brain ... panting ... whirling.... Then there was nothing.... The
annihilation of Ernest Fielding was complete.

Vacantly he stared at the walls, at the room and at his master. The
latter was wiping the sweat from his forehead. He breathed deeply....
The flush of youth spread over his features.... His eyes sparkled with a
new and dangerous brilliancy.... He took the thing that had once been
Ernest Fielding by the hand and led it to its room.




XXXI


With the first flush of the morning Ethel appeared at the door of the
house on Riverside Drive. She had not heard from Ernest, and had been
unable to obtain connection with him at the telephone. Anxiety had
hastened her steps. She brushed against Jack, who was also directing his
steps to the abode of Reginald Clarke.

At the same time something that resembled Ernest Fielding passed from
the house of the Vampire. It was a dull and brutish thing, hideously
transformed, without a vestige of mind.

"Mr. Fielding," cried Ethel, beside herself with fear as she saw him
descending.

"Ernest!" Jack gasped, no less startled at the change in his friend's
appearance.