I then related in detail everything that had happened since my arrival at the farm, up to the moment when I rushed headlong in front of his automobile.
He listened attentively, but whether he believed my narrative or not I could not tell. When I had finished, he asked many questions about the various phenomena I had witnessed, and seemed particularly interested when I told him about the disappearance of the bat. He asked me where the book, which had been used to dispatch the creature, might be found, and immediately went downstairs, bringing it up a moment later.
A dry, white smudge was still faintly discernible on the cover. This he examined carefully with a pocket microscope, then said:
“I will have to put this substance under a compound microscope, and also test it chemically in my laboratory. It may be the means of explaining all of the phenomena you have witnessed. I will drive home this afternoon and make a thorough examination of this sample.”
“I should be very glad indeed,” I replied, “to have even some slight explanation of these mysteries.”
“You are undoubtedly aware,” he said, “that there are no vampires or similar bats indigenous to this part of the world. The only true vampire bat is found in South America, although there is a type of frugivorous bat slightly resembling it, which inhabits the southeast coast of Asia and the Maylayan Archipelago, and is sometimes erroneously called a vampire or spectre bat. You have described in detail a creature greatly resembling the true vampire bat, but it is probable that what you saw was no bat at all. What it really was, I hesitate to say until I have examined the substance on this book cover.”
“Well, whatever it was, I am positive it was no real vampire, as Glitch says,” I replied.
“I don’t like this vampire story that is being circulated by Glitch,” said the professor. “It may lead to trouble. It is most surprising to find such crude superstition prevailing in these modern times.”
At this juncture there was a rap at my door. I called, “come in,” and Joe Severs entered.
“Well, Joe, did you get the doctor home without shaking any of his teeth loose?” I asked.