It was with some bitterness in my heart that I answered that I had not. In fact until now I had not been given the chance to send letters to anybody.

"Then write now, my young friend," he said, putting a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Write to our friend Mr. Hawkins and to someone else. Please say that you shall stay with me for another month."

"Do you wish me to stay so long?" I asked, for my heart grew cold at the thought.

"I want it very much - in fact I will not allow you to say no. When your master, employer, whatever you want to call him, engaged that someone should come to do this work for him, it was understood that only my needs were to be consulted. I have made my need clear. Is it not so?".

What could I do but bow acceptance? I had to do what was good for Mr. Hawkins, not what I preferred to do. Besides, while Count Dracula was speaking, there was something in the way that he looked and stood which made me remember that I was a prisoner. I could have no choice no matter what I wanted. The Count saw that he had won from the way I bowed, and from my troubled face. He immediately started to make use of his victory but in his own smooth, unstoppable way.