The Vampyre; a Tale
Page 2
and Lord Byron followed, and discovered himleaning against a mantle-piece, with cold drops of perspirationtrickling down his face. After having given him something to refreshhim, upon enquiring into the cause of his alarm, they found that hiswild imagination having pictured to him the bosom of one of the ladieswith eyes (which was reported of a lady in the neighbourhood where helived) he was obliged to leave the room in order to destroy theimpression. It was afterwards proposed, in the course of conversation,that each of the company present should write a tale depending uponsome supernatural agency, which was undertaken by Lord B., thephysician, and Miss M. W. Godwin.[1] My friend, the lady abovereferred to, had in her possession the outline of each of thesestories; I obtained them as a great favour, and herewith forward themto you, as I was assured you would feel as much curiosity as myself,to peruse the ebauches of so great a genius, and those immediatelyunder his influence."
[1] Since published under the title of "Frankenstein; or, The ModernPrometheus."