Chapter XIX: An Enemy in the Dark

by Bram Stoker

　　Adam Salton went for a walk before returning to Lesser Hill; he feltthat it might be well, not only to steady his nerves, shaken by thehorrible scene, but to get his thoughts into some sort of order, soas to be ready to enter on the matter with Sir Nathaniel. He was alittle embarrassed as to telling his uncle, for affairs had sovastly progressed beyond his original view that he felt a littledoubtful as to what would be the old gentleman's attitude when heshould hear of the strange events for the first time. Mr. Saltonwould certainly not be satisfied at being treated as an outsiderwith regard to such things, most of which had points of contact withthe inmates of his own house. It was with an immense sense ofrelief that Adam heard that his uncle had telegraphed to thehousekeeper that he was detained by business at Walsall, where hewould remain for the night; and that he would be back in the morningin time for lunch.When Adam got home after his walk, he found Sir Nathaniel just goingto bed. He did not say anything to him then of what had happened,but contented himself with arranging that they would walk togetherin the early morning, as he had much to say that would requireserious attention.Strangely enough he slept well, and awoke at dawn with his mindclear and his nerves in their usual unshaken condition. The maidbrought up, with his early morning cup of tea, a note which had beenfound in the letter-box. It was from Lady Arabella, and wasevidently intended to put him on his guard as to what he should sayabout the previous evening.He read it over carefully several times, before he was satisfiedthat he had taken in its full import."Dear Mr. Salton,"I cannot go to bed until I have written to you, so you must forgiveme if I disturb you, and at an unseemly time. Indeed, you must alsoforgive me if, in trying to do what is right, I err in saying toomuch or too little. The fact is that I am quite upset and unnervedby all that has happened in this terrible night. I find itdifficult even to write; my hands shake so that they are not undercontrol, and I am trembling all over with memory of the horrors wesaw enacted before our eyes. I am grieved beyond measure that Ishould be, however remotely, a cause of this horror coming on you.Forgive me if you can, and do not think too hardly of me. This Iask with confidence, for since we shared together the danger--thevery pangs--of death, I feel that we should be to one anothersomething more than mere friends, that I may lean on you and trustyou, assured that your sympathy and pity are for me. You reallymust let me thank you for the friendliness, the help, theconfidence, the real aid at a time of deadly danger and deadly fearwhich you showed me. That awful man--I shall see him for ever in mydreams. His black, malignant face will shut out all memory ofsunshine and happiness. I shall eternally see his evil eyes as hethrew himself into that well-hole in a vain effort to escape fromthe consequences of his own misdoing. The more I think of it, themore apparent it seems to me that he had premeditated the wholething--of course, except his own horrible death."Perhaps you have noticed a fur collar I occasionally wear. It isone of my most valued treasures--an ermine collar studded withemeralds. I had often seen the nigger's eyes gleam covetously whenhe looked at it. Unhappily, I wore it yesterday. That may havebeen the cause that lured the poor man to his doom. On the verybrink of the abyss he tore the collar from my neck--that was thelast I saw of him. When he sank into the hole, I was rushing to theiron door, which I pulled behind me. When I heard that soul-sickening yell, which marked his disappearance in the chasm, I wasmore glad than I can say that my eyes were spared the pain andhorror which my ears had to endure."When I tore myself out of the negro's grasp as he sank into thewell-hole; I realised what freedom meant. Freedom! Freedom! Notonly from that noisome prison-house, which has now such a memory,but from the more noisome embrace of that hideous monster. Whilst Ilive, I shall always thank you for my freedom. A woman mustsometimes express her gratitude; otherwise it becomes too great tobear. I am not a sentimental girl, who merely likes to thank a man;I am a woman who knows all, of bad as well as good, that life cangive. I have known what it is to love and to lose. But you mustnot let me bring any unhappiness into your life. I must live on--asI have lived--alone, and, in addition, bear with other woes thememory of this latest insult and horror. In the meantime, I mustget away as quickly as possible from Diana's Grove. In the morningI shall go up to town, where I shall remain for a week--I cannotstay longer, as business affairs demand my presence here. I think,however, that a week in the rush of busy London, surrounded withmultitudes of commonplace people, will help to soften--I cannotexpect total obliteration--the terrible images of the bygone night.When I can sleep easily--which will be, I hope, after a day or two--I shall be fit to return home and take up again the burden whichwill, I suppose, always be with me."I shall be most happy to see you on my return--or earlier, if mygood fortune sends you on any errand to London. I shall stay at theMayfair Hotel. In that busy spot we may forget some of the dangersand horrors we have shared together. Adieu, and thank you, againand again, for all your kindness and consideration to me."Arabella Marsh."Adam was surprised by this effusive epistle, but he determined tosay nothing of it to Sir Nathaniel until he should have thought itwell over. When Adam met Sir Nathaniel at breakfast, he was gladthat he had taken time to turn things over in his mind. The resulthad been that not only was he familiar with the facts in all theirbearings, but he had already so far differentiated them that he wasable to arrange them in his own mind according to their values.Breakfast had been a silent function, so it did not interfere in anyway with the process of thought.So soon as the door was closed, Sir Nathaniel began:"I see, Adam, that something has occurred, and that you have much totell me.""That is so, sir. I suppose I had better begin by telling you all Iknow--all that has happened since I left you yesterday?"Accordingly Adam gave him details of all that had happened duringthe previous evening. He confined himself rigidly to the narrationof circumstances, taking care not to colour events by any comment ofhis own, or any opinion of the meaning of things which he did notfully understand. At first, Sir Nathaniel seemed disposed to askquestions, but shortly gave this up when he recognised that thenarration was concise and self-explanatory. Thenceforth, hecontented himself with quick looks and glances, easily interpreted,or by some acquiescent motions of his hands, when such could beconvenient, to emphasise his idea of the correctness of anyinference. Until Adam ceased speaking, having evidently come to anend of what he had to say with regard to this section of his story,the elder man made no comment whatever. Even when Adam took fromhis pocket Lady Arabella's letter, with the manifest intention ofreading it, he did not make any comment. Finally, when Adam foldedup the letter and put it, in its envelope, back in his pocket, as anintimation that he had now quite finished, the old diplomatistcarefully made a few notes in his pocket-book."Your narrative, my dear Adam, is altogether admirable. I think Imay now take it that we are both well versed in the actual facts,and that our conference had better take the shape of a mutualexchange of ideas. Let us both ask questions as they may arise; andI do not doubt that we shall arrive at some enlighteningconclusions.""Will you kindly begin, sir? I do not doubt that, with your longerexperience, you will be able to dissipate some of the fog whichenvelops certain of the things which we have to consider.""I hope so, my dear boy. For a beginning, then, let me say thatLady Arabella's letter makes clear some things which she intended--and also some things which she did not intend. But, before I beginto draw deductions, let me ask you a few questions. Adam, are youheart-whole, quite heart-whole, in the matter of Lady Arabella?"His companion answered at once, each looking the other straight inthe eyes during question and answer."Lady Arabella, sir, is a charming woman, and I should have deemedit a privilege to meet her--to talk to her--even--since I am in theconfessional--to flirt a little with her. But if you mean to ask ifmy affections are in any way engaged, I can emphatically answer'No!'--as indeed you will understand when presently I give you thereason. Apart from that, there are the unpleasant details wediscussed the other day.""Could you--would you mind giving me the reason now? It will helpus to understand what is before us, in the way of difficulty.""Certainly, sir. My reason, on which I can fully depend, is that Ilove another woman!""That clinches it. May I offer my good wishes, and, I hope, mycongratulations?""I am proud of your good wishes, sir, and I thank you for them. Butit is too soon for congratulations--the lady does not even know myhopes yet. Indeed, I hardly knew them myself, as definite, tillthis moment.""I take it then, Adam, that at the right time I may be allowed toknow who the lady is?"Adam laughed a low, sweet laugh, such as ripples from a happy heart."There need not be an hour's, a minute's delay. I shall be glad toshare my secret with you, sir. The lady, sir, whom I am so happy asto love, and in whom my dreams of life-long happiness are centred,is Mimi Watford!""Then, my dear Adam, I need not wait to offer congratulations. Sheis indeed a very charming young lady. I do not think I ever saw agirl who united in such perfection the qualities of strength ofcharacter and sweetness of disposition. With all my heart, Icongratulate you. Then I may take it that my question as to yourheart-wholeness is answered in the affirmative?""Yes; and now, sir, may I ask in turn why the question?""Certainly! I asked because it seems to me that we are coming to apoint where my questions might be painful to you.""It is not merely that I love Mimi, but I have reason to look onLady Arabella as her enemy," Adam continued."Her enemy?""Yes. A rank and unscrupulous enemy who is bent on herdestruction."Sir Nathaniel went to the door, looked outside it and returned,locking it carefully behind him.