"It's shocking," said one of the guests; "it's shocking to think of. Only last night, I am quite sure I had such a fright that it added at least ten years to my age."
"A fright!" said several.
"I believe I speak English—I said a fright."
"Well, but had it anything to do with the vampyre?"
"Everything."
"Oh! do tell us; do tell us all about it. How was it? Did he come to you? Go on. Well, well."
The first speaker became immediately a very important personage in the room; and, when he saw that, he became at once a very important personage in his own eyes likewise; and, before he would speak another word, he filled a fresh pipe, and ordered another mug of ale.
"It's no use trying to hurry him," said one.
"No," he said, "it isn't. I'll tell you in good time what a dreadful circumstance has made me sixty-three to-day, when I was only fifty-three yesterday."
"Was it very dreadful?"