"You are quite mistaken."
And then the doctor appeared to be insisting upon something, which the vampyre listened to patiently; and, at the end, burst out with,—
"Why, doctor, you must be dreaming."
At this, Dr. Chillingworth at once left him, and advancing to his friends, he said,—
"Sir Francis Varney denies in toto all that I have related to you concerning him; therefore, I can say no more than that I earnestly recommend you, before you let him go, to see that he takes nothing of value with him."
"Why, what can you mean?" said Varney.
"Search him," said the doctor; "I will tell you why, very shortly."
"Indeed—indeed!" said Sir Francis Varney. "Now, gentlemen, I will give you a chance of behaving justly and quietly, so saving yourself the danger of acting otherwise. I have made repeated offers to take this house, either as a tenant or as a purchaser, all of which offers have been declined, upon, I dare say, a common enough principle, namely, one which induces people to enhance the value of anything they have for disposal, if it be unique, by making it difficult to come at. Seeing that you had deserted the place, I could make no doubt but that it was to be had, so I came here to make a thorough examination of its interior, to see if it would suit me. I find that it will not; therefore, I have only to apologise for the intrusion, and to wish you a remarkably good evening."
"That won't do," said the doctor.
"What won't do, sir?"