Кармілла
Her Habits — A Saunter
SheandIwerelookingoutofoneofthelongdrawingroomwindows,whenthereenteredthecourtyard,overthedrawbridge,afigureofawandererwhomIknewverywell.Heusedtovisittheschlossgenerallytwiceayear.
Itwasthefigureofahunchback,withthesharpleanfeaturesthatgenerallyaccompanydeformity.Heworeapointedblackbeard,andhewassmilingfromeartoear,showinghiswhitefangs.Hewasdressedinbuff,black,andscarlet,andcrossedwithmorestrapsandbeltsthanIcouldcount,fromwhichhungallmannerofthings.Behind,hecarriedamagiclantern,andtwoboxes,whichIwellknew,inoneofwhichwasasalamander,andintheotheramandrake.Thesemonstersusedtomakemyfatherlaugh.Theywerecompoundedofpartsofmonkeys,parrotssquirrels,fish,andhedgehogs,driedandstitchedtogetherwithgreatneatnessandstartlingeffect.Hehadafiddle,aboxofconjuringapparatus,apairoffoilsandmasksattachedtohisbelt,severalothermysteriouscasesdanglingabouthim,andablackstaffwithcopperferrulesinhishand.Hiscompanionwasaroughsparedog,thatfollowedathisheels,butstoppedshort,suspiciouslyatthedrawbridge,andinalittlewhilebegantohowldismally.
Inthemeantime,themountebank,standinginthemidstofthecourtyard,raisedhisgrotesquehat,andmadeusaveryceremoniousbow,payinghiscomplimentsveryvolublyinexecrableFrench,andGermannotmuchbetter.
