmebeginwithfacts,bare,meagerfacts,verifiedbybooksandfigures,andofwhichtherecanbenodoubt. Imustnotconfusethemwithexperienceswhichwillhavetorestonmyownobservation,ormymemoryofthem. LasteveningwhentheCountcamefromhisroomhebeganbyaskingmequestionsonlegalmattersandonthedoingofcertainkindsofbusiness. Ihadspentthedaywearilyoverbooks,and,simplytokeepmymindoccupied,wentoversomeofthemattersIhadbeenexaminedinatLincoln’sInn. TherewasacertainmethodintheCount’sinquiries,soIshalltrytoputthemdowninsequence. Theknowledgemaysomehoworsometimebeusefultome. 

           First,heaskedifamaninEnglandmighthavetwosolicitorsormore. Itoldhimhemighthaveadozenifhewished,butthatitwouldnotbewisetohavemorethanonesolicitorengagedinonetransaction,asonlyonecouldactatatime,andthattochangewouldbecertaintomilitateagainsthisinterest. Heseemedthoroughlytounderstand,andwentontoaskiftherewouldbeanypracticaldifficultyinhavingonemantoattend,say,tobanking,andanothertolookaftershipping,incaselocalhelpwereneededinaplacefarfromthehomeofthebankingsolicitor. Iaskedtoexplainmorefully,sothatImightnotbyanychancemisleadhim,sohesaid, 

           "Ishallillustrate. Yourfriendandmine,Mr.PeterHawkins,fromundertheshadowofyourbeautifulcathedralatExeter,whichisfarfromLondon,buysformethroughyourgoodselfmyplaceatLondon. Good!Nowhereletmesayfrankly,lestyoushouldthinkitstrangethatIhavesoughttheservicesofonesofarofffromLondoninsteadofsomeoneresidentthere, thatmymotivewasthatnolocalinterestmightbeservedsavemywishonly,andasoneofLondonresidencemight,perhaps,havesomepurposeofhimselforfriendtoserve,Iwentthusafieldtoseekmyagent,whoselaboursshouldbeonlytomyinterest.