"You may go anywhere you wish in the castle, except where the doors are locked. But of course you would not wish to go there anyway. There is a reason that everything is the way it is, and if you saw with my eyes and knew what I know, perhaps you would understand this better." I said I was sure this was true. The Count went on. "We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are not your ways, and many things here shall be strange to you. Nay, from what you have told me about everything that has happened to you already, I know that you understand a bit about what strange things you might find."

This led to a long conversation. It was evident that he wanted to talk, perhaps just because he was in the mood. So I asked him many questions regarding things that had already happened to me, or things that I had noticed. Sometimes he changed the subject, or avoided it by pretending not to understand, but generally he answered all I asked directly and honestly. As time went on, and I became somewhat bolder, I asked him about some of the strange things of the preceding night. For instance, why did the coachman go to the places where he had seen the blue flames? The Count then explained that people believed that on a certain night of the year, last night, in fact, all evil spirits are set free to do what they want. At this time, a blue flame is seen over any place where treasure has been concealed.

Vocabulary:

Ways: Ways of doing things
Nay: Old fashioned form of 'No'
Evident: Obvious, easy to see
Regarding: About
Somewhat: rather
Bold: Brave
Preceding: The one before
Concealed: Hidden