Кармілла
A Petition
"TheCountessbeckonedtoherdaughter,wholistenedwithgraveattentionwhileshetoldher,ingeneralterms,howsuddenlyandperemptorilyshehadbeensummoned,andalsoofthearrangementshehadmadeforherundermycare,addingthatIwasoneofherearliestandmostvaluedfriends.
"Imade,ofcourse,suchspeechesasthecaseseemedtocallfor,andfoundmyself,onreflection,inapositionwhichIdidnothalflike.
"Thegentlemaninblackreturned,andveryceremoniouslyconductedtheladyfromtheroom.
"ThedemeanorofthisgentlemanwassuchastoimpressmewiththeconvictionthattheCountesswasaladyofverymuchmoreimportancethanhermodesttitlealonemighthaveledmetoassume.
"HerlastchargetomewasthatnoattemptwastobemadetolearnmoreaboutherthanImighthavealreadyguessed,untilherreturn.Ourdistinguishedhost,whoseguestshewas,knewherreasons.
"‘Buthere,’shesaid,‘neitherInormydaughtercouldsafelyremainformorethanaday.Iremovedmymaskimprudentlyforamoment,aboutanhourago,and,toolate,Ifanciedyousawme.SoIresolvedtoseekanopportunityoftalkingalittletoyou.HadIfoundthatyouhadseenme,Iwouldhavethrownmyselfonyourhighsenseofhonortokeepmysecretsomeweeks.Asitis,Iamsatisfiedthatyoudidnotseeme;butifyounowsuspect,or,onreflection,shouldsuspect,whoIam,Icommitmyself,inlikemanner,entirelytoyourhonor.
