Chapter 10 chapter Ten

That's the story of this plaintive tragedy. For a month Franz de Derek was dying.He didn't know anyone - not even his squire Rozko.He was in a daze with a high fever, and he might die at any moment, and he kept chanting Lastila's name. At last the young earl narrowly escaped death.Thanks to the doctor's careful treatment, Rozko's careful care, coupled with his youth and strength, he finally came back to life.His sanity remained intact through this terrible blow.When he recalled the last tragic ending of the play "Orlando", the female artist died. "Lastella! . . . my Lastilla! . . . " he cried, holding out his hands as if to applaud her.

As soon as the master was able to leave the hospital bed, Rodzko persuaded him to leave this sad place and return to the castle of Craiova.But before leaving Naples, the young count thought of mourning at the grave of the dead, and bid her a deep and eternal farewell. Rozko accompanied him to the Sanxinying Cemetery.Franz threw himself on the cold grave, digging the soil with his nails, trying to be buried with her... Rodzko dragged him far away with all his strength, away from the grave that ruined his life's happiness. A few days later, Franz de Derek returned to the remote Valasian countryside and returned to his family's ancient residence, the Craiova Castle.He lived in seclusion in the castle, isolated from the world, and lived there for five years.The passage of time and the transfer of space could not alleviate the pain in his heart. He should have forgotten everything, but it was easier said than done.The Lastella in his memory was as vivid and vivid as the first time he saw it, accompanying him.These wounds, even in death, cannot heal.

However, when the story begins, the young earl has been away from the castle for several weeks.Rodzkodo managed to persuade his master to put an end to the solitary life which was sapping him, although Franz had no spiritual comfort wherever he was; but as a servant, he should at least be distracted. his pain. So they drew up a travel itinerary, first visiting the provinces of Transylvania.Later,—Rodzko hoped, the young count would agree to resume his European tour, which had been interrupted by the tragedy at Naples. Franz Dederek thus set out, this time only as a tourist, and only for a brief visit.The two of them set out from the plain of Wallasia into the Carpathian mountains; they passed through the canyons of the Vulcan Pass, climbed the Rediezato Mountains, and passed through the valley of the Maros River. , came to the village of Weierste, and stayed at the "King Matthias Hotel".

You have already seen the state of mind of the villagers when Franz de Derek arrived, and how he learned of the strange and unthinkable happenings in the castle.Just now he knew that the Carpathian Castle belonged to Baron Rudolf de Golz. Hearing this name, the young earl's expression changed drastically, and it was impossible for the village head Kertz and other important people in the village to notice.Rodzko hurriedly dismissed the mayor of Kurz, who had the bad luck to mention this name, and all those absurd things.Why did Franz Dederek, by luck, come to this village of Welster near the Carpathian castle!

The young count was silent.His eyes faltered, and it could be seen that he was extremely flustered deep in his heart, and he was powerless to restrain it. Village Chief Kurtz and his friends knew that there might be a mysterious entanglement between Count De Derek and Baron de Golze;As for the future, that will only be discussed later. In a short time all the people left the inn, very puzzled at what had happened, thinking that it did not bode well for the village. Now that the count knows who owns the castle, will he keep his promise?When he arrives in Katzburg, will he report to the city authorities and ask for military intervention?The village head, the teacher, Doctor Batak, and others all had this question in their hearts.But in any case, if the count quits, the mayor of Kurz decided to go to the authorities to call for help.After the police know the situation, they will break into the castle to find out whether it is a ghost or a gangster inside.It is impossible for the people in the village to endure such troubles for long.

In fact, the vast majority of villagers think that this is just a useless move.Fight against ghosts and gods! ...The bayonets of the gendarmes were shattered like glass, and the bullets they fired could never hit the target! Franz Dederek was sitting in the hall, and the name of Baron Rudolf Degolz, whom he overheard just now, brought back so many painful memories for him. He sat in this dejected state for an hour before he stood up, walked out of the hotel, came to the edge of the village flat, and gazed into the distance. The old Carpathian fortress stands on the top of the Pleza hill.That was where the strange man, the frequent visitor to the San Carlo, the man who had filled poor Lastella with uncontrollable terrors, had once lived.The castle is now in dilapidated condition, and Baron de Golze has not returned since leaving Naples.No one knows his current condition, and it is likely that after the soul of the great diva passed away, he also ended his life.

Franz was so full of imagination that at last he became dizzy, not knowing which guess was right. On the other hand, the experience of the forest ranger Nick Deckard also made him a little uneasy, and he was happy to uncover the mystery of the castle, even if it was just to reassure the villagers. Because the young man had no doubt that a group of gangsters had hid in the castle, he decided to fulfill his promise and report to the Katzburg Police Department to thwart these tricks of the gangsters. But before acting, Franz wanted to know some details in more detail.The best thing to do is to talk to the young ranger in person.So, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, before returning to the hotel, he went to the village chief's house.

The village head of Korz was honored to receive him—a gentleman like Mr. Dedalek...the descendant of a Romanian aristocratic family, the whole village will be grateful to him for regaining peace and prosperity...because of this After the incident subsides, tourists from other places will come again...pay the road tax, and no longer have to worry about the ghosts and ghosts in the Carpathian castle...and so on. Franz de Derek thanked the mayor of Kurz for his speech, and asked him if he would like to see Nick Deck, was there anything wrong with that? "No, Monsieur Count," answered the mayor, "the brave lad is in good health, and he will soon be able to resume his old trade."

He turned around: "Is that so, Milyuda?" he called to his daughter who had just entered, and continued: "May God bless him, papa!" said Milyuda passionately. The elegant greeting of the young girl put Franz in good spirits.Seeing that she was still worried about her fiancé's condition, he hurried to comfort her. "I hear Nick Deckard's injury is not serious..." he said. "Yes, Monsieur Count," replied Milyuda, "by God!" "Is there a good doctor in Welster?" "Huh!" The village head of Kerz let out a hey, and his tone was quite disrespectful to the old quarantine officer.

"We have Doctor Batak in our village," said Milyuda. "The one who went to the castle with Nick Deckard?" "Yes, Monsieur Count." "Miss Milyuda," said Franz, "for your fiancé's sake, I would like to see him and ask about the experience in detail." "He will be very happy, it doesn't matter if he is tired..." "Oh! I won't talk too long, Miss Milyuda, and I won't do anything to hurt Nick Deckard." "I know, Monsieur Count." "When is the wedding?" "Half a month later." The village head replied.

"If Village Chief Kurz invites me, I will be very happy to attend your wedding..." "Mr. Earl, you are so honorable..." "It's decided. After half a month, I'm sure that as long as he can go for a walk with his beautiful fiancee on his arm, he will recover." "May God bless him, Monsieur the Count!" said the young girl, blushing. At this moment, a trace of apprehension was evident on the girl's pretty face, and Franz asked her why: "Oh! God bless him," replied Milyuda, "for he has disregarded the warnings of the devil, and has forced his way into the castle, and has annoyed those goblins! . "My God! That's all, Mademoiselle Milyuda," replied Franz. "We'll get everything right, I assure you." "What's going to happen to poor Nick? . . . " "No. With the police, in a few days, people will be able to wander around the castle as they please, and it will be as safe there as in the village square!" The young count thought it inappropriate to discuss spirits with such preconceived people, and he asked Milyuda to take him to the forester. The girl immediately took the earl there.Then she leaves the room, leaving Franz alone with his fiancé. Nick Decker had long known that there were two travelers at the "King Mathias Hotel".He sat in an old-fashioned chair the size of a sentry box.He stood up and greeted the guests.His paralyzed body has basically recovered, and now he can answer Count D'Derek's question. "Mr. Dyke," Franz asked, shaking hands with the forester in a friendly manner, "first of all, I would like to ask if you believe that there are ghosts in the Carpathian castle?" "I have to believe it now, Monsieur Earl," replied Nick Dyke. "They prevent you from climbing over the walls?" "right." "why?……" "If it weren't for monsters, everything I encountered would be incredible." "Could you go into more detail, without missing any details?" "With pleasure, Monsieur Count." Nick Decker recounted in detail how the incident happened.He merely confirmed what Franz had learned at the inn, which, in the count's opinion, was purely natural. In short, if someone occupied the castle, whether it was a good person or a bad person, they must have a set of machinery and equipment that can produce all kinds of magical effects, so it is not difficult to explain the strange things that happened that night.As for Dr. Batak's claim that he was immobilized on the ground by some invisible force, this was just his momentary hallucination.He was so frightened that his legs were weak and he couldn't move.This was how Franz explained it to the villagers. "But, Mr. Earl," replied Nick Dyke, "why did that coward lose his legs just when he was trying to escape? It's unlikely, don't you think..." "Perhaps his feet were caught in the trap hidden in the weeds at the bottom of the ditch," Franz continued. "If you've been hit by a trap, you won't have any wounds; and Dr. Batak doesn't have any wounds on his legs." The forest ranger retorted. "You're right, Nick Deckard, but believe me, if the doctor really can't move, his legs can only be trapped like that..." "Let me ask you again, Monsieur Earl, how can the mechanism be opened automatically, allowing the doctor to regain his freedom of movement?" Franz didn't know how to answer. "Well, Monsieur Count," said the forester, "let us not talk about the doctor, but about the strange thing that happened to me." "Well...let's leave the doctor thing aside and tell what happened to you, Nick Deckard." "What happened to me is clear. I must have been shaken violently, and it was beyond my powers." "Have you not suffered any visible wounds?" Franz asked him. "No, Monsieur Count. But I was bounced with a very strong force..." "As you put your hands on the hoops of the drawbridge? . . . " "Yes, Mr. Earl. As soon as I touched the iron ring, I was paralyzed all over. Fortunately, I still held the iron chain with the other hand and did not let go, so I slid to the bottom of the ditch with the iron chain. When the doctor helped me , I'm unconscious." Franz shook his head, looking unconvinced. "Oh, sir Earl," continued Nick Dyke, "I'm telling the truth, I'm not dreaming. I've been lying in bed for a whole week without being able to move my limbs. It doesn't make sense to say I'm so tired. Bar!" "I didn't say that, you must have received a sudden shock..." "It came suddenly, like being attacked by a devil!" "No, I disagree with you on this point, Nick Deckard." The young earl replied, "You think you have been beaten by a ghost, but I don't think so, because there are no ghosts in the world, neither good nor evil. .” "Then, Monsieur Count, can you give me a reasonable explanation for what happened to me?" "Not yet, Nick Deckard, but please believe that everything will come to light in the end, it will not be difficult." "I hope so!" said the forester. "Tell me, has this castle always belonged to the Baron de Golz family?" Franz asked again. "Yes, Mr. Earl, this is the ancestral site of his family, although the last heir, Baron Rudolph, has disappeared." "How long has he been missing?" "About twenty years." "Twenty years?" "Yes, Monsieur Count. One day, Baron Rudolf left the castle, and a few months later, the last servant in the castle died. The Baron was never seen again..." "Since then, no one has been to the old castle again?" "no one." "What do the locals think?" "They think that Baron Rudolph must have died abroad, and not long after his disappearance." "They were wrong, Nick Deckard. The Baron is still alive, at least five years ago." "Is he alive, Monsieur Count? . . . " "Yes... in Italy... Naples." "Have you seen him? . . . " "I have seen." "Then these five years?..." "I haven't heard anything about him in years." The forester was lost in thought, when an idea popped into his head--but he couldn't be sure for a moment.At last he made up his mind, and he raised his head, frowning. "Isn't it supposed that Baron Rudolph de Golz has returned to his hometown and wants to live in seclusion in the old castle? . . . " he said. "Impossible... This assumption cannot be established, Nick Deckard." "Why did he hide in the castle?...Does he not want outsiders to disturb him?..." "No," replied Franz Dederek. However, this idea began to hover in the earl's mind.Why was it impossible for this surreptitious eccentric to return to the castle and live in seclusion after he left Naples?Besides, he knew very well that the local people were very superstitious. If he wanted to isolate himself from the outside world, wouldn't it be easy for him? But Franz felt that it was useless to tell the villagers of Welster about such thoughts.In addition, this also involves his own privacy.What's more, he knew very well that it would be difficult for him to convince the villagers.Then Nick Decker said again: "If Baron Rudolf is hiding in the old castle, he must be the incarnation of the devil Short, because only Short will treat me in that way!" Franz didn't want to continue the subject, he asked something else.He did everything possible to reassure the forest ranger that his attempt to break into the castle would have no other consequences, but he advised him not to do it again in the future.What's more, this matter has nothing to do with him. The police in Katzburg will definitely be able to uncover the secrets of the Carpathian castle. He specifically asked the forest guards to take good care of their health as soon as possible so as not to delay his wedding with the beautiful Milyuda.At that time, he must come to congratulate him in person, and then he took his leave and left. Franz was drowsy all the way, and when he got back to the hotel, he didn't go out all day. At 6 o'clock, he had dinner in the lobby.Out of respect for him, the village head Kerz and other people in the village did not come to disturb his quietness. At about eight o'clock Rodzko asked the young count: "Do you need me, master?" "No need, Rozko." "Then I'll go to the ground to smoke for a while." "Go, Rozko, go." He was half lying on the chair, and the indelible past was still vivid in his mind.He seemed to be in the San Carlo Theater in Naples, watching Lastella's last performance on the stage... He seemed to see the Baron de Golz again, sticking his head out of the box, staring wildly at the female artist, That frightening look seemed to swallow the female singer. Then he remembered the letter from the eccentric, pointing to him that Franz Dederek had killed Lastila. Franz was immersed in the past and slowly fell into sleep.Although he was in a half-dream and half-awake state, he was still very alert, and he could detect any movement. There seemed to be a voice in the air, cadenced, gentle and sweet, and spread into the hall.But Franz was alone in the hall. Franz didn't know whether he was dreaming, but he stood up suddenly and listened attentively. yes!There seemed to be a mouth close to his ear, and an invisible lip sang the beautiful melody of Stepano's music: Nel giardino de mille Riori, Andiamo, mio ​​Cuore... (My beloved, let us go together to the flower garden...) Franz sounded familiar to Franz, the romantic piece that Lastella had sung in his farewell performance at San Carlo, full of indescribable sweetness. Franz was once again intoxicated by the beautiful singing. He listened to the lullaby like a child, and his soul was comforted. After the last line of the lyrics was sung, the singing gradually weakened, and gradually disappeared with the soft oscillation of the airflow. Franz shook off his drowsy stupor... He stood up abruptly... He held his breath, trying to catch the empty echo in the air of the voice that pierced his soul... There was silence inside and outside the house. "It's her singing! . . . " he murmured, "Yes! . . . it's her singing . . . the singing that I'm so obsessed with!" He wakes up and returns to reality: "I fell asleep... I was dreaming!" he said.