I knew that I had to run. I had to get far away immediately and hide myself from the coming sun. No chance now to go into the crypt beneath the floor. This mortal was in my lair. There was not time enough even to kill him and get rid of him, poor unlucky mortal.
Yet I didn't move. And he came nearer, the whole sky flickering behind him, so that his figure narrowed and became dark.
"Monsieur!" The solicitous whisper, like the woman years and years ago in Notre Dame who had tried to help me before I made a victim of her and her innocent child.
"Monsieur, what is it? May I be of help?"
Sunburnt face beneath the folds of the white headdress, golden eyebrows glinting, eyes gray like my own.
I knew I was climbing to my feet, but I didn't will myself to do it. I knew my lips were curling bac
