After a pause in which she was evidently ordering her thoughts, she began.
"I took the sleeping draught which you had so kindly given me, but for a long time it did not act.

I seemed to become more wakeful, and myriads of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind.

All of them connected with death, and vampires, with blood, and pain, and trouble." Her husband involuntarily groaned as she turned to him and said lovingly, "Do not fret, dear.

You must be brave and strong, and help me through the horrible task.

If you only knew what an effort it is to me to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand how much I need your help.