Кармілла
Ordeal and Execution
Iknowthathehadledthemoutofhearing,thathemightrelatemycase,andIsawthemglanceoftenquicklyatme,asthediscussionproceeded.
Myfathercametome,kissedmeagainandagain,andleadingmefromthechapel,said:
"Itistimetoreturn,butbeforewegohome,wemustaddtoourpartythegoodpriest,wholivesbutalittlewayfromthis;andpersuadehimtoaccompanyustotheschloss."
Inthisquestweweresuccessful:andIwasglad,beingunspeakablyfatiguedwhenwereachedhome.Butmysatisfactionwaschangedtodismay,ondiscoveringthattherewerenotidingsofCarmilla.Ofthescenethathadoccurredintheruinedchapel,noexplanationwasofferedtome,anditwasclearthatitwasasecretwhichmyfatherforthepresentdeterminedtokeepfromme.
ThesinisterabsenceofCarmillamadetheremembranceofthescenemorehorribletome.Thearrangementsforthenightweresingular.Twoservants,andMadameweretositupinmyroomthatnight;andtheecclesiasticwithmyfatherkeptwatchintheadjoiningdressingroom.
Thepriesthadperformedcertainsolemnritesthatnight,thepurportofwhichIdidnotunderstandanymorethanIcomprehendedthereasonofthisextraordinaryprecautiontakenformysafetyduringsleep.
Isawallclearlyafewdayslater.
ThedisappearanceofCarmillawasfollowedbythediscontinuanceofmynightlysufferings.
