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Then he opened the door of the octagonal rooraceful bow I entered my bedroom As the old Turkish poets put it, I was in a sea of bewilderment And I had delved into a vortex of curiosity I was suspicious and frightened I think things that I am afraid to admit even to myself May God help me Güzin, dear Güzin, do you see your poor Az in our sweet Istanbul?
7 May—Morning again I have been very co the last twenty-four hours I slept until late in theand woke of my own accord When I had dressed, I went to the parlor where I had had supper, and there was a cold breakfast on the table and a hot coffeepot near the fireplace There was a card on the table, upon which ritten in German:
“I will not be in the castle for a while Please do not wait for me
“Signed, Count Dracula”
After reading the card I sat down to table and had a large breakfast After I finished my meal, I looked for a bell to call a servant to clear the plates, but I could not find one Froe deficiencies in the castle and in my room These seereat wealth For exaold It is so well-reat value The curtains, carpets, and bed sheets are all fashioned froh they were ed But in none of the roole mirror! I could not even find a vanity mirror overbox so that I ht shave and smarten myself up Not only have I seen no servants inside the castle, but I have not heard any noise apart fro wolves I ate my breakfast; to be honest I do not know if I should call it a breakfast or dinner, for it was about five or six o’clock when I had eaten I looked around to find soo about the castle without the Count’s per a book, paper, or ink; eventually, I found some kind of library when I opened the other door I checked the door of the room opposite mine, but it was locked
After I entered the library I was both surprised and overjoyed, as there were many, indeed an indescribable number, of Turkish books! Many shelves were full of them The Count had certainly been to Istanbul, since he knew Turkish, so seeing some Turkish books here should not have coan to wonder if Count Dracula was an orientalist interested in the language, culture, and history of eastern nations, like Vambery This was plausible The reason he communicated with our bureau in Istanbul, sent a deed of trust to our director Rifat Bey, and purchased a house in Istanbul was to more closely conduct his research and observations There were bound Turkish newspapers and azines everywhere Many of these were froo
As for the subjects of these Turkish books, there was a wide variety There were books about history, geography, politics, law, many novels, and even a newly printed book on etiquette Strangely, there were even trade registries and bound copies of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce’s periodical When I saw the journal of the Turkish Bar Association, I had the sweet sensation of seeing a close relative
Whilst I was looking at these books, the door suddenly opened and Count Dracula entered After greeting , he said:
“I as that will interest you here”
And then he put his hands on one of the Turkish history books:
“These are my sweet-voiced friends I have spent my years with them In particular, ever since I decided to visit Istanbul I have ood use of them From them I learned the history and the beauty of Turkey And I have even loved it How I long to wander the crowded streets of Istanbul, the center of the world and its history, queen of the eastern world and a dia cities But unfortunately all the Turkish I know I have taught myself from books I trust to your friendship and your help with this”
I answered with surprise:
“But Count, you speak Turkish very well! Indeed I thought you had been in Turkey for a long time”
“Thank you for your conize I have rammar and the words well But I lack practice”
I said again, “Count, you speak exceptionally well”