There is not a single mirror in all of these rooms. There is not even a mirror on my table. I had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before I could either shave or brush my hair. I have not yet seen a servant anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolves. Some time after I had finished my meal, (I do not know whether to call it breakfast or dinner, because I had it some time around five and six o'clock ), I looked about for something to read, since I did not want to wander around the castle until I had asked the Count's permission. I had absolutely nothing, no book, newspaper, or even pen and paper. I discovered that the door opposite mine was locked, so I opened another door in the room and found a sort of library.

To my great delight I found that the library had a vast number of English books. There were whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes of magazines and newspapers. A table in the centre was littered with English magazines and newspapers, though all of them were rather out of date. The books were of the most varied kind, history, geography, politics, botany, geology, and law. They were all connected with England and how English people thought and behaved. Whilst I was looking at the books, the door opened, and the Count entered. He seemed pleased to see me, and greeted me, saying that he hoped that I had had a good night's rest.

Vocabulary:

Glass: In older English this also means 'mirror'. Vast: Very big
Bound: Collected into a large book
Litter: Leave lying around
Varied: Of different kinds
Botany: The science of plants