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."If it proves really impossible to capsize the boat that way," he concluded, "then perhaps I was hallucinating after all."No one answered that directly.I could see Dracula smile faintly, no doubt at the thought of himself going for a bathe in the bright morning daylight.In a moment, the prince murmured that he would decline to take part in such an exercise."Running water and I are not always on the best of terms," he added."Not to mention my tendency to sunburn." I could see that this refusal and comment both rather puzzled the young American.Holmes commended Armstrong's plan of reenactment as worthy, possibly useful."But unfortunately there is no time for it now; there are other matters which much more urgently require our attention."Armstrong blinked at him."Of course.And I still insist that the first of them is finding Louisa, wherever she may be, and thereby putting an end to this nightmare."At this juncture Holmes suddenly brought the name of Count Kulakov into the conversation.Both of the young people could immediately confirm that there was, or had been, a foreigner of that name living in the neighborhood and attending a few social events, though neither Armstrong nor Miss Altamont had ever met the man, or even seen him.But Rebecca then went on to recall hearing Louisa say that she had met him, and did not like him."I remember she told me that on one occasion—months ago, before you two were engaged, Martin—he had paid her attentions that were not entirely welcome."Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlArmstrong frowned.He harked back to his stay inSt.Petersburg and tried to recall anything he might have learned about Count Kulakov during that time."I do think I might have heard the name somewhere—but where? Is there a possibility that he is somehow involved in this business?""A distinct possibility." Then, changing the subject again, Holmes asked if the Altamonts had any plans for another séance.Armstrong and Rebecca, during their brief stop at Norberton House before coming to see us, had already been apprised of the intentions of the family there.Louisa's parents were naturally expecting them to keep those plans secret from any investigators who might interfere.But Armstrong had his own agenda regarding séances."If these scoundrels think they can somehow smuggle Louisa into the house again, and then whisk her away as they did last time, they're in for a surprise.The police are watching, too."Holmes's continued questioning of Armstrong and Miss Altamont elicited the information that Sarah Kirkaldy was refusing even to talk about the possibility of another sitting.With her brother's body in a coffin in the parlor, that struck me as hardly to be wondered at.The young couple also had information for us regarding the time of Abraham's funeral, which they were naturally expecting to attend.He had been struck down half an hour beforemidnight Tuesday and had died on Wednesday morning.The funeral and burial were planned for Saturday morning."Probably I shall not attend," Holmes mused thoughtfully."Yet I dare not delay interviewing Miss Kirkaldy as long as that.Her own safety, I think, will not permit it, and even tomorrow may be too late."He shifted the direction of his gaze."Mr.Prince?"Dracula, as if he had been expecting to be called upon, smiled and nodded gently.He appeared ready to abandon his hope of catching a nap before sundown."If you wish, Mr.Holmes, I shall be glad to visit Norberton House.Perhaps I can establish some rapport with Miss Kirkaldy.I will, of course, convey our sympathies to her on the loss of her brother—and it may be that she will tell me a few interesting things."Shortly, the prince and Armstrong had gone off together.Holmes's recuperative powers, as I have remarked before, were truly impressive.As nightfall drew near, only half a day following his rescue from the crypt, he was on his feet again, insisting in his masterful way that there be no delay in our investigation.When I remonstrated with him that he required rest after his ordeal, he snapped back: "I have lain inactive quite enough during the past forty hours, I assure you!"Two items now had very high priority on my friend's agenda.One was the interview with Sarah Kirkaldy, which matter he fortunately had been able to entrust to his cousin."She must be induced to tell us all she knows about this evil man! He is, I have no doubt, her brother's murderer."As for the other objective, Holmes, speaking to me privately, insisted that it was now imperative that we open the burial vault of Louisa Altamont and interview her as soon as possible—whether Martin Armstrong was on hand or not.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlIt struck me that six years earlier such an assertion, with regard to any young woman whose body had been put into a tomb almost a month ago, would have seemed strong evidence of madness.Now I could only accept Holmes's plan as a way of dealing with an even more terrible truth."We must admit the gravest doubts as to whether it will ever be possible for her to rejoin her loved ones.Still, it is essential that I speak to her without further delay.Murder has been committed.The expedition will, of course, be dangerous.""If you intend to go at night, I should rather describe it as foolhardy!""Calm yourself, Watson.Naturally, the danger will be vastly greater after sunset, when our chief opponent will be more likely to put in an appearance.But I intend to go nowhere after dark until Prince Dracula has rejoined us.Then we shall have odds of at least three to one in our favor, and, I think—our ally being who he is—no need to be overly concerned."Holmes had already made arrangements with Martin Armstrong for the young man to accompany us when we went to open the tomb of Louisa Altamont.Holmes hoped to be able to demonstrate to the still-hopeful fiancé the truth of what had happened to his beloved.Despite my friend's assurance to the breathing Miss Altamont that she should not be excluded from the revelation, he had no intention of bringing her on this first expedition.Armstrong had agreed readily.He still had his own reason for wanting an exhumation: the hope to prove that someone else had been interred under his fiancée's name.13I accepted the assignment from Cousin Sherlock calmly, not anticipating that it would present any particular difficulty."There is, of course," I commented, "the matter of my obtaining an invitation to enter the house.I expect that would greatly facilitate matters.""Of course." Holmes nodded."Of course," echoed Armstrong, nodding too.Naturally he, being still innocent of the least bit of vampire lore, could not have understood my being so particular about wanting an invitation to cross a mere threshold; but he very quickly volunteered to introduce Mr.Prince to the Altamont family as his own friend, a man experienced in dealing with psychic problems."I understand that it will be wise to refrain from mentioning any connection the gentleman might have with Sherlock Holmes and Dr.Watson."Soon—the time was noweight o'clock , still full daylight on a long summer evening—Armstrong and I were on our way, chatting together companionably enough.I have several reasons for remembering with great clarity that particular summer day: One is the fact that it marks the occasion of my first ride in a motorcar
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