Chapter XXIII: In the Enemy's House

by Bram Stoker

　　Sir Nathaniel was in the library next morning, after breakfast, whenAdam came to him carrying a letter."Her ladyship doesn't lose any time. She has begun work already!"Sir Nathaniel, who was writing at a table near the window, lookedup."What is it?" said he.Adam held out the letter he was carrying. It was in a blazonedenvelope."Ha!" said Sir Nathaniel, "from the White Worm! I expectedsomething of the kind.""But," said Adam, "how could she have known we were here? Shedidn't know last night.""I don't think we need trouble about that, Adam. There is so muchwe do not understand. This is only another mystery. Suffice itthat she does know--perhaps it is all the better and safer for us.""How is that?" asked Adam with a puzzled look."General process of reasoning, my boy; and the experience of someyears in the diplomatic world. This creature is a monster withoutheart or consideration for anything or anyone. She is not nearly sodangerous in the open as when she has the dark to protect her.Besides, we know, by our own experience of her movements, that forsome reason she shuns publicity. In spite of her vast bulk andabnormal strength, she is afraid to attack openly. After all, sheis only a snake and with a snake's nature, which is to keep low andsquirm, and proceed by stealth and cunning. She will never attackwhen she can run away, although she knows well that running awaywould probably be fatal to her. What is the letter about?"Sir Nathaniel's voice was calm and self-possessed. When he wasengaged in any struggle of wits he was all diplomatist."She asks Mimi and me to tea this afternoon at Diana's Grove, andhopes that you also will favour her."Sir Nathaniel smiled."Please ask Mrs. Salton to accept for us all.""She means some deadly mischief. Surely--surely it would be wisernot.""It is an old trick that we learn early in diplomacy, Adam--to fighton ground of your own choice. It is true that she suggested theplace on this occasion; but by accepting it we make it ours.Moreover, she will not be able to understand our reason for doingso, and her own bad conscience--if she has any, bad or good--and herown fears and doubts will play our game for us. No, my dear boy,let us accept, by all means."Adam said nothing, but silently held out his hand, which hiscompanion shook: no words were necessary.When it was getting near tea-time, Mimi asked Sir Nathaniel how theywere going."We must make a point of going in state. We want all possiblepublicity." Mimi looked at him inquiringly. "Certainly, my dear,in the present circumstances publicity is a part of safety. Do notbe surprised if, whilst we are at Diana's Grove, occasional messagescome for you--for all or any of us.""I see!" said Mrs. Salton. "You are taking no chances.""None, my dear. All I have learned at foreign courts, and amongstcivilised and uncivilised people, is going to be utilised within thenext couple of hours."Sir Nathaniel's voice was full of seriousness, and it brought toMimi in a convincing way the awful gravity of the occasionIn due course, they set out in a carriage drawn by a fine pair ofhorses, who soon devoured the few miles of their journey. Beforethey came to the gate, Sir Nathaniel turned to Mimi."I have arranged with Adam certain signals which may be necessary ifcertain eventualities occur. These need be nothing to do with youdirectly. But bear in mind that if I ask you or Adam to doanything, do not lose a second in the doing of it. We must try topass off such moments with an appearance of unconcern. In allprobability, nothing requiring such care will occur. The White Wormwill not try force, though she has so much of it to spare. Whatevershe may attempt to-day, of harm to any of us, will be in the way ofsecret plot. Some other time she may try force, but--if I am ableto judge such a thing--not to-day. The messengers who may ask forany of us will not be witnesses only, they may help to stave offdanger." Seeing query in her face, he went on: "Of what kind thedanger may be, I know not, and cannot guess. It will doubtless besome ordinary circumstance; but none the less dangerous on thataccount. Here we are at the gate. Now, be careful in all matters,however small. To keep your head is half the battle."There were a number of men in livery in the hall when they arrived.The doors of the drawing-room were thrown open, and Lady Arabellacame forth and offered them cordial welcome. This having been gotover, Lady Arabella led them into another room where tea was served.Adam was acutely watchful and suspicious of everything, and saw onthe far side of this room a panelled iron door of the same colourand configuration as the outer door of the room where was the well-hole wherein Oolanga had disappeared. Something in the sightalarmed him, and he quietly stood near the door. He made nomovement, even of his eyes, but he could see that Sir Nathaniel waswatching him intently, and, he fancied, with approval.They all sat near the table spread for tea, Adam still near thedoor. Lady Arabella fanned herself, complaining of heat, and toldone of the footmen to throw all the outer doors open.Tea was in progress when Mimi suddenly started up with a look offright on her face; at the same moment, the men became cognisant ofa thick smoke which began to spread through the room--a smoke whichmade those who experienced it gasp and choke. The footmen began toedge uneasily towards the inner door. Denser and denser grew thesmoke, and more acrid its smell. Mimi, towards whom the draughtfrom the open door wafted the smoke, rose up choking, and ran to theinner door, which she threw open to its fullest extent, disclosingon the outside a curtain of thin silk, fixed to the doorposts. Thedraught from the open door swayed the thin silk towards her, and inher fright, she tore down the curtain, which enveloped her from headto foot. Then she ran through the still open door, heedless of thefact that she could not see where she was going. Adam, followed bySir Nathaniel, rushed forward and joined her--Adam catching his wifeby the arm and holding her tight. It was well that he did so, forjust before her lay the black orifice of the well-hole, which, ofcourse, she could not see with the silk curtain round her head. Thefloor was extremely slippery; something like thick oil had beenspilled where she had to pass; and close to the edge of the hole herfeet shot from under her, and she stumbled forward towards the well-hole.When Adam saw Mimi slip, he flung himself backward, still holdingher. His weight told, and he dragged her up from the hole and theyfell together on the floor outside the zone of slipperiness. In amoment he had raised her up, and together they rushed out throughthe open door into the sunlight, Sir Nathaniel close behind them.They were all pale except the old diplomatist, who looked both calmand cool. It sustained and cheered Adam and his wife to see himthus master of himself. Both managed to follow his example, to thewonderment of the footmen, who saw the three who had just escaped aterrible danger walking together gaily, as, under the guidingpressure of Sir Nathaniel's hand, they turned to re-enter the house.Lady Arabella, whose face had blanched to a deadly white, nowresumed her ministrations at the tea-board as though nothing unusualhad happened. The slop-basin was full of half-burned brown paper,over which tea had been poured.Sir Nathaniel had been narrowly observing his hostess, and took thefirst opportunity afforded him of whispering to Adam:"The real attack is to come--she is too quiet. When I give my handto your wife to lead her out, come with us--and caution her tohurry. Don't lose a second, even if you have to make a scene. Hs-s-s-h!"Then they resumed their places close to the table, and the servants,in obedience to Lady Arabella's order, brought in fresh tea.Thence on, that tea-party seemed to Adam, whose faculties were attheir utmost intensity, like a terrible dream. As for poor Mimi,she was so overwrought both with present and future fear, and withhorror at the danger she had escaped, that her faculties were numb.However, she was braced up for a trial, and she felt assured thatwhatever might come she would be able to go through with it. SirNathaniel seemed just as usual--suave, dignified, and thoughtful--perfect master of himself.To her husband, it was evident that Mimi was ill at ease. The wayshe kept turning her head to look around her, the quick coming andgoing of the colour of her face, her hurried breathing, alternatingwith periods of suspicious calm, were evidences of mentalperturbation. To her, the attitude of Lady Arabella seemedcompounded of social sweetness and personal consideration. It wouldbe hard to imagine more thoughtful and tender kindness towards anhonoured guest.When tea was over and the servants had come to clear away the cups,Lady Arabella, putting her arm round Mimi's waist, strolled with herinto an adjoining room, where she collected a number of photographswhich were scattered about, and, sitting down beside her guest,began to show them to her. While she was doing this, the servantsclosed all the doors of the suite of rooms, as well as that whichopened from the room outside--that of the well-hole into the avenue.Suddenly, without any seeming cause, the light in the room began togrow dim. Sir Nathaniel, who was sitting close to Mimi, rose to hisfeet, and, crying, "Quick!" caught hold of her hand and began todrag her from the room. Adam caught her other hand, and betweenthem they drew her through the outer door which the servants werebeginning to close. It was difficult at first to find the way, thedarkness was so great; but to their relief when Adam whistledshrilly, the carriage and horses, which had been waiting in theangle of the avenue, dashed up. Her husband and Sir Nathaniellifted--almost threw--Mimi into the carriage. The postillion pliedwhip and spur, and the vehicle, rocking with its speed, sweptthrough the gate and tore up the road. Behind them was a hubbub--servants rushing about, orders being shouted out, doors shutting,and somewhere, seemingly far back in the house, a strange noise.Every nerve of the horses was strained as they dashed recklesslyalong the road. The two men held Mimi between them, the arms ofboth of them round her as though protectingly. As they went, therewas a sudden rise in the ground; but the horses, breathing heavily,dashed up it at racing speed, not slackening their pace when thehill fell away again, leaving them to hurry along the downgrade.It would be foolish to say that neither Adam nor Mimi had any fearin returning to Doom Tower. Mimi felt it more keenly than herhusband, whose nerves were harder, and who was more inured todanger. Still she bore up bravely, and as usual the effort washelpful to her. When once she was in the study in the top of theturret, she almost forgot the terrors which lay outside in the dark.She did not attempt to peep out of the window; but Adam did--and sawnothing. The moonlight showed all the surrounding country, butnowhere was to be observed that tremulous line of green light.The peaceful night had a good effect on them all; danger, beingunseen, seemed far off. At times it was hard to realise that it hadever been. With courage restored, Adam rose early and walked alongthe Brow, seeing no change in the signs of life in Castra Regis.What he did see, to his wonder and concern, on his returninghomeward, was Lady Arabella, in her tight-fitting white dress andermine collar, but without her emeralds; she was emerging from thegate of Diana's Grove and walking towards the Castle. Pondering onthis and trying to find some meaning in it, occupied his thoughtstill he joined Mimi and Sir Nathaniel at breakfast. They began themeal in silence. What had been had been, and was known to them all.Moreover, it was not a pleasant topic.A fillip was given to the conversation when Adam told of his seeingLady Arabella, on her way to Castra Regis. They each had somethingto say of her, and of what her wishes or intentions were towardsEdgar Caswall. Mimi spoke bitterly of her in every aspect. She hadnot forgotten--and never would--never could--the occasion when, toharm Lilla, the woman had consorted even with the nigger. As asocial matter, she was disgusted with her for following up the richlandowner--"throwing herself at his head so shamelessly," was howshe expressed it. She was interested to know that the great kitestill flew from Caswall's tower. But beyond such matters she didnot try to go. The only comment she made was of strongly expressedsurprise at her ladyship's "cheek" in ignoring her own criminalacts, and her impudence in taking it for granted that others hadoverlooked them also.