Chapter XVII: The Mystery of "The Grove"

by Bram Stoker

　　That afternoon Adam decided to do a little exploring. As he passedthrough the wood outside the gate of Diana's Grove, he thought hesaw the African's face for an instant. So he went deeper into theundergrowth, and followed along parallel to the avenue to the house.He was glad that there was no workman or servant about, for he didnot care that any of Lady Arabella's people should find himwandering about her grounds. Taking advantage of the denseness ofthe trees, he came close to the house and skirted round it. He wasrepaid for his trouble, for on the far side of the house, close towhere the rocky frontage of the cliff fell away, he saw Oolangacrouched behind the irregular trunk of a great oak. The man was sointent on watching someone, or something, that he did not guardagainst being himself watched. This suited Adam, for he could thusmake scrutiny at will.The thick wood, though the trees were mostly of small girth, threw aheavy shadow, so that the steep declension, in front of which grewthe tree behind which the African lurked, was almost in darkness.Adam drew as close as he could, and was amazed to see a patch oflight on the ground before him; when he realised what it was, he wasdetermined, more than ever to follow on his quest. The nigger had adark lantern in his hand, and was throwing the light down the steepincline. The glare showed a series of stone steps, which ended in alow-lying heavy iron door fixed against the side of the house. Allthe strange things he had heard from Sir Nathaniel, and all those,little and big, which he had himself noticed, crowded into his mindin a chaotic way. Instinctively he took refuge behind a thick oakstem, and set himself down, to watch what might occur.After a short time it became apparent that the African was trying tofind out what was behind the heavy door. There was no way oflooking in, for the door fitted tight into the massive stone slabs.The only opportunity for the entrance of light was through a smallhole between the great stones above the door. This hole was toohigh up to look through from the ground level. Oolanga, havingtried standing tiptoe on the highest point near, and holding thelantern as high as he could, threw the light round the edges of thedoor to see if he could find anywhere a hole or a flaw in the metalthrough which he could obtain a glimpse. Foiled in this, he broughtfrom the shrubbery a plank, which he leant against the top of thedoor and then climbed up with great dexterity. This did not bringhim near enough to the window-hole to look in, or even to throw thelight of the lantern through it, so he climbed down and carried theplank back to the place from which he had got it. Then he concealedhimself near the iron door and waited, manifestly with the intent ofremaining there till someone came near. Presently Lady Arabella,moving noiselessly through the shade, approached the door. When hesaw her close enough to touch it, Oolanga stepped forward from hisconcealment, and spoke in a whisper, which through the gloom soundedlike a hiss."I want to see you, missy--soon and secret.""What do you want?""You know well, missy; I told you already."She turned on him with blazing eyes, the green tint in them glowinglike emeralds."Come, none of that. If there is anything sensible which you wishto say to me, you can see me here, just where we are, at seveno'clock."He made no reply in words, but, putting the backs of his handstogether, bent lower and lower till his forehead touched the earth.Then he rose and went slowly away.Adam Salton, from his hiding-place, saw and wondered. In a fewminutes he moved from his place and went home to Lesser Hill, fullydetermined that seven o'clock would find him in some hidden placebehind Diana's Grove.At a little before seven Adam stole softly out of the house and tookthe back-way to the rear of Diana's Grove. The place seemed silentand deserted, so he took the opportunity of concealing himself nearthe spot whence he had seen Oolanga trying to investigate whateverwas concealed behind the iron door. He waited, perfectly still, andat last saw a gleam of white passing soundlessly through theundergrowth. He was not surprised when he recognised the colour ofLady Arabella's dress. She came close and waited, with her face tothe iron door. From some place of concealment near at hand Oolangaappeared, and came close to her. Adam noticed, with surprisedamusement, that over his shoulder was the box with the mongoose. Ofcourse the African did not know that he was seen by anyone, least ofall by the man whose property he had with him.Silent-footed as he was, Lady Arabella heard him coming, and turnedto meet him. It was somewhat hard to see in the gloom, for, asusual, he was all in black, only his collar and cuffs showing white.Lady Arabella opened the conversation which ensued between the two."What do you want? To rob me, or murder me?""No, to lub you!"This frightened her a little, and she tried to change the tone."Is that a coffin you have with you? If so, you are wasting yourtime. It would not hold me."When a nigger suspects he is being laughed at, all the ferocity ofhis nature comes to the front; and this man was of the lowest kind."Dis ain't no coffin for nobody. Dis box is for you. Somefin youlub. Me give him to you!"Still anxious to keep off the subject of affection, on which shebelieved him to have become crazed, she made another effort to keephis mind elsewhere."Is this why you want to see me?" He nodded. "Then come round tothe other door. But be quiet. I have no desire to be seen so closeto my own house in conversation with a--a--a nigger like you!"She had chosen the word deliberately. She wished to meet hispassion with another kind. Such would, at all events, help to keephim quiet. In the deep gloom she could not see the anger whichsuffused his face. Rolling eyeballs and grinding teeth are,however, sufficient signs of anger to be decipherable in the dark.She moved round the corner of the house to her right. Oolanga wasfollowing her, when she stopped him by raising her hand."No, not that door," she said; "that is not for niggers. The otherdoor will do well enough for you!"Lady Arabella took in her hand a small key which hung at the end ofher watch-chain, and moved to a small door, low down, round thecorner, and a little downhill from the edge of the Brow. Oolanga,in obedience to her gesture, went back to the iron door. Adamlooked carefully at the mongoose box as the African went by, and wasglad to see that it was intact. Unconsciously, as he looked, hefingered the key that was in his waistcoat pocket. When Oolanga wasout of sight, Adam hurried after Lady Arabella.