As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me, I could not repress a shudder.

It may have been that his breath was rank, but a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, do what I would, I could not conceal.
The Count, evidently noticing it, drew back.

And with a grim sort of smile, which showed more than he had yet done his protruberant teeth, sat himself down again on his own side of the fireplace.

We were both silent for a while, and as I looked towards the window I saw the first dim streak of the coming dawn.

There seemed a strange stillness over everything.