Sample excerpts from the English translation

Instead of the Ripper Murders, the Count and Harker discuss a London crimes series which took place a full year before the Whitechapel homicides − the Thames Torso Murders:

The Counts gets enthusiastic when Talking about murdered women found drifting in sacks in the Thames.

“Yes, these fog banks,” he said with excitement. “I have also read about them in my books. I think they only increase my longing for London. This fog, which turns day into night and lies like a thick blanket over the streets and squares – all over, more obscure than darkness itself – I want to see it.” 

“I am afraid that you would soon tire of it. Fog is the main drawback of London. It smothers the town like a vampire sucking the blood and the bone marrow from its citizens, poisoning the blood and lungs of the children, and resulting in countless diseases. Not to mention all the pernicious crimes committed under its cloak – crimes that would otherwise be quite impossible to perpetrate.”

“Yes,” the Count said, breathless with excitement, while fire seemed to spark from his eyes. “Yes, these crimes, these horrible murders; those slaughtered women found in sacks, drifting in the Thames; this blood that runs – runs and flows – with no killer to be found.” I don’t think I wrongly accuse him when I say that he seemed to be licking his lips with lust when I mentioned the murders. “Yes, it is a tragedy,” he said, “and these murders will never be solved – ever. Your writer, Conan Doyle, has written many good books about London, and I read your newspapers. According to them, barely two or three percent of all homicide cases are solved. Yes, London is indeed a remarkable city.”