Кармілла
A Guest
Itweariesme:yousayitweariesyou;ButhowIgotit—camebyit.’
"Iforgettherest.ButIfeelasifsomegreatmisfortunewerehangingoverus.IsupposethepoorGeneral’safflictedletterhashadsomethingtodowithit."
Atthismomenttheunwontedsoundofcarriagewheelsandmanyhoofsupontheroad,arrestedourattention.
Theyseemedtobeapproachingfromthehighgroundoverlookingthebridge,andverysoontheequipageemergedfromthatpoint.Twohorsemenfirstcrossedthebridge,thencameacarriagedrawnbyfourhorses,andtwomenrodebehind.
Itseemedtobethetravelingcarriageofapersonofrank;andwewereallimmediatelyabsorbedinwatchingthatveryunusualspectacle.Itbecame,inafewmoments,greatlymoreinteresting,forjustasthecarriagehadpassedthesummitofthesteepbridge,oneoftheleaders,takingfright,communicatedhispanictotherest,andafteraplungeortwo,thewholeteambrokeintoawildgalloptogether,anddashingbetweenthehorsemenwhorodeinfront,camethunderingalongtheroadtowardsuswiththespeedofahurricane.
Theexcitementofthescenewasmademorepainfulbytheclear,long-drawnscreamsofafemalevoicefromthecarriagewindow.
Wealladvancedincuriosityandhorror;meratherinsilence,therestwithvariousejaculationsofterror.
Oursuspensedidnotlastlong.
