The silence lasted for several minutes. Lord Rushmore sat there, fists clenched, staring straight ahead. And then:
"The third baron only showed certain qualities after his death?" Dr. Kane asked.
"In twelve months, there have been six deaths in the area," Rushmore replied. "The terrifying cries of 'vampires' spread throughout the community. The fourth baron, the son of Paul Doon, turned a deaf ear to these reports until the mother of a child—a dead child—traced a man, or the appearance of a man, to the doorway of the Doon family's tomb. At night, Paul Doon's son secretly went to the tomb and found ......
"Although the body was buried in the grave for twelve months, it still looked exactly the same as it was when it was alive, and the body was taken to the dungeon, which in the Middle Ages was a torture chamber; No shouts made there can reach the outside world - and kill vampires according to the ancient procedure. Since then, there have been no supernatural visitors to harass the area; But—"
"But," Dr. Kane said calmly, "the virus came from the witch Mirza. What's wrong with her? ”
Lord Rushmore's eyes gleamed with fanaticism.
"How do you know she's a witch?" He asked hoarsely. "It's a family secret."
"They're going to stay like this," Dr. Kane replied. "But my research has gone deeper, and I know that Mirza, the wife of Baron Rushmore III, practiced black magic during her lifetime and became a ghoul after her death. Her husband caught her off guard with some abominable magic and then cut off her head. He had been suspicious of her for some time and not only kept it a secret, but after the birth of her son, Mirza was cut off from his mother. Mirza's son, Mirza, remarried without leaving any heirs, so he became Baron Rushmore, and after his death, he became what his mother was when she was alive.
"Lord Rushmore, the curse of the Doon family will remain until the Polish Jewish woman who founded this family is mistreated like her son!"
"Dr. Kane, we don't know where her husband hid her body. He didn't reveal the secret before he died. You mean, this stain, this stain of the devil, may come again – oh my goodness! Are you trying to drive me crazy? ”
"I'm not saying that after so many generations of getting rid of vampire magic, vampire magic will reappear in your blood; Rather, it is to say that the soul of that vampire woman, that unclean, horrible soul, is still bound to earth. The son was released, and it seemed that the genetic stain was gone; But the mother was not released! Her body was decapitated, but her vampire soul couldn't embark on its destined journey until the ancient ritual was completed! ”
Lord Rushmore wiped his eyes with his hand.
"You're dazzling me, Dr. Kane. What do you mean in short? ”
"I mean, Mirza's soul is still at large on earth, driven by an immortal, unnatural desire to incarnate as a man. Lord Rushmore, it is this terrible pariah that poses the danger of so-called spiritualism. Under the right conditions, such a soul may take control of humanity. ”
"Do you think the soul of the Second Lady—"
"There's a good chance she'll harass her offspring. I seem to remember that there is a tradition in the castle of Dhoon that the mockery of a woman foreshadows birth and death? ”
"That night, I heard it myself – I became Lord Rushmore."
"This is the ghost who was known as Lady Mirza Rushmore during her lifetime!"
"But-"
"It is possible to control such creatures."
"How?"
"Although unfair means are used, some people will not hesitate to use such means. The danger of such an operation is, of course, enormous. ”
"I perceive, Dr. Kane, a theory is forming in your mind that covers the facts of my recent experience."
"That's true. For the sake of conclusive evidence, I would like to visit you tonight. I pretend to be here to see Mrs. Rushmore, what do you think? ”
Lord Rushmore was looking at the speaker.
"Don't you want to arouse the suspicion of someone in my family?" He suggested.
"Yes. Can we set it at nine? ”
"Why don't you come to dinner?"
"Thank you anyway, but I think I'll be better served by coming later."
That night, Dr. Kane and his son had dinner alone on Half Moon Street.
"I met Billy Ferrara today on Regent Street," Jackson Caine said. "I'm glad to meet him."
Dr. Kane raised a thick brow.
"Why?" He asked.
"Well, I'm a little worried that he might have left London."
"Ever visited Myra Duquesne in Inverness?"
"It doesn't surprise me."
"Rob, that wouldn't surprise me either, but I think he's currently tracking other matches."
Jackson Kane quickly looked up.
"Mrs. Rushmore," he began—
"How?" Father asked.
"A member of the Paul Purai Brigade took advantage of the scandal to make a fortune and yesterday sent an obscure text to The Planet linking Ferrara's name to Mrs. Rushmore. Of course, we didn't use it; He came to the wrong market; But—when I met Ferrara today, he was with Mrs. Rushmore. ”
"So what?"
Of course, it doesn't have to be significant; Lord Rushmore is likely to outlive Ferrara, who looks even paler than usual. ”
"Do you think he's a wealth hunter with no conscience?"
"Naturally."
"Does Mrs. Rushmore look okay?"
"Perfect."
"Ahh
The silence lasted for quite some time, and then:
"Billy Ferrara is a threat to society," Jackson Kane said. "When I saw the vicious look in his dark eyes and thought of what he was trying to do—what he had done—my blood boiled. It's ridiculous and pathetic to think that we, by our new wisdom, have abolished the only law that can touch him! He could not have existed in ancient Chaldea, and even under Charles II, he could have been burned at the stake; But in this sensible twentieth century, he flirted with a famous social beauty on Regent Street, laughing in front of the people he was trying to destroy! ”
"Be very careful," Dr. Kane warned, "and remember, if you die inexplicably tomorrow, Ferrara will be granted legal immunity." We have to wait and watch. Can you come back around ten o'clock tonight? ”
"I think I can do it — yes."
"I'll wait for you. Have you provided an up-to-date record of those events that we know about, along with my notes and explanations? ”
"Yes, sir, I spent a lot of time studying these notes last night."
"There may be a little more to add. Rob, this record will one day become a weapon to destroy unnatural enemies. I'll sign two copies tonight and one will be deposited in my bank. ”