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Article THE VAMPIRE. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Vampire.
he arrested all persons who were passing by , and Raffin among the rest . They were all searched : in the stranger ' s pockets were found the same papers as before ; but nothing to which suspicion could attach . The men who searched him declared that they were nearly suffocated by the horrible odour which issued from every part of his body . " Two days elapsed , and Raffin continued to go out every day . Among the persons he visited was a young girl who followed the
business of a milliner ; inquiries were made about her , and it was discovered that although she had previously been of a healthy constitution , she had , since Raffin had known her , become pale and sickly . At another of his visiting places , a widow who had been remarkably stout and ruddy , suddenly became pale and emaciated . On the third day , a young man , about four-and-twenty , called at the Pepin Hotel ; he inquired for Raffin , and being informed that he was out , appeared much vexed . He
said that he would wait his return . In about an hour this mysterious being arrived , and the young man , as soon as he perceived him , sprang upon him and seized him by the collar . The prodigious strength of tlie nocturnal adventurer enabled him to overpower the youth , who called him an assassin and a monster . Feeling himself unable to maintain the contest , and that his strength was failing him , he drew a knife from his pocket , and plunged it into the side of Raffin . It was distinctly seen that he gave him but one stab ; four witnesses who were present bore witness to this fact .
| - Raffin groaned and fell dead . The young man fled , leaving his knife in Raffin ' s body . A surgeon was sent for : Raffin was undressed ; when it was discovered that he had six bleeding wounds ; two in the throat , two in the right side , one in the abdomen , and one in the thigh . All present were confounded ; their testimony was unanimous , that onl y one blow had been struck . The knife , too , was found to correspond with only one of the wounds , that in the side ; the rest appeared to have been inflicted by poinards , swords , stilettoes , or other pointed instruments .
" The apartments were searched , but nothing was found except his clothes and the papers above mentioned ; neither money or property of any description . The passports described him as a citizen of Strasbourg ; but beyond this there was no clue to lead to a discovery . The local authorities of that place could furnish no information , owing to the removal of the registers during the revolution . " Search was made for the young man who had stabbed Raffin ; he was easil y found . The account he gave was as follows : —He was paying
his addresses to a young female , when Raffin became his rival , and was preferred to him . The girl soon fell into ill health . She complained of frightful dreams ; and affirmed that she was nightly sucked by a being of frightful appearance , but who , nevertheless , bore a strong resemblance to Raffin . She made this disclosure to the sister of her first lover , who , alarmed at the discovery , communicated it to her brother . The youn ° - man had that morning seen the object of his affections breathe her last
, and his feelings being violently excited , he had flown to challenge Raffin , but being nearly choked by him in the struggle that ensued , he had stabbed him with his knife , in order to free himself from his grasp . " At the hour appointed for conveying the body to the place of interment , what was the horror of the persons on entering the room , to find the body gone ! New rumours were afloat ; by some it was thought that the body-snatchers had obtained possession of it ; active observations
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Vampire.
he arrested all persons who were passing by , and Raffin among the rest . They were all searched : in the stranger ' s pockets were found the same papers as before ; but nothing to which suspicion could attach . The men who searched him declared that they were nearly suffocated by the horrible odour which issued from every part of his body . " Two days elapsed , and Raffin continued to go out every day . Among the persons he visited was a young girl who followed the
business of a milliner ; inquiries were made about her , and it was discovered that although she had previously been of a healthy constitution , she had , since Raffin had known her , become pale and sickly . At another of his visiting places , a widow who had been remarkably stout and ruddy , suddenly became pale and emaciated . On the third day , a young man , about four-and-twenty , called at the Pepin Hotel ; he inquired for Raffin , and being informed that he was out , appeared much vexed . He
said that he would wait his return . In about an hour this mysterious being arrived , and the young man , as soon as he perceived him , sprang upon him and seized him by the collar . The prodigious strength of tlie nocturnal adventurer enabled him to overpower the youth , who called him an assassin and a monster . Feeling himself unable to maintain the contest , and that his strength was failing him , he drew a knife from his pocket , and plunged it into the side of Raffin . It was distinctly seen that he gave him but one stab ; four witnesses who were present bore witness to this fact .
| - Raffin groaned and fell dead . The young man fled , leaving his knife in Raffin ' s body . A surgeon was sent for : Raffin was undressed ; when it was discovered that he had six bleeding wounds ; two in the throat , two in the right side , one in the abdomen , and one in the thigh . All present were confounded ; their testimony was unanimous , that onl y one blow had been struck . The knife , too , was found to correspond with only one of the wounds , that in the side ; the rest appeared to have been inflicted by poinards , swords , stilettoes , or other pointed instruments .
" The apartments were searched , but nothing was found except his clothes and the papers above mentioned ; neither money or property of any description . The passports described him as a citizen of Strasbourg ; but beyond this there was no clue to lead to a discovery . The local authorities of that place could furnish no information , owing to the removal of the registers during the revolution . " Search was made for the young man who had stabbed Raffin ; he was easil y found . The account he gave was as follows : —He was paying
his addresses to a young female , when Raffin became his rival , and was preferred to him . The girl soon fell into ill health . She complained of frightful dreams ; and affirmed that she was nightly sucked by a being of frightful appearance , but who , nevertheless , bore a strong resemblance to Raffin . She made this disclosure to the sister of her first lover , who , alarmed at the discovery , communicated it to her brother . The youn ° - man had that morning seen the object of his affections breathe her last
, and his feelings being violently excited , he had flown to challenge Raffin , but being nearly choked by him in the struggle that ensued , he had stabbed him with his knife , in order to free himself from his grasp . " At the hour appointed for conveying the body to the place of interment , what was the horror of the persons on entering the room , to find the body gone ! New rumours were afloat ; by some it was thought that the body-snatchers had obtained possession of it ; active observations