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simple-mbed-cloud-client/TESTS/COMMON/bogdan.txt@0:8f0bb79ddd48, 2021-05-04 (annotated)

Committer:
leothedragon
Date:
Tue May 04 08:55:12 2021 +0000
Revision:
0:8f0bb79ddd48
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leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1 The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dracula, by Bram Stoker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3 This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4 almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5 re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6 with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9 Title: Dracula
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11 Author: Bram Stoker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13 Release Date: August 16, 2013 [EBook #345]
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15 Language: English
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 16
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 17 Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 18
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 19 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRACULA ***
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 20
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 21
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 22
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 23
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 24 Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 25 Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 26 produced from images generously made available by The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 27 Internet Archive)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 28
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 29
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 30
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 31
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 32
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 33
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 34
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 35 DRACULA
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 36
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 37
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 38
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 39
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 40
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 41 DRACULA
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 42
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 43 _by_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 44
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 45 Bram Stoker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 46
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 47 [Illustration: colophon]
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 48
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 49 NEW YORK
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 50
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 51 GROSSET & DUNLAP
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 52
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 53 _Publishers_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 54
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 55 Copyright, 1897, in the United States of America, according
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 56 to Act of Congress, by Bram Stoker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 57
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 58 [_All rights reserved._]
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 59
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 60 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 61 AT
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 62 THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N.Y.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 63
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 64
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 65
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 66
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 67 TO
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 68
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 69 MY DEAR FRIEND
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 70
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 71 HOMMY-BEG
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 72
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 73
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 74
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 75
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 76 CONTENTS
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 77
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 78
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 79 CHAPTER I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 80 Page
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 81
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 82 Jonathan Harker's Journal 1
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 83
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 84 CHAPTER II
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 85
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 86 Jonathan Harker's Journal 14
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 87
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 88 CHAPTER III
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 89
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 90 Jonathan Harker's Journal 26
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 91
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 92 CHAPTER IV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 93
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 94 Jonathan Harker's Journal 38
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 95
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 96 CHAPTER V
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 97
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 98 Letters--Lucy and Mina 51
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 99
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 100 CHAPTER VI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 101
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 102 Mina Murray's Journal 59
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 103
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 104 CHAPTER VII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 105
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 106 Cutting from "The Dailygraph," 8 August 71
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 107
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 108 CHAPTER VIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 109
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 110 Mina Murray's Journal 84
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 111
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 112 CHAPTER IX
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 113
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 114 Mina Murray's Journal 98
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 115
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 116 CHAPTER X
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 117
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 118 Mina Murray's Journal 111
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 119
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 120 CHAPTER XI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 121
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 122 Lucy Westenra's Diary 124
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 123
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 124 CHAPTER XII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 125
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 126 Dr. Seward's Diary 136
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 127
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 128 CHAPTER XIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 129
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 130 Dr. Seward's Diary 152
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 132 CHAPTER XIV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 133
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 134 Mina Harker's Journal 167
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 135
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 136 CHAPTER XV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 137
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 138 Dr. Seward's Diary 181
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 139
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 140 CHAPTER XVI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 141
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 142 Dr. Seward's Diary 194
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 143
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 144 CHAPTER XVII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 145
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 146 Dr. Seward's Diary 204
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 147
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 148 CHAPTER XVIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 149
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 150 Dr. Seward's Diary 216
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 151
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 152 CHAPTER XIX
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 153
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 154 Jonathan Harker's Journal 231
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 155
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 156 CHAPTER XX
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 157
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 158 Jonathan Harker's Journal 243
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 159
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 160 CHAPTER XXI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 161
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 162 Dr. Seward's Diary 256
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 163
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 164 CHAPTER XXII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 165
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 166 Jonathan Harker's Journal 269
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 167
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 168 CHAPTER XXIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 169
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 170 Dr. Seward's Diary 281
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 171
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 172 CHAPTER XXIV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 173
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 174 Dr. Seward's Phonograph Diary, spoken by Van Helsing 294
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 175
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 176 CHAPTER XXV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 177
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 178 Dr. Seward's Diary 308
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 179
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 180 CHAPTER XXVI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 181
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 182 Dr. Seward's Diary 322
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 183
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 184 CHAPTER XXVII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 185
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 186 Mina Harker's Journal 338
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 187
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 188
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 189
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 190
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 191 DRACULA
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 192
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 193
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 194
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 195
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 196 CHAPTER I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 197
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 198 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 199
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 200 (_Kept in shorthand._)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 201
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 202
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 203 _3 May. Bistritz._--Left Munich at 8:35 P. M., on 1st May, arriving at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 204 Vienna early next morning; should have arrived at 6:46, but train was an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 205 hour late. Buda-Pesth seems a wonderful place, from the glimpse which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 206 got of it from the train and the little I could walk through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 207 streets. I feared to go very far from the station, as we had arrived
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 208 late and would start as near the correct time as possible. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 209 impression I had was that we were leaving the West and entering the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 210 East; the most western of splendid bridges over the Danube, which is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 211 here of noble width and depth, took us among the traditions of Turkish
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 212 rule.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 213
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 214 We left in pretty good time, and came after nightfall to Klausenburgh.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 215 Here I stopped for the night at the Hotel Royale. I had for dinner, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 216 rather supper, a chicken done up some way with red pepper, which was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 217 very good but thirsty. (_Mem._, get recipe for Mina.) I asked the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 218 waiter, and he said it was called "paprika hendl," and that, as it was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 219 national dish, I should be able to get it anywhere along the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 220 Carpathians. I found my smattering of German very useful here; indeed, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 221 don't know how I should be able to get on without it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 222
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 223 Having had some time at my disposal when in London, I had visited the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 224 British Museum, and made search among the books and maps in the library
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 225 regarding Transylvania; it had struck me that some foreknowledge of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 226 country could hardly fail to have some importance in dealing with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 227 nobleman of that country. I find that the district he named is in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 228 extreme east of the country, just on the borders of three states,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 229 Transylvania, Moldavia and Bukovina, in the midst of the Carpathian
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 230 mountains; one of the wildest and least known portions of Europe. I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 231 not able to light on any map or work giving the exact locality of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 232 Castle Dracula, as there are no maps of this country as yet to compare
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 233 with our own Ordnance Survey maps; but I found that Bistritz, the post
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 234 town named by Count Dracula, is a fairly well-known place. I shall enter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 235 here some of my notes, as they may refresh my memory when I talk over my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 236 travels with Mina.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 237
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 238 In the population of Transylvania there are four distinct nationalities:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 239 Saxons in the South, and mixed with them the Wallachs, who are the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 240 descendants of the Dacians; Magyars in the West, and Szekelys in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 241 East and North. I am going among the latter, who claim to be descended
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 242 from Attila and the Huns. This may be so, for when the Magyars conquered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 243 the country in the eleventh century they found the Huns settled in it. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 244 read that every known superstition in the world is gathered into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 245 horseshoe of the Carpathians, as if it were the centre of some sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 246 imaginative whirlpool; if so my stay may be very interesting. (_Mem._, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 247 must ask the Count all about them.)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 248
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 249 I did not sleep well, though my bed was comfortable enough, for I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 250 all sorts of queer dreams. There was a dog howling all night under my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 251 window, which may have had something to do with it; or it may have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 252 the paprika, for I had to drink up all the water in my carafe, and was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 253 still thirsty. Towards morning I slept and was wakened by the continuous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 254 knocking at my door, so I guess I must have been sleeping soundly then.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 255 I had for breakfast more paprika, and a sort of porridge of maize flour
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 256 which they said was "mamaliga," and egg-plant stuffed with forcemeat, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 257 very excellent dish, which they call "impletata." (_Mem._, get recipe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 258 for this also.) I had to hurry breakfast, for the train started a little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 259 before eight, or rather it ought to have done so, for after rushing to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 260 the station at 7:30 I had to sit in the carriage for more than an hour
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 261 before we began to move. It seems to me that the further east you go the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 262 more unpunctual are the trains. What ought they to be in China?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 263
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 264 All day long we seemed to dawdle through a country which was full of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 265 beauty of every kind. Sometimes we saw little towns or castles on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 266 top of steep hills such as we see in old missals; sometimes we ran by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 267 rivers and streams which seemed from the wide stony margin on each side
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 268 of them to be subject to great floods. It takes a lot of water, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 269 running strong, to sweep the outside edge of a river clear. At every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 270 station there were groups of people, sometimes crowds, and in all sorts
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 271 of attire. Some of them were just like the peasants at home or those I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 272 saw coming through France and Germany, with short jackets and round hats
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 273 and home-made trousers; but others were very picturesque. The women
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 274 looked pretty, except when you got near them, but they were very clumsy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 275 about the waist. They had all full white sleeves of some kind or other,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 276 and most of them had big belts with a lot of strips of something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 277 fluttering from them like the dresses in a ballet, but of course there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 278 were petticoats under them. The strangest figures we saw were the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 279 Slovaks, who were more barbarian than the rest, with their big cow-boy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 280 hats, great baggy dirty-white trousers, white linen shirts, and enormous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 281 heavy leather belts, nearly a foot wide, all studded over with brass
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 282 nails. They wore high boots, with their trousers tucked into them, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 283 had long black hair and heavy black moustaches. They are very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 284 picturesque, but do not look prepossessing. On the stage they would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 285 set down at once as some old Oriental band of brigands. They are,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 286 however, I am told, very harmless and rather wanting in natural
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 287 self-assertion.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 288
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 289 It was on the dark side of twilight when we got to Bistritz, which is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 290 very interesting old place. Being practically on the frontier--for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 291 Borgo Pass leads from it into Bukovina--it has had a very stormy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 292 existence, and it certainly shows marks of it. Fifty years ago a series
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 293 of great fires took place, which made terrible havoc on five separate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 294 occasions. At the very beginning of the seventeenth century it underwent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 295 a siege of three weeks and lost 13,000 people, the casualties of war
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 296 proper being assisted by famine and disease.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 297
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 298 Count Dracula had directed me to go to the Golden Krone Hotel, which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 299 found, to my great delight, to be thoroughly old-fashioned, for of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 300 course I wanted to see all I could of the ways of the country. I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 301 evidently expected, for when I got near the door I faced a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 302 cheery-looking elderly woman in the usual peasant dress--white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 303 undergarment with long double apron, front, and back, of coloured stuff
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 304 fitting almost too tight for modesty. When I came close she bowed and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 305 said, "The Herr Englishman?" "Yes," I said, "Jonathan Harker." She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 306 smiled, and gave some message to an elderly man in white shirt-sleeves,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 307 who had followed her to the door. He went, but immediately returned with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 308 a letter:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 309
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 310 "My Friend.--Welcome to the Carpathians. I am anxiously expecting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 311 you. Sleep well to-night. At three to-morrow the diligence will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 312 start for Bukovina; a place on it is kept for you. At the Borgo
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 313 Pass my carriage will await you and will bring you to me. I trust
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 314 that your journey from London has been a happy one, and that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 315 will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 316
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 317 "Your friend,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 318
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 319 "DRACULA."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 320
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 321
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 322 _4 May._--I found that my landlord had got a letter from the Count,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 323 directing him to secure the best place on the coach for me; but on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 324 making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 325 pretended that he could not understand my German. This could not be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 326 true, because up to then he had understood it perfectly; at least, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 327 answered my questions exactly as if he did. He and his wife, the old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 328 lady who had received me, looked at each other in a frightened sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 329 way. He mumbled out that the money had been sent in a letter, and that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 330 was all he knew. When I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 331 tell me anything of his castle, both he and his wife crossed themselves,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 332 and, saying that they knew nothing at all, simply refused to speak
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 333 further. It was so near the time of starting that I had no time to ask
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 334 any one else, for it was all very mysterious and not by any means
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 335 comforting.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 336
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 337 Just before I was leaving, the old lady came up to my room and said in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 338 very hysterical way:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 339
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 340 "Must you go? Oh! young Herr, must you go?" She was in such an excited
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 341 state that she seemed to have lost her grip of what German she knew, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 342 mixed it all up with some other language which I did not know at all. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 343 was just able to follow her by asking many questions. When I told her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 344 that I must go at once, and that I was engaged on important business,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 345 she asked again:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 346
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 347 "Do you know what day it is?" I answered that it was the fourth of May.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 348 She shook her head as she said again:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 349
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 350 "Oh, yes! I know that! I know that, but do you know what day it is?" On
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 351 my saying that I did not understand, she went on:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 352
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 353 "It is the eve of St. George's Day. Do you not know that to-night, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 354 the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 355 full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 356 She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort her, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 357 without effect. Finally she went down on her knees and implored me not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 358 to go; at least to wait a day or two before starting. It was all very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 359 ridiculous but I did not feel comfortable. However, there was business
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 360 to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it. I therefore
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 361 tried to raise her up, and said, as gravely as I could, that I thanked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 362 her, but my duty was imperative, and that I must go. She then rose and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 363 dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 364 did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 365 taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 366 seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 367 state of mind. She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 368 rosary round my neck, and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 369 of the room. I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 370 for the coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 371 round my neck. Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 372 traditions of this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 373 am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual. If this book should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 374 ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my good-bye. Here comes the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 375 coach!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 376
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 377 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 378
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 379 _5 May. The Castle._--The grey of the morning has passed, and the sun is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 380 high over the distant horizon, which seems jagged, whether with trees or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 381 hills I know not, for it is so far off that big things and little are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 382 mixed. I am not sleepy, and, as I am not to be called till I awake,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 383 naturally I write till sleep comes. There are many odd things to put
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 384 down, and, lest who reads them may fancy that I dined too well before I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 385 left Bistritz, let me put down my dinner exactly. I dined on what they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 386 called "robber steak"--bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 387 pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire, in the simple
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 388 style of the London cat's meat! The wine was Golden Mediasch, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 389 produces a queer sting on the tongue, which is, however, not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 390 disagreeable. I had only a couple of glasses of this, and nothing else.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 391
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 392 When I got on the coach the driver had not taken his seat, and I saw him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 393 talking with the landlady. They were evidently talking of me, for every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 394 now and then they looked at me, and some of the people who were sitting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 395 on the bench outside the door--which they call by a name meaning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 396 "word-bearer"--came and listened, and then looked at me, most of them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 397 pityingly. I could hear a lot of words often repeated, queer words, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 398 there were many nationalities in the crowd; so I quietly got my polyglot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 399 dictionary from my bag and looked them out. I must say they were not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 400 cheering to me, for amongst them were "Ordog"--Satan, "pokol"--hell,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 401 "stregoica"--witch, "vrolok" and "vlkoslak"--both of which mean the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 402 thing, one being Slovak and the other Servian for something that is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 403 either were-wolf or vampire. (_Mem._, I must ask the Count about these
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 404 superstitions)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 405
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 406 When we started, the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 407 swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 408 pointed two fingers towards me. With some difficulty I got a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 409 fellow-passenger to tell me what they meant; he would not answer at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 410 first, but on learning that I was English, he explained that it was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 411 charm or guard against the evil eye. This was not very pleasant for me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 412 just starting for an unknown place to meet an unknown man; but every one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 413 seemed so kind-hearted, and so sorrowful, and so sympathetic that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 414 could not but be touched. I shall never forget the last glimpse which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 415 had of the inn-yard and its crowd of picturesque figures, all crossing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 416 themselves, as they stood round the wide archway, with its background of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 417 rich foliage of oleander and orange trees in green tubs clustered in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 418 centre of the yard. Then our driver, whose wide linen drawers covered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 419 the whole front of the box-seat--"gotza" they call them--cracked his big
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 420 whip over his four small horses, which ran abreast, and we set off on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 421 our journey.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 422
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 423 I soon lost sight and recollection of ghostly fears in the beauty of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 424 scene as we drove along, although had I known the language, or rather
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 425 languages, which my fellow-passengers were speaking, I might not have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 426 been able to throw them off so easily. Before us lay a green sloping
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 427 land full of forests and woods, with here and there steep hills, crowned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 428 with clumps of trees or with farmhouses, the blank gable end to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 429 road. There was everywhere a bewildering mass of fruit blossom--apple,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 430 plum, pear, cherry; and as we drove by I could see the green grass under
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 431 the trees spangled with the fallen petals. In and out amongst these
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 432 green hills of what they call here the "Mittel Land" ran the road,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 433 losing itself as it swept round the grassy curve, or was shut out by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 434 straggling ends of pine woods, which here and there ran down the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 435 hillsides like tongues of flame. The road was rugged, but still we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 436 seemed to fly over it with a feverish haste. I could not understand then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 437 what the haste meant, but the driver was evidently bent on losing no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 438 time in reaching Borgo Prund. I was told that this road is in summertime
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 439 excellent, but that it had not yet been put in order after the winter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 440 snows. In this respect it is different from the general run of roads in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 441 the Carpathians, for it is an old tradition that they are not to be kept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 442 in too good order. Of old the Hospadars would not repair them, lest the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 443 Turk should think that they were preparing to bring in foreign troops,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 444 and so hasten the war which was always really at loading point.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 445
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 446 Beyond the green swelling hills of the Mittel Land rose mighty slopes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 447 of forest up to the lofty steeps of the Carpathians themselves. Right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 448 and left of us they towered, with the afternoon sun falling full upon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 449 them and bringing out all the glorious colours of this beautiful range,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 450 deep blue and purple in the shadows of the peaks, green and brown where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 451 grass and rock mingled, and an endless perspective of jagged rock and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 452 pointed crags, till these were themselves lost in the distance, where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 453 the snowy peaks rose grandly. Here and there seemed mighty rifts in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 454 mountains, through which, as the sun began to sink, we saw now and again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 455 the white gleam of falling water. One of my companions touched my arm as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 456 we swept round the base of a hill and opened up the lofty, snow-covered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 457 peak of a mountain, which seemed, as we wound on our serpentine way, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 458 be right before us:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 459
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 460 "Look! Isten szek!"--"God's seat!"--and he crossed himself reverently.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 461
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 462 As we wound on our endless way, and the sun sank lower and lower behind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 463 us, the shadows of the evening began to creep round us. This was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 464 emphasised by the fact that the snowy mountain-top still held the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 465 sunset, and seemed to glow out with a delicate cool pink. Here and there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 466 we passed Cszeks and Slovaks, all in picturesque attire, but I noticed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 467 that goitre was painfully prevalent. By the roadside were many crosses,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 468 and as we swept by, my companions all crossed themselves. Here and there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 469 was a peasant man or woman kneeling before a shrine, who did not even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 470 turn round as we approached, but seemed in the self-surrender of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 471 devotion to have neither eyes nor ears for the outer world. There were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 472 many things new to me: for instance, hay-ricks in the trees, and here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 473 and there very beautiful masses of weeping birch, their white stems
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 474 shining like silver through the delicate green of the leaves. Now and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 475 again we passed a leiter-wagon--the ordinary peasant's cart--with its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 476 long, snake-like vertebra, calculated to suit the inequalities of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 477 road. On this were sure to be seated quite a group of home-coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 478 peasants, the Cszeks with their white, and the Slovaks with their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 479 coloured, sheepskins, the latter carrying lance-fashion their long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 480 staves, with axe at end. As the evening fell it began to get very cold,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 481 and the growing twilight seemed to merge into one dark mistiness the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 482 gloom of the trees, oak, beech, and pine, though in the valleys which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 483 ran deep between the spurs of the hills, as we ascended through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 484 Pass, the dark firs stood out here and there against the background of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 485 late-lying snow. Sometimes, as the road was cut through the pine woods
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 486 that seemed in the darkness to be closing down upon us, great masses of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 487 greyness, which here and there bestrewed the trees, produced a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 488 peculiarly weird and solemn effect, which carried on the thoughts and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 489 grim fancies engendered earlier in the evening, when the falling sunset
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 490 threw into strange relief the ghost-like clouds which amongst the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 491 Carpathians seem to wind ceaselessly through the valleys. Sometimes the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 492 hills were so steep that, despite our driver's haste, the horses could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 493 only go slowly. I wished to get down and walk up them, as we do at home,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 494 but the driver would not hear of it. "No, no," he said; "you must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 495 walk here; the dogs are too fierce"; and then he added, with what he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 496 evidently meant for grim pleasantry--for he looked round to catch the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 497 approving smile of the rest--"and you may have enough of such matters
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 498 before you go to sleep." The only stop he would make was a moment's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 499 pause to light his lamps.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 500
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 501 When it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement amongst the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 502 passengers, and they kept speaking to him, one after the other, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 503 though urging him to further speed. He lashed the horses unmercifully
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 504 with his long whip, and with wild cries of encouragement urged them on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 505 to further exertions. Then through the darkness I could see a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 506 patch of grey light ahead of us, as though there were a cleft in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 507 hills. The excitement of the passengers grew greater; the crazy coach
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 508 rocked on its great leather springs, and swayed like a boat tossed on a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 509 stormy sea. I had to hold on. The road grew more level, and we appeared
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 510 to fly along. Then the mountains seemed to come nearer to us on each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 511 side and to frown down upon us; we were entering on the Borgo Pass. One
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 512 by one several of the passengers offered me gifts, which they pressed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 513 upon me with an earnestness which would take no denial; these were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 514 certainly of an odd and varied kind, but each was given in simple good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 515 faith, with a kindly word, and a blessing, and that strange mixture of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 516 fear-meaning movements which I had seen outside the hotel at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 517 Bistritz--the sign of the cross and the guard against the evil eye.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 518 Then, as we flew along, the driver leaned forward, and on each side the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 519 passengers, craning over the edge of the coach, peered eagerly into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 520 darkness. It was evident that something very exciting was either
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 521 happening or expected, but though I asked each passenger, no one would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 522 give me the slightest explanation. This state of excitement kept on for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 523 some little time; and at last we saw before us the Pass opening out on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 524 the eastern side. There were dark, rolling clouds overhead, and in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 525 air the heavy, oppressive sense of thunder. It seemed as though the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 526 mountain range had separated two atmospheres, and that now we had got
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 527 into the thunderous one. I was now myself looking out for the conveyance
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 528 which was to take me to the Count. Each moment I expected to see the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 529 glare of lamps through the blackness; but all was dark. The only light
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 530 was the flickering rays of our own lamps, in which the steam from our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 531 hard-driven horses rose in a white cloud. We could see now the sandy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 532 road lying white before us, but there was on it no sign of a vehicle.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 533 The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, which seemed to mock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 534 my own disappointment. I was already thinking what I had best do, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 535 the driver, looking at his watch, said to the others something which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 536 could hardly hear, it was spoken so quietly and in so low a tone; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 537 thought it was "An hour less than the time." Then turning to me, he said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 538 in German worse than my own:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 539
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 540 "There is no carriage here. The Herr is not expected after all. He will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 541 now come on to Bukovina, and return to-morrow or the next day; better
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 542 the next day." Whilst he was speaking the horses began to neigh and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 543 snort and plunge wildly, so that the driver had to hold them up. Then,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 544 amongst a chorus of screams from the peasants and a universal crossing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 545 of themselves, a calèche, with four horses, drove up behind us, overtook
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 546 us, and drew up beside the coach. I could see from the flash of our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 547 lamps, as the rays fell on them, that the horses were coal-black and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 548 splendid animals. They were driven by a tall man, with a long brown
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 549 beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide his face from us. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 550 could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes, which seemed red
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 551 in the lamplight, as he turned to us. He said to the driver:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 552
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 553 "You are early to-night, my friend." The man stammered in reply:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 554
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 555 "The English Herr was in a hurry," to which the stranger replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 556
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 557 "That is why, I suppose, you wished him to go on to Bukovina. You cannot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 558 deceive me, my friend; I know too much, and my horses are swift." As he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 559 spoke he smiled, and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 560 very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory. One of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 561 companions whispered to another the line from Burger's "Lenore":--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 562
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 563 "Denn die Todten reiten schnell"--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 564 ("For the dead travel fast.")
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 565
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 566 The strange driver evidently heard the words, for he looked up with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 567 gleaming smile. The passenger turned his face away, at the same time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 568 putting out his two fingers and crossing himself. "Give me the Herr's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 569 luggage," said the driver; and with exceeding alacrity my bags were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 570 handed out and put in the calèche. Then I descended from the side of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 571 coach, as the calèche was close alongside, the driver helping me with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 572 hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel; his strength must have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 573 prodigious. Without a word he shook his reins, the horses turned, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 574 swept into the darkness of the Pass. As I looked back I saw the steam
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 575 from the horses of the coach by the light of the lamps, and projected
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 576 against it the figures of my late companions crossing themselves. Then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 577 the driver cracked his whip and called to his horses, and off they swept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 578 on their way to Bukovina. As they sank into the darkness I felt a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 579 strange chill, and a lonely feeling came over me; but a cloak was thrown
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 580 over my shoulders, and a rug across my knees, and the driver said in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 581 excellent German:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 582
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 583 "The night is chill, mein Herr, and my master the Count bade me take all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 584 care of you. There is a flask of slivovitz (the plum brandy of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 585 country) underneath the seat, if you should require it." I did not take
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 586 any, but it was a comfort to know it was there all the same. I felt a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 587 little strangely, and not a little frightened. I think had there been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 588 any alternative I should have taken it, instead of prosecuting that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 589 unknown night journey. The carriage went at a hard pace straight along,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 590 then we made a complete turn and went along another straight road. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 591 seemed to me that we were simply going over and over the same ground
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 592 again; and so I took note of some salient point, and found that this was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 593 so. I would have liked to have asked the driver what this all meant, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 594 I really feared to do so, for I thought that, placed as I was, any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 595 protest would have had no effect in case there had been an intention to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 596 delay. By-and-by, however, as I was curious to know how time was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 597 passing, I struck a match, and by its flame looked at my watch; it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 598 within a few minutes of midnight. This gave me a sort of shock, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 599 suppose the general superstition about midnight was increased by my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 600 recent experiences. I waited with a sick feeling of suspense.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 601
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 602 Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road--a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 603 long, agonised wailing, as if from fear. The sound was taken up by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 604 another dog, and then another and another, till, borne on the wind which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 605 now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling began, which seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 606 to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination could grasp
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 607 it through the gloom of the night. At the first howl the horses began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 608 strain and rear, but the driver spoke to them soothingly, and they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 609 quieted down, but shivered and sweated as though after a runaway from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 610 sudden fright. Then, far off in the distance, from the mountains on each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 611 side of us began a louder and a sharper howling--that of wolves--which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 612 affected both the horses and myself in the same way--for I was minded to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 613 jump from the calèche and run, whilst they reared again and plunged
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 614 madly, so that the driver had to use all his great strength to keep them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 615 from bolting. In a few minutes, however, my own ears got accustomed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 616 the sound, and the horses so far became quiet that the driver was able
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 617 to descend and to stand before them. He petted and soothed them, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 618 whispered something in their ears, as I have heard of horse-tamers
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 619 doing, and with extraordinary effect, for under his caresses they became
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 620 quite manageable again, though they still trembled. The driver again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 621 took his seat, and shaking his reins, started off at a great pace. This
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 622 time, after going to the far side of the Pass, he suddenly turned down a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 623 narrow roadway which ran sharply to the right.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 624
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 625 Soon we were hemmed in with trees, which in places arched right over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 626 roadway till we passed as through a tunnel; and again great frowning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 627 rocks guarded us boldly on either side. Though we were in shelter, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 628 could hear the rising wind, for it moaned and whistled through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 629 rocks, and the branches of the trees crashed together as we swept along.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 630 It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery snow began to fall,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 631 so that soon we and all around us were covered with a white blanket. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 632 keen wind still carried the howling of the dogs, though this grew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 633 fainter as we went on our way. The baying of the wolves sounded nearer
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 634 and nearer, as though they were closing round on us from every side. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 635 grew dreadfully afraid, and the horses shared my fear. The driver,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 636 however, was not in the least disturbed; he kept turning his head to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 637 left and right, but I could not see anything through the darkness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 638
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 639 Suddenly, away on our left, I saw a faint flickering blue flame. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 640 driver saw it at the same moment; he at once checked the horses, and,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 641 jumping to the ground, disappeared into the darkness. I did not know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 642 what to do, the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer; but while
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 643 I wondered the driver suddenly appeared again, and without a word took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 644 his seat, and we resumed our journey. I think I must have fallen asleep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 645 and kept dreaming of the incident, for it seemed to be repeated
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 646 endlessly, and now looking back, it is like a sort of awful nightmare.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 647 Once the flame appeared so near the road, that even in the darkness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 648 around us I could watch the driver's motions. He went rapidly to where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 649 the blue flame arose--it must have been very faint, for it did not seem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 650 to illumine the place around it at all--and gathering a few stones,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 651 formed them into some device. Once there appeared a strange optical
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 652 effect: when he stood between me and the flame he did not obstruct it,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 653 for I could see its ghostly flicker all the same. This startled me, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 654 as the effect was only momentary, I took it that my eyes deceived me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 655 straining through the darkness. Then for a time there were no blue
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 656 flames, and we sped onwards through the gloom, with the howling of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 657 wolves around us, as though they were following in a moving circle.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 658
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 659 At last there came a time when the driver went further afield than he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 660 had yet gone, and during his absence, the horses began to tremble worse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 661 than ever and to snort and scream with fright. I could not see any cause
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 662 for it, for the howling of the wolves had ceased altogether; but just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 663 then the moon, sailing through the black clouds, appeared behind the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 664 jagged crest of a beetling, pine-clad rock, and by its light I saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 665 around us a ring of wolves, with white teeth and lolling red tongues,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 666 with long, sinewy limbs and shaggy hair. They were a hundred times more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 667 terrible in the grim silence which held them than even when they howled.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 668 For myself, I felt a sort of paralysis of fear. It is only when a man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 669 feels himself face to face with such horrors that he can understand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 670 their true import.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 671
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 672 All at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 673 some peculiar effect on them. The horses jumped about and reared, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 674 looked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful to see;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 675 but the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side; and they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 676 had perforce to remain within it. I called to the coachman to come, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 677 it seemed to me that our only chance was to try to break out through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 678 ring and to aid his approach. I shouted and beat the side of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 679 calèche, hoping by the noise to scare the wolves from that side, so as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 680 to give him a chance of reaching the trap. How he came there, I know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 681 not, but I heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious command, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 682 looking towards the sound, saw him stand in the roadway. As he swept his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 683 long arms, as though brushing aside some impalpable obstacle, the wolves
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 684 fell back and back further still. Just then a heavy cloud passed across
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 685 the face of the moon, so that we were again in darkness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 686
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 687 When I could see again the driver was climbing into the calèche, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 688 wolves had disappeared. This was all so strange and uncanny that a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 689 dreadful fear came upon me, and I was afraid to speak or move. The time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 690 seemed interminable as we swept on our way, now in almost complete
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 691 darkness, for the rolling clouds obscured the moon. We kept on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 692 ascending, with occasional periods of quick descent, but in the main
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 693 always ascending. Suddenly, I became conscious of the fact that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 694 driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 695 vast ruined castle, from whose tall black windows came no ray of light,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 696 and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line against the moonlit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 697 sky.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 698
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 699
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 700
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 701
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 702 CHAPTER II
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 703
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 704 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL--_continued_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 705
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 706
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 707 _5 May._--I must have been asleep, for certainly if I had been fully
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 708 awake I must have noticed the approach of such a remarkable place. In
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 709 the gloom the courtyard looked of considerable size, and as several dark
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 710 ways led from it under great round arches, it perhaps seemed bigger than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 711 it really is. I have not yet been able to see it by daylight.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 712
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 713 When the calèche stopped, the driver jumped down and held out his hand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 714 to assist me to alight. Again I could not but notice his prodigious
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 715 strength. His hand actually seemed like a steel vice that could have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 716 crushed mine if he had chosen. Then he took out my traps, and placed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 717 them on the ground beside me as I stood close to a great door, old and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 718 studded with large iron nails, and set in a projecting doorway of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 719 massive stone. I could see even in the dim light that the stone was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 720 massively carved, but that the carving had been much worn by time and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 721 weather. As I stood, the driver jumped again into his seat and shook the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 722 reins; the horses started forward, and trap and all disappeared down one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 723 of the dark openings.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 724
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 725 I stood in silence where I was, for I did not know what to do. Of bell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 726 or knocker there was no sign; through these frowning walls and dark
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 727 window openings it was not likely that my voice could penetrate. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 728 time I waited seemed endless, and I felt doubts and fears crowding upon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 729 me. What sort of place had I come to, and among what kind of people?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 730 What sort of grim adventure was it on which I had embarked? Was this a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 731 customary incident in the life of a solicitor's clerk sent out to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 732 explain the purchase of a London estate to a foreigner? Solicitor's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 733 clerk! Mina would not like that. Solicitor--for just before leaving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 734 London I got word that my examination was successful; and I am now a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 735 full-blown solicitor! I began to rub my eyes and pinch myself to see if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 736 I were awake. It all seemed like a horrible nightmare to me, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 737 expected that I should suddenly awake, and find myself at home, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 738 the dawn struggling in through the windows, as I had now and again felt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 739 in the morning after a day of overwork. But my flesh answered the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 740 pinching test, and my eyes were not to be deceived. I was indeed awake
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 741 and among the Carpathians. All I could do now was to be patient, and to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 742 wait the coming of the morning.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 743
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 744 Just as I had come to this conclusion I heard a heavy step approaching
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 745 behind the great door, and saw through the chinks the gleam of a coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 746 light. Then there was the sound of rattling chains and the clanking of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 747 massive bolts drawn back. A key was turned with the loud grating noise
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 748 of long disuse, and the great door swung back.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 749
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 750 Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 751 moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 752 of colour about him anywhere. He held in his hand an antique silver
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 753 lamp, in which the flame burned without chimney or globe of any kind,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 754 throwing long quivering shadows as it flickered in the draught of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 755 open door. The old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 756 gesture, saying in excellent English, but with a strange intonation:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 757
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 758 "Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will!" He made no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 759 motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as though his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 760 gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone. The instant, however, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 761 I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 762 holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 763 an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed as cold as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 764 ice--more like the hand of a dead than a living man. Again he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 765
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 766 "Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 767 happiness you bring!" The strength of the handshake was so much akin to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 768 that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had not seen, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 769 for a moment I doubted if it were not the same person to whom I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 770 speaking; so to make sure, I said interrogatively:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 771
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 772 "Count Dracula?" He bowed in a courtly way as he replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 773
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 774 "I am Dracula; and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 775 the night air is chill, and you must need to eat and rest." As he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 776 speaking, he put the lamp on a bracket on the wall, and stepping out,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 777 took my luggage; he had carried it in before I could forestall him. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 778 protested but he insisted:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 779
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 780 "Nay, sir, you are my guest. It is late, and my people are not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 781 available. Let me see to your comfort myself." He insisted on carrying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 782 my traps along the passage, and then up a great winding stair, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 783 along another great passage, on whose stone floor our steps rang
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 784 heavily. At the end of this he threw open a heavy door, and I rejoiced
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 785 to see within a well-lit room in which a table was spread for supper,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 786 and on whose mighty hearth a great fire of logs, freshly replenished,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 787 flamed and flared.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 788
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 789 The Count halted, putting down my bags, closed the door, and crossing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 790 the room, opened another door, which led into a small octagonal room lit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 791 by a single lamp, and seemingly without a window of any sort. Passing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 792 through this, he opened another door, and motioned me to enter. It was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 793 welcome sight; for here was a great bedroom well lighted and warmed with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 794 another log fire,--also added to but lately, for the top logs were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 795 fresh--which sent a hollow roar up the wide chimney. The Count himself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 796 left my luggage inside and withdrew, saying, before he closed the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 797 door:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 798
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 799 "You will need, after your journey, to refresh yourself by making your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 800 toilet. I trust you will find all you wish. When you are ready, come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 801 into the other room, where you will find your supper prepared."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 802
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 803 The light and warmth and the Count's courteous welcome seemed to have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 804 dissipated all my doubts and fears. Having then reached my normal state,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 805 I discovered that I was half famished with hunger; so making a hasty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 806 toilet, I went into the other room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 807
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 808 I found supper already laid out. My host, who stood on one side of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 809 great fireplace, leaning against the stonework, made a graceful wave of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 810 his hand to the table, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 811
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 812 "I pray you, be seated and sup how you please. You will, I trust, excuse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 813 me that I do not join you; but I have dined already, and I do not sup."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 814
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 815 I handed to him the sealed letter which Mr. Hawkins had entrusted to me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 816 He opened it and read it gravely; then, with a charming smile, he handed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 817 it to me to read. One passage of it, at least, gave me a thrill of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 818 pleasure.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 819
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 820 "I must regret that an attack of gout, from which malady I am a constant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 821 sufferer, forbids absolutely any travelling on my part for some time to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 822 come; but I am happy to say I can send a sufficient substitute, one in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 823 whom I have every possible confidence. He is a young man, full of energy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 824 and talent in his own way, and of a very faithful disposition. He is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 825 discreet and silent, and has grown into manhood in my service. He shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 826 be ready to attend on you when you will during his stay, and shall take
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 827 your instructions in all matters."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 828
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 829 The Count himself came forward and took off the cover of a dish, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 830 fell to at once on an excellent roast chicken. This, with some cheese
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 831 and a salad and a bottle of old Tokay, of which I had two glasses, was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 832 my supper. During the time I was eating it the Count asked me many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 833 questions as to my journey, and I told him by degrees all I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 834 experienced.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 835
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 836 By this time I had finished my supper, and by my host's desire had drawn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 837 up a chair by the fire and begun to smoke a cigar which he offered me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 838 at the same time excusing himself that he did not smoke. I had now an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 839 opportunity of observing him, and found him of a very marked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 840 physiognomy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 841
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 842 His face was a strong--a very strong--aquiline, with high bridge of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 843 thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils; with lofty domed forehead, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 844 hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely elsewhere. His
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 845 eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 846 hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 847 could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 848 cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 849 the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 850 man of his years. For the rest, his ears were pale, and at the tops
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 851 extremely pointed; the chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 852 though thin. The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 853
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 854 Hitherto I had noticed the backs of his hands as they lay on his knees
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 855 in the firelight, and they had seemed rather white and fine; but seeing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 856 them now close to me, I could not but notice that they were rather
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 857 coarse--broad, with squat fingers. Strange to say, there were hairs in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 858 the centre of the palm. The nails were long and fine, and cut to a sharp
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 859 point. As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me, I could not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 860 repress a shudder. It may have been that his breath was rank, but a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 861 horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, do what I would, I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 862 not conceal. The Count, evidently noticing it, drew back; and with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 863 grim sort of smile, which showed more than he had yet done his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 864 protuberant teeth, sat himself down again on his own side of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 865 fireplace. We were both silent for a while; and as I looked towards the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 866 window I saw the first dim streak of the coming dawn. There seemed a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 867 strange stillness over everything; but as I listened I heard as if from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 868 down below in the valley the howling of many wolves. The Count's eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 869 gleamed, and he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 870
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 871 "Listen to them--the children of the night. What music they make!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 872 Seeing, I suppose, some expression in my face strange to him, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 873 added:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 874
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 875 "Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city cannot enter into the feelings of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 876 hunter." Then he rose and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 877
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 878 "But you must be tired. Your bedroom is all ready, and to-morrow you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 879 shall sleep as late as you will. I have to be away till the afternoon;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 880 so sleep well and dream well!" With a courteous bow, he opened for me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 881 himself the door to the octagonal room, and I entered my bedroom....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 882
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 883 I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 884 which I dare not confess to my own soul. God keep me, if only for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 885 sake of those dear to me!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 886
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 887 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 888
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 889 _7 May._--It is again early morning, but I have rested and enjoyed the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 890 last twenty-four hours. I slept till late in the day, and awoke of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 891 own accord. When I had dressed myself I went into the room where we had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 892 supped, and found a cold breakfast laid out, with coffee kept hot by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 893 pot being placed on the hearth. There was a card on the table, on which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 894 was written:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 895
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 896 "I have to be absent for a while. Do not wait for me.--D." I set to and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 897 enjoyed a hearty meal. When I had done, I looked for a bell, so that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 898 might let the servants know I had finished; but I could not find one.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 899 There are certainly odd deficiencies in the house, considering the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 900 extraordinary evidences of wealth which are round me. The table service
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 901 is of gold, and so beautifully wrought that it must be of immense value.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 902 The curtains and upholstery of the chairs and sofas and the hangings of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 903 my bed are of the costliest and most beautiful fabrics, and must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 904 been of fabulous value when they were made, for they are centuries old,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 905 though in excellent order. I saw something like them in Hampton Court,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 906 but there they were worn and frayed and moth-eaten. But still in none of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 907 the rooms is there a mirror. There is not even a toilet glass on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 908 table, and I had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 909 could either shave or brush my hair. I have not yet seen a servant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 910 anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of wolves.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 911 Some time after I had finished my meal--I do not know whether to call it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 912 breakfast or dinner, for it was between five and six o'clock when I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 913 it--I looked about for something to read, for I did not like to go about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 914 the castle until I had asked the Count's permission. There was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 915 absolutely nothing in the room, book, newspaper, or even writing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 916 materials; so I opened another door in the room and found a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 917 library. The door opposite mine I tried, but found it locked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 918
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 919 In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of English
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 920 books, whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes of magazines and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 921 newspapers. A table in the centre was littered with English magazines
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 922 and newspapers, though none of them were of very recent date. The books
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 923 were of the most varied kind--history, geography, politics, political
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 924 economy, botany, geology, law--all relating to England and English life
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 925 and customs and manners. There were even such books of reference as the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 926 London Directory, the "Red" and "Blue" books, Whitaker's Almanac, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 927 Army and Navy Lists, and--it somehow gladdened my heart to see it--the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 928 Law List.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 929
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 930 Whilst I was looking at the books, the door opened, and the Count
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 931 entered. He saluted me in a hearty way, and hoped that I had had a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 932 night's rest. Then he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 933
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 934 "I am glad you found your way in here, for I am sure there is much that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 935 will interest you. These companions"--and he laid his hand on some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 936 the books--"have been good friends to me, and for some years past, ever
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 937 since I had the idea of going to London, have given me many, many hours
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 938 of pleasure. Through them I have come to know your great England; and to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 939 know her is to love her. I long to go through the crowded streets of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 940 your mighty London, to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 941 humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, and all that makes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 942 it what it is. But alas! as yet I only know your tongue through books.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 943 To you, my friend, I look that I know it to speak."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 944
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 945 "But, Count," I said, "you know and speak English thoroughly!" He bowed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 946 gravely.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 947
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 948 "I thank you, my friend, for your all too-flattering estimate, but yet I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 949 fear that I am but a little way on the road I would travel. True, I know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 950 the grammar and the words, but yet I know not how to speak them."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 951
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 952 "Indeed," I said, "you speak excellently."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 953
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 954 "Not so," he answered. "Well, I know that, did I move and speak in your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 955 London, none there are who would not know me for a stranger. That is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 956 enough for me. Here I am noble; I am _boyar_; the common people know me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 957 and I am master. But a stranger in a strange land, he is no one; men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 958 know him not--and to know not is to care not for. I am content if I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 959 like the rest, so that no man stops if he see me, or pause in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 960 speaking if he hear my words, 'Ha, ha! a stranger!' I have been so long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 961 master that I would be master still--or at least that none other should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 962 be master of me. You come to me not alone as agent of my friend Peter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 963 Hawkins, of Exeter, to tell me all about my new estate in London. You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 964 shall, I trust, rest here with me awhile, so that by our talking I may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 965 learn the English intonation; and I would that you tell me when I make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 966 error, even of the smallest, in my speaking. I am sorry that I had to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 967 away so long to-day; but you will, I know, forgive one who has so many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 968 important affairs in hand."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 969
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 970 Of course I said all I could about being willing, and asked if I might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 971 come into that room when I chose. He answered: "Yes, certainly," and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 972 added:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 973
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 974 "You may go anywhere you wish in the castle, except where the doors are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 975 locked, where of course you will not wish to go. There is reason that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 976 all things are as they are, and did you see with my eyes and know with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 977 my knowledge, you would perhaps better understand." I said I was sure of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 978 this, and then he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 979
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 980 "We are in Transylvania; and Transylvania is not England. Our ways are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 981 not your ways, and there shall be to you many strange things. Nay, from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 982 what you have told me of your experiences already, you know something of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 983 what strange things there may be."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 984
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 985 This led to much conversation; and as it was evident that he wanted to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 986 talk, if only for talking's sake, I asked him many questions regarding
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 987 things that had already happened to me or come within my notice.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 988 Sometimes he sheered off the subject, or turned the conversation by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 989 pretending not to understand; but generally he answered all I asked most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 990 frankly. Then as time went on, and I had got somewhat bolder, I asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 991 him of some of the strange things of the preceding night, as, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 992 instance, why the coachman went to the places where he had seen the blue
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 993 flames. He then explained to me that it was commonly believed that on a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 994 certain night of the year--last night, in fact, when all evil spirits
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 995 are supposed to have unchecked sway--a blue flame is seen over any place
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 996 where treasure has been concealed. "That treasure has been hidden," he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 997 went on, "in the region through which you came last night, there can be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 998 but little doubt; for it was the ground fought over for centuries by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 999 Wallachian, the Saxon, and the Turk. Why, there is hardly a foot of soil
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1000 in all this region that has not been enriched by the blood of men,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1001 patriots or invaders. In old days there were stirring times, when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1002 Austrian and the Hungarian came up in hordes, and the patriots went out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1003 to meet them--men and women, the aged and the children too--and waited
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1004 their coming on the rocks above the passes, that they might sweep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1005 destruction on them with their artificial avalanches. When the invader
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1006 was triumphant he found but little, for whatever there was had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1007 sheltered in the friendly soil."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1008
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1009 "But how," said I, "can it have remained so long undiscovered, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1010 there is a sure index to it if men will but take the trouble to look?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1011 The Count smiled, and as his lips ran back over his gums, the long,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1012 sharp, canine teeth showed out strangely; he answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1013
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1014 "Because your peasant is at heart a coward and a fool! Those flames only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1015 appear on one night; and on that night no man of this land will, if he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1016 can help it, stir without his doors. And, dear sir, even if he did he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1017 would not know what to do. Why, even the peasant that you tell me of who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1018 marked the place of the flame would not know where to look in daylight
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1019 even for his own work. Even you would not, I dare be sworn, be able to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1020 find these places again?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1022 "There you are right," I said. "I know no more than the dead where even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1023 to look for them." Then we drifted into other matters.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1024
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1025 "Come," he said at last, "tell me of London and of the house which you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1026 have procured for me." With an apology for my remissness, I went into my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1027 own room to get the papers from my bag. Whilst I was placing them in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1028 order I heard a rattling of china and silver in the next room, and as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1029 passed through, noticed that the table had been cleared and the lamp
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1030 lit, for it was by this time deep into the dark. The lamps were also lit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1031 in the study or library, and I found the Count lying on the sofa,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1032 reading, of all things in the world, an English Bradshaw's Guide. When I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1033 came in he cleared the books and papers from the table; and with him I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1034 went into plans and deeds and figures of all sorts. He was interested in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1035 everything, and asked me a myriad questions about the place and its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1036 surroundings. He clearly had studied beforehand all he could get on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1037 subject of the neighbourhood, for he evidently at the end knew very much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1038 more than I did. When I remarked this, he answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1039
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1040 "Well, but, my friend, is it not needful that I should? When I go there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1041 I shall be all alone, and my friend Harker Jonathan--nay, pardon me, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1042 fall into my country's habit of putting your patronymic first--my friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1043 Jonathan Harker will not be by my side to correct and aid me. He will be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1044 in Exeter, miles away, probably working at papers of the law with my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1045 other friend, Peter Hawkins. So!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1046
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1047 We went thoroughly into the business of the purchase of the estate at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1048 Purfleet. When I had told him the facts and got his signature to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1049 necessary papers, and had written a letter with them ready to post to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1050 Mr. Hawkins, he began to ask me how I had come across so suitable a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1051 place. I read to him the notes which I had made at the time, and which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1052 inscribe here:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1053
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1054 "At Purfleet, on a by-road, I came across just such a place as seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1055 be required, and where was displayed a dilapidated notice that the place
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1056 was for sale. It is surrounded by a high wall, of ancient structure,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1057 built of heavy stones, and has not been repaired for a large number of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1058 years. The closed gates are of heavy old oak and iron, all eaten with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1059 rust.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1060
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1061 "The estate is called Carfax, no doubt a corruption of the old _Quatre
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1062 Face_, as the house is four-sided, agreeing with the cardinal points of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1063 the compass. It contains in all some twenty acres, quite surrounded by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1064 the solid stone wall above mentioned. There are many trees on it, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1065 make it in places gloomy, and there is a deep, dark-looking pond or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1066 small lake, evidently fed by some springs, as the water is clear and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1067 flows away in a fair-sized stream. The house is very large and of all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1068 periods back, I should say, to mediæval times, for one part is of stone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1069 immensely thick, with only a few windows high up and heavily barred with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1070 iron. It looks like part of a keep, and is close to an old chapel or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1071 church. I could not enter it, as I had not the key of the door leading
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1072 to it from the house, but I have taken with my kodak views of it from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1073 various points. The house has been added to, but in a very straggling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1074 way, and I can only guess at the amount of ground it covers, which must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1075 be very great. There are but few houses close at hand, one being a very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1076 large house only recently added to and formed into a private lunatic
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1077 asylum. It is not, however, visible from the grounds."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1078
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1079 When I had finished, he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1080
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1081 "I am glad that it is old and big. I myself am of an old family, and to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1082 live in a new house would kill me. A house cannot be made habitable in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1083 day; and, after all, how few days go to make up a century. I rejoice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1084 also that there is a chapel of old times. We Transylvanian nobles love
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1085 not to think that our bones may lie amongst the common dead. I seek not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1086 gaiety nor mirth, not the bright voluptuousness of much sunshine and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1087 sparkling waters which please the young and gay. I am no longer young;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1088 and my heart, through weary years of mourning over the dead, is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1089 attuned to mirth. Moreover, the walls of my castle are broken; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1090 shadows are many, and the wind breathes cold through the broken
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1091 battlements and casements. I love the shade and the shadow, and would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1092 be alone with my thoughts when I may." Somehow his words and his look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1093 did not seem to accord, or else it was that his cast of face made his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1094 smile look malignant and saturnine.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1095
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1096 Presently, with an excuse, he left me, asking me to put all my papers
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1097 together. He was some little time away, and I began to look at some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1098 the books around me. One was an atlas, which I found opened naturally at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1099 England, as if that map had been much used. On looking at it I found in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1100 certain places little rings marked, and on examining these I noticed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1101 that one was near London on the east side, manifestly where his new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1102 estate was situated; the other two were Exeter, and Whitby on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1103 Yorkshire coast.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1104
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1105 It was the better part of an hour when the Count returned. "Aha!" he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1106 said; "still at your books? Good! But you must not work always. Come; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1107 am informed that your supper is ready." He took my arm, and we went into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1108 the next room, where I found an excellent supper ready on the table. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1109 Count again excused himself, as he had dined out on his being away from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1110 home. But he sat as on the previous night, and chatted whilst I ate.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1111 After supper I smoked, as on the last evening, and the Count stayed with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1112 me, chatting and asking questions on every conceivable subject, hour
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1113 after hour. I felt that it was getting very late indeed, but I did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1114 say anything, for I felt under obligation to meet my host's wishes in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1115 every way. I was not sleepy, as the long sleep yesterday had fortified
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1116 me; but I could not help experiencing that chill which comes over one at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1117 the coming of the dawn, which is like, in its way, the turn of the tide.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1118 They say that people who are near death die generally at the change to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1119 the dawn or at the turn of the tide; any one who has when tired, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1120 tied as it were to his post, experienced this change in the atmosphere
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1121 can well believe it. All at once we heard the crow of a cock coming up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1122 with preternatural shrillness through the clear morning air; Count
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1123 Dracula, jumping to his feet, said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1124
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1125 "Why, there is the morning again! How remiss I am to let you stay up so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1126 long. You must make your conversation regarding my dear new country of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1127 England less interesting, so that I may not forget how time flies by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1128 us," and, with a courtly bow, he quickly left me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1129
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1130 I went into my own room and drew the curtains, but there was little to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1131 notice; my window opened into the courtyard, all I could see was the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1132 warm grey of quickening sky. So I pulled the curtains again, and have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1133 written of this day.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1134
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1135 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1136
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1137 _8 May._--I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1138 diffuse; but now I am glad that I went into detail from the first, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1139 there is something so strange about this place and all in it that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1140 cannot but feel uneasy. I wish I were safe out of it, or that I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1141 never come. It may be that this strange night-existence is telling on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1142 me; but would that that were all! If there were any one to talk to I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1143 could bear it, but there is no one. I have only the Count to speak with,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1144 and he!--I fear I am myself the only living soul within the place. Let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1145 me be prosaic so far as facts can be; it will help me to bear up, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1146 imagination must not run riot with me. If it does I am lost. Let me say
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1147 at once how I stand--or seem to.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1148
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1149 I only slept a few hours when I went to bed, and feeling that I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1150 not sleep any more, got up. I had hung my shaving glass by the window,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1151 and was just beginning to shave. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1152 and heard the Count's voice saying to me, "Good-morning." I started, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1153 it amazed me that I had not seen him, since the reflection of the glass
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1154 covered the whole room behind me. In starting I had cut myself slightly,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1155 but did not notice it at the moment. Having answered the Count's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1156 salutation, I turned to the glass again to see how I had been mistaken.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1157 This time there could be no error, for the man was close to me, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1158 could see him over my shoulder. But there was no reflection of him in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1159 the mirror! The whole room behind me was displayed; but there was no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1160 sign of a man in it, except myself. This was startling, and, coming on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1161 the top of so many strange things, was beginning to increase that vague
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1162 feeling of uneasiness which I always have when the Count is near; but at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1163 the instant I saw that the cut had bled a little, and the blood was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1164 trickling over my chin. I laid down the razor, turning as I did so half
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1165 round to look for some sticking plaster. When the Count saw my face, his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1166 eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1167 my throat. I drew away, and his hand touched the string of beads which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1168 held the crucifix. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1169 so quickly that I could hardly believe that it was ever there.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1170
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1171 "Take care," he said, "take care how you cut yourself. It is more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1172 dangerous than you think in this country." Then seizing the shaving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1173 glass, he went on: "And this is the wretched thing that has done the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1174 mischief. It is a foul bauble of man's vanity. Away with it!" and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1175 opening the heavy window with one wrench of his terrible hand, he flung
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1176 out the glass, which was shattered into a thousand pieces on the stones
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1177 of the courtyard far below. Then he withdrew without a word. It is very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1178 annoying, for I do not see how I am to shave, unless in my watch-case or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1179 the bottom of the shaving-pot, which is fortunately of metal.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1180
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1181 When I went into the dining-room, breakfast was prepared; but I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1182 not find the Count anywhere. So I breakfasted alone. It is strange that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1183 as yet I have not seen the Count eat or drink. He must be a very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1184 peculiar man! After breakfast I did a little exploring in the castle. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1185 went out on the stairs, and found a room looking towards the South. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1186 view was magnificent, and from where I stood there was every opportunity
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1187 of seeing it. The castle is on the very edge of a terrible precipice. A
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1188 stone falling from the window would fall a thousand feet without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1189 touching anything! As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1190 tops, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm. Here and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1191 there are silver threads where the rivers wind in deep gorges through
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1192 the forests.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1193
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1194 But I am not in heart to describe beauty, for when I had seen the view I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1195 explored further; doors, doors, doors everywhere, and all locked and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1196 bolted. In no place save from the windows in the castle walls is there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1197 an available exit.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1198
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1199 The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1200
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1201
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1202
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1203
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1204 CHAPTER III
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1205
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1206 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL--_continued_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1207
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1208
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1209 When I found that I was a prisoner a sort of wild feeling came over me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1210 I rushed up and down the stairs, trying every door and peering out of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1211 every window I could find; but after a little the conviction of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1212 helplessness overpowered all other feelings. When I look back after a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1213 few hours I think I must have been mad for the time, for I behaved much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1214 as a rat does in a trap. When, however, the conviction had come to me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1215 that I was helpless I sat down quietly--as quietly as I have ever done
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1216 anything in my life--and began to think over what was best to be done. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1217 am thinking still, and as yet have come to no definite conclusion. Of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1218 one thing only am I certain; that it is no use making my ideas known to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1219 the Count. He knows well that I am imprisoned; and as he has done it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1220 himself, and has doubtless his own motives for it, he would only deceive
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1221 me if I trusted him fully with the facts. So far as I can see, my only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1222 plan will be to keep my knowledge and my fears to myself, and my eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1223 open. I am, I know, either being deceived, like a baby, by my own fears,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1224 or else I am in desperate straits; and if the latter be so, I need, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1225 shall need, all my brains to get through.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1226
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1227 I had hardly come to this conclusion when I heard the great door below
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1228 shut, and knew that the Count had returned. He did not come at once into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1229 the library, so I went cautiously to my own room and found him making
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1230 the bed. This was odd, but only confirmed what I had all along
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1231 thought--that there were no servants in the house. When later I saw him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1232 through the chink of the hinges of the door laying the table in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1233 dining-room, I was assured of it; for if he does himself all these
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1234 menial offices, surely it is proof that there is no one else to do them.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1235 This gave me a fright, for if there is no one else in the castle, it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1236 must have been the Count himself who was the driver of the coach that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1237 brought me here. This is a terrible thought; for if so, what does it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1238 mean that he could control the wolves, as he did, by only holding up his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1239 hand in silence. How was it that all the people at Bistritz and on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1240 coach had some terrible fear for me? What meant the giving of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1241 crucifix, of the garlic, of the wild rose, of the mountain ash? Bless
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1242 that good, good woman who hung the crucifix round my neck! for it is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1243 comfort and a strength to me whenever I touch it. It is odd that a thing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1244 which I have been taught to regard with disfavour and as idolatrous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1245 should in a time of loneliness and trouble be of help. Is it that there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1246 is something in the essence of the thing itself, or that it is a medium,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1247 a tangible help, in conveying memories of sympathy and comfort? Some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1248 time, if it may be, I must examine this matter and try to make up my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1249 mind about it. In the meantime I must find out all I can about Count
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1250 Dracula, as it may help me to understand. To-night he may talk of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1251 himself, if I turn the conversation that way. I must be very careful,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1252 however, not to awake his suspicion.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1253
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1254 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1255
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1256 _Midnight._--I have had a long talk with the Count. I asked him a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1257 questions on Transylvania history, and he warmed up to the subject
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1258 wonderfully. In his speaking of things and people, and especially of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1259 battles, he spoke as if he had been present at them all. This he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1260 afterwards explained by saying that to a _boyar_ the pride of his house
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1261 and name is his own pride, that their glory is his glory, that their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1262 fate is his fate. Whenever he spoke of his house he always said "we,"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1263 and spoke almost in the plural, like a king speaking. I wish I could put
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1264 down all he said exactly as he said it, for to me it was most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1265 fascinating. It seemed to have in it a whole history of the country. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1266 grew excited as he spoke, and walked about the room pulling his great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1267 white moustache and grasping anything on which he laid his hands as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1268 though he would crush it by main strength. One thing he said which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1269 shall put down as nearly as I can; for it tells in its way the story of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1270 his race:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1271
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1272 "We Szekelys have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1273 of many brave races who fought as the lion fights, for lordship. Here,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1274 in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1275 Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Wodin gave them, which their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1276 Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1277 and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1278 were-wolves themselves had come. Here, too, when they came, they found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1279 the Huns, whose warlike fury had swept the earth like a living flame,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1280 till the dying peoples held that in their veins ran the blood of those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1281 old witches, who, expelled from Scythia had mated with the devils in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1282 desert. Fools, fools! What devil or what witch was ever so great as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1283 Attila, whose blood is in these veins?" He held up his arms. "Is it a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1284 wonder that we were a conquering race; that we were proud; that when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1285 Magyar, the Lombard, the Avar, the Bulgar, or the Turk poured his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1286 thousands on our frontiers, we drove them back? Is it strange that when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1287 Arpad and his legions swept through the Hungarian fatherland he found us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1288 here when he reached the frontier; that the Honfoglalas was completed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1289 there? And when the Hungarian flood swept eastward, the Szekelys were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1290 claimed as kindred by the victorious Magyars, and to us for centuries
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1291 was trusted the guarding of the frontier of Turkey-land; ay, and more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1292 than that, endless duty of the frontier guard, for, as the Turks say,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1293 'water sleeps, and enemy is sleepless.' Who more gladly than we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1294 throughout the Four Nations received the 'bloody sword,' or at its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1295 warlike call flocked quicker to the standard of the King? When was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1296 redeemed that great shame of my nation, the shame of Cassova, when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1297 flags of the Wallach and the Magyar went down beneath the Crescent? Who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1298 was it but one of my own race who as Voivode crossed the Danube and beat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1299 the Turk on his own ground? This was a Dracula indeed! Woe was it that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1300 his own unworthy brother, when he had fallen, sold his people to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1301 Turk and brought the shame of slavery on them! Was it not this Dracula,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1302 indeed, who inspired that other of his race who in a later age again and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1303 again brought his forces over the great river into Turkey-land; who,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1304 when he was beaten back, came again, and again, and again, though he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1305 to come alone from the bloody field where his troops were being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1306 slaughtered, since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph! They
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1307 said that he thought only of himself. Bah! what good are peasants
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1308 without a leader? Where ends the war without a brain and heart to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1309 conduct it? Again, when, after the battle of Mohács, we threw off the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1310 Hungarian yoke, we of the Dracula blood were amongst their leaders, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1311 our spirit would not brook that we were not free. Ah, young sir, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1312 Szekelys--and the Dracula as their heart's blood, their brains, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1313 their swords--can boast a record that mushroom growths like the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1314 Hapsburgs and the Romanoffs can never reach. The warlike days are over.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1315 Blood is too precious a thing in these days of dishonourable peace; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1316 the glories of the great races are as a tale that is told."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1317
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1318 It was by this time close on morning, and we went to bed. (_Mem._, this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1319 diary seems horribly like the beginning of the "Arabian Nights," for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1320 everything has to break off at cockcrow--or like the ghost of Hamlet's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1321 father.)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1322
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1323 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1324
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1325 _12 May._--Let me begin with facts--bare, meagre facts, verified by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1326 books and figures, and of which there can be no doubt. I must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1327 confuse them with experiences which will have to rest on my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1328 observation, or my memory of them. Last evening when the Count came from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1329 his room he began by asking me questions on legal matters and on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1330 doing of certain kinds of business. I had spent the day wearily over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1331 books, and, simply to keep my mind occupied, went over some of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1332 matters I had been examined in at Lincoln's Inn. There was a certain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1333 method in the Count's inquiries, so I shall try to put them down in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1334 sequence; the knowledge may somehow or some time be useful to me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1335
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1336 First, he asked if a man in England might have two solicitors or more. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1337 told him he might have a dozen if he wished, but that it would not be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1338 wise to have more than one solicitor engaged in one transaction, as only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1339 one could act at a time, and that to change would be certain to militate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1340 against his interest. He seemed thoroughly to understand, and went on to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1341 ask if there would be any practical difficulty in having one man to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1342 attend, say, to banking, and another to look after shipping, in case
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1343 local help were needed in a place far from the home of the banking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1344 solicitor. I asked him to explain more fully, so that I might not by any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1345 chance mislead him, so he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1346
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1347 "I shall illustrate. Your friend and mine, Mr. Peter Hawkins, from under
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1348 the shadow of your beautiful cathedral at Exeter, which is far from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1349 London, buys for me through your good self my place at London. Good! Now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1350 here let me say frankly, lest you should think it strange that I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1351 sought the services of one so far off from London instead of some one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1352 resident there, that my motive was that no local interest might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1353 served save my wish only; and as one of London residence might, perhaps,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1354 have some purpose of himself or friend to serve, I went thus afield to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1355 seek my agent, whose labours should be only to my interest. Now, suppose
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1356 I, who have much of affairs, wish to ship goods, say, to Newcastle, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1357 Durham, or Harwich, or Dover, might it not be that it could with more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1358 ease be done by consigning to one in these ports?" I answered that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1359 certainly it would be most easy, but that we solicitors had a system of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1360 agency one for the other, so that local work could be done locally on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1361 instruction from any solicitor, so that the client, simply placing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1362 himself in the hands of one man, could have his wishes carried out by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1363 him without further trouble.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1364
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1365 "But," said he, "I could be at liberty to direct myself. Is it not so?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1366
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1367 "Of course," I replied; and "such is often done by men of business, who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1368 do not like the whole of their affairs to be known by any one person."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1369
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1370 "Good!" he said, and then went on to ask about the means of making
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1371 consignments and the forms to be gone through, and of all sorts of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1372 difficulties which might arise, but by forethought could be guarded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1373 against. I explained all these things to him to the best of my ability,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1374 and he certainly left me under the impression that he would have made a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1375 wonderful solicitor, for there was nothing that he did not think of or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1376 foresee. For a man who was never in the country, and who did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1377 evidently do much in the way of business, his knowledge and acumen were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1378 wonderful. When he had satisfied himself on these points of which he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1379 spoken, and I had verified all as well as I could by the books
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1380 available, he suddenly stood up and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1381
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1382 "Have you written since your first letter to our friend Mr. Peter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1383 Hawkins, or to any other?" It was with some bitterness in my heart that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1384 I answered that I had not, that as yet I had not seen any opportunity of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1385 sending letters to anybody.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1386
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1387 "Then write now, my young friend," he said, laying a heavy hand on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1388 shoulder: "write to our friend and to any other; and say, if it will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1389 please you, that you shall stay with me until a month from now."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1390
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1391 "Do you wish me to stay so long?" I asked, for my heart grew cold at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1392 thought.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1393
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1394 "I desire it much; nay, I will take no refusal. When your master,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1395 employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his behalf,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1396 it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted. I have not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1397 stinted. Is it not so?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1398
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1399 What could I do but bow acceptance? It was Mr. Hawkins's interest, not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1400 mine, and I had to think of him, not myself; and besides, while Count
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1401 Dracula was speaking, there was that in his eyes and in his bearing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1402 which made me remember that I was a prisoner, and that if I wished it I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1403 could have no choice. The Count saw his victory in my bow, and his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1404 mastery in the trouble of my face, for he began at once to use them, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1405 in his own smooth, resistless way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1406
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1407 "I pray you, my good young friend, that you will not discourse of things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1408 other than business in your letters. It will doubtless please your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1409 friends to know that you are well, and that you look forward to getting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1410 home to them. Is it not so?" As he spoke he handed me three sheets of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1411 note-paper and three envelopes. They were all of the thinnest foreign
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1412 post, and looking at them, then at him, and noticing his quiet smile,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1413 with the sharp, canine teeth lying over the red underlip, I understood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1414 as well as if he had spoken that I should be careful what I wrote, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1415 he would be able to read it. So I determined to write only formal notes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1416 now, but to write fully to Mr. Hawkins in secret, and also to Mina, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1417 to her I could write in shorthand, which would puzzle the Count, if he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1418 did see it. When I had written my two letters I sat quiet, reading a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1419 book whilst the Count wrote several notes, referring as he wrote them to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1420 some books on his table. Then he took up my two and placed them with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1421 own, and put by his writing materials, after which, the instant the door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1422 had closed behind him, I leaned over and looked at the letters, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1423 were face down on the table. I felt no compunction in doing so, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1424 under the circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1425 I could.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1426
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1427 One of the letters was directed to Samuel F. Billington, No. 7, The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1428 Crescent, Whitby, another to Herr Leutner, Varna; the third was to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1429 Coutts & Co., London, and the fourth to Herren Klopstock & Billreuth,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1430 bankers, Buda-Pesth. The second and fourth were unsealed. I was just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1431 about to look at them when I saw the door-handle move. I sank back in my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1432 seat, having just had time to replace the letters as they had been and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1433 to resume my book before the Count, holding still another letter in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1434 hand, entered the room. He took up the letters on the table and stamped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1435 them carefully, and then turning to me, said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1436
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1437 "I trust you will forgive me, but I have much work to do in private this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1438 evening. You will, I hope, find all things as you wish." At the door he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1439 turned, and after a moment's pause said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1440
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1441 "Let me advise you, my dear young friend--nay, let me warn you with all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1442 seriousness, that should you leave these rooms you will not by any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1443 chance go to sleep in any other part of the castle. It is old, and has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1444 many memories, and there are bad dreams for those who sleep unwisely. Be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1445 warned! Should sleep now or ever overcome you, or be like to do, then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1446 haste to your own chamber or to these rooms, for your rest will then be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1447 safe. But if you be not careful in this respect, then"--He finished his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1448 speech in a gruesome way, for he motioned with his hands as if he were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1449 washing them. I quite understood; my only doubt was as to whether any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1450 dream could be more terrible than the unnatural, horrible net of gloom
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1451 and mystery which seemed closing around me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1452
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1453 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1454
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1455 _Later._--I endorse the last words written, but this time there is no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1456 doubt in question. I shall not fear to sleep in any place where he is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1457 not. I have placed the crucifix over the head of my bed--I imagine that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1458 my rest is thus freer from dreams; and there it shall remain.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1459
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1460 When he left me I went to my room. After a little while, not hearing any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1461 sound, I came out and went up the stone stair to where I could look out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1462 towards the South. There was some sense of freedom in the vast expanse,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1463 inaccessible though it was to me, as compared with the narrow darkness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1464 of the courtyard. Looking out on this, I felt that I was indeed in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1465 prison, and I seemed to want a breath of fresh air, though it were of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1466 the night. I am beginning to feel this nocturnal existence tell on me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1467 It is destroying my nerve. I start at my own shadow, and am full of all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1468 sorts of horrible imaginings. God knows that there is ground for my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1469 terrible fear in this accursed place! I looked out over the beautiful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1470 expanse, bathed in soft yellow moonlight till it was almost as light as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1471 day. In the soft light the distant hills became melted, and the shadows
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1472 in the valleys and gorges of velvety blackness. The mere beauty seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1473 to cheer me; there was peace and comfort in every breath I drew. As I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1474 leaned from the window my eye was caught by something moving a storey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1475 below me, and somewhat to my left, where I imagined, from the order of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1476 the rooms, that the windows of the Count's own room would look out. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1477 window at which I stood was tall and deep, stone-mullioned, and though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1478 weatherworn, was still complete; but it was evidently many a day since
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1479 the case had been there. I drew back behind the stonework, and looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1480 carefully out.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1481
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1482 What I saw was the Count's head coming out from the window. I did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1483 see the face, but I knew the man by the neck and the movement of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1484 back and arms. In any case I could not mistake the hands which I had had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1485 so many opportunities of studying. I was at first interested and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1486 somewhat amused, for it is wonderful how small a matter will interest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1487 and amuse a man when he is a prisoner. But my very feelings changed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1488 repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1489 window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1490 _face down_ with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings. At
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1491 first I could not believe my eyes. I thought it was some trick of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1492 moonlight, some weird effect of shadow; but I kept looking, and it could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1493 be no delusion. I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1494 stones, worn clear of the mortar by the stress of years, and by thus
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1495 using every projection and inequality move downwards with considerable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1496 speed, just as a lizard moves along a wall.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1497
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1498 What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is it in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1499 semblance of man? I feel the dread of this horrible place overpowering
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1500 me; I am in fear--in awful fear--and there is no escape for me; I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1501 encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1502
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1503 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1504
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1505 _15 May._--Once more have I seen the Count go out in his lizard fashion.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1506 He moved downwards in a sidelong way, some hundred feet down, and a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1507 deal to the left. He vanished into some hole or window. When his head
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1508 had disappeared, I leaned out to try and see more, but without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1509 avail--the distance was too great to allow a proper angle of sight. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1510 knew he had left the castle now, and thought to use the opportunity to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1511 explore more than I had dared to do as yet. I went back to the room, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1512 taking a lamp, tried all the doors. They were all locked, as I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1513 expected, and the locks were comparatively new; but I went down the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1514 stone stairs to the hall where I had entered originally. I found I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1515 pull back the bolts easily enough and unhook the great chains; but the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1516 door was locked, and the key was gone! That key must be in the Count's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1517 room; I must watch should his door be unlocked, so that I may get it and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1518 escape. I went on to make a thorough examination of the various stairs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1519 and passages, and to try the doors that opened from them. One or two
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1520 small rooms near the hall were open, but there was nothing to see in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1521 them except old furniture, dusty with age and moth-eaten. At last,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1522 however, I found one door at the top of the stairway which, though it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1523 seemed to be locked, gave a little under pressure. I tried it harder,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1524 and found that it was not really locked, but that the resistance came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1525 from the fact that the hinges had fallen somewhat, and the heavy door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1526 rested on the floor. Here was an opportunity which I might not have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1527 again, so I exerted myself, and with many efforts forced it back so that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1528 I could enter. I was now in a wing of the castle further to the right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1529 than the rooms I knew and a storey lower down. From the windows I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1530 see that the suite of rooms lay along to the south of the castle, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1531 windows of the end room looking out both west and south. On the latter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1532 side, as well as to the former, there was a great precipice. The castle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1533 was built on the corner of a great rock, so that on three sides it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1534 quite impregnable, and great windows were placed here where sling, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1535 bow, or culverin could not reach, and consequently light and comfort,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1536 impossible to a position which had to be guarded, were secured. To the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1537 west was a great valley, and then, rising far away, great jagged
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1538 mountain fastnesses, rising peak on peak, the sheer rock studded with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1539 mountain ash and thorn, whose roots clung in cracks and crevices and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1540 crannies of the stone. This was evidently the portion of the castle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1541 occupied by the ladies in bygone days, for the furniture had more air of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1542 comfort than any I had seen. The windows were curtainless, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1543 yellow moonlight, flooding in through the diamond panes, enabled one to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1544 see even colours, whilst it softened the wealth of dust which lay over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1545 all and disguised in some measure the ravages of time and the moth. My
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1546 lamp seemed to be of little effect in the brilliant moonlight, but I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1547 glad to have it with me, for there was a dread loneliness in the place
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1548 which chilled my heart and made my nerves tremble. Still, it was better
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1549 than living alone in the rooms which I had come to hate from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1550 presence of the Count, and after trying a little to school my nerves, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1551 found a soft quietude come over me. Here I am, sitting at a little oak
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1552 table where in old times possibly some fair lady sat to pen, with much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1553 thought and many blushes, her ill-spelt love-letter, and writing in my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1554 diary in shorthand all that has happened since I closed it last. It is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1555 nineteenth century up-to-date with a vengeance. And yet, unless my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1556 senses deceive me, the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1557 which mere "modernity" cannot kill.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1558
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1559 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1560
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1561 _Later: the Morning of 16 May._--God preserve my sanity, for to this I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1562 am reduced. Safety and the assurance of safety are things of the past.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1563 Whilst I live on here there is but one thing to hope for, that I may not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1564 go mad, if, indeed, I be not mad already. If I be sane, then surely it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1565 is maddening to think that of all the foul things that lurk in this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1566 hateful place the Count is the least dreadful to me; that to him alone I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1567 can look for safety, even though this be only whilst I can serve his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1568 purpose. Great God! merciful God! Let me be calm, for out of that way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1569 lies madness indeed. I begin to get new lights on certain things which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1570 have puzzled me. Up to now I never quite knew what Shakespeare meant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1571 when he made Hamlet say:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1572
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1573 "My tablets! quick, my tablets!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1574 'Tis meet that I put it down," etc.,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1575
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1576 for now, feeling as though my own brain were unhinged or as if the shock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1577 had come which must end in its undoing, I turn to my diary for repose.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1578 The habit of entering accurately must help to soothe me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1579
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1580 The Count's mysterious warning frightened me at the time; it frightens
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1581 me more now when I think of it, for in future he has a fearful hold upon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1582 me. I shall fear to doubt what he may say!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1583
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1584 When I had written in my diary and had fortunately replaced the book and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1585 pen in my pocket I felt sleepy. The Count's warning came into my mind,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1586 but I took a pleasure in disobeying it. The sense of sleep was upon me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1587 and with it the obstinacy which sleep brings as outrider. The soft
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1588 moonlight soothed, and the wide expanse without gave a sense of freedom
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1589 which refreshed me. I determined not to return to-night to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1590 gloom-haunted rooms, but to sleep here, where, of old, ladies had sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1591 and sung and lived sweet lives whilst their gentle breasts were sad for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1592 their menfolk away in the midst of remorseless wars. I drew a great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1593 couch out of its place near the corner, so that as I lay, I could look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1594 at the lovely view to east and south, and unthinking of and uncaring for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1595 the dust, composed myself for sleep. I suppose I must have fallen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1596 asleep; I hope so, but I fear, for all that followed was startlingly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1597 real--so real that now sitting here in the broad, full sunlight of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1598 morning, I cannot in the least believe that it was all sleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1599
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1600 I was not alone. The room was the same, unchanged in any way since I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1601 came into it; I could see along the floor, in the brilliant moonlight,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1602 my own footsteps marked where I had disturbed the long accumulation of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1603 dust. In the moonlight opposite me were three young women, ladies by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1604 their dress and manner. I thought at the time that I must be dreaming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1605 when I saw them, for, though the moonlight was behind them, they threw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1606 no shadow on the floor. They came close to me, and looked at me for some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1607 time, and then whispered together. Two were dark, and had high aquiline
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1608 noses, like the Count, and great dark, piercing eyes that seemed to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1609 almost red when contrasted with the pale yellow moon. The other was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1610 fair, as fair as can be, with great wavy masses of golden hair and eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1611 like pale sapphires. I seemed somehow to know her face, and to know it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1612 in connection with some dreamy fear, but I could not recollect at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1613 moment how or where. All three had brilliant white teeth that shone like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1614 pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips. There was something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1615 about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1616 deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked, burning desire that they would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1617 kiss me with those red lips. It is not good to note this down, lest some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1618 day it should meet Mina's eyes and cause her pain; but it is the truth.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1619 They whispered together, and then they all three laughed--such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1620 silvery, musical laugh, but as hard as though the sound never could have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1621 come through the softness of human lips. It was like the intolerable,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1622 tingling sweetness of water-glasses when played on by a cunning hand.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1623 The fair girl shook her head coquettishly, and the other two urged her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1624 on. One said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1625
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1626 "Go on! You are first, and we shall follow; yours is the right to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1627 begin." The other added:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1628
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1629 "He is young and strong; there are kisses for us all." I lay quiet,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1630 looking out under my eyelashes in an agony of delightful anticipation.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1631 The fair girl advanced and bent over me till I could feel the movement
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1632 of her breath upon me. Sweet it was in one sense, honey-sweet, and sent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1633 the same tingling through the nerves as her voice, but with a bitter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1634 underlying the sweet, a bitter offensiveness, as one smells in blood.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1635
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1636 I was afraid to raise my eyelids, but looked out and saw perfectly under
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1637 the lashes. The girl went on her knees, and bent over me, simply
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1638 gloating. There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1639 and repulsive, and as she arched her neck she actually licked her lips
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1640 like an animal, till I could see in the moonlight the moisture shining
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1641 on the scarlet lips and on the red tongue as it lapped the white sharp
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1642 teeth. Lower and lower went her head as the lips went below the range of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1643 my mouth and chin and seemed about to fasten on my throat. Then she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1644 paused, and I could hear the churning sound of her tongue as it licked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1645 her teeth and lips, and could feel the hot breath on my neck. Then the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1646 skin of my throat began to tingle as one's flesh does when the hand that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1647 is to tickle it approaches nearer--nearer. I could feel the soft,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1648 shivering touch of the lips on the super-sensitive skin of my throat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1649 and the hard dents of two sharp teeth, just touching and pausing there.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1650 I closed my eyes in a languorous ecstasy and waited--waited with beating
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1651 heart.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1652
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1653 But at that instant, another sensation swept through me as quick as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1654 lightning. I was conscious of the presence of the Count, and of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1655 being as if lapped in a storm of fury. As my eyes opened involuntarily I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1656 saw his strong hand grasp the slender neck of the fair woman and with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1657 giant's power draw it back, the blue eyes transformed with fury, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1658 white teeth champing with rage, and the fair cheeks blazing red with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1659 passion. But the Count! Never did I imagine such wrath and fury, even to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1660 the demons of the pit. His eyes were positively blazing. The red light
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1661 in them was lurid, as if the flames of hell-fire blazed behind them. His
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1662 face was deathly pale, and the lines of it were hard like drawn wires;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1663 the thick eyebrows that met over the nose now seemed like a heaving bar
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1664 of white-hot metal. With a fierce sweep of his arm, he hurled the woman
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1665 from him, and then motioned to the others, as though he were beating
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1666 them back; it was the same imperious gesture that I had seen used to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1667 wolves. In a voice which, though low and almost in a whisper seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1668 cut through the air and then ring round the room he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1669
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1670 "How dare you touch him, any of you? How dare you cast eyes on him when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1671 I had forbidden it? Back, I tell you all! This man belongs to me! Beware
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1672 how you meddle with him, or you'll have to deal with me." The fair girl,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1673 with a laugh of ribald coquetry, turned to answer him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1674
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1675 "You yourself never loved; you never love!" On this the other women
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1676 joined, and such a mirthless, hard, soulless laughter rang through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1677 room that it almost made me faint to hear; it seemed like the pleasure
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1678 of fiends. Then the Count turned, after looking at my face attentively,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1679 and said in a soft whisper:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1680
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1681 "Yes, I too can love; you yourselves can tell it from the past. Is it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1682 not so? Well, now I promise you that when I am done with him you shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1683 kiss him at your will. Now go! go! I must awaken him, for there is work
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1684 to be done."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1685
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1686 "Are we to have nothing to-night?" said one of them, with a low laugh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1687 as she pointed to the bag which he had thrown upon the floor, and which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1688 moved as though there were some living thing within it. For answer he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1689 nodded his head. One of the women jumped forward and opened it. If my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1690 ears did not deceive me there was a gasp and a low wail, as of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1691 half-smothered child. The women closed round, whilst I was aghast with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1692 horror; but as I looked they disappeared, and with them the dreadful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1693 bag. There was no door near them, and they could not have passed me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1694 without my noticing. They simply seemed to fade into the rays of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1695 moonlight and pass out through the window, for I could see outside the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1696 dim, shadowy forms for a moment before they entirely faded away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1697
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1698 Then the horror overcame me, and I sank down unconscious.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1699
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1700
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1701
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1702
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1703 CHAPTER IV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1704
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1705 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL--_continued_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1706
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1707
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1708 I awoke in my own bed. If it be that I had not dreamt, the Count must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1709 have carried me here. I tried to satisfy myself on the subject, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1710 could not arrive at any unquestionable result. To be sure, there were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1711 certain small evidences, such as that my clothes were folded and laid by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1712 in a manner which was not my habit. My watch was still unwound, and I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1713 rigorously accustomed to wind it the last thing before going to bed, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1714 many such details. But these things are no proof, for they may have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1715 evidences that my mind was not as usual, and, from some cause or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1716 another, I had certainly been much upset. I must watch for proof. Of one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1717 thing I am glad: if it was that the Count carried me here and undressed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1718 me, he must have been hurried in his task, for my pockets are intact. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1719 am sure this diary would have been a mystery to him which he would not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1720 have brooked. He would have taken or destroyed it. As I look round this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1721 room, although it has been to me so full of fear, it is now a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1722 sanctuary, for nothing can be more dreadful than those awful women, who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1723 were--who _are_--waiting to suck my blood.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1724
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1725 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1726
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1727 _18 May._--I have been down to look at that room again in daylight, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1728 I _must_ know the truth. When I got to the doorway at the top of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1729 stairs I found it closed. It had been so forcibly driven against the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1730 jamb that part of the woodwork was splintered. I could see that the bolt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1731 of the lock had not been shot, but the door is fastened from the inside.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1732 I fear it was no dream, and must act on this surmise.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1733
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1734 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1735
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1736 _19 May._--I am surely in the toils. Last night the Count asked me in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1737 the suavest tones to write three letters, one saying that my work here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1738 was nearly done, and that I should start for home within a few days,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1739 another that I was starting on the next morning from the time of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1740 letter, and the third that I had left the castle and arrived at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1741 Bistritz. I would fain have rebelled, but felt that in the present state
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1742 of things it would be madness to quarrel openly with the Count whilst I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1743 am so absolutely in his power; and to refuse would be to excite his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1744 suspicion and to arouse his anger. He knows that I know too much, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1745 that I must not live, lest I be dangerous to him; my only chance is to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1746 prolong my opportunities. Something may occur which will give me a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1747 chance to escape. I saw in his eyes something of that gathering wrath
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1748 which was manifest when he hurled that fair woman from him. He explained
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1749 to me that posts were few and uncertain, and that my writing now would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1750 ensure ease of mind to my friends; and he assured me with so much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1751 impressiveness that he would countermand the later letters, which would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1752 be held over at Bistritz until due time in case chance would admit of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1753 prolonging my stay, that to oppose him would have been to create new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1754 suspicion. I therefore pretended to fall in with his views, and asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1755 him what dates I should put on the letters. He calculated a minute, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1756 then said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1757
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1758 "The first should be June 12, the second June 19, and the third June
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1759 29."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1760
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1761 I know now the span of my life. God help me!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1762
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1763 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1764
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1765 _28 May._--There is a chance of escape, or at any rate of being able to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1766 send word home. A band of Szgany have come to the castle, and are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1767 encamped in the courtyard. These Szgany are gipsies; I have notes of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1768 them in my book. They are peculiar to this part of the world, though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1769 allied to the ordinary gipsies all the world over. There are thousands
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1770 of them in Hungary and Transylvania, who are almost outside all law.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1771 They attach themselves as a rule to some great noble or _boyar_, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1772 call themselves by his name. They are fearless and without religion,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1773 save superstition, and they talk only their own varieties of the Romany
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1774 tongue.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1775
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1776 I shall write some letters home, and shall try to get them to have them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1777 posted. I have already spoken them through my window to begin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1778 acquaintanceship. They took their hats off and made obeisance and many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1779 signs, which, however, I could not understand any more than I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1780 their spoken language....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1781
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1782 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1783
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1784 I have written the letters. Mina's is in shorthand, and I simply ask Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1785 Hawkins to communicate with her. To her I have explained my situation,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1786 but without the horrors which I may only surmise. It would shock and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1787 frighten her to death were I to expose my heart to her. Should the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1788 letters not carry, then the Count shall not yet know my secret or the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1789 extent of my knowledge....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1790
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1791 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1792
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1793 I have given the letters; I threw them through the bars of my window
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1794 with a gold piece, and made what signs I could to have them posted. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1795 man who took them pressed them to his heart and bowed, and then put them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1796 in his cap. I could do no more. I stole back to the study, and began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1797 read. As the Count did not come in, I have written here....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1798
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1799 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1800
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1801 The Count has come. He sat down beside me, and said in his smoothest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1802 voice as he opened two letters:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1803
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1804 "The Szgany has given me these, of which, though I know not whence they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1805 come, I shall, of course, take care. See!"--he must have looked at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1806 it--"one is from you, and to my friend Peter Hawkins; the other"--here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1807 he caught sight of the strange symbols as he opened the envelope, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1808 the dark look came into his face, and his eyes blazed wickedly--"the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1809 other is a vile thing, an outrage upon friendship and hospitality! It is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1810 not signed. Well! so it cannot matter to us." And he calmly held letter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1811 and envelope in the flame of the lamp till they were consumed. Then he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1812 went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1813
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1814 "The letter to Hawkins--that I shall, of course, send on, since it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1815 yours. Your letters are sacred to me. Your pardon, my friend, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1816 unknowingly I did break the seal. Will you not cover it again?" He held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1817 out the letter to me, and with a courteous bow handed me a clean
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1818 envelope. I could only redirect it and hand it to him in silence. When
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1819 he went out of the room I could hear the key turn softly. A minute later
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1820 I went over and tried it, and the door was locked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1821
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1822 When, an hour or two after, the Count came quietly into the room, his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1823 coming awakened me, for I had gone to sleep on the sofa. He was very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1824 courteous and very cheery in his manner, and seeing that I had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1825 sleeping, he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1826
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1827 "So, my friend, you are tired? Get to bed. There is the surest rest. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1828 may not have the pleasure to talk to-night, since there are many labours
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1829 to me; but you will sleep, I pray." I passed to my room and went to bed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1830 and, strange to say, slept without dreaming. Despair has its own calms.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1831
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1832 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1833
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1834 _31 May._--This morning when I woke I thought I would provide myself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1835 with some paper and envelopes from my bag and keep them in my pocket, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1836 that I might write in case I should get an opportunity, but again a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1837 surprise, again a shock!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1838
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1839 Every scrap of paper was gone, and with it all my notes, my memoranda,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1840 relating to railways and travel, my letter of credit, in fact all that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1841 might be useful to me were I once outside the castle. I sat and pondered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1842 awhile, and then some thought occurred to me, and I made search of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1843 portmanteau and in the wardrobe where I had placed my clothes.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1844
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1845 The suit in which I had travelled was gone, and also my overcoat and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1846 rug; I could find no trace of them anywhere. This looked like some new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1847 scheme of villainy....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1849 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1850
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1851 _17 June._--This morning, as I was sitting on the edge of my bed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1852 cudgelling my brains, I heard without a cracking of whips and pounding
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1853 and scraping of horses' feet up the rocky path beyond the courtyard.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1854 With joy I hurried to the window, and saw drive into the yard two great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1855 leiter-wagons, each drawn by eight sturdy horses, and at the head of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1856 each pair a Slovak, with his wide hat, great nail-studded belt, dirty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1857 sheepskin, and high boots. They had also their long staves in hand. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1858 ran to the door, intending to descend and try and join them through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1859 main hall, as I thought that way might be opened for them. Again a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1860 shock: my door was fastened on the outside.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1861
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1862 Then I ran to the window and cried to them. They looked up at me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1863 stupidly and pointed, but just then the "hetman" of the Szgany came out,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1864 and seeing them pointing to my window, said something, at which they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1865 laughed. Henceforth no effort of mine, no piteous cry or agonised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1866 entreaty, would make them even look at me. They resolutely turned away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1867 The leiter-wagons contained great, square boxes, with handles of thick
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1868 rope; these were evidently empty by the ease with which the Slovaks
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1869 handled them, and by their resonance as they were roughly moved. When
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1870 they were all unloaded and packed in a great heap in one corner of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1871 yard, the Slovaks were given some money by the Szgany, and spitting on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1872 it for luck, lazily went each to his horse's head. Shortly afterwards, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1873 heard the cracking of their whips die away in the distance.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1874
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1875 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1876
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1877 _24 June, before morning._--Last night the Count left me early, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1878 locked himself into his own room. As soon as I dared I ran up the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1879 winding stair, and looked out of the window, which opened south. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1880 thought I would watch for the Count, for there is something going on.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1881 The Szgany are quartered somewhere in the castle and are doing work of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1882 some kind. I know it, for now and then I hear a far-away muffled sound
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1883 as of mattock and spade, and, whatever it is, it must be the end of some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1884 ruthless villainy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1885
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1886 I had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour, when I saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1887 something coming out of the Count's window. I drew back and watched
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1888 carefully, and saw the whole man emerge. It was a new shock to me to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1889 find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1890 travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1891 had seen the women take away. There could be no doubt as to his quest,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1892 and in my garb, too! This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1893 allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1894 evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1895 letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1896 people be attributed to me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1897
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1898 It makes me rage to think that this can go on, and whilst I am shut up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1899 here, a veritable prisoner, but without that protection of the law which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1900 is even a criminal's right and consolation.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1901
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1902 I thought I would watch for the Count's return, and for a long time sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1903 doggedly at the window. Then I began to notice that there were some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1904 quaint little specks floating in the rays of the moonlight. They were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1905 like the tiniest grains of dust, and they whirled round and gathered in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1906 clusters in a nebulous sort of way. I watched them with a sense of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1907 soothing, and a sort of calm stole over me. I leaned back in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1908 embrasure in a more comfortable position, so that I could enjoy more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1909 fully the aërial gambolling.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1910
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1911 Something made me start up, a low, piteous howling of dogs somewhere far
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1912 below in the valley, which was hidden from my sight. Louder it seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1913 ring in my ears, and the floating motes of dust to take new shapes to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1914 the sound as they danced in the moonlight. I felt myself struggling to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1915 awake to some call of my instincts; nay, my very soul was struggling,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1916 and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to answer the call. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1917 was becoming hypnotised! Quicker and quicker danced the dust; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1918 moonbeams seemed to quiver as they went by me into the mass of gloom
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1919 beyond. More and more they gathered till they seemed to take dim phantom
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1920 shapes. And then I started, broad awake and in full possession of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1921 senses, and ran screaming from the place. The phantom shapes, which were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1922 becoming gradually materialised from the moonbeams, were those of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1923 three ghostly women to whom I was doomed. I fled, and felt somewhat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1924 safer in my own room, where there was no moonlight and where the lamp
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1925 was burning brightly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1926
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1927 When a couple of hours had passed I heard something stirring in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1928 Count's room, something like a sharp wail quickly suppressed; and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1929 there was silence, deep, awful silence, which chilled me. With a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1930 beating heart, I tried the door; but I was locked in my prison, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1931 could do nothing. I sat down and simply cried.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1932
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1933 As I sat I heard a sound in the courtyard without--the agonised cry of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1934 woman. I rushed to the window, and throwing it up, peered out between
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1935 the bars. There, indeed, was a woman with dishevelled hair, holding her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1936 hands over her heart as one distressed with running. She was leaning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1937 against a corner of the gateway. When she saw my face at the window she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1938 threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1939
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1940 "Monster, give me my child!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1941
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1942 She threw herself on her knees, and raising up her hands, cried the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1943 words in tones which wrung my heart. Then she tore her hair and beat her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1944 breast, and abandoned herself to all the violences of extravagant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1945 emotion. Finally, she threw herself forward, and, though I could not see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1946 her, I could hear the beating of her naked hands against the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1947
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1948 Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1949 Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1950 answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves. Before many minutes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1951 had passed a pack of them poured, like a pent-up dam when liberated,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1952 through the wide entrance into the courtyard.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1953
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1954 There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1955 short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1956
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1957 I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1958 she was better dead.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1959
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1960 What shall I do? what can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1961 thing of night and gloom and fear?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1962
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1963 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1964
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1965 _25 June, morning._--No man knows till he has suffered from the night
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1966 how sweet and how dear to his heart and eye the morning can be. When the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1967 sun grew so high this morning that it struck the top of the great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1968 gateway opposite my window, the high spot which it touched seemed to me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1969 as if the dove from the ark had lighted there. My fear fell from me as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1970 if it had been a vaporous garment which dissolved in the warmth. I must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1971 take action of some sort whilst the courage of the day is upon me. Last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1972 night one of my post-dated letters went to post, the first of that fatal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1973 series which is to blot out the very traces of my existence from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1974 earth.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1975
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1976 Let me not think of it. Action!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1977
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1978 It has always been at night-time that I have been molested or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1979 threatened, or in some way in danger or in fear. I have not yet seen the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1980 Count in the daylight. Can it be that he sleeps when others wake, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1981 he may be awake whilst they sleep? If I could only get into his room!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1982 But there is no possible way. The door is always locked, no way for me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1983
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1984 Yes, there is a way, if one dares to take it. Where his body has gone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1985 why may not another body go? I have seen him myself crawl from his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1986 window. Why should not I imitate him, and go in by his window? The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1987 chances are desperate, but my need is more desperate still. I shall risk
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1988 it. At the worst it can only be death; and a man's death is not a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1989 calf's, and the dreaded Hereafter may still be open to me. God help me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1990 in my task! Good-bye, Mina, if I fail; good-bye, my faithful friend and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1991 second father; good-bye, all, and last of all Mina!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1992
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1993 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1994
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1995 _Same day, later._--I have made the effort, and God, helping me, have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1996 come safely back to this room. I must put down every detail in order. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1997 went whilst my courage was fresh straight to the window on the south
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1998 side, and at once got outside on the narrow ledge of stone which runs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 1999 around the building on this side. The stones are big and roughly cut,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2000 and the mortar has by process of time been washed away between them. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2001 took off my boots, and ventured out on the desperate way. I looked down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2002 once, so as to make sure that a sudden glimpse of the awful depth would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2003 not overcome me, but after that kept my eyes away from it. I knew pretty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2004 well the direction and distance of the Count's window, and made for it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2005 as well as I could, having regard to the opportunities available. I did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2006 not feel dizzy--I suppose I was too excited--and the time seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2007 ridiculously short till I found myself standing on the window-sill and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2008 trying to raise up the sash. I was filled with agitation, however, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2009 I bent down and slid feet foremost in through the window. Then I looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2010 around for the Count, but, with surprise and gladness, made a discovery.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2011 The room was empty! It was barely furnished with odd things, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2012 seemed to have never been used; the furniture was something the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2013 style as that in the south rooms, and was covered with dust. I looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2014 for the key, but it was not in the lock, and I could not find it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2015 anywhere. The only thing I found was a great heap of gold in one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2016 corner--gold of all kinds, Roman, and British, and Austrian, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2017 Hungarian, and Greek and Turkish money, covered with a film of dust, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2018 though it had lain long in the ground. None of it that I noticed was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2019 less than three hundred years old. There were also chains and ornaments,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2020 some jewelled, but all of them old and stained.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2022 At one corner of the room was a heavy door. I tried it, for, since I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2023 could not find the key of the room or the key of the outer door, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2024 was the main object of my search, I must make further examination, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2025 all my efforts would be in vain. It was open, and led through a stone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2026 passage to a circular stairway, which went steeply down. I descended,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2027 minding carefully where I went, for the stairs were dark, being only lit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2028 by loopholes in the heavy masonry. At the bottom there was a dark,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2029 tunnel-like passage, through which came a deathly, sickly odour, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2030 odour of old earth newly turned. As I went through the passage the smell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2031 grew closer and heavier. At last I pulled open a heavy door which stood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2032 ajar, and found myself in an old, ruined chapel, which had evidently
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2033 been used as a graveyard. The roof was broken, and in two places were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2034 steps leading to vaults, but the ground had recently been dug over, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2035 the earth placed in great wooden boxes, manifestly those which had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2036 brought by the Slovaks. There was nobody about, and I made search for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2037 any further outlet, but there was none. Then I went over every inch of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2038 the ground, so as not to lose a chance. I went down even into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2039 vaults, where the dim light struggled, although to do so was a dread to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2040 my very soul. Into two of these I went, but saw nothing except fragments
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2041 of old coffins and piles of dust; in the third, however, I made a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2042 discovery.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2043
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2044 There, in one of the great boxes, of which there were fifty in all, on a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2045 pile of newly dug earth, lay the Count! He was either dead or asleep, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2046 could not say which--for the eyes were open and stony, but without the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2047 glassiness of death--and the cheeks had the warmth of life through all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2048 their pallor; the lips were as red as ever. But there was no sign of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2049 movement, no pulse, no breath, no beating of the heart. I bent over him,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2050 and tried to find any sign of life, but in vain. He could not have lain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2051 there long, for the earthy smell would have passed away in a few hours.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2052 By the side of the box was its cover, pierced with holes here and there.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2053 I thought he might have the keys on him, but when I went to search I saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2054 the dead eyes, and in them, dead though they were, such a look of hate,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2055 though unconscious of me or my presence, that I fled from the place, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2056 leaving the Count's room by the window, crawled again up the castle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2057 wall. Regaining my room, I threw myself panting upon the bed and tried
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2058 to think....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2059
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2060 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2061
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2062 _29 June._--To-day is the date of my last letter, and the Count has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2063 taken steps to prove that it was genuine, for again I saw him leave the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2064 castle by the same window, and in my clothes. As he went down the wall,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2065 lizard fashion, I wished I had a gun or some lethal weapon, that I might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2066 destroy him; but I fear that no weapon wrought alone by man's hand would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2067 have any effect on him. I dared not wait to see him return, for I feared
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2068 to see those weird sisters. I came back to the library, and read there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2069 till I fell asleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2070
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2071 I was awakened by the Count, who looked at me as grimly as a man can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2072 look as he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2073
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2074 "To-morrow, my friend, we must part. You return to your beautiful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2075 England, I to some work which may have such an end that we may never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2076 meet. Your letter home has been despatched; to-morrow I shall not be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2077 here, but all shall be ready for your journey. In the morning come the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2078 Szgany, who have some labours of their own here, and also come some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2079 Slovaks. When they have gone, my carriage shall come for you, and shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2080 bear you to the Borgo Pass to meet the diligence from Bukovina to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2081 Bistritz. But I am in hopes that I shall see more of you at Castle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2082 Dracula." I suspected him, and determined to test his sincerity.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2083 Sincerity! It seems like a profanation of the word to write it in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2084 connection with such a monster, so asked him point-blank:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2085
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2086 "Why may I not go to-night?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2087
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2088 "Because, dear sir, my coachman and horses are away on a mission."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2089
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2090 "But I would walk with pleasure. I want to get away at once." He smiled,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2091 such a soft, smooth, diabolical smile that I knew there was some trick
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2092 behind his smoothness. He said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2093
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2094 "And your baggage?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2095
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2096 "I do not care about it. I can send for it some other time."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2097
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2098 The Count stood up, and said, with a sweet courtesy which made me rub my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2099 eyes, it seemed so real:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2100
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2101 "You English have a saying which is close to my heart, for its spirit is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2102 that which rules our _boyars_: 'Welcome the coming; speed the parting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2103 guest.' Come with me, my dear young friend. Not an hour shall you wait
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2104 in my house against your will, though sad am I at your going, and that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2105 you so suddenly desire it. Come!" With a stately gravity, he, with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2106 lamp, preceded me down the stairs and along the hall. Suddenly he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2107 stopped.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2108
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2109 "Hark!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2110
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2111 Close at hand came the howling of many wolves. It was almost as if the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2112 sound sprang up at the rising of his hand, just as the music of a great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2113 orchestra seems to leap under the bâton of the conductor. After a pause
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2114 of a moment, he proceeded, in his stately way, to the door, drew back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2115 the ponderous bolts, unhooked the heavy chains, and began to draw it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2116 open.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2117
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2118 To my intense astonishment I saw that it was unlocked. Suspiciously, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2119 looked all round, but could see no key of any kind.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2120
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2121 As the door began to open, the howling of the wolves without grew louder
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2122 and angrier; their red jaws, with champing teeth, and their blunt-clawed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2123 feet as they leaped, came in through the opening door. I knew then that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2124 to struggle at the moment against the Count was useless. With such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2125 allies as these at his command, I could do nothing. But still the door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2126 continued slowly to open, and only the Count's body stood in the gap.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2127 Suddenly it struck me that this might be the moment and means of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2128 doom; I was to be given to the wolves, and at my own instigation. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2129 was a diabolical wickedness in the idea great enough for the Count, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2130 as a last chance I cried out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2132 "Shut the door; I shall wait till morning!" and covered my face with my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2133 hands to hide my tears of bitter disappointment. With one sweep of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2134 powerful arm, the Count threw the door shut, and the great bolts clanged
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2135 and echoed through the hall as they shot back into their places.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2136
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2137 In silence we returned to the library, and after a minute or two I went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2138 to my own room. The last I saw of Count Dracula was his kissing his hand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2139 to me; with a red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2140 Judas in hell might be proud of.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2141
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2142 When I was in my room and about to lie down, I thought I heard a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2143 whispering at my door. I went to it softly and listened. Unless my ears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2144 deceived me, I heard the voice of the Count:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2145
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2146 "Back, back, to your own place! Your time is not yet come. Wait! Have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2147 patience! To-night is mine. To-morrow night is yours!" There was a low,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2148 sweet ripple of laughter, and in a rage I threw open the door, and saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2149 without the three terrible women licking their lips. As I appeared they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2150 all joined in a horrible laugh, and ran away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2151
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2152 I came back to my room and threw myself on my knees. It is then so near
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2153 the end? To-morrow! to-morrow! Lord, help me, and those to whom I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2154 dear!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2155
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2156 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2157
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2158 _30 June, morning._--These may be the last words I ever write in this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2159 diary. I slept till just before the dawn, and when I woke threw myself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2160 on my knees, for I determined that if Death came he should find me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2161 ready.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2162
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2163 At last I felt that subtle change in the air, and knew that the morning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2164 had come. Then came the welcome cock-crow, and I felt that I was safe.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2165 With a glad heart, I opened my door and ran down to the hall. I had seen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2166 that the door was unlocked, and now escape was before me. With hands
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2167 that trembled with eagerness, I unhooked the chains and drew back the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2168 massive bolts.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2169
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2170 But the door would not move. Despair seized me. I pulled, and pulled, at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2171 the door, and shook it till, massive as it was, it rattled in its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2172 casement. I could see the bolt shot. It had been locked after I left the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2173 Count.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2174
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2175 Then a wild desire took me to obtain that key at any risk, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2176 determined then and there to scale the wall again and gain the Count's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2177 room. He might kill me, but death now seemed the happier choice of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2178 evils. Without a pause I rushed up to the east window, and scrambled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2179 down the wall, as before, into the Count's room. It was empty, but that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2180 was as I expected. I could not see a key anywhere, but the heap of gold
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2181 remained. I went through the door in the corner and down the winding
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2182 stair and along the dark passage to the old chapel. I knew now well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2183 enough where to find the monster I sought.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2184
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2185 The great box was in the same place, close against the wall, but the lid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2186 was laid on it, not fastened down, but with the nails ready in their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2187 places to be hammered home. I knew I must reach the body for the key, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2188 I raised the lid, and laid it back against the wall; and then I saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2189 something which filled my very soul with horror. There lay the Count,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2190 but looking as if his youth had been half renewed, for the white hair
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2191 and moustache were changed to dark iron-grey; the cheeks were fuller,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2192 and the white skin seemed ruby-red underneath; the mouth was redder than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2193 ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2194 corners of the mouth and ran over the chin and neck. Even the deep,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2195 burning eyes seemed set amongst swollen flesh, for the lids and pouches
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2196 underneath were bloated. It seemed as if the whole awful creature were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2197 simply gorged with blood. He lay like a filthy leech, exhausted with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2198 repletion. I shuddered as I bent over to touch him, and every sense in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2199 me revolted at the contact; but I had to search, or I was lost. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2200 coming night might see my own body a banquet in a similar way to those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2201 horrid three. I felt all over the body, but no sign could I find of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2202 key. Then I stopped and looked at the Count. There was a mocking smile
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2203 on the bloated face which seemed to drive me mad. This was the being I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2204 was helping to transfer to London, where, perhaps, for centuries to come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2205 he might, amongst its teeming millions, satiate his lust for blood, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2206 create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons to batten on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2207 helpless. The very thought drove me mad. A terrible desire came upon me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2208 to rid the world of such a monster. There was no lethal weapon at hand,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2209 but I seized a shovel which the workmen had been using to fill the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2210 cases, and lifting it high, struck, with the edge downward, at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2211 hateful face. But as I did so the head turned, and the eyes fell full
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2212 upon me, with all their blaze of basilisk horror. The sight seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2213 paralyse me, and the shovel turned in my hand and glanced from the face,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2214 merely making a deep gash above the forehead. The shovel fell from my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2215 hand across the box, and as I pulled it away the flange of the blade
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2216 caught the edge of the lid which fell over again, and hid the horrid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2217 thing from my sight. The last glimpse I had was of the bloated face,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2218 blood-stained and fixed with a grin of malice which would have held its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2219 own in the nethermost hell.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2220
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2221 I thought and thought what should be my next move, but my brain seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2222 on fire, and I waited with a despairing feeling growing over me. As I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2223 waited I heard in the distance a gipsy song sung by merry voices coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2224 closer, and through their song the rolling of heavy wheels and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2225 cracking of whips; the Szgany and the Slovaks of whom the Count had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2226 spoken were coming. With a last look around and at the box which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2227 contained the vile body, I ran from the place and gained the Count's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2228 room, determined to rush out at the moment the door should be opened.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2229 With strained ears, I listened, and heard downstairs the grinding of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2230 key in the great lock and the falling back of the heavy door. There must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2231 have been some other means of entry, or some one had a key for one of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2232 the locked doors. Then there came the sound of many feet tramping and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2233 dying away in some passage which sent up a clanging echo. I turned to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2234 run down again towards the vault, where I might find the new entrance;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2235 but at the moment there seemed to come a violent puff of wind, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2236 door to the winding stair blew to with a shock that set the dust from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2237 the lintels flying. When I ran to push it open, I found that it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2238 hopelessly fast. I was again a prisoner, and the net of doom was closing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2239 round me more closely.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2240
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2241 As I write there is in the passage below a sound of many tramping feet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2242 and the crash of weights being set down heavily, doubtless the boxes,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2243 with their freight of earth. There is a sound of hammering; it is the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2244 box being nailed down. Now I can hear the heavy feet tramping again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2245 along the hall, with many other idle feet coming behind them.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2246
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2247 The door is shut, and the chains rattle; there is a grinding of the key
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2248 in the lock; I can hear the key withdraw: then another door opens and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2249 shuts; I hear the creaking of lock and bolt.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2250
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2251 Hark! in the courtyard and down the rocky way the roll of heavy wheels,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2252 the crack of whips, and the chorus of the Szgany as they pass into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2253 distance.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2254
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2255 I am alone in the castle with those awful women. Faugh! Mina is a woman,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2256 and there is nought in common. They are devils of the Pit!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2257
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2258 I shall not remain alone with them; I shall try to scale the castle wall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2259 farther than I have yet attempted. I shall take some of the gold with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2260 me, lest I want it later. I may find a way from this dreadful place.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2261
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2262 And then away for home! away to the quickest and nearest train! away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2263 from this cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2264 children still walk with earthly feet!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2265
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2266 At least God's mercy is better than that of these monsters, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2267 precipice is steep and high. At its foot a man may sleep--as a man.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2268 Good-bye, all! Mina!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2269
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2270
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2271
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2272
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2273 CHAPTER V
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2274
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2275 _Letter from Miss Mina Murray to Miss Lucy Westenra._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2276
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2277
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2278 "_9 May._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2279
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2280 "My dearest Lucy,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2281
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2282 "Forgive my long delay in writing, but I have been simply overwhelmed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2283 with work. The life of an assistant schoolmistress is sometimes trying.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2284 I am longing to be with you, and by the sea, where we can talk together
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2285 freely and build our castles in the air. I have been working very hard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2286 lately, because I want to keep up with Jonathan's studies, and I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2287 been practising shorthand very assiduously. When we are married I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2288 be able to be useful to Jonathan, and if I can stenograph well enough I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2289 can take down what he wants to say in this way and write it out for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2290 him on the typewriter, at which also I am practising very hard. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2291 and I sometimes write letters in shorthand, and he is keeping a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2292 stenographic journal of his travels abroad. When I am with you I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2293 shall keep a diary in the same way. I don't mean one of those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2294 two-pages-to-the-week-with-Sunday-squeezed-in-a-corner diaries, but a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2295 sort of journal which I can write in whenever I feel inclined. I do not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2296 suppose there will be much of interest to other people; but it is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2297 intended for them. I may show it to Jonathan some day if there is in it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2298 anything worth sharing, but it is really an exercise book. I shall try
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2299 to do what I see lady journalists do: interviewing and writing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2300 descriptions and trying to remember conversations. I am told that, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2301 a little practice, one can remember all that goes on or that one hears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2302 said during a day. However, we shall see. I will tell you of my little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2303 plans when we meet. I have just had a few hurried lines from Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2304 from Transylvania. He is well, and will be returning in about a week. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2305 am longing to hear all his news. It must be so nice to see strange
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2306 countries. I wonder if we--I mean Jonathan and I--shall ever see them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2307 together. There is the ten o'clock bell ringing. Good-bye.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2308
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2309 "Your loving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2310
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2311 "MINA.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2312
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2313 "Tell me all the news when you write. You have not told me anything for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2314 a long time. I hear rumours, and especially of a tall, handsome,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2315 curly-haired man???"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2316
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2317
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2318 _Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2319
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2320 "_17, Chatham Street_,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2321
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2322 "_Wednesday_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2323
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2324 "My dearest Mina,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2325
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2326 "I must say you tax me _very_ unfairly with being a bad correspondent. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2327 wrote to you _twice_ since we parted, and your last letter was only your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2328 _second_. Besides, I have nothing to tell you. There is really nothing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2329 to interest you. Town is very pleasant just now, and we go a good deal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2330 to picture-galleries and for walks and rides in the park. As to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2331 tall, curly-haired man, I suppose it was the one who was with me at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2332 last Pop. Some one has evidently been telling tales. That was Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2333 Holmwood. He often comes to see us, and he and mamma get on very well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2334 together; they have so many things to talk about in common. We met some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2335 time ago a man that would just _do for you_, if you were not already
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2336 engaged to Jonathan. He is an excellent _parti_, being handsome, well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2337 off, and of good birth. He is a doctor and really clever. Just fancy! He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2338 is only nine-and-twenty, and he has an immense lunatic asylum all under
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2339 his own care. Mr. Holmwood introduced him to me, and he called here to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2340 see us, and often comes now. I think he is one of the most resolute men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2341 I ever saw, and yet the most calm. He seems absolutely imperturbable. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2342 can fancy what a wonderful power he must have over his patients. He has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2343 a curious habit of looking one straight in the face, as if trying to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2344 read one's thoughts. He tries this on very much with me, but I flatter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2345 myself he has got a tough nut to crack. I know that from my glass. Do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2346 you ever try to read your own face? _I do_, and I can tell you it is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2347 a bad study, and gives you more trouble than you can well fancy if you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2348 have never tried it. He says that I afford him a curious psychological
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2349 study, and I humbly think I do. I do not, as you know, take sufficient
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2350 interest in dress to be able to describe the new fashions. Dress is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2351 bore. That is slang again, but never mind; Arthur says that every day.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2352 There, it is all out. Mina, we have told all our secrets to each other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2353 since we were _children_; we have slept together and eaten together, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2354 laughed and cried together; and now, though I have spoken, I would like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2355 to speak more. Oh, Mina, couldn't you guess? I love him. I am blushing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2356 as I write, for although I _think_ he loves me, he has not told me so in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2357 words. But oh, Mina, I love him; I love him; I love him! There, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2358 does me good. I wish I were with you, dear, sitting by the fire
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2359 undressing, as we used to sit; and I would try to tell you what I feel.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2360 I do not know how I am writing this even to you. I am afraid to stop,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2361 or I should tear up the letter, and I don't want to stop, for I _do_ so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2362 want to tell you all. Let me hear from you _at once_, and tell me all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2363 that you think about it. Mina, I must stop. Good-night. Bless me in your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2364 prayers; and, Mina, pray for my happiness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2365
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2366 "LUCY.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2367
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2368 "P.S.--I need not tell you this is a secret. Good-night again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2369
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2370 "L."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2371
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2372 _Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Murray_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2373
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2374 "_24 May_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2375
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2376 "My dearest Mina,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2377
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2378 "Thanks, and thanks, and thanks again for your sweet letter. It was so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2379 nice to be able to tell you and to have your sympathy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2380
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2381 "My dear, it never rains but it pours. How true the old proverbs are.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2382 Here am I, who shall be twenty in September, and yet I never had a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2383 proposal till to-day, not a real proposal, and to-day I have had three.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2384 Just fancy! THREE proposals in one day! Isn't it awful! I feel sorry,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2385 really and truly sorry, for two of the poor fellows. Oh, Mina, I am so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2386 happy that I don't know what to do with myself. And three proposals!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2387 But, for goodness' sake, don't tell any of the girls, or they would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2388 getting all sorts of extravagant ideas and imagining themselves injured
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2389 and slighted if in their very first day at home they did not get six at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2390 least. Some girls are so vain! You and I, Mina dear, who are engaged and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2391 are going to settle down soon soberly into old married women, can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2392 despise vanity. Well, I must tell you about the three, but you must keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2393 it a secret, dear, from _every one_, except, of course, Jonathan. You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2394 will tell him, because I would, if I were in your place, certainly tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2395 Arthur. A woman ought to tell her husband everything--don't you think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2396 so, dear?--and I must be fair. Men like women, certainly their wives, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2397 be quite as fair as they are; and women, I am afraid, are not always
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2398 quite as fair as they should be. Well, my dear, number One came just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2399 before lunch. I told you of him, Dr. John Seward, the lunatic-asylum
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2400 man, with the strong jaw and the good forehead. He was very cool
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2401 outwardly, but was nervous all the same. He had evidently been schooling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2402 himself as to all sorts of little things, and remembered them; but he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2403 almost managed to sit down on his silk hat, which men don't generally do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2404 when they are cool, and then when he wanted to appear at ease he kept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2405 playing with a lancet in a way that made me nearly scream. He spoke to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2406 me, Mina, very straightforwardly. He told me how dear I was to him,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2407 though he had known me so little, and what his life would be with me to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2408 help and cheer him. He was going to tell me how unhappy he would be if I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2409 did not care for him, but when he saw me cry he said that he was a brute
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2410 and would not add to my present trouble. Then he broke off and asked if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2411 I could love him in time; and when I shook my head his hands trembled,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2412 and then with some hesitation he asked me if I cared already for any one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2413 else. He put it very nicely, saying that he did not want to wring my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2414 confidence from me, but only to know, because if a woman's heart was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2415 free a man might have hope. And then, Mina, I felt a sort of duty to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2416 tell him that there was some one. I only told him that much, and then he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2417 stood up, and he looked very strong and very grave as he took both my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2418 hands in his and said he hoped I would be happy, and that if I ever
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2419 wanted a friend I must count him one of my best. Oh, Mina dear, I can't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2420 help crying: and you must excuse this letter being all blotted. Being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2421 proposed to is all very nice and all that sort of thing, but it isn't at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2422 all a happy thing when you have to see a poor fellow, whom you know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2423 loves you honestly, going away and looking all broken-hearted, and to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2424 know that, no matter what he may say at the moment, you are passing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2425 quite out of his life. My dear, I must stop here at present, I feel so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2426 miserable, though I am so happy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2427
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2428 "_Evening._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2429
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2430 "Arthur has just gone, and I feel in better spirits than when I left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2431 off, so I can go on telling you about the day. Well, my dear, number Two
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2432 came after lunch. He is such a nice fellow, an American from Texas, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2433 he looks so young and so fresh that it seems almost impossible that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2434 has been to so many places and has had such adventures. I sympathise
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2435 with poor Desdemona when she had such a dangerous stream poured in her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2436 ear, even by a black man. I suppose that we women are such cowards that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2437 we think a man will save us from fears, and we marry him. I know now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2438 what I would do if I were a man and wanted to make a girl love me. No, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2439 don't, for there was Mr. Morris telling us his stories, and Arthur never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2440 told any, and yet---- My dear, I am somewhat previous. Mr. Quincey P.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2441 Morris found me alone. It seems that a man always does find a girl
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2442 alone. No, he doesn't, for Arthur tried twice to _make_ a chance, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2443 helping him all I could; I am not ashamed to say it now. I must tell you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2444 beforehand that Mr. Morris doesn't always speak slang--that is to say,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2445 he never does so to strangers or before them, for he is really well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2446 educated and has exquisite manners--but he found out that it amused me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2447 to hear him talk American slang, and whenever I was present, and there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2448 was no one to be shocked, he said such funny things. I am afraid, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2449 dear, he has to invent it all, for it fits exactly into whatever else he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2450 has to say. But this is a way slang has. I do not know myself if I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2451 ever speak slang; I do not know if Arthur likes it, as I have never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2452 heard him use any as yet. Well, Mr. Morris sat down beside me and looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2453 as happy and jolly as he could, but I could see all the same that he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2454 very nervous. He took my hand in his, and said ever so sweetly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2455
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2456 "'Miss Lucy, I know I ain't good enough to regulate the fixin's of your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2457 little shoes, but I guess if you wait till you find a man that is you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2458 will go join them seven young women with the lamps when you quit. Won't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2459 you just hitch up alongside of me and let us go down the long road
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2460 together, driving in double harness?'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2461
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2462 "Well, he did look so good-humoured and so jolly that it didn't seem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2463 half so hard to refuse him as it did poor Dr. Seward; so I said, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2464 lightly as I could, that I did not know anything of hitching, and that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2465 wasn't broken to harness at all yet. Then he said that he had spoken in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2466 a light manner, and he hoped that if he had made a mistake in doing so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2467 on so grave, so momentous, an occasion for him, I would forgive him. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2468 really did look serious when he was saying it, and I couldn't help
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2469 feeling a bit serious too--I know, Mina, you will think me a horrid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2470 flirt--though I couldn't help feeling a sort of exultation that he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2471 number two in one day. And then, my dear, before I could say a word he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2472 began pouring out a perfect torrent of love-making, laying his very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2473 heart and soul at my feet. He looked so earnest over it that I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2474 never again think that a man must be playful always, and never earnest,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2475 because he is merry at times. I suppose he saw something in my face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2476 which checked him, for he suddenly stopped, and said with a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2477 manly fervour that I could have loved him for if I had been free:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2478
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2479 "'Lucy, you are an honest-hearted girl, I know. I should not be here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2480 speaking to you as I am now if I did not believe you clean grit, right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2481 through to the very depths of your soul. Tell me, like one good fellow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2482 to another, is there any one else that you care for? And if there is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2483 I'll never trouble you a hair's breadth again, but will be, if you will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2484 let me, a very faithful friend.'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2485
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2486 "My dear Mina, why are men so noble when we women are so little worthy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2487 of them? Here was I almost making fun of this great-hearted, true
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2488 gentleman. I burst into tears--I am afraid, my dear, you will think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2489 this a very sloppy letter in more ways than one--and I really felt very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2490 badly. Why can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2491 her, and save all this trouble? But this is heresy, and I must not say
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2492 it. I am glad to say that, though I was crying, I was able to look into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2493 Mr. Morris's brave eyes, and I told him out straight:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2494
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2495 "'Yes, there is some one I love, though he has not told me yet that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2496 even loves me.' I was right to speak to him so frankly, for quite a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2497 light came into his face, and he put out both his hands and took mine--I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2498 think I put them into his--and said in a hearty way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2499
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2500 "'That's my brave girl. It's better worth being late for a chance of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2501 winning you than being in time for any other girl in the world. Don't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2502 cry, my dear. If it's for me, I'm a hard nut to crack; and I take it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2503 standing up. If that other fellow doesn't know his happiness, well, he'd
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2504 better look for it soon, or he'll have to deal with me. Little girl,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2505 your honesty and pluck have made me a friend, and that's rarer than a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2506 lover; it's more unselfish anyhow. My dear, I'm going to have a pretty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2507 lonely walk between this and Kingdom Come. Won't you give me one kiss?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2508 It'll be something to keep off the darkness now and then. You can, you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2509 know, if you like, for that other good fellow--he must be a good fellow,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2510 my dear, and a fine fellow, or you could not love him--hasn't spoken
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2511 yet.' That quite won me, Mina, for it _was_ brave and sweet of him, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2512 noble, too, to a rival--wasn't it?--and he so sad; so I leant over and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2513 kissed him. He stood up with my two hands in his, and as he looked down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2514 into my face--I am afraid I was blushing very much--he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2515
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2516 "'Little girl, I hold your hand, and you've kissed me, and if these
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2517 things don't make us friends nothing ever will. Thank you for your sweet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2518 honesty to me, and good-bye.' He wrung my hand, and taking up his hat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2519 went straight out of the room without looking back, without a tear or a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2520 quiver or a pause; and I am crying like a baby. Oh, why must a man like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2521 that be made unhappy when there are lots of girls about who would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2522 worship the very ground he trod on? I know I would if I were free--only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2523 I don't want to be free. My dear, this quite upset me, and I feel I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2524 cannot write of happiness just at once, after telling you of it; and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2525 don't wish to tell of the number three until it can be all happy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2526
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2527 "Ever your loving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2528
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2529 "LUCY.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2530
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2531 "P.S.--Oh, about number Three--I needn't tell you of number Three, need
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2532 I? Besides, it was all so confused; it seemed only a moment from his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2533 coming into the room till both his arms were round me, and he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2534 kissing me. I am very, very happy, and I don't know what I have done to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2535 deserve it. I must only try in the future to show that I am not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2536 ungrateful to God for all His goodness to me in sending to me such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2537 lover, such a husband, and such a friend.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2538
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2539 "Good-bye."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2540
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2541
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2542 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2543
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2544 (Kept in phonograph)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2545
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2546 _25 May._--Ebb tide in appetite to-day. Cannot eat, cannot rest, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2547 diary instead. Since my rebuff of yesterday I have a sort of empty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2548 feeling; nothing in the world seems of sufficient importance to be worth
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2549 the doing.... As I knew that the only cure for this sort of thing was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2550 work, I went down amongst the patients. I picked out one who has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2551 afforded me a study of much interest. He is so quaint that I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2552 determined to understand him as well as I can. To-day I seemed to get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2553 nearer than ever before to the heart of his mystery.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2554
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2555 I questioned him more fully than I had ever done, with a view to making
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2556 myself master of the facts of his hallucination. In my manner of doing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2557 it there was, I now see, something of cruelty. I seemed to wish to keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2558 him to the point of his madness--a thing which I avoid with the patients
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2559 as I would the mouth of hell.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2560
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2561 (_Mem._, under what circumstances would I _not_ avoid the pit of hell?)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2562 _Omnia Romæ venalia sunt._ Hell has its price! _verb. sap._ If there be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2563 anything behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2564 _accurately_, so I had better commence to do so, therefore--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2565
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2566 R. M. Renfield, ætat 59.--Sanguine temperament; great physical strength;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2567 morbidly excitable; periods of gloom, ending in some fixed idea which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2568 cannot make out. I presume that the sanguine temperament itself and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2569 disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished finish; a possibly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2570 dangerous man, probably dangerous if unselfish. In selfish men caution
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2571 is as secure an armour for their foes as for themselves. What I think of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2572 on this point is, when self is the fixed point the centripetal force is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2573 balanced with the centrifugal; when duty, a cause, etc., is the fixed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2574 point, the latter force is paramount, and only accident or a series of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2575 accidents can balance it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2576
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2577
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2578 _Letter, Quincey P. Morris to Hon. Arthur Holmwood._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2579
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2580 "_25 May._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2581
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2582 "My dear Art,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2583
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2584 "We've told yarns by the camp-fire in the prairies; and dressed one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2585 another's wounds after trying a landing at the Marquesas; and drunk
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2586 healths on the shore of Titicaca. There are more yarns to be told, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2587 other wounds to be healed, and another health to be drunk. Won't you let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2588 this be at my camp-fire to-morrow night? I have no hesitation in asking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2589 you, as I know a certain lady is engaged to a certain dinner-party, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2590 that you are free. There will only be one other, our old pal at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2591 Korea, Jack Seward. He's coming, too, and we both want to mingle our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2592 weeps over the wine-cup, and to drink a health with all our hearts to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2593 the happiest man in all the wide world, who has won the noblest heart
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2594 that God has made and the best worth winning. We promise you a hearty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2595 welcome, and a loving greeting, and a health as true as your own right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2596 hand. We shall both swear to leave you at home if you drink too deep to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2597 a certain pair of eyes. Come!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2598
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2599 "Yours, as ever and always,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2600
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2601 "QUINCEY P. MORRIS."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2602
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2603
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2604 _Telegram from Arthur Holmwood to Quincey P. Morris._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2605
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2606 "_26 May._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2607
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2608 "Count me in every time. I bear messages which will make both your ears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2609 tingle.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2610
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2611 "ART."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2612
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2613
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2614
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2615
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2616 CHAPTER VI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2617
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2618 MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2619
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2620
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2621 _24 July. Whitby._--Lucy met me at the station, looking sweeter and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2622 lovelier than ever, and we drove up to the house at the Crescent in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2623 which they have rooms. This is a lovely place. The little river, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2624 Esk, runs through a deep valley, which broadens out as it comes near the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2625 harbour. A great viaduct runs across, with high piers, through which the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2626 view seems somehow further away than it really is. The valley is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2627 beautifully green, and it is so steep that when you are on the high land
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2628 on either side you look right across it, unless you are near enough to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2629 see down. The houses of the old town--the side away from us--are all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2630 red-roofed, and seem piled up one over the other anyhow, like the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2631 pictures we see of Nuremberg. Right over the town is the ruin of Whitby
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2632 Abbey, which was sacked by the Danes, and which is the scene of part of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2633 "Marmion," where the girl was built up in the wall. It is a most noble
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2634 ruin, of immense size, and full of beautiful and romantic bits; there is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2635 a legend that a white lady is seen in one of the windows. Between it and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2636 the town there is another church, the parish one, round which is a big
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2637 graveyard, all full of tombstones. This is to my mind the nicest spot in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2638 Whitby, for it lies right over the town, and has a full view of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2639 harbour and all up the bay to where the headland called Kettleness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2640 stretches out into the sea. It descends so steeply over the harbour that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2641 part of the bank has fallen away, and some of the graves have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2642 destroyed. In one place part of the stonework of the graves stretches
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2643 out over the sandy pathway far below. There are walks, with seats beside
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2644 them, through the churchyard; and people go and sit there all day long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2645 looking at the beautiful view and enjoying the breeze. I shall come and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2646 sit here very often myself and work. Indeed, I am writing now, with my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2647 book on my knee, and listening to the talk of three old men who are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2648 sitting beside me. They seem to do nothing all day but sit up here and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2649 talk.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2650
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2651 The harbour lies below me, with, on the far side, one long granite wall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2652 stretching out into the sea, with a curve outwards at the end of it, in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2653 the middle of which is a lighthouse. A heavy sea-wall runs along outside
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2654 of it. On the near side, the sea-wall makes an elbow crooked inversely,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2655 and its end too has a lighthouse. Between the two piers there is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2656 narrow opening into the harbour, which then suddenly widens.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2657
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2658 It is nice at high water; but when the tide is out it shoals away to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2659 nothing, and there is merely the stream of the Esk, running between
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2660 banks of sand, with rocks here and there. Outside the harbour on this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2661 side there rises for about half a mile a great reef, the sharp edge of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2662 which runs straight out from behind the south lighthouse. At the end of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2663 it is a buoy with a bell, which swings in bad weather, and sends in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2664 mournful sound on the wind. They have a legend here that when a ship is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2665 lost bells are heard out at sea. I must ask the old man about this; he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2666 is coming this way....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2667
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2668 He is a funny old man. He must be awfully old, for his face is all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2669 gnarled and twisted like the bark of a tree. He tells me that he is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2670 nearly a hundred, and that he was a sailor in the Greenland fishing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2671 fleet when Waterloo was fought. He is, I am afraid, a very sceptical
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2672 person, for when I asked him about the bells at sea and the White Lady
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2673 at the abbey he said very brusquely:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2674
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2675 "I wouldn't fash masel' about them, miss. Them things be all wore out.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2676 Mind, I don't say that they never was, but I do say that they wasn't in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2677 my time. They be all very well for comers and trippers, an' the like,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2678 but not for a nice young lady like you. Them feet-folks from York and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2679 Leeds that be always eatin' cured herrin's an' drinkin' tea an' lookin'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2680 out to buy cheap jet would creed aught. I wonder masel' who'd be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2681 bothered tellin' lies to them--even the newspapers, which is full of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2682 fool-talk." I thought he would be a good person to learn interesting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2683 things from, so I asked him if he would mind telling me something about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2684 the whale-fishing in the old days. He was just settling himself to begin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2685 when the clock struck six, whereupon he laboured to get up, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2686
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2687 "I must gang ageeanwards home now, miss. My grand-daughter doesn't like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2688 to be kept waitin' when the tea is ready, for it takes me time to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2689 crammle aboon the grees, for there be a many of 'em; an', miss, I lack
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2690 belly-timber sairly by the clock."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2691
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2692 He hobbled away, and I could see him hurrying, as well as he could, down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2693 the steps. The steps are a great feature on the place. They lead from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2694 the town up to the church, there are hundreds of them--I do not know how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2695 many--and they wind up in a delicate curve; the slope is so gentle that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2696 a horse could easily walk up and down them. I think they must originally
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2697 have had something to do with the abbey. I shall go home too. Lucy went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2698 out visiting with her mother, and as they were only duty calls, I did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2699 not go. They will be home by this.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2700
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2701 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2702
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2703 _1 August._--I came up here an hour ago with Lucy, and we had a most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2704 interesting talk with my old friend and the two others who always come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2705 and join him. He is evidently the Sir Oracle of them, and I should think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2706 must have been in his time a most dictatorial person. He will not admit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2707 anything, and downfaces everybody. If he can't out-argue them he bullies
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2708 them, and then takes their silence for agreement with his views. Lucy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2709 was looking sweetly pretty in her white lawn frock; she has got a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2710 beautiful colour since she has been here. I noticed that the old men did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2711 not lose any time in coming up and sitting near her when we sat down.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2712 She is so sweet with old people; I think they all fell in love with her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2713 on the spot. Even my old man succumbed and did not contradict her, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2714 gave me double share instead. I got him on the subject of the legends,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2715 and he went off at once into a sort of sermon. I must try to remember it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2716 and put it down:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2717
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2718 "It be all fool-talk, lock, stock, and barrel; that's what it be, an'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2719 nowt else. These bans an' wafts an' boh-ghosts an' barguests an' bogles
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2720 an' all anent them is only fit to set bairns an' dizzy women
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2721 a-belderin'. They be nowt but air-blebs. They, an' all grims an' signs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2722 an' warnin's, be all invented by parsons an' illsome beuk-bodies an'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2723 railway touters to skeer an' scunner hafflin's, an' to get folks to do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2724 somethin' that they don't other incline to. It makes me ireful to think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2725 o' them. Why, it's them that, not content with printin' lies on paper
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2726 an' preachin' them out of pulpits, does want to be cuttin' them on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2727 tombstones. Look here all around you in what airt ye will; all them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2728 steans, holdin' up their heads as well as they can out of their pride,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2729 is acant--simply tumblin' down with the weight o' the lies wrote on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2730 them, 'Here lies the body' or 'Sacred to the memory' wrote on all of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2731 them, an' yet in nigh half of them there bean't no bodies at all; an'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2732 the memories of them bean't cared a pinch of snuff about, much less
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2733 sacred. Lies all of them, nothin' but lies of one kind or another! My
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2734 gog, but it'll be a quare scowderment at the Day of Judgment when they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2735 come tumblin' up in their death-sarks, all jouped together an' tryin' to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2736 drag their tombsteans with them to prove how good they was; some of them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2737 trimmlin' and ditherin', with their hands that dozzened an' slippy from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2738 lyin' in the sea that they can't even keep their grup o' them."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2739
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2740 I could see from the old fellow's self-satisfied air and the way in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2741 which he looked round for the approval of his cronies that he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2742 "showing off," so I put in a word to keep him going:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2743
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2744 "Oh, Mr. Swales, you can't be serious. Surely these tombstones are not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2745 all wrong?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2746
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2747 "Yabblins! There may be a poorish few not wrong, savin' where they make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2748 out the people too good; for there be folk that do think a balm-bowl be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2749 like the sea, if only it be their own. The whole thing be only lies. Now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2750 look you here; you come here a stranger, an' you see this kirk-garth." I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2751 nodded, for I thought it better to assent, though I did not quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2752 understand his dialect. I knew it had something to do with the church.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2753 He went on: "And you consate that all these steans be aboon folk that be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2754 happed here, snod an' snog?" I assented again. "Then that be just where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2755 the lie comes in. Why, there be scores of these lay-beds that be toom as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2756 old Dun's 'bacca-box on Friday night." He nudged one of his companions,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2757 and they all laughed. "And my gog! how could they be otherwise? Look at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2758 that one, the aftest abaft the bier-bank: read it!" I went over and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2759 read:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2760
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2761 "Edward Spencelagh, master mariner, murdered by pirates off the coast of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2762 Andres, April, 1854, æt. 30." When I came back Mr. Swales went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2763
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2764 "Who brought him home, I wonder, to hap him here? Murdered off the coast
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2765 of Andres! an' you consated his body lay under! Why, I could name ye a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2766 dozen whose bones lie in the Greenland seas above"--he pointed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2767 northwards--"or where the currents may have drifted them. There be the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2768 steans around ye. Ye can, with your young eyes, read the small-print of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2769 the lies from here. This Braithwaite Lowrey--I knew his father, lost in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2770 the _Lively_ off Greenland in '20; or Andrew Woodhouse, drowned in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2771 same seas in 1777; or John Paxton, drowned off Cape Farewell a year
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2772 later; or old John Rawlings, whose grandfather sailed with me, drowned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2773 in the Gulf of Finland in '50. Do ye think that all these men will have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2774 to make a rush to Whitby when the trumpet sounds? I have me antherums
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2775 aboot it! I tell ye that when they got here they'd be jommlin' an'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2776 jostlin' one another that way that it 'ud be like a fight up on the ice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2777 in the old days, when we'd be at one another from daylight to dark, an'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2778 tryin' to tie up our cuts by the light of the aurora borealis." This was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2779 evidently local pleasantry, for the old man cackled over it, and his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2780 cronies joined in with gusto.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2781
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2782 "But," I said, "surely you are not quite correct, for you start on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2783 assumption that all the poor people, or their spirits, will have to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2784 take their tombstones with them on the Day of Judgment. Do you think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2785 that will be really necessary?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2786
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2787 "Well, what else be they tombstones for? Answer me that, miss!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2788
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2789 "To please their relatives, I suppose."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2790
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2791 "To please their relatives, you suppose!" This he said with intense
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2792 scorn. "How will it pleasure their relatives to know that lies is wrote
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2793 over them, and that everybody in the place knows that they be lies?" He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2794 pointed to a stone at our feet which had been laid down as a slab, on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2795 which the seat was rested, close to the edge of the cliff. "Read the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2796 lies on that thruff-stean," he said. The letters were upside down to me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2797 from where I sat, but Lucy was more opposite to them, so she leant over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2798 and read:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2799
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2800 "Sacred to the memory of George Canon, who died, in the hope of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2801 glorious resurrection, on July, 29, 1873, falling from the rocks at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2802 Kettleness. This tomb was erected by his sorrowing mother to her dearly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2803 beloved son. 'He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2804 Really, Mr. Swales, I don't see anything very funny in that!" She spoke
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2805 her comment very gravely and somewhat severely.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2806
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2807 "Ye don't see aught funny! Ha! ha! But that's because ye don't gawm the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2808 sorrowin' mother was a hell-cat that hated him because he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2809 acrewk'd--a regular lamiter he was--an' he hated her so that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2810 committed suicide in order that she mightn't get an insurance she put on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2811 his life. He blew nigh the top of his head off with an old musket that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2812 they had for scarin' the crows with. 'Twarn't for crows then, for it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2813 brought the clegs and the dowps to him. That's the way he fell off the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2814 rocks. And, as to hopes of a glorious resurrection, I've often heard him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2815 say masel' that he hoped he'd go to hell, for his mother was so pious
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2816 that she'd be sure to go to heaven, an' he didn't want to addle where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2817 she was. Now isn't that stean at any rate"--he hammered it with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2818 stick as he spoke--"a pack of lies? and won't it make Gabriel keckle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2819 when Geordie comes pantin' up the grees with the tombstean balanced on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2820 his hump, and asks it to be took as evidence!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2821
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2822 I did not know what to say, but Lucy turned the conversation as she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2823 said, rising up:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2824
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2825 "Oh, why did you tell us of this? It is my favourite seat, and I cannot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2826 leave it; and now I find I must go on sitting over the grave of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2827 suicide."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2828
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2829 "That won't harm ye, my pretty; an' it may make poor Geordie gladsome to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2830 have so trim a lass sittin' on his lap. That won't hurt ye. Why, I've
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2831 sat here off an' on for nigh twenty years past, an' it hasn't done me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2832 no harm. Don't ye fash about them as lies under ye, or that doesn' lie
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2833 there either! It'll be time for ye to be getting scart when ye see the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2834 tombsteans all run away with, and the place as bare as a stubble-field.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2835 There's the clock, an' I must gang. My service to ye, ladies!" And off
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2836 he hobbled.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2837
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2838 Lucy and I sat awhile, and it was all so beautiful before us that we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2839 took hands as we sat; and she told me all over again about Arthur and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2840 their coming marriage. That made me just a little heart-sick, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2841 haven't heard from Jonathan for a whole month.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2842
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2843 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2844
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2845 _The same day._ I came up here alone, for I am very sad. There was no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2846 letter for me. I hope there cannot be anything the matter with Jonathan.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2847 The clock has just struck nine. I see the lights scattered all over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2848 town, sometimes in rows where the streets are, and sometimes singly;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2849 they run right up the Esk and die away in the curve of the valley. To my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2850 left the view is cut off by a black line of roof of the old house next
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2851 the abbey. The sheep and lambs are bleating in the fields away behind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2852 me, and there is a clatter of a donkey's hoofs up the paved road below.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2853 The band on the pier is playing a harsh waltz in good time, and further
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2854 along the quay there is a Salvation Army meeting in a back street.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2855 Neither of the bands hears the other, but up here I hear and see them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2856 both. I wonder where Jonathan is and if he is thinking of me! I wish he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2857 were here.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2858
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2859
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2860 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2861
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2862 _5 June._--The case of Renfield grows more interesting the more I get to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2863 understand the man. He has certain qualities very largely developed;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2864 selfishness, secrecy, and purpose. I wish I could get at what is the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2865 object of the latter. He seems to have some settled scheme of his own,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2866 but what it is I do not yet know. His redeeming quality is a love of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2867 animals, though, indeed, he has such curious turns in it that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2868 sometimes imagine he is only abnormally cruel. His pets are of odd
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2869 sorts. Just now his hobby is catching flies. He has at present such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2870 quantity that I have had myself to expostulate. To my astonishment, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2871 did not break out into a fury, as I expected, but took the matter in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2872 simple seriousness. He thought for a moment, and then said: "May I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2873 three days? I shall clear them away." Of course, I said that would do. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2874 must watch him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2875
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2876 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2877
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2878 _18 June._--He has turned his mind now to spiders, and has got several
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2879 very big fellows in a box. He keeps feeding them with his flies, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2880 the number of the latter is becoming sensibly diminished, although he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2881 has used half his food in attracting more flies from outside to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2882 room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2883
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2884 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2885
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2886 _1 July._--His spiders are now becoming as great a nuisance as his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2887 flies, and to-day I told him that he must get rid of them. He looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2888 very sad at this, so I said that he must clear out some of them, at all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2889 events. He cheerfully acquiesced in this, and I gave him the same time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2890 as before for reduction. He disgusted me much while with him, for when a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2891 horrid blow-fly, bloated with some carrion food, buzzed into the room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2892 he caught it, held it exultantly for a few moments between his finger
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2893 and thumb, and, before I knew what he was going to do, put it in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2894 mouth and ate it. I scolded him for it, but he argued quietly that it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2895 was very good and very wholesome; that it was life, strong life, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2896 gave life to him. This gave me an idea, or the rudiment of one. I must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2897 watch how he gets rid of his spiders. He has evidently some deep problem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2898 in his mind, for he keeps a little note-book in which he is always
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2899 jotting down something. Whole pages of it are filled with masses of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2900 figures, generally single numbers added up in batches, and then the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2901 totals added in batches again, as though he were "focussing" some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2902 account, as the auditors put it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2903
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2904 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2905
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2906 _8 July._--There is a method in his madness, and the rudimentary idea in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2907 my mind is growing. It will be a whole idea soon, and then, oh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2908 unconscious cerebration! you will have to give the wall to your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2909 conscious brother. I kept away from my friend for a few days, so that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2910 might notice if there were any change. Things remain as they were except
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2911 that he has parted with some of his pets and got a new one. He has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2912 managed to get a sparrow, and has already partially tamed it. His means
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2913 of taming is simple, for already the spiders have diminished. Those that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2914 do remain, however, are well fed, for he still brings in the flies by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2915 tempting them with his food.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2916
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2917 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2918
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2919 _19 July._--We are progressing. My friend has now a whole colony of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2920 sparrows, and his flies and spiders are almost obliterated. When I came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2921 in he ran to me and said he wanted to ask me a great favour--a very,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2922 very great favour; and as he spoke he fawned on me like a dog. I asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2923 him what it was, and he said, with a sort of rapture in his voice and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2924 bearing:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2925
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2926 "A kitten, a nice little, sleek playful kitten, that I can play with,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2927 and teach, and feed--and feed--and feed!" I was not unprepared for this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2928 request, for I had noticed how his pets went on increasing in size and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2929 vivacity, but I did not care that his pretty family of tame sparrows
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2930 should be wiped out in the same manner as the flies and the spiders; so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2931 I said I would see about it, and asked him if he would not rather have a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2932 cat than a kitten. His eagerness betrayed him as he answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2933
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2934 "Oh, yes, I would like a cat! I only asked for a kitten lest you should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2935 refuse me a cat. No one would refuse me a kitten, would they?" I shook
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2936 my head, and said that at present I feared it would not be possible, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2937 that I would see about it. His face fell, and I could see a warning of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2938 danger in it, for there was a sudden fierce, sidelong look which meant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2939 killing. The man is an undeveloped homicidal maniac. I shall test him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2940 with his present craving and see how it will work out; then I shall know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2941 more.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2942
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2943 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2944
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2945 _10 p. m._--I have visited him again and found him sitting in a corner
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2946 brooding. When I came in he threw himself on his knees before me and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2947 implored me to let him have a cat; that his salvation depended upon it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2948 I was firm, however, and told him that he could not have it, whereupon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2949 he went without a word, and sat down, gnawing his fingers, in the corner
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2950 where I had found him. I shall see him in the morning early.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2951
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2952 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2953
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2954 _20 July._--Visited Renfield very early, before the attendant went his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2955 rounds. Found him up and humming a tune. He was spreading out his sugar,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2956 which he had saved, in the window, and was manifestly beginning his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2957 fly-catching again; and beginning it cheerfully and with a good grace. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2958 looked around for his birds, and not seeing them, asked him where they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2959 were. He replied, without turning round, that they had all flown away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2960 There were a few feathers about the room and on his pillow a drop of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2961 blood. I said nothing, but went and told the keeper to report to me if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2962 there were anything odd about him during the day.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2963
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2964 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2965
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2966 _11 a. m._--The attendant has just been to me to say that Renfield has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2967 been very sick and has disgorged a whole lot of feathers. "My belief is,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2968 doctor," he said, "that he has eaten his birds, and that he just took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2969 and ate them raw!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2970
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2971 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2972
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2973 _11 p. m._--I gave Renfield a strong opiate to-night, enough to make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2974 even him sleep, and took away his pocket-book to look at it. The thought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2975 that has been buzzing about my brain lately is complete, and the theory
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2976 proved. My homicidal maniac is of a peculiar kind. I shall have to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2977 invent a new classification for him, and call him a zoöphagous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2978 (life-eating) maniac; what he desires is to absorb as many lives as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2979 can, and he has laid himself out to achieve it in a cumulative way. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2980 gave many flies to one spider and many spiders to one bird, and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2981 wanted a cat to eat the many birds. What would have been his later
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2982 steps? It would almost be worth while to complete the experiment. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2983 might be done if there were only a sufficient cause. Men sneered at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2984 vivisection, and yet look at its results to-day! Why not advance science
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2985 in its most difficult and vital aspect--the knowledge of the brain? Had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2986 I even the secret of one such mind--did I hold the key to the fancy of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2987 even one lunatic--I might advance my own branch of science to a pitch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2988 compared with which Burdon-Sanderson's physiology or Ferrier's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2989 brain-knowledge would be as nothing. If only there were a sufficient
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2990 cause! I must not think too much of this, or I may be tempted; a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2991 cause might turn the scale with me, for may not I too be of an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2992 exceptional brain, congenitally?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2993
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2994 How well the man reasoned; lunatics always do within their own scope. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2995 wonder at how many lives he values a man, or if at only one. He has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2996 closed the account most accurately, and to-day begun a new record. How
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2997 many of us begin a new record with each day of our lives?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2998
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 2999 To me it seems only yesterday that my whole life ended with my new hope,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3000 and that truly I began a new record. So it will be until the Great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3001 Recorder sums me up and closes my ledger account with a balance to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3002 profit or loss. Oh, Lucy, Lucy, I cannot be angry with you, nor can I be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3003 angry with my friend whose happiness is yours; but I must only wait on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3004 hopeless and work. Work! work!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3005
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3006 If I only could have as strong a cause as my poor mad friend there--a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3007 good, unselfish cause to make me work--that would be indeed happiness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3008
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3009
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3010 _Mina Murray's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3011
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3012 _26 July._--I am anxious, and it soothes me to express myself here; it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3013 is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time. And
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3014 there is also something about the shorthand symbols that makes it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3015 different from writing. I am unhappy about Lucy and about Jonathan. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3016 had not heard from Jonathan for some time, and was very concerned; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3017 yesterday dear Mr. Hawkins, who is always so kind, sent me a letter from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3018 him. I had written asking him if he had heard, and he said the enclosed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3019 had just been received. It is only a line dated from Castle Dracula,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3020 and says that he is just starting for home. That is not like Jonathan;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3021 I do not understand it, and it makes me uneasy. Then, too, Lucy,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3022 although she is so well, has lately taken to her old habit of walking in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3023 her sleep. Her mother has spoken to me about it, and we have decided
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3024 that I am to lock the door of our room every night. Mrs. Westenra has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3025 got an idea that sleep-walkers always go out on roofs of houses and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3026 along the edges of cliffs and then get suddenly wakened and fall over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3027 with a despairing cry that echoes all over the place. Poor dear, she is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3028 naturally anxious about Lucy, and she tells me that her husband, Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3029 father, had the same habit; that he would get up in the night and dress
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3030 himself and go out, if he were not stopped. Lucy is to be married in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3031 autumn, and she is already planning out her dresses and how her house is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3032 to be arranged. I sympathise with her, for I do the same, only Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3033 and I will start in life in a very simple way, and shall have to try to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3034 make both ends meet. Mr. Holmwood--he is the Hon. Arthur Holmwood, only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3035 son of Lord Godalming--is coming up here very shortly--as soon as he can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3036 leave town, for his father is not very well, and I think dear Lucy is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3037 counting the moments till he comes. She wants to take him up to the seat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3038 on the churchyard cliff and show him the beauty of Whitby. I daresay it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3039 is the waiting which disturbs her; she will be all right when he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3040 arrives.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3041
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3042 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3043
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3044 _27 July._--No news from Jonathan. I am getting quite uneasy about him,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3045 though why I should I do not know; but I do wish that he would write, if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3046 it were only a single line. Lucy walks more than ever, and each night I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3047 am awakened by her moving about the room. Fortunately, the weather is so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3048 hot that she cannot get cold; but still the anxiety and the perpetually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3049 being wakened is beginning to tell on me, and I am getting nervous and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3050 wakeful myself. Thank God, Lucy's health keeps up. Mr. Holmwood has been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3051 suddenly called to Ring to see his father, who has been taken seriously
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3052 ill. Lucy frets at the postponement of seeing him, but it does not touch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3053 her looks; she is a trifle stouter, and her cheeks are a lovely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3054 rose-pink. She has lost that anæmic look which she had. I pray it will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3055 all last.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3056
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3057 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3058
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3059 _3 August._--Another week gone, and no news from Jonathan, not even to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3060 Mr. Hawkins, from whom I have heard. Oh, I do hope he is not ill. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3061 surely would have written. I look at that last letter of his, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3062 somehow it does not satisfy me. It does not read like him, and yet it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3063 his writing. There is no mistake of that. Lucy has not walked much in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3064 her sleep the last week, but there is an odd concentration about her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3065 which I do not understand; even in her sleep she seems to be watching
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3066 me. She tries the door, and finding it locked, goes about the room
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3067 searching for the key.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3068
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3069 _6 August._--Another three days, and no news. This suspense is getting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3070 dreadful. If I only knew where to write to or where to go to, I should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3071 feel easier; but no one has heard a word of Jonathan since that last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3072 letter. I must only pray to God for patience. Lucy is more excitable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3073 than ever, but is otherwise well. Last night was very threatening, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3074 the fishermen say that we are in for a storm. I must try to watch it and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3075 learn the weather signs. To-day is a grey day, and the sun as I write is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3076 hidden in thick clouds, high over Kettleness. Everything is grey--except
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3077 the green grass, which seems like emerald amongst it; grey earthy rock;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3078 grey clouds, tinged with the sunburst at the far edge, hang over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3079 grey sea, into which the sand-points stretch like grey fingers. The sea
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3080 is tumbling in over the shallows and the sandy flats with a roar,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3081 muffled in the sea-mists drifting inland. The horizon is lost in a grey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3082 mist. All is vastness; the clouds are piled up like giant rocks, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3083 there is a "brool" over the sea that sounds like some presage of doom.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3084 Dark figures are on the beach here and there, sometimes half shrouded in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3085 the mist, and seem "men like trees walking." The fishing-boats are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3086 racing for home, and rise and dip in the ground swell as they sweep into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3087 the harbour, bending to the scuppers. Here comes old Mr. Swales. He is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3088 making straight for me, and I can see, by the way he lifts his hat, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3089 he wants to talk....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3090
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3091 I have been quite touched by the change in the poor old man. When he sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3092 down beside me, he said in a very gentle way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3093
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3094 "I want to say something to you, miss." I could see he was not at ease,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3095 so I took his poor old wrinkled hand in mine and asked him to speak
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3096 fully; so he said, leaving his hand in mine:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3097
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3098 "I'm afraid, my deary, that I must have shocked you by all the wicked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3099 things I've been sayin' about the dead, and such like, for weeks past;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3100 but I didn't mean them, and I want ye to remember that when I'm gone. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3101 aud folks that be daffled, and with one foot abaft the krok-hooal, don't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3102 altogether like to think of it, and we don't want to feel scart of it;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3103 an' that's why I've took to makin' light of it, so that I'd cheer up my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3104 own heart a bit. But, Lord love ye, miss, I ain't afraid of dyin', not a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3105 bit; only I don't want to die if I can help it. My time must be nigh at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3106 hand now, for I be aud, and a hundred years is too much for any man to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3107 expect; and I'm so nigh it that the Aud Man is already whettin' his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3108 scythe. Ye see, I can't get out o' the habit of caffin' about it all at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3109 once; the chafts will wag as they be used to. Some day soon the Angel of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3110 Death will sound his trumpet for me. But don't ye dooal an' greet, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3111 deary!"--for he saw that I was crying--"if he should come this very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3112 night I'd not refuse to answer his call. For life be, after all, only a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3113 waitin' for somethin' else than what we're doin'; and death be all that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3114 we can rightly depend on. But I'm content, for it's comin' to me, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3115 deary, and comin' quick. It may be comin' while we be lookin' and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3116 wonderin'. Maybe it's in that wind out over the sea that's bringin' with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3117 it loss and wreck, and sore distress, and sad hearts. Look! look!" he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3118 cried suddenly. "There's something in that wind and in the hoast beyont
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3119 that sounds, and looks, and tastes, and smells like death. It's in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3120 air; I feel it comin'. Lord, make me answer cheerful when my call
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3121 comes!" He held up his arms devoutly, and raised his hat. His mouth
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3122 moved as though he were praying. After a few minutes' silence, he got
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3123 up, shook hands with me, and blessed me, and said good-bye, and hobbled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3124 off. It all touched me, and upset me very much.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3125
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3126 I was glad when the coastguard came along, with his spy-glass under his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3127 arm. He stopped to talk with me, as he always does, but all the time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3128 kept looking at a strange ship.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3129
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3130 "I can't make her out," he said; "she's a Russian, by the look of her;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3131 but she's knocking about in the queerest way. She doesn't know her mind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3132 a bit; she seems to see the storm coming, but can't decide whether to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3133 run up north in the open, or to put in here. Look there again! She is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3134 steered mighty strangely, for she doesn't mind the hand on the wheel;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3135 changes about with every puff of wind. We'll hear more of her before
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3136 this time to-morrow."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3137
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3138
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3139
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3140
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3141 CHAPTER VII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3142
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3143 CUTTING FROM "THE DAILYGRAPH," 8 AUGUST
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3144
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3145
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3146 (_Pasted in Mina Murray's Journal._)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3147
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3148 From a Correspondent.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3149
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3150 _Whitby_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3151
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3152 One of the greatest and suddenest storms on record has just been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3153 experienced here, with results both strange and unique. The weather had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3154 been somewhat sultry, but not to any degree uncommon in the month of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3155 August. Saturday evening was as fine as was ever known, and the great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3156 body of holiday-makers laid out yesterday for visits to Mulgrave Woods,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3157 Robin Hood's Bay, Rig Mill, Runswick, Staithes, and the various trips in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3158 the neighbourhood of Whitby. The steamers _Emma_ and _Scarborough_ made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3159 trips up and down the coast, and there was an unusual amount of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3160 "tripping" both to and from Whitby. The day was unusually fine till the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3161 afternoon, when some of the gossips who frequent the East Cliff
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3162 churchyard, and from that commanding eminence watch the wide sweep of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3163 sea visible to the north and east, called attention to a sudden show of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3164 "mares'-tails" high in the sky to the north-west. The wind was then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3165 blowing from the south-west in the mild degree which in barometrical
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3166 language is ranked "No. 2: light breeze." The coastguard on duty at once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3167 made report, and one old fisherman, who for more than half a century has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3168 kept watch on weather signs from the East Cliff, foretold in an emphatic
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3169 manner the coming of a sudden storm. The approach of sunset was so very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3170 beautiful, so grand in its masses of splendidly-coloured clouds, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3171 there was quite an assemblage on the walk along the cliff in the old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3172 churchyard to enjoy the beauty. Before the sun dipped below the black
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3173 mass of Kettleness, standing boldly athwart the western sky, its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3174 downward way was marked by myriad clouds of every sunset-colour--flame,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3175 purple, pink, green, violet, and all the tints of gold; with here and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3176 there masses not large, but of seemingly absolute blackness, in all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3177 sorts of shapes, as well outlined as colossal silhouettes. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3178 experience was not lost on the painters, and doubtless some of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3179 sketches of the "Prelude to the Great Storm" will grace the R. A. and R.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3180 I. walls in May next. More than one captain made up his mind then and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3181 there that his "cobble" or his "mule," as they term the different
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3182 classes of boats, would remain in the harbour till the storm had passed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3183 The wind fell away entirely during the evening, and at midnight there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3184 was a dead calm, a sultry heat, and that prevailing intensity which, on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3185 the approach of thunder, affects persons of a sensitive nature. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3186 were but few lights in sight at sea, for even the coasting steamers,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3187 which usually "hug" the shore so closely, kept well to seaward, and but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3188 few fishing-boats were in sight. The only sail noticeable was a foreign
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3189 schooner with all sails set, which was seemingly going westwards. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3190 foolhardiness or ignorance of her officers was a prolific theme for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3191 comment whilst she remained in sight, and efforts were made to signal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3192 her to reduce sail in face of her danger. Before the night shut down she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3193 was seen with sails idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3194 swell of the sea,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3195
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3196 "As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3197
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3198 Shortly before ten o'clock the stillness of the air grew quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3199 oppressive, and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a sheep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3200 inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3201 band on the pier, with its lively French air, was like a discord in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3202 great harmony of nature's silence. A little after midnight came a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3203 strange sound from over the sea, and high overhead the air began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3204 carry a strange, faint, hollow booming.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3205
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3206 Then without warning the tempest broke. With a rapidity which, at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3207 time, seemed incredible, and even afterwards is impossible to realize,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3208 the whole aspect of nature at once became convulsed. The waves rose in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3209 growing fury, each overtopping its fellow, till in a very few minutes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3210 the lately glassy sea was like a roaring and devouring monster.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3211 White-crested waves beat madly on the level sands and rushed up the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3212 shelving cliffs; others broke over the piers, and with their spume swept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3213 the lanthorns of the lighthouses which rise from the end of either pier
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3214 of Whitby Harbour. The wind roared like thunder, and blew with such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3215 force that it was with difficulty that even strong men kept their feet,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3216 or clung with grim clasp to the iron stanchions. It was found necessary
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3217 to clear the entire piers from the mass of onlookers, or else the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3218 fatalities of the night would have been increased manifold. To add to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3219 the difficulties and dangers of the time, masses of sea-fog came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3220 drifting inland--white, wet clouds, which swept by in ghostly fashion,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3221 so dank and damp and cold that it needed but little effort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3222 imagination to think that the spirits of those lost at sea were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3223 touching their living brethren with the clammy hands of death, and many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3224 a one shuddered as the wreaths of sea-mist swept by. At times the mist
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3225 cleared, and the sea for some distance could be seen in the glare of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3226 lightning, which now came thick and fast, followed by such sudden peals
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3227 of thunder that the whole sky overhead seemed trembling under the shock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3228 of the footsteps of the storm.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3229
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3230 Some of the scenes thus revealed were of immeasurable grandeur and of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3231 absorbing interest--the sea, running mountains high, threw skywards with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3232 each wave mighty masses of white foam, which the tempest seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3233 snatch at and whirl away into space; here and there a fishing-boat, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3234 a rag of sail, running madly for shelter before the blast; now and again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3235 the white wings of a storm-tossed sea-bird. On the summit of the East
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3236 Cliff the new searchlight was ready for experiment, but had not yet been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3237 tried. The officers in charge of it got it into working order, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3238 the pauses of the inrushing mist swept with it the surface of the sea.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3239 Once or twice its service was most effective, as when a fishing-boat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3240 with gunwale under water, rushed into the harbour, able, by the guidance
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3241 of the sheltering light, to avoid the danger of dashing against the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3242 piers. As each boat achieved the safety of the port there was a shout of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3243 joy from the mass of people on shore, a shout which for a moment seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3244 to cleave the gale and was then swept away in its rush.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3245
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3246 Before long the searchlight discovered some distance away a schooner
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3247 with all sails set, apparently the same vessel which had been noticed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3248 earlier in the evening. The wind had by this time backed to the east,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3249 and there was a shudder amongst the watchers on the cliff as they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3250 realized the terrible danger in which she now was. Between her and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3251 port lay the great flat reef on which so many good ships have from time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3252 to time suffered, and, with the wind blowing from its present quarter,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3253 it would be quite impossible that she should fetch the entrance of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3254 harbour. It was now nearly the hour of high tide, but the waves were so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3255 great that in their troughs the shallows of the shore were almost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3256 visible, and the schooner, with all sails set, was rushing with such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3257 speed that, in the words of one old salt, "she must fetch up somewhere,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3258 if it was only in hell." Then came another rush of sea-fog, greater than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3259 any hitherto--a mass of dank mist, which seemed to close on all things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3260 like a grey pall, and left available to men only the organ of hearing,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3261 for the roar of the tempest, and the crash of the thunder, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3262 booming of the mighty billows came through the damp oblivion even louder
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3263 than before. The rays of the searchlight were kept fixed on the harbour
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3264 mouth across the East Pier, where the shock was expected, and men waited
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3265 breathless. The wind suddenly shifted to the north-east, and the remnant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3266 of the sea-fog melted in the blast; and then, _mirabile dictu_, between
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3267 the piers, leaping from wave to wave as it rushed at headlong speed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3268 swept the strange schooner before the blast, with all sail set, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3269 gained the safety of the harbour. The searchlight followed her, and a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3270 shudder ran through all who saw her, for lashed to the helm was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3271 corpse, with drooping head, which swung horribly to and fro at each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3272 motion of the ship. No other form could be seen on deck at all. A great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3273 awe came on all as they realised that the ship, as if by a miracle, had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3274 found the harbour, unsteered save by the hand of a dead man! However,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3275 all took place more quickly than it takes to write these words. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3276 schooner paused not, but rushing across the harbour, pitched herself on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3277 that accumulation of sand and gravel washed by many tides and many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3278 storms into the south-east corner of the pier jutting under the East
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3279 Cliff, known locally as Tate Hill Pier.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3280
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3281 There was of course a considerable concussion as the vessel drove up on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3282 the sand heap. Every spar, rope, and stay was strained, and some of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3283 "top-hammer" came crashing down. But, strangest of all, the very instant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3284 the shore was touched, an immense dog sprang up on deck from below, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3285 if shot up by the concussion, and running forward, jumped from the bow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3286 on the sand. Making straight for the steep cliff, where the churchyard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3287 hangs over the laneway to the East Pier so steeply that some of the flat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3288 tombstones--"thruff-steans" or "through-stones," as they call them in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3289 the Whitby vernacular--actually project over where the sustaining cliff
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3290 has fallen away, it disappeared in the darkness, which seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3291 intensified just beyond the focus of the searchlight.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3292
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3293 It so happened that there was no one at the moment on Tate Hill Pier, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3294 all those whose houses are in close proximity were either in bed or were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3295 out on the heights above. Thus the coastguard on duty on the eastern
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3296 side of the harbour, who at once ran down to the little pier, was the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3297 first to climb on board. The men working the searchlight, after scouring
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3298 the entrance of the harbour without seeing anything, then turned the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3299 light on the derelict and kept it there. The coastguard ran aft, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3300 when he came beside the wheel, bent over to examine it, and recoiled at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3301 once as though under some sudden emotion. This seemed to pique general
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3302 curiosity, and quite a number of people began to run. It is a good way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3303 round from the West Cliff by the Drawbridge to Tate Hill Pier, but your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3304 correspondent is a fairly good runner, and came well ahead of the crowd.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3305 When I arrived, however, I found already assembled on the pier a crowd,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3306 whom the coastguard and police refused to allow to come on board. By the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3307 courtesy of the chief boatman, I was, as your correspondent, permitted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3308 to climb on deck, and was one of a small group who saw the dead seaman
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3309 whilst actually lashed to the wheel.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3310
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3311 It was no wonder that the coastguard was surprised, or even awed, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3312 not often can such a sight have been seen. The man was simply fastened
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3313 by his hands, tied one over the other, to a spoke of the wheel. Between
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3314 the inner hand and the wood was a crucifix, the set of beads on which it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3315 was fastened being around both wrists and wheel, and all kept fast by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3316 the binding cords. The poor fellow may have been seated at one time, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3317 the flapping and buffeting of the sails had worked through the rudder of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3318 the wheel and dragged him to and fro, so that the cords with which he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3319 was tied had cut the flesh to the bone. Accurate note was made of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3320 state of things, and a doctor--Surgeon J. M. Caffyn, of 33, East Elliot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3321 Place--who came immediately after me, declared, after making
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3322 examination, that the man must have been dead for quite two days. In his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3323 pocket was a bottle, carefully corked, empty save for a little roll of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3324 paper, which proved to be the addendum to the log. The coastguard said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3325 the man must have tied up his own hands, fastening the knots with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3326 teeth. The fact that a coastguard was the first on board may save some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3327 complications, later on, in the Admiralty Court; for coastguards cannot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3328 claim the salvage which is the right of the first civilian entering on a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3329 derelict. Already, however, the legal tongues are wagging, and one young
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3330 law student is loudly asserting that the rights of the owner are already
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3331 completely sacrificed, his property being held in contravention of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3332 statutes of mortmain, since the tiller, as emblemship, if not proof, of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3333 delegated possession, is held in a _dead hand_. It is needless to say
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3334 that the dead steersman has been reverently removed from the place where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3335 he held his honourable watch and ward till death--a steadfastness as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3336 noble as that of the young Casabianca--and placed in the mortuary to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3337 await inquest.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3338
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3339 Already the sudden storm is passing, and its fierceness is abating;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3340 crowds are scattering homeward, and the sky is beginning to redden over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3341 the Yorkshire wolds. I shall send, in time for your next issue, further
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3342 details of the derelict ship which found her way so miraculously into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3343 harbour in the storm.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3344
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3345 _Whitby_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3346
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3347 _9 August._--The sequel to the strange arrival of the derelict in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3348 storm last night is almost more startling than the thing itself. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3349 turns out that the schooner is a Russian from Varna, and is called the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3350 _Demeter_. She is almost entirely in ballast of silver sand, with only a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3351 small amount of cargo--a number of great wooden boxes filled with mould.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3352 This cargo was consigned to a Whitby solicitor, Mr. S. F. Billington, of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3353 7, The Crescent, who this morning went aboard and formally took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3354 possession of the goods consigned to him. The Russian consul, too,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3355 acting for the charter-party, took formal possession of the ship, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3356 paid all harbour dues, etc. Nothing is talked about here to-day except
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3357 the strange coincidence; the officials of the Board of Trade have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3358 most exacting in seeing that every compliance has been made with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3359 existing regulations. As the matter is to be a "nine days' wonder," they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3360 are evidently determined that there shall be no cause of after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3361 complaint. A good deal of interest was abroad concerning the dog which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3362 landed when the ship struck, and more than a few of the members of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3363 S. P. C. A., which is very strong in Whitby, have tried to befriend the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3364 animal. To the general disappointment, however, it was not to be found;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3365 it seems to have disappeared entirely from the town. It may be that it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3366 was frightened and made its way on to the moors, where it is still
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3367 hiding in terror. There are some who look with dread on such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3368 possibility, lest later on it should in itself become a danger, for it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3369 is evidently a fierce brute. Early this morning a large dog, a half-bred
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3370 mastiff belonging to a coal merchant close to Tate Hill Pier, was found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3371 dead in the roadway opposite to its master's yard. It had been fighting,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3372 and manifestly had had a savage opponent, for its throat was torn away,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3373 and its belly was slit open as if with a savage claw.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3374
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3375 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3376
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3377 _Later._--By the kindness of the Board of Trade inspector, I have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3378 permitted to look over the log-book of the _Demeter_, which was in order
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3379 up to within three days, but contained nothing of special interest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3380 except as to facts of missing men. The greatest interest, however, is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3381 with regard to the paper found in the bottle, which was to-day produced
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3382 at the inquest; and a more strange narrative than the two between them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3383 unfold it has not been my lot to come across. As there is no motive for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3384 concealment, I am permitted to use them, and accordingly send you a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3385 rescript, simply omitting technical details of seamanship and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3386 supercargo. It almost seems as though the captain had been seized with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3387 some kind of mania before he had got well into blue water, and that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3388 this had developed persistently throughout the voyage. Of course my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3389 statement must be taken _cum grano_, since I am writing from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3390 dictation of a clerk of the Russian consul, who kindly translated for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3391 me, time being short.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3392
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3393 LOG OF THE "DEMETER."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3394
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3395
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3396 _Varna to Whitby._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3397
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3398 _Written 18 July, things so strange happening, that I shall keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3399 accurate note henceforth till we land._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3400
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3401 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3402
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3403 On 6 July we finished taking in cargo, silver sand and boxes of earth.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3404 At noon set sail. East wind, fresh. Crew, five hands ... two mates,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3405 cook, and myself (captain).
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3406
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3407 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3408
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3409 On 11 July at dawn entered Bosphorus. Boarded by Turkish Customs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3410 officers. Backsheesh. All correct. Under way at 4 p. m.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3411
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3412 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3413
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3414 On 12 July through Dardanelles. More Customs officers and flagboat of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3415 guarding squadron. Backsheesh again. Work of officers thorough, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3416 quick. Want us off soon. At dark passed into Archipelago.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3417
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3418 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3419
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3420 On 13 July passed Cape Matapan. Crew dissatisfied about something.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3421 Seemed scared, but would not speak out.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3422
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3423 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3424
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3425 On 14 July was somewhat anxious about crew. Men all steady fellows, who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3426 sailed with me before. Mate could not make out what was wrong; they only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3427 told him there was _something_, and crossed themselves. Mate lost temper
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3428 with one of them that day and struck him. Expected fierce quarrel, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3429 all was quiet.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3430
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3431 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3432
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3433 On 16 July mate reported in the morning that one of crew, Petrofsky, was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3434 missing. Could not account for it. Took larboard watch eight bells last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3435 night; was relieved by Abramoff, but did not go to bunk. Men more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3436 downcast than ever. All said they expected something of the kind, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3437 would not say more than there was _something_ aboard. Mate getting very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3438 impatient with them; feared some trouble ahead.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3439
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3440 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3441
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3442 On 17 July, yesterday, one of the men, Olgaren, came to my cabin, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3443 an awestruck way confided to me that he thought there was a strange man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3444 aboard the ship. He said that in his watch he had been sheltering
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3445 behind the deck-house, as there was a rain-storm, when he saw a tall,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3446 thin man, who was not like any of the crew, come up the companion-way,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3447 and go along the deck forward, and disappear. He followed cautiously,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3448 but when he got to bows found no one, and the hatchways were all closed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3449 He was in a panic of superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3450 spread. To allay it, I shall to-day search entire ship carefully from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3451 stem to stern.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3452
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3453 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3454
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3455 Later in the day I got together the whole crew, and told them, as they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3456 evidently thought there was some one in the ship, we would search from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3457 stem to stern. First mate angry; said it was folly, and to yield to such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3458 foolish ideas would demoralise the men; said he would engage to keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3459 them out of trouble with a handspike. I let him take the helm, while the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3460 rest began thorough search, all keeping abreast, with lanterns: we left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3461 no corner unsearched. As there were only the big wooden boxes, there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3462 were no odd corners where a man could hide. Men much relieved when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3463 search over, and went back to work cheerfully. First mate scowled, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3464 said nothing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3465
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3466 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3467
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3468 _22 July_.--Rough weather last three days, and all hands busy with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3469 sails--no time to be frightened. Men seem to have forgotten their dread.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3470 Mate cheerful again, and all on good terms. Praised men for work in bad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3471 weather. Passed Gibralter and out through Straits. All well.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3472
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3473 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3474
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3475 _24 July_.--There seems some doom over this ship. Already a hand short,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3476 and entering on the Bay of Biscay with wild weather ahead, and yet last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3477 night another man lost--disappeared. Like the first, he came off his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3478 watch and was not seen again. Men all in a panic of fear; sent a round
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3479 robin, asking to have double watch, as they fear to be alone. Mate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3480 angry. Fear there will be some trouble, as either he or the men will do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3481 some violence.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3482
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3483 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3484
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3485 _28 July_.--Four days in hell, knocking about in a sort of maelstrom,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3486 and the wind a tempest. No sleep for any one. Men all worn out. Hardly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3487 know how to set a watch, since no one fit to go on. Second mate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3488 volunteered to steer and watch, and let men snatch a few hours' sleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3489 Wind abating; seas still terrific, but feel them less, as ship is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3490 steadier.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3491
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3492 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3493
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3494 _29 July_.--Another tragedy. Had single watch to-night, as crew too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3495 tired to double. When morning watch came on deck could find no one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3496 except steersman. Raised outcry, and all came on deck. Thorough search,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3497 but no one found. Are now without second mate, and crew in a panic. Mate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3498 and I agreed to go armed henceforth and wait for any sign of cause.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3499
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3500 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3501
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3502 _30 July_.--Last night. Rejoiced we are nearing England. Weather fine,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3503 all sails set. Retired worn out; slept soundly; awaked by mate telling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3504 me that both man of watch and steersman missing. Only self and mate and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3505 two hands left to work ship.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3506
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3507 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3508
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3509 _1 August_.--Two days of fog, and not a sail sighted. Had hoped when in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3510 the English Channel to be able to signal for help or get in somewhere.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3511 Not having power to work sails, have to run before wind. Dare not lower,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3512 as could not raise them again. We seem to be drifting to some terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3513 doom. Mate now more demoralised than either of men. His stronger nature
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3514 seems to have worked inwardly against himself. Men are beyond fear,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3515 working stolidly and patiently, with minds made up to worst. They are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3516 Russian, he Roumanian.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3517
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3518 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3519
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3520 _2 August, midnight_.--Woke up from few minutes' sleep by hearing a cry,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3521 seemingly outside my port. Could see nothing in fog. Rushed on deck, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3522 ran against mate. Tells me heard cry and ran, but no sign of man on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3523 watch. One more gone. Lord, help us! Mate says we must be past Straits
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3524 of Dover, as in a moment of fog lifting he saw North Foreland, just as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3525 he heard the man cry out. If so we are now off in the North Sea, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3526 only God can guide us in the fog, which seems to move with us; and God
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3527 seems to have deserted us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3528
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3529 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3530
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3531 _3 August_.--At midnight I went to relieve the man at the wheel, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3532 when I got to it found no one there. The wind was steady, and as we ran
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3533 before it there was no yawing. I dared not leave it, so shouted for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3534 mate. After a few seconds he rushed up on deck in his flannels. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3535 looked wild-eyed and haggard, and I greatly fear his reason has given
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3536 way. He came close to me and whispered hoarsely, with his mouth to my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3537 ear, as though fearing the very air might hear: "_It_ is here; I know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3538 it, now. On the watch last night I saw It, like a man, tall and thin,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3539 and ghastly pale. It was in the bows, and looking out. I crept behind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3540 It, and gave It my knife; but the knife went through It, empty as the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3541 air." And as he spoke he took his knife and drove it savagely into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3542 space. Then he went on: "But It is here, and I'll find It. It is in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3543 hold, perhaps in one of those boxes. I'll unscrew them one by one and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3544 see. You work the helm." And, with a warning look and his finger on his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3545 lip, he went below. There was springing up a choppy wind, and I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3546 not leave the helm. I saw him come out on deck again with a tool-chest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3547 and a lantern, and go down the forward hatchway. He is mad, stark,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3548 raving mad, and it's no use my trying to stop him. He can't hurt those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3549 big boxes: they are invoiced as "clay," and to pull them about is as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3550 harmless a thing as he can do. So here I stay, and mind the helm, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3551 write these notes. I can only trust in God and wait till the fog clears.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3552 Then, if I can't steer to any harbour with the wind that is, I shall cut
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3553 down sails and lie by, and signal for help....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3554
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3555 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3556
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3557 It is nearly all over now. Just as I was beginning to hope that the mate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3558 would come out calmer--for I heard him knocking away at something in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3559 hold, and work is good for him--there came up the hatchway a sudden,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3560 startled scream, which made my blood run cold, and up on the deck he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3561 came as if shot from a gun--a raging madman, with his eyes rolling and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3562 his face convulsed with fear. "Save me! save me!" he cried, and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3563 looked round on the blanket of fog. His horror turned to despair, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3564 a steady voice he said: "You had better come too, captain, before it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3565 too late. _He_ is there. I know the secret now. The sea will save me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3566 from Him, and it is all that is left!" Before I could say a word, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3567 move forward to seize him, he sprang on the bulwark and deliberately
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3568 threw himself into the sea. I suppose I know the secret too, now. It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3569 this madman who had got rid of the men one by one, and now he has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3570 followed them himself. God help me! How am I to account for all these
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3571 horrors when I get to port? _When_ I get to port! Will that ever be?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3572
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3573 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3574
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3575 _4 August._--Still fog, which the sunrise cannot pierce. I know there is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3576 sunrise because I am a sailor, why else I know not. I dared not go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3577 below, I dared not leave the helm; so here all night I stayed, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3578 the dimness of the night I saw It--Him! God forgive me, but the mate was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3579 right to jump overboard. It was better to die like a man; to die like a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3580 sailor in blue water no man can object. But I am captain, and I must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3581 leave my ship. But I shall baffle this fiend or monster, for I shall tie
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3582 my hands to the wheel when my strength begins to fail, and along with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3583 them I shall tie that which He--It!--dare not touch; and then, come good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3584 wind or foul, I shall save my soul, and my honour as a captain. I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3585 growing weaker, and the night is coming on. If He can look me in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3586 face again, I may not have time to act.... If we are wrecked, mayhap
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3587 this bottle may be found, and those who find it may understand; if not,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3588 ... well, then all men shall know that I have been true to my trust. God
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3589 and the Blessed Virgin and the saints help a poor ignorant soul trying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3590 to do his duty....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3591
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3592 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3593
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3594 Of course the verdict was an open one. There is no evidence to adduce;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3595 and whether or not the man himself committed the murders there is now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3596 none to say. The folk here hold almost universally that the captain is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3597 simply a hero, and he is to be given a public funeral. Already it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3598 arranged that his body is to be taken with a train of boats up the Esk
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3599 for a piece and then brought back to Tate Hill Pier and up the abbey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3600 steps; for he is to be buried in the churchyard on the cliff. The owners
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3601 of more than a hundred boats have already given in their names as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3602 wishing to follow him to the grave.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3603
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3604 No trace has ever been found of the great dog; at which there is much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3605 mourning, for, with public opinion in its present state, he would, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3606 believe, be adopted by the town. To-morrow will see the funeral; and so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3607 will end this one more "mystery of the sea."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3608
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3609
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3610 _Mina Murray's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3611
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3612 _8 August._--Lucy was very restless all night, and I, too, could not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3613 sleep. The storm was fearful, and as it boomed loudly among the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3614 chimney-pots, it made me shudder. When a sharp puff came it seemed to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3615 like a distant gun. Strangely enough, Lucy did not wake; but she got up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3616 twice and dressed herself. Fortunately, each time I awoke in time and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3617 managed to undress her without waking her, and got her back to bed. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3618 is a very strange thing, this sleep-walking, for as soon as her will is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3619 thwarted in any physical way, her intention, if there be any,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3620 disappears, and she yields herself almost exactly to the routine of her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3621 life.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3622
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3623 Early in the morning we both got up and went down to the harbour to see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3624 if anything had happened in the night. There were very few people about,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3625 and though the sun was bright, and the air clear and fresh, the big,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3626 grim-looking waves, that seemed dark themselves because the foam that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3627 topped them was like snow, forced themselves in through the narrow mouth
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3628 of the harbour--like a bullying man going through a crowd. Somehow I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3629 felt glad that Jonathan was not on the sea last night, but on land. But,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3630 oh, is he on land or sea? Where is he, and how? I am getting fearfully
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3631 anxious about him. If I only knew what to do, and could do anything!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3632
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3633 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3634
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3635 _10 August._--The funeral of the poor sea-captain to-day was most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3636 touching. Every boat in the harbour seemed to be there, and the coffin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3637 was carried by captains all the way from Tate Hill Pier up to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3638 churchyard. Lucy came with me, and we went early to our old seat, whilst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3639 the cortège of boats went up the river to the Viaduct and came down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3640 again. We had a lovely view, and saw the procession nearly all the way.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3641 The poor fellow was laid to rest quite near our seat so that we stood on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3642 it when the time came and saw everything. Poor Lucy seemed much upset.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3643 She was restless and uneasy all the time, and I cannot but think that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3644 her dreaming at night is telling on her. She is quite odd in one thing:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3645 she will not admit to me that there is any cause for restlessness; or if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3646 there be, she does not understand it herself. There is an additional
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3647 cause in that poor old Mr. Swales was found dead this morning on our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3648 seat, his neck being broken. He had evidently, as the doctor said,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3649 fallen back in the seat in some sort of fright, for there was a look of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3650 fear and horror on his face that the men said made them shudder. Poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3651 dear old man! Perhaps he had seen Death with his dying eyes! Lucy is so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3652 sweet and sensitive that she feels influences more acutely than other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3653 people do. Just now she was quite upset by a little thing which I did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3654 not much heed, though I am myself very fond of animals. One of the men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3655 who came up here often to look for the boats was followed by his dog.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3656 The dog is always with him. They are both quiet persons, and I never saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3657 the man angry, nor heard the dog bark. During the service the dog would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3658 not come to its master, who was on the seat with us, but kept a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3659 yards off, barking and howling. Its master spoke to it gently, and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3660 harshly, and then angrily; but it would neither come nor cease to make a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3661 noise. It was in a sort of fury, with its eyes savage, and all its hairs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3662 bristling out like a cat's tail when puss is on the war-path. Finally
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3663 the man, too, got angry, and jumped down and kicked the dog, and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3664 took it by the scruff of the neck and half dragged and half threw it on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3665 the tombstone on which the seat is fixed. The moment it touched the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3666 stone the poor thing became quiet and fell all into a tremble. It did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3667 not try to get away, but crouched down, quivering and cowering, and was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3668 in such a pitiable state of terror that I tried, though without effect,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3669 to comfort it. Lucy was full of pity, too, but she did not attempt to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3670 touch the dog, but looked at it in an agonised sort of way. I greatly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3671 fear that she is of too super-sensitive a nature to go through the world
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3672 without trouble. She will be dreaming of this to-night, I am sure. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3673 whole agglomeration of things--the ship steered into port by a dead
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3674 man; his attitude, tied to the wheel with a crucifix and beads; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3675 touching funeral; the dog, now furious and now in terror--will all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3676 afford material for her dreams.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3677
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3678 I think it will be best for her to go to bed tired out physically, so I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3679 shall take her for a long walk by the cliffs to Robin Hood's Bay and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3680 back. She ought not to have much inclination for sleep-walking then.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3681
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3682
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3683
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3684
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3685 CHAPTER VIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3686
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3687 MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3688
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3689
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3690 _Same day, 11 o'clock p. m._--Oh, but I am tired! If it were not that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3691 had made my diary a duty I should not open it to-night. We had a lovely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3692 walk. Lucy, after a while, was in gay spirits, owing, I think, to some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3693 dear cows who came nosing towards us in a field close to the lighthouse,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3694 and frightened the wits out of us. I believe we forgot everything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3695 except, of course, personal fear, and it seemed to wipe the slate clean
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3696 and give us a fresh start. We had a capital "severe tea" at Robin Hood's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3697 Bay in a sweet little old-fashioned inn, with a bow-window right over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3698 the seaweed-covered rocks of the strand. I believe we should have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3699 shocked the "New Woman" with our appetites. Men are more tolerant, bless
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3700 them! Then we walked home with some, or rather many, stoppages to rest,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3701 and with our hearts full of a constant dread of wild bulls. Lucy was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3702 really tired, and we intended to creep off to bed as soon as we could.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3703 The young curate came in, however, and Mrs. Westenra asked him to stay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3704 for supper. Lucy and I had both a fight for it with the dusty miller; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3705 know it was a hard fight on my part, and I am quite heroic. I think that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3706 some day the bishops must get together and see about breeding up a new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3707 class of curates, who don't take supper, no matter how they may be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3708 pressed to, and who will know when girls are tired. Lucy is asleep and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3709 breathing softly. She has more colour in her cheeks than usual, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3710 looks, oh, so sweet. If Mr. Holmwood fell in love with her seeing her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3711 only in the drawing-room, I wonder what he would say if he saw her now.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3712 Some of the "New Women" writers will some day start an idea that men and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3713 women should be allowed to see each other asleep before proposing or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3714 accepting. But I suppose the New Woman won't condescend in future to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3715 accept; she will do the proposing herself. And a nice job she will make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3716 of it, too! There's some consolation in that. I am so happy to-night,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3717 because dear Lucy seems better. I really believe she has turned the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3718 corner, and that we are over her troubles with dreaming. I should be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3719 quite happy if I only knew if Jonathan.... God bless and keep him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3720
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3721 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3722
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3723 _11 August, 3 a. m._--Diary again. No sleep now, so I may as well write.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3724 I am too agitated to sleep. We have had such an adventure, such an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3725 agonising experience. I fell asleep as soon as I had closed my diary....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3726 Suddenly I became broad awake, and sat up, with a horrible sense of fear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3727 upon me, and of some feeling of emptiness around me. The room was dark,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3728 so I could not see Lucy's bed; I stole across and felt for her. The bed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3729 was empty. I lit a match and found that she was not in the room. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3730 door was shut, but not locked, as I had left it. I feared to wake her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3731 mother, who has been more than usually ill lately, so threw on some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3732 clothes and got ready to look for her. As I was leaving the room it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3733 struck me that the clothes she wore might give me some clue to her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3734 dreaming intention. Dressing-gown would mean house; dress, outside.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3735 Dressing-gown and dress were both in their places. "Thank God," I said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3736 to myself, "she cannot be far, as she is only in her nightdress." I ran
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3737 downstairs and looked in the sitting-room. Not there! Then I looked in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3738 all the other open rooms of the house, with an ever-growing fear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3739 chilling my heart. Finally I came to the hall door and found it open. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3740 was not wide open, but the catch of the lock had not caught. The people
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3741 of the house are careful to lock the door every night, so I feared that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3742 Lucy must have gone out as she was. There was no time to think of what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3743 might happen; a vague, overmastering fear obscured all details. I took a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3744 big, heavy shawl and ran out. The clock was striking one as I was in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3745 Crescent, and there was not a soul in sight. I ran along the North
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3746 Terrace, but could see no sign of the white figure which I expected. At
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3747 the edge of the West Cliff above the pier I looked across the harbour to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3748 the East Cliff, in the hope or fear--I don't know which--of seeing Lucy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3749 in our favourite seat. There was a bright full moon, with heavy black,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3750 driving clouds, which threw the whole scene into a fleeting diorama of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3751 light and shade as they sailed across. For a moment or two I could see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3752 nothing, as the shadow of a cloud obscured St. Mary's Church and all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3753 around it. Then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the abbey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3754 coming into view; and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3755 a sword-cut moved along, the church and the churchyard became gradually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3756 visible. Whatever my expectation was, it was not disappointed, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3757 there, on our favourite seat, the silver light of the moon struck a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3758 half-reclining figure, snowy white. The coming of the cloud was too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3759 quick for me to see much, for shadow shut down on light almost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3760 immediately; but it seemed to me as though something dark stood behind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3761 the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it. What it was,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3762 whether man or beast, I could not tell; I did not wait to catch another
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3763 glance, but flew down the steep steps to the pier and along by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3764 fish-market to the bridge, which was the only way to reach the East
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3765 Cliff. The town seemed as dead, for not a soul did I see; I rejoiced
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3766 that it was so, for I wanted no witness of poor Lucy's condition. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3767 time and distance seemed endless, and my knees trembled and my breath
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3768 came laboured as I toiled up the endless steps to the abbey. I must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3769 gone fast, and yet it seemed to me as if my feet were weighted with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3770 lead, and as though every joint in my body were rusty. When I got almost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3771 to the top I could see the seat and the white figure, for I was now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3772 close enough to distinguish it even through the spells of shadow. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3773 was undoubtedly something, long and black, bending over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3774 half-reclining white figure. I called in fright, "Lucy! Lucy!" and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3775 something raised a head, and from where I was I could see a white face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3776 and red, gleaming eyes. Lucy did not answer, and I ran on to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3777 entrance of the churchyard. As I entered, the church was between me and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3778 the seat, and for a minute or so I lost sight of her. When I came in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3779 view again the cloud had passed, and the moonlight struck so brilliantly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3780 that I could see Lucy half reclining with her head lying over the back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3781 of the seat. She was quite alone, and there was not a sign of any living
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3782 thing about.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3783
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3784 When I bent over her I could see that she was still asleep. Her lips
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3785 were parted, and she was breathing--not softly as usual with her, but in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3786 long, heavy gasps, as though striving to get her lungs full at every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3787 breath. As I came close, she put up her hand in her sleep and pulled the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3788 collar of her nightdress close around her throat. Whilst she did so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3789 there came a little shudder through her, as though she felt the cold. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3790 flung the warm shawl over her, and drew the edges tight round her neck,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3791 for I dreaded lest she should get some deadly chill from the night air,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3792 unclad as she was. I feared to wake her all at once, so, in order to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3793 have my hands free that I might help her, I fastened the shawl at her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3794 throat with a big safety-pin; but I must have been clumsy in my anxiety
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3795 and pinched or pricked her with it, for by-and-by, when her breathing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3796 became quieter, she put her hand to her throat again and moaned. When I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3797 had her carefully wrapped up I put my shoes on her feet and then began
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3798 very gently to wake her. At first she did not respond; but gradually she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3799 became more and more uneasy in her sleep, moaning and sighing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3800 occasionally. At last, as time was passing fast, and, for many other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3801 reasons, I wished to get her home at once, I shook her more forcibly,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3802 till finally she opened her eyes and awoke. She did not seem surprised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3803 to see me, as, of course, she did not realise all at once where she was.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3804 Lucy always wakes prettily, and even at such a time, when her body must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3805 have been chilled with cold, and her mind somewhat appalled at waking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3806 unclad in a churchyard at night, she did not lose her grace. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3807 trembled a little, and clung to me; when I told her to come at once with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3808 me home she rose without a word, with the obedience of a child. As we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3809 passed along, the gravel hurt my feet, and Lucy noticed me wince. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3810 stopped and wanted to insist upon my taking my shoes; but I would not.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3811 However, when we got to the pathway outside the churchyard, where there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3812 was a puddle of water, remaining from the storm, I daubed my feet with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3813 mud, using each foot in turn on the other, so that as we went home, no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3814 one, in case we should meet any one, should notice my bare feet.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3815
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3816 Fortune favoured us, and we got home without meeting a soul. Once we saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3817 a man, who seemed not quite sober, passing along a street in front of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3818 us; but we hid in a door till he had disappeared up an opening such as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3819 there are here, steep little closes, or "wynds," as they call them in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3820 Scotland. My heart beat so loud all the time that sometimes I thought I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3821 should faint. I was filled with anxiety about Lucy, not only for her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3822 health, lest she should suffer from the exposure, but for her reputation
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3823 in case the story should get wind. When we got in, and had washed our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3824 feet, and had said a prayer of thankfulness together, I tucked her into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3825 bed. Before falling asleep she asked--even implored--me not to say a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3826 word to any one, even her mother, about her sleep-walking adventure. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3827 hesitated at first to promise; but on thinking of the state of her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3828 mother's health, and how the knowledge of such a thing would fret her,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3829 and thinking, too, of how such a story might become distorted--nay,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3830 infallibly would--in case it should leak out, I thought it wiser to do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3831 so. I hope I did right. I have locked the door, and the key is tied to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3832 my wrist, so perhaps I shall not be again disturbed. Lucy is sleeping
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3833 soundly; the reflex of the dawn is high and far over the sea....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3834
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3835 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3836
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3837 _Same day, noon._--All goes well. Lucy slept till I woke her and seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3838 not to have even changed her side. The adventure of the night does not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3839 seem to have harmed her; on the contrary, it has benefited her, for she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3840 looks better this morning than she has done for weeks. I was sorry to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3841 notice that my clumsiness with the safety-pin hurt her. Indeed, it might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3842 have been serious, for the skin of her throat was pierced. I must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3843 pinched up a piece of loose skin and have transfixed it, for there are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3844 two little red points like pin-pricks, and on the band of her nightdress
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3845 was a drop of blood. When I apologised and was concerned about it, she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3846 laughed and petted me, and said she did not even feel it. Fortunately it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3847 cannot leave a scar, as it is so tiny.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3849 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3850
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3851 _Same day, night._--We passed a happy day. The air was clear, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3852 sun bright, and there was a cool breeze. We took our lunch to Mulgrave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3853 Woods, Mrs. Westenra driving by the road and Lucy and I walking by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3854 cliff-path and joining her at the gate. I felt a little sad myself, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3855 I could not but feel how _absolutely_ happy it would have been had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3856 Jonathan been with me. But there! I must only be patient. In the evening
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3857 we strolled in the Casino Terrace, and heard some good music by Spohr
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3858 and Mackenzie, and went to bed early. Lucy seems more restful than she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3859 has been for some time, and fell asleep at once. I shall lock the door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3860 and secure the key the same as before, though I do not expect any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3861 trouble to-night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3862
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3863 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3864
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3865 _12 August._--My expectations were wrong, for twice during the night I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3866 was wakened by Lucy trying to get out. She seemed, even in her sleep, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3867 be a little impatient at finding the door shut, and went back to bed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3868 under a sort of protest. I woke with the dawn, and heard the birds
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3869 chirping outside of the window. Lucy woke, too, and, I was glad to see,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3870 was even better than on the previous morning. All her old gaiety of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3871 manner seemed to have come back, and she came and snuggled in beside me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3872 and told me all about Arthur. I told her how anxious I was about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3873 Jonathan, and then she tried to comfort me. Well, she succeeded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3874 somewhat, for, though sympathy can't alter facts, it can help to make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3875 them more bearable.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3876
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3877 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3878
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3879 _13 August._--Another quiet day, and to bed with the key on my wrist as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3880 before. Again I awoke in the night, and found Lucy sitting up in bed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3881 still asleep, pointing to the window. I got up quietly, and pulling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3882 aside the blind, looked out. It was brilliant moonlight, and the soft
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3883 effect of the light over the sea and sky--merged together in one great,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3884 silent mystery--was beautiful beyond words. Between me and the moonlight
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3885 flitted a great bat, coming and going in great whirling circles. Once or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3886 twice it came quite close, but was, I suppose, frightened at seeing me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3887 and flitted away across the harbour towards the abbey. When I came back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3888 from the window Lucy had lain down again, and was sleeping peacefully.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3889 She did not stir again all night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3890
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3891 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3892
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3893 _14 August._--On the East Cliff, reading and writing all day. Lucy seems
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3894 to have become as much in love with the spot as I am, and it is hard to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3895 get her away from it when it is time to come home for lunch or tea or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3896 dinner. This afternoon she made a funny remark. We were coming home for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3897 dinner, and had come to the top of the steps up from the West Pier and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3898 stopped to look at the view, as we generally do. The setting sun, low
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3899 down in the sky, was just dropping behind Kettleness; the red light was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3900 thrown over on the East Cliff and the old abbey, and seemed to bathe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3901 everything in a beautiful rosy glow. We were silent for a while, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3902 suddenly Lucy murmured as if to herself:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3903
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3904 "His red eyes again! They are just the same." It was such an odd
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3905 expression, coming _apropos_ of nothing, that it quite startled me. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3906 slewed round a little, so as to see Lucy well without seeming to stare
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3907 at her, and saw that she was in a half-dreamy state, with an odd look on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3908 her face that I could not quite make out; so I said nothing, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3909 followed her eyes. She appeared to be looking over at our own seat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3910 whereon was a dark figure seated alone. I was a little startled myself,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3911 for it seemed for an instant as if the stranger had great eyes like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3912 burning flames; but a second look dispelled the illusion. The red
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3913 sunlight was shining on the windows of St. Mary's Church behind our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3914 seat, and as the sun dipped there was just sufficient change in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3915 refraction and reflection to make it appear as if the light moved. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3916 called Lucy's attention to the peculiar effect, and she became herself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3917 with a start, but she looked sad all the same; it may have been that she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3918 was thinking of that terrible night up there. We never refer to it; so I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3919 said nothing, and we went home to dinner. Lucy had a headache and went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3920 early to bed. I saw her asleep, and went out for a little stroll myself;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3921 I walked along the cliffs to the westward, and was full of sweet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3922 sadness, for I was thinking of Jonathan. When coming home--it was then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3923 bright moonlight, so bright that, though the front of our part of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3924 Crescent was in shadow, everything could be well seen--I threw a glance
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3925 up at our window, and saw Lucy's head leaning out. I thought that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3926 perhaps she was looking out for me, so I opened my handkerchief and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3927 waved it. She did not notice or make any movement whatever. Just then,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3928 the moonlight crept round an angle of the building, and the light fell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3929 on the window. There distinctly was Lucy with her head lying up against
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3930 the side of the window-sill and her eyes shut. She was fast asleep, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3931 by her, seated on the window-sill, was something that looked like a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3932 good-sized bird. I was afraid she might get a chill, so I ran upstairs,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3933 but as I came into the room she was moving back to her bed, fast
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3934 asleep, and breathing heavily; she was holding her hand to her throat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3935 as though to protect it from cold.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3936
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3937 I did not wake her, but tucked her up warmly; I have taken care that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3938 door is locked and the window securely fastened.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3939
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3940 She looks so sweet as she sleeps; but she is paler than is her wont, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3941 there is a drawn, haggard look under her eyes which I do not like. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3942 fear she is fretting about something. I wish I could find out what it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3943 is.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3944
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3945 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3946
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3947 _15 August._--Rose later than usual. Lucy was languid and tired, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3948 slept on after we had been called. We had a happy surprise at breakfast.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3949 Arthur's father is better, and wants the marriage to come off soon. Lucy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3950 is full of quiet joy, and her mother is glad and sorry at once. Later on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3951 in the day she told me the cause. She is grieved to lose Lucy as her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3952 very own, but she is rejoiced that she is soon to have some one to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3953 protect her. Poor dear, sweet lady! She confided to me that she has got
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3954 her death-warrant. She has not told Lucy, and made me promise secrecy;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3955 her doctor told her that within a few months, at most, she must die, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3956 her heart is weakening. At any time, even now, a sudden shock would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3957 almost sure to kill her. Ah, we were wise to keep from her the affair of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3958 the dreadful night of Lucy's sleep-walking.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3959
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3960 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3961
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3962 _17 August._--No diary for two whole days. I have not had the heart to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3963 write. Some sort of shadowy pall seems to be coming over our happiness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3964 No news from Jonathan, and Lucy seems to be growing weaker, whilst her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3965 mother's hours are numbering to a close. I do not understand Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3966 fading away as she is doing. She eats well and sleeps well, and enjoys
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3967 the fresh air; but all the time the roses in her cheeks are fading, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3968 she gets weaker and more languid day by day; at night I hear her gasping
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3969 as if for air. I keep the key of our door always fastened to my wrist at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3970 night, but she gets up and walks about the room, and sits at the open
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3971 window. Last night I found her leaning out when I woke up, and when I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3972 tried to wake her I could not; she was in a faint. When I managed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3973 restore her she was as weak as water, and cried silently between long,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3974 painful struggles for breath. When I asked her how she came to be at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3975 window she shook her head and turned away. I trust her feeling ill may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3976 not be from that unlucky prick of the safety-pin. I looked at her throat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3977 just now as she lay asleep, and the tiny wounds seem not to have healed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3978 They are still open, and, if anything, larger than before, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3979 edges of them are faintly white. They are like little white dots with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3980 red centres. Unless they heal within a day or two, I shall insist on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3981 doctor seeing about them.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3982
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3983
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3984 _Letter, Samuel F. Billington & Son, Solicitors, Whitby, to Messrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3985 Carter, Paterson & Co., London._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3986
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3987 "_17 August._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3988
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3989 "Dear Sirs,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3990
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3991 "Herewith please receive invoice of goods sent by Great Northern
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3992 Railway. Same are to be delivered at Carfax, near Purfleet, immediately
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3993 on receipt at goods station King's Cross. The house is at present empty,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3994 but enclosed please find keys, all of which are labelled.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3995
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3996 "You will please deposit the boxes, fifty in number, which form the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3997 consignment, in the partially ruined building forming part of the house
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3998 and marked 'A' on rough diagram enclosed. Your agent will easily
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 3999 recognise the locality, as it is the ancient chapel of the mansion. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4000 goods leave by the train at 9:30 to-night, and will be due at King's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4001 Cross at 4:30 to-morrow afternoon. As our client wishes the delivery
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4002 made as soon as possible, we shall be obliged by your having teams ready
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4003 at King's Cross at the time named and forthwith conveying the goods to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4004 destination. In order to obviate any delays possible through any routine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4005 requirements as to payment in your departments, we enclose cheque
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4006 herewith for ten pounds (£10), receipt of which please acknowledge.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4007 Should the charge be less than this amount, you can return balance; if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4008 greater, we shall at once send cheque for difference on hearing from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4009 you. You are to leave the keys on coming away in the main hall of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4010 house, where the proprietor may get them on his entering the house by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4011 means of his duplicate key.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4012
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4013 "Pray do not take us as exceeding the bounds of business courtesy in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4014 pressing you in all ways to use the utmost expedition.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4015
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4016 _"We are, dear Sirs,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4017
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4018 "Faithfully yours,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4019
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4020 "SAMUEL F. BILLINGTON & SON."_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4022
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4023 _Letter, Messrs. Carter, Paterson & Co., London, to Messrs. Billington &
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4024 Son, Whitby._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4025
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4026 "_21 August._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4027
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4028 "Dear Sirs,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4029
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4030 "We beg to acknowledge £10 received and to return cheque £1 17s. 9d,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4031 amount of overplus, as shown in receipted account herewith. Goods are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4032 delivered in exact accordance with instructions, and keys left in parcel
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4033 in main hall, as directed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4034
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4035 "We are, dear Sirs,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4036
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4037 "Yours respectfully.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4038
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4039 "_Pro_ CARTER, PATERSON & CO."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4040
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4041
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4042 _Mina Murray's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4043
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4044 _18 August._--I am happy to-day, and write sitting on the seat in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4045 churchyard. Lucy is ever so much better. Last night she slept well all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4046 night, and did not disturb me once. The roses seem coming back already
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4047 to her cheeks, though she is still sadly pale and wan-looking. If she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4048 were in any way anæmic I could understand it, but she is not. She is in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4049 gay spirits and full of life and cheerfulness. All the morbid reticence
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4050 seems to have passed from her, and she has just reminded me, as if I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4051 needed any reminding, of _that_ night, and that it was here, on this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4052 very seat, I found her asleep. As she told me she tapped playfully with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4053 the heel of her boot on the stone slab and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4054
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4055 "My poor little feet didn't make much noise then! I daresay poor old Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4056 Swales would have told me that it was because I didn't want to wake up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4057 Geordie." As she was in such a communicative humour, I asked her if she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4058 had dreamed at all that night. Before she answered, that sweet, puckered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4059 look came into her forehead, which Arthur--I call him Arthur from her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4060 habit--says he loves; and, indeed, I don't wonder that he does. Then she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4061 went on in a half-dreaming kind of way, as if trying to recall it to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4062 herself:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4063
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4064 "I didn't quite dream; but it all seemed to be real. I only wanted to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4065 here in this spot--I don't know why, for I was afraid of something--I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4066 don't know what. I remember, though I suppose I was asleep, passing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4067 through the streets and over the bridge. A fish leaped as I went by, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4068 I leaned over to look at it, and I heard a lot of dogs howling--the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4069 whole town seemed as if it must be full of dogs all howling at once--as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4070 I went up the steps. Then I had a vague memory of something long and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4071 dark with red eyes, just as we saw in the sunset, and something very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4072 sweet and very bitter all around me at once; and then I seemed sinking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4073 into deep green water, and there was a singing in my ears, as I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4074 heard there is to drowning men; and then everything seemed passing away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4075 from me; my soul seemed to go out from my body and float about the air.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4076 I seem to remember that once the West Lighthouse was right under me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4077 and then there was a sort of agonising feeling, as if I were in an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4078 earthquake, and I came back and found you shaking my body. I saw you do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4079 it before I felt you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4080
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4081 Then she began to laugh. It seemed a little uncanny to me, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4082 listened to her breathlessly. I did not quite like it, and thought it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4083 better not to keep her mind on the subject, so we drifted on to other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4084 subjects, and Lucy was like her old self again. When we got home the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4085 fresh breeze had braced her up, and her pale cheeks were really more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4086 rosy. Her mother rejoiced when she saw her, and we all spent a very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4087 happy evening together.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4088
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4089 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4090
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4091 _19 August._--Joy, joy, joy! although not all joy. At last, news of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4092 Jonathan. The dear fellow has been ill; that is why he did not write. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4093 am not afraid to think it or say it, now that I know. Mr. Hawkins sent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4094 me on the letter, and wrote himself, oh, so kindly. I am to leave in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4095 morning and go over to Jonathan, and to help to nurse him if necessary,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4096 and to bring him home. Mr. Hawkins says it would not be a bad thing if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4097 we were to be married out there. I have cried over the good Sister's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4098 letter till I can feel it wet against my bosom, where it lies. It is of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4099 Jonathan, and must be next my heart, for he is _in_ my heart. My journey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4100 is all mapped out, and my luggage ready. I am only taking one change of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4101 dress; Lucy will bring my trunk to London and keep it till I send for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4102 it, for it may be that ... I must write no more; I must keep it to say
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4103 to Jonathan, my husband. The letter that he has seen and touched must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4104 comfort me till we meet.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4105
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4106
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4107 _Letter, Sister Agatha, Hospital of St. Joseph and Ste. Mary,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4108 Buda-Pesth, to Miss Wilhelmina Murray._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4109
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4110 "_12 August._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4111
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4112 "Dear Madam,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4113
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4114 "I write by desire of Mr. Jonathan Harker, who is himself not strong
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4115 enough to write, though progressing well, thanks to God and St. Joseph
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4116 and Ste. Mary. He has been under our care for nearly six weeks,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4117 suffering from a violent brain fever. He wishes me to convey his love,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4118 and to say that by this post I write for him to Mr. Peter Hawkins,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4119 Exeter, to say, with his dutiful respects, that he is sorry for his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4120 delay, and that all of his work is completed. He will require some few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4121 weeks' rest in our sanatorium in the hills, but will then return. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4122 wishes me to say that he has not sufficient money with him, and that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4123 would like to pay for his staying here, so that others who need shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4124 not be wanting for help.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4125
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4126 "Believe me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4127
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4128 "Yours, with sympathy and all blessings,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4129
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4130 "SISTER AGATHA.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4132 "P. S.--My patient being asleep, I open this to let you know something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4133 more. He has told me all about you, and that you are shortly to be his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4134 wife. All blessings to you both! He has had some fearful shock--so says
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4135 our doctor--and in his delirium his ravings have been dreadful; of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4136 wolves and poison and blood; of ghosts and demons; and I fear to say of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4137 what. Be careful with him always that there may be nothing to excite him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4138 of this kind for a long time to come; the traces of such an illness as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4139 his do not lightly die away. We should have written long ago, but we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4140 knew nothing of his friends, and there was on him nothing that any one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4141 could understand. He came in the train from Klausenburg, and the guard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4142 was told by the station-master there that he rushed into the station
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4143 shouting for a ticket for home. Seeing from his violent demeanour that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4144 he was English, they gave him a ticket for the furthest station on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4145 way thither that the train reached.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4146
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4147 "Be assured that he is well cared for. He has won all hearts by his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4148 sweetness and gentleness. He is truly getting on well, and I have no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4149 doubt will in a few weeks be all himself. But be careful of him for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4150 safety's sake. There are, I pray God and St. Joseph and Ste. Mary, many,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4151 many, happy years for you both."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4152
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4153
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4154 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4155
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4156 _19 August._--Strange and sudden change in Renfield last night. About
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4157 eight o'clock he began to get excited and sniff about as a dog does when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4158 setting. The attendant was struck by his manner, and knowing my interest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4159 in him, encouraged him to talk. He is usually respectful to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4160 attendant and at times servile; but to-night, the man tells me, he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4161 quite haughty. Would not condescend to talk with him at all. All he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4162 would say was:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4163
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4164 "I don't want to talk to you: you don't count now; the Master is at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4165 hand."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4166
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4167 The attendant thinks it is some sudden form of religious mania which has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4168 seized him. If so, we must look out for squalls, for a strong man with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4169 homicidal and religious mania at once might be dangerous. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4170 combination is a dreadful one. At nine o'clock I visited him myself. His
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4171 attitude to me was the same as that to the attendant; in his sublime
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4172 self-feeling the difference between myself and attendant seemed to him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4173 as nothing. It looks like religious mania, and he will soon think that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4174 he himself is God. These infinitesimal distinctions between man and man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4175 are too paltry for an Omnipotent Being. How these madmen give themselves
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4176 away! The real God taketh heed lest a sparrow fall; but the God created
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4177 from human vanity sees no difference between an eagle and a sparrow. Oh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4178 if men only knew!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4179
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4180 For half an hour or more Renfield kept getting excited in greater and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4181 greater degree. I did not pretend to be watching him, but I kept strict
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4182 observation all the same. All at once that shifty look came into his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4183 eyes which we always see when a madman has seized an idea, and with it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4184 the shifty movement of the head and back which asylum attendants come to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4185 know so well. He became quite quiet, and went and sat on the edge of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4186 bed resignedly, and looked into space with lack-lustre eyes. I thought I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4187 would find out if his apathy were real or only assumed, and tried to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4188 lead him to talk of his pets, a theme which had never failed to excite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4189 his attention. At first he made no reply, but at length said testily:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4190
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4191 "Bother them all! I don't care a pin about them."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4192
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4193 "What?" I said. "You don't mean to tell me you don't care about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4194 spiders?" (Spiders at present are his hobby and the note-book is filling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4195 up with columns of small figures.) To this he answered enigmatically:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4196
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4197 "The bride-maidens rejoice the eyes that wait the coming of the bride;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4198 but when the bride draweth nigh, then the maidens shine not to the eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4199 that are filled."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4200
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4201 He would not explain himself, but remained obstinately seated on his bed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4202 all the time I remained with him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4203
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4204 I am weary to-night and low in spirits. I cannot but think of Lucy, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4205 how different things might have been. If I don't sleep at once, chloral,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4206 the modern Morpheus--C_{2}HCl_{3}O. H_{2}O! I must be careful not to let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4207 it grow into a habit. No, I shall take none to-night! I have thought of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4208 Lucy, and I shall not dishonour her by mixing the two. If need be,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4209 to-night shall be sleepless....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4210
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4211 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4212
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4213 _Later._--Glad I made the resolution; gladder that I kept to it. I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4214 lain tossing about, and had heard the clock strike only twice, when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4215 night-watchman came to me, sent up from the ward, to say that Renfield
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4216 had escaped. I threw on my clothes and ran down at once; my patient is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4217 too dangerous a person to be roaming about. Those ideas of his might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4218 work out dangerously with strangers. The attendant was waiting for me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4219 He said he had seen him not ten minutes before, seemingly asleep in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4220 bed, when he had looked through the observation-trap in the door. His
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4221 attention was called by the sound of the window being wrenched out. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4222 ran back and saw his feet disappear through the window, and had at once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4223 sent up for me. He was only in his night-gear, and cannot be far off.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4224 The attendant thought it would be more useful to watch where he should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4225 go than to follow him, as he might lose sight of him whilst getting out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4226 of the building by the door. He is a bulky man, and couldn't get through
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4227 the window. I am thin, so, with his aid, I got out, but feet foremost,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4228 and, as we were only a few feet above ground, landed unhurt. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4229 attendant told me the patient had gone to the left, and had taken a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4230 straight line, so I ran as quickly as I could. As I got through the belt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4231 of trees I saw a white figure scale the high wall which separates our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4232 grounds from those of the deserted house.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4233
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4234 I ran back at once, told the watchman to get three or four men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4235 immediately and follow me into the grounds of Carfax, in case our friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4236 might be dangerous. I got a ladder myself, and crossing the wall,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4237 dropped down on the other side. I could see Renfield's figure just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4238 disappearing behind the angle of the house, so I ran after him. On the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4239 far side of the house I found him pressed close against the old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4240 ironbound oak door of the chapel. He was talking, apparently to some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4241 one, but I was afraid to go near enough to hear what he was saying, lest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4242 I might frighten him, and he should run off. Chasing an errant swarm of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4243 bees is nothing to following a naked lunatic, when the fit of escaping
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4244 is upon him! After a few minutes, however, I could see that he did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4245 take note of anything around him, and so ventured to draw nearer to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4246 him--the more so as my men had now crossed the wall and were closing him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4247 in. I heard him say:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4248
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4249 "I am here to do Your bidding, Master. I am Your slave, and You will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4250 reward me, for I shall be faithful. I have worshipped You long and afar
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4251 off. Now that You are near, I await Your commands, and You will not pass
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4252 me by, will You, dear Master, in Your distribution of good things?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4253
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4254 He _is_ a selfish old beggar anyhow. He thinks of the loaves and fishes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4255 even when he believes he is in a Real Presence. His manias make a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4256 startling combination. When we closed in on him he fought like a tiger.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4257 He is immensely strong, for he was more like a wild beast than a man. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4258 never saw a lunatic in such a paroxysm of rage before; and I hope I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4259 shall not again. It is a mercy that we have found out his strength and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4260 his danger in good time. With strength and determination like his, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4261 might have done wild work before he was caged. He is safe now at any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4262 rate. Jack Sheppard himself couldn't get free from the strait-waistcoat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4263 that keeps him restrained, and he's chained to the wall in the padded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4264 room. His cries are at times awful, but the silences that follow are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4265 more deadly still, for he means murder in every turn and movement.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4266
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4267 Just now he spoke coherent words for the first time:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4268
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4269 "I shall be patient, Master. It is coming--coming--coming!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4270
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4271 So I took the hint, and came too. I was too excited to sleep, but this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4272 diary has quieted me, and I feel I shall get some sleep to-night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4273
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4274
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4275
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4276
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4277 CHAPTER IX
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4278
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4279
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4280 _Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4281
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4282 "_Buda-Pesth, 24 August._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4283
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4284 "My dearest Lucy,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4285
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4286 "I know you will be anxious to hear all that has happened since we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4287 parted at the railway station at Whitby. Well, my dear, I got to Hull
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4288 all right, and caught the boat to Hamburg, and then the train on here. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4289 feel that I can hardly recall anything of the journey, except that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4290 knew I was coming to Jonathan, and, that as I should have to do some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4291 nursing, I had better get all the sleep I could.... I found my dear one,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4292 oh, so thin and pale and weak-looking. All the resolution has gone out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4293 of his dear eyes, and that quiet dignity which I told you was in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4294 face has vanished. He is only a wreck of himself, and he does not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4295 remember anything that has happened to him for a long time past. At
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4296 least, he wants me to believe so, and I shall never ask. He has had some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4297 terrible shock, and I fear it might tax his poor brain if he were to try
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4298 to recall it. Sister Agatha, who is a good creature and a born nurse,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4299 tells me that he raved of dreadful things whilst he was off his head. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4300 wanted her to tell me what they were; but she would only cross herself,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4301 and say she would never tell; that the ravings of the sick were the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4302 secrets of God, and that if a nurse through her vocation should hear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4303 them, she should respect her trust. She is a sweet, good soul, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4304 next day, when she saw I was troubled, she opened up the subject again,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4305 and after saying that she could never mention what my poor dear raved
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4306 about, added: 'I can tell you this much, my dear: that it was not about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4307 anything which he has done wrong himself; and you, as his wife to be,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4308 have no cause to be concerned. He has not forgotten you or what he owes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4309 to you. His fear was of great and terrible things, which no mortal can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4310 treat of.' I do believe the dear soul thought I might be jealous lest my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4311 poor dear should have fallen in love with any other girl. The idea of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4312 _my_ being jealous about Jonathan! And yet, my dear, let me whisper, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4313 felt a thrill of joy through me when I _knew_ that no other woman was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4314 cause of trouble. I am now sitting by his bedside, where I can see his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4315 face while he sleeps. He is waking!...
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4316
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4317 "When he woke he asked me for his coat, as he wanted to get something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4318 from the pocket; I asked Sister Agatha, and she brought all his things.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4319 I saw that amongst them was his note-book, and was going to ask him to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4320 let me look at it--for I knew then that I might find some clue to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4321 trouble--but I suppose he must have seen my wish in my eyes, for he sent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4322 me over to the window, saying he wanted to be quite alone for a moment.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4323 Then he called me back, and when I came he had his hand over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4324 note-book, and he said to me very solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4325
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4326 "'Wilhelmina'--I knew then that he was in deadly earnest, for he has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4327 never called me by that name since he asked me to marry him--'you know,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4328 dear, my ideas of the trust between husband and wife: there should be no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4329 secret, no concealment. I have had a great shock, and when I try to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4330 think of what it is I feel my head spin round, and I do not know if it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4331 was all real or the dreaming of a madman. You know I have had brain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4332 fever, and that is to be mad. The secret is here, and I do not want to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4333 know it. I want to take up my life here, with our marriage.' For, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4334 dear, we had decided to be married as soon as the formalities are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4335 complete. 'Are you willing, Wilhelmina, to share my ignorance? Here is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4336 the book. Take it and keep it, read it if you will, but never let me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4337 know; unless, indeed, some solemn duty should come upon me to go back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4338 the bitter hours, asleep or awake, sane or mad, recorded here.' He fell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4339 back exhausted, and I put the book under his pillow, and kissed him. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4340 have asked Sister Agatha to beg the Superior to let our wedding be this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4341 afternoon, and am waiting her reply....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4342
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4343 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4344
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4345 "She has come and told me that the chaplain of the English mission
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4346 church has been sent for. We are to be married in an hour, or as soon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4347 after as Jonathan awakes....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4348
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4349 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4350
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4351 "Lucy, the time has come and gone. I feel very solemn, but very, very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4352 happy. Jonathan woke a little after the hour, and all was ready, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4353 sat up in bed, propped up with pillows. He answered his 'I will' firmly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4354 and strongly. I could hardly speak; my heart was so full that even those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4355 words seemed to choke me. The dear sisters were so kind. Please God, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4356 shall never, never forget them, nor the grave and sweet responsibilities
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4357 I have taken upon me. I must tell you of my wedding present. When the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4358 chaplain and the sisters had left me alone with my husband--oh, Lucy, it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4359 is the first time I have written the words 'my husband'--left me alone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4360 with my husband, I took the book from under his pillow, and wrapped it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4361 up in white paper, and tied it with a little bit of pale blue ribbon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4362 which was round my neck, and sealed it over the knot with sealing-wax,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4363 and for my seal I used my wedding ring. Then I kissed it and showed it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4364 to my husband, and told him that I would keep it so, and then it would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4365 be an outward and visible sign for us all our lives that we trusted each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4366 other; that I would never open it unless it were for his own dear sake
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4367 or for the sake of some stern duty. Then he took my hand in his, and oh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4368 Lucy, it was the first time he took _his wife's_ hand, and said that it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4369 was the dearest thing in all the wide world, and that he would go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4370 through all the past again to win it, if need be. The poor dear meant to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4371 have said a part of the past, but he cannot think of time yet, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4372 shall not wonder if at first he mixes up not only the month, but the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4373 year.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4374
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4375 "Well, my dear, what could I say? I could only tell him that I was the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4376 happiest woman in all the wide world, and that I had nothing to give him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4377 except myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these went my love
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4378 and duty for all the days of my life. And, my dear, when he kissed me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4379 and drew me to him with his poor weak hands, it was like a very solemn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4380 pledge between us....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4381
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4382 "Lucy dear, do you know why I tell you all this? It is not only because
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4383 it is all sweet to me, but because you have been, and are, very dear to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4384 me. It was my privilege to be your friend and guide when you came from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4385 the schoolroom to prepare for the world of life. I want you to see now,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4386 and with the eyes of a very happy wife, whither duty has led me; so that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4387 in your own married life you too may be all happy as I am. My dear,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4388 please Almighty God, your life may be all it promises: a long day of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4389 sunshine, with no harsh wind, no forgetting duty, no distrust. I must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4390 not wish you no pain, for that can never be; but I do hope you will be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4391 _always_ as happy as I am _now_. Good-bye, my dear. I shall post this at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4392 once, and, perhaps, write you very soon again. I must stop, for Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4393 is waking--I must attend to my husband!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4394
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4395 "Your ever-loving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4396
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4397 "MINA HARKER."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4398
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4399
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4400 _Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Harker._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4401
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4402 "_Whitby, 30 August._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4403
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4404 "My dearest Mina,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4405
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4406 "Oceans of love and millions of kisses, and may you soon be in your own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4407 home with your husband. I wish you could be coming home soon enough to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4408 stay with us here. The strong air would soon restore Jonathan; it has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4409 quite restored me. I have an appetite like a cormorant, am full of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4410 life, and sleep well. You will be glad to know that I have quite given
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4411 up walking in my sleep. I think I have not stirred out of my bed for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4412 week, that is when I once got into it at night. Arthur says I am getting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4413 fat. By the way, I forgot to tell you that Arthur is here. We have such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4414 walks and drives, and rides, and rowing, and tennis, and fishing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4415 together; and I love him more than ever. He _tells_ me that he loves me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4416 more, but I doubt that, for at first he told me that he couldn't love me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4417 more than he did then. But this is nonsense. There he is, calling to me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4418 So no more just at present from your loving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4419
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4420 "LUCY.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4421
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4422 "P. S.--Mother sends her love. She seems better, poor dear. "P. P.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4423 S.--We are to be married on 28 September."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4424
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4425
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4426 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4427
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4428 _20 August._--The case of Renfield grows even more interesting. He has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4429 now so far quieted that there are spells of cessation from his passion.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4430 For the first week after his attack he was perpetually violent. Then one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4431 night, just as the moon rose, he grew quiet, and kept murmuring to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4432 himself: "Now I can wait; now I can wait." The attendant came to tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4433 me, so I ran down at once to have a look at him. He was still in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4434 strait-waistcoat and in the padded room, but the suffused look had gone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4435 from his face, and his eyes had something of their old pleading--I might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4436 almost say, "cringing"--softness. I was satisfied with his present
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4437 condition, and directed him to be relieved. The attendants hesitated,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4438 but finally carried out my wishes without protest. It was a strange
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4439 thing that the patient had humour enough to see their distrust, for,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4440 coming close to me, he said in a whisper, all the while looking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4441 furtively at them:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4442
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4443 "They think I could hurt you! Fancy _me_ hurting _you_! The fools!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4444
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4445 It was soothing, somehow, to the feelings to find myself dissociated
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4446 even in the mind of this poor madman from the others; but all the same I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4447 do not follow his thought. Am I to take it that I have anything in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4448 common with him, so that we are, as it were, to stand together; or has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4449 he to gain from me some good so stupendous that my well-being is needful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4450 to him? I must find out later on. To-night he will not speak. Even the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4451 offer of a kitten or even a full-grown cat will not tempt him. He will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4452 only say: "I don't take any stock in cats. I have more to think of now,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4453 and I can wait; I can wait."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4454
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4455 After a while I left him. The attendant tells me that he was quiet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4456 until just before dawn, and that then he began to get uneasy, and at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4457 length violent, until at last he fell into a paroxysm which exhausted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4458 him so that he swooned into a sort of coma.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4459
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4460 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4461
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4462 ... Three nights has the same thing happened--violent all day then quiet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4463 from moonrise to sunrise. I wish I could get some clue to the cause. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4464 would almost seem as if there was some influence which came and went.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4465 Happy thought! We shall to-night play sane wits against mad ones. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4466 escaped before without our help; to-night he shall escape with it. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4467 shall give him a chance, and have the men ready to follow in case they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4468 are required....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4469
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4470 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4471
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4472 _23 August._--"The unexpected always happens." How well Disraeli knew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4473 life. Our bird when he found the cage open would not fly, so all our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4474 subtle arrangements were for nought. At any rate, we have proved one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4475 thing; that the spells of quietness last a reasonable time. We shall in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4476 future be able to ease his bonds for a few hours each day. I have given
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4477 orders to the night attendant merely to shut him in the padded room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4478 when once he is quiet, until an hour before sunrise. The poor soul's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4479 body will enjoy the relief even if his mind cannot appreciate it. Hark!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4480 The unexpected again! I am called; the patient has once more escaped.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4481
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4482 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4483
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4484 _Later._--Another night adventure. Renfield artfully waited until the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4485 attendant was entering the room to inspect. Then he dashed out past him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4486 and flew down the passage. I sent word for the attendants to follow.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4487 Again he went into the grounds of the deserted house, and we found him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4488 in the same place, pressed against the old chapel door. When he saw me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4489 he became furious, and had not the attendants seized him in time, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4490 would have tried to kill me. As we were holding him a strange thing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4491 happened. He suddenly redoubled his efforts, and then as suddenly grew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4492 calm. I looked round instinctively, but could see nothing. Then I caught
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4493 the patient's eye and followed it, but could trace nothing as it looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4494 into the moonlit sky except a big bat, which was flapping its silent and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4495 ghostly way to the west. Bats usually wheel and flit about, but this one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4496 seemed to go straight on, as if it knew where it was bound for or had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4497 some intention of its own. The patient grew calmer every instant, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4498 presently said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4499
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4500 "You needn't tie me; I shall go quietly!" Without trouble we came back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4501 to the house. I feel there is something ominous in his calm, and shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4502 not forget this night....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4503
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4504
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4505 _Lucy Westenra's Diary_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4506
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4507 _Hillingham, 24 August._--I must imitate Mina, and keep writing things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4508 down. Then we can have long talks when we do meet. I wonder when it will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4509 be. I wish she were with me again, for I feel so unhappy. Last night I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4510 seemed to be dreaming again just as I was at Whitby. Perhaps it is the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4511 change of air, or getting home again. It is all dark and horrid to me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4512 for I can remember nothing; but I am full of vague fear, and I feel so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4513 weak and worn out. When Arthur came to lunch he looked quite grieved
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4514 when he saw me, and I hadn't the spirit to try to be cheerful. I wonder
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4515 if I could sleep in mother's room to-night. I shall make an excuse and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4516 try.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4517
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4518 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4519
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4520 _25 August._--Another bad night. Mother did not seem to take to my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4521 proposal. She seems not too well herself, and doubtless she fears to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4522 worry me. I tried to keep awake, and succeeded for a while; but when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4523 clock struck twelve it waked me from a doze, so I must have been falling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4524 asleep. There was a sort of scratching or flapping at the window, but I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4525 did not mind it, and as I remember no more, I suppose I must then have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4526 fallen asleep. More bad dreams. I wish I could remember them. This
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4527 morning I am horribly weak. My face is ghastly pale, and my throat pains
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4528 me. It must be something wrong with my lungs, for I don't seem ever to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4529 get air enough. I shall try to cheer up when Arthur comes, or else I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4530 know he will be miserable to see me so.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4531
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4532
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4533 _Letter, Arthur Holmwood to Dr. Seward._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4534
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4535 "_Albemarle Hotel, 31 August._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4536
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4537 "My dear Jack,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4538
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4539 "I want you to do me a favour. Lucy is ill; that is, she has no special
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4540 disease, but she looks awful, and is getting worse every day. I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4541 asked her if there is any cause; I do not dare to ask her mother, for to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4542 disturb the poor lady's mind about her daughter in her present state of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4543 health would be fatal. Mrs. Westenra has confided to me that her doom is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4544 spoken--disease of the heart--though poor Lucy does not know it yet. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4545 am sure that there is something preying on my dear girl's mind. I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4546 almost distracted when I think of her; to look at her gives me a pang. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4547 told her I should ask you to see her, and though she demurred at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4548 first--I know why, old fellow--she finally consented. It will be a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4549 painful task for you, I know, old friend, but it is for _her_ sake, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4550 I must not hesitate to ask, or you to act. You are to come to lunch at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4551 Hillingham to-morrow, two o'clock, so as not to arouse any suspicion in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4552 Mrs. Westenra, and after lunch Lucy will take an opportunity of being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4553 alone with you. I shall come in for tea, and we can go away together; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4554 am filled with anxiety, and want to consult with you alone as soon as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4555 can after you have seen her. Do not fail!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4556
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4557 "ARTHUR."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4558
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4559
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4560 _Telegram, Arthur Holmwood to Seward._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4561
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4562 "_1 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4563
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4564 "Am summoned to see my father, who is worse. Am writing. Write me fully
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4565 by to-night's post to Ring. Wire me if necessary."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4566
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4567
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4568 _Letter from Dr. Seward to Arthur Holmwood._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4569
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4570 "_2 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4571
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4572 "My dear old fellow,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4573
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4574 "With regard to Miss Westenra's health I hasten to let you know at once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4575 that in my opinion there is not any functional disturbance or any malady
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4576 that I know of. At the same time, I am not by any means satisfied with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4577 her appearance; she is woefully different from what she was when I saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4578 her last. Of course you must bear in mind that I did not have full
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4579 opportunity of examination such as I should wish; our very friendship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4580 makes a little difficulty which not even medical science or custom can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4581 bridge over. I had better tell you exactly what happened, leaving you to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4582 draw, in a measure, your own conclusions. I shall then say what I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4583 done and propose doing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4584
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4585 "I found Miss Westenra in seemingly gay spirits. Her mother was present,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4586 and in a few seconds I made up my mind that she was trying all she knew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4587 to mislead her mother and prevent her from being anxious. I have no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4588 doubt she guesses, if she does not know, what need of caution there is.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4589 We lunched alone, and as we all exerted ourselves to be cheerful, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4590 got, as some kind of reward for our labours, some real cheerfulness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4591 amongst us. Then Mrs. Westenra went to lie down, and Lucy was left with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4592 me. We went into her boudoir, and till we got there her gaiety remained,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4593 for the servants were coming and going. As soon as the door was closed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4594 however, the mask fell from her face, and she sank down into a chair
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4595 with a great sigh, and hid her eyes with her hand. When I saw that her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4596 high spirits had failed, I at once took advantage of her reaction to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4597 make a diagnosis. She said to me very sweetly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4598
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4599 "'I cannot tell you how I loathe talking about myself.' I reminded her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4600 that a doctor's confidence was sacred, but that you were grievously
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4601 anxious about her. She caught on to my meaning at once, and settled that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4602 matter in a word. 'Tell Arthur everything you choose. I do not care for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4603 myself, but all for him!' So I am quite free.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4604
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4605 "I could easily see that she is somewhat bloodless, but I could not see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4606 the usual anæmic signs, and by a chance I was actually able to test the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4607 quality of her blood, for in opening a window which was stiff a cord
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4608 gave way, and she cut her hand slightly with broken glass. It was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4609 slight matter in itself, but it gave me an evident chance, and I secured
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4610 a few drops of the blood and have analysed them. The qualitative
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4611 analysis gives a quite normal condition, and shows, I should infer, in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4612 itself a vigorous state of health. In other physical matters I was quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4613 satisfied that there is no need for anxiety; but as there must be a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4614 cause somewhere, I have come to the conclusion that it must be something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4615 mental. She complains of difficulty in breathing satisfactorily at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4616 times, and of heavy, lethargic sleep, with dreams that frighten her, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4617 regarding which she can remember nothing. She says that as a child she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4618 used to walk in her sleep, and that when in Whitby the habit came back,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4619 and that once she walked out in the night and went to East Cliff, where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4620 Miss Murray found her; but she assures me that of late the habit has not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4621 returned. I am in doubt, and so have done the best thing I know of; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4622 have written to my old friend and master, Professor Van Helsing, of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4623 Amsterdam, who knows as much about obscure diseases as any one in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4624 world. I have asked him to come over, and as you told me that all things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4625 were to be at your charge, I have mentioned to him who you are and your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4626 relations to Miss Westenra. This, my dear fellow, is in obedience to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4627 your wishes, for I am only too proud and happy to do anything I can for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4628 her. Van Helsing would, I know, do anything for me for a personal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4629 reason, so, no matter on what ground he comes, we must accept his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4630 wishes. He is a seemingly arbitrary man, but this is because he knows
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4631 what he is talking about better than any one else. He is a philosopher
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4632 and a metaphysician, and one of the most advanced scientists of his day;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4633 and he has, I believe, an absolutely open mind. This, with an iron
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4634 nerve, a temper of the ice-brook, an indomitable resolution,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4635 self-command, and toleration exalted from virtues to blessings, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4636 kindliest and truest heart that beats--these form his equipment for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4637 noble work that he is doing for mankind--work both in theory and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4638 practice, for his views are as wide as his all-embracing sympathy. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4639 tell you these facts that you may know why I have such confidence in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4640 him. I have asked him to come at once. I shall see Miss Westenra
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4641 to-morrow again. She is to meet me at the Stores, so that I may not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4642 alarm her mother by too early a repetition of my call.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4643
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4644 "Yours always,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4645
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4646 "JOHN SEWARD."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4647
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4648
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4649 _Letter, Abraham Van Helsing, M. D., D. Ph., D. Lit., etc., etc., to Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4650 Seward._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4651
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4652 "_2 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4653
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4654 "My good Friend,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4655
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4656 "When I have received your letter I am already coming to you. By good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4657 fortune I can leave just at once, without wrong to any of those who have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4658 trusted me. Were fortune other, then it were bad for those who have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4659 trusted, for I come to my friend when he call me to aid those he holds
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4660 dear. Tell your friend that when that time you suck from my wound so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4661 swiftly the poison of the gangrene from that knife that our other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4662 friend, too nervous, let slip, you did more for him when he wants my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4663 aids and you call for them than all his great fortune could do. But it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4664 is pleasure added to do for him, your friend; it is to you that I come.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4665 Have then rooms for me at the Great Eastern Hotel, so that I may be near
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4666 to hand, and please it so arrange that we may see the young lady not too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4667 late on to-morrow, for it is likely that I may have to return here that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4668 night. But if need be I shall come again in three days, and stay longer
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4669 if it must. Till then good-bye, my friend John.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4670
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4671 "VAN HELSING."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4672
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4673
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4674 _Letter, Dr. Seward to Hon. Arthur Holmwood._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4675
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4676 "_3 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4677
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4678 "My dear Art,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4679
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4680 "Van Helsing has come and gone. He came on with me to Hillingham, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4681 found that, by Lucy's discretion, her mother was lunching out, so that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4682 we were alone with her. Van Helsing made a very careful examination of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4683 the patient. He is to report to me, and I shall advise you, for of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4684 course I was not present all the time. He is, I fear, much concerned,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4685 but says he must think. When I told him of our friendship and how you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4686 trust to me in the matter, he said: 'You must tell him all you think.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4687 Tell him what I think, if you can guess it, if you will. Nay, I am not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4688 jesting. This is no jest, but life and death, perhaps more.' I asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4689 what he meant by that, for he was very serious. This was when we had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4690 come back to town, and he was having a cup of tea before starting on his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4691 return to Amsterdam. He would not give me any further clue. You must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4692 be angry with me, Art, because his very reticence means that all his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4693 brains are working for her good. He will speak plainly enough when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4694 time comes, be sure. So I told him I would simply write an account of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4695 our visit, just as if I were doing a descriptive special article for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4696 _The Daily Telegraph_. He seemed not to notice, but remarked that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4697 smuts in London were not quite so bad as they used to be when he was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4698 student here. I am to get his report to-morrow if he can possibly make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4699 it. In any case I am to have a letter.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4700
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4701 "Well, as to the visit. Lucy was more cheerful than on the day I first
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4702 saw her, and certainly looked better. She had lost something of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4703 ghastly look that so upset you, and her breathing was normal. She was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4704 very sweet to the professor (as she always is), and tried to make him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4705 feel at ease; though I could see that the poor girl was making a hard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4706 struggle for it. I believe Van Helsing saw it, too, for I saw the quick
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4707 look under his bushy brows that I knew of old. Then he began to chat of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4708 all things except ourselves and diseases and with such an infinite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4709 geniality that I could see poor Lucy's pretense of animation merge into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4710 reality. Then, without any seeming change, he brought the conversation
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4711 gently round to his visit, and suavely said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4712
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4713 "'My dear young miss, I have the so great pleasure because you are so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4714 much beloved. That is much, my dear, ever were there that which I do not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4715 see. They told me you were down in the spirit, and that you were of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4716 ghastly pale. To them I say: "Pouf!"' And he snapped his fingers at me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4717 and went on: 'But you and I shall show them how wrong they are. How can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4718 he'--and he pointed at me with the same look and gesture as that with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4719 which once he pointed me out to his class, on, or rather after, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4720 particular occasion which he never fails to remind me of--'know anything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4721 of a young ladies? He has his madams to play with, and to bring them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4722 back to happiness, and to those that love them. It is much to do, and,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4723 oh, but there are rewards, in that we can bestow such happiness. But the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4724 young ladies! He has no wife nor daughter, and the young do not tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4725 themselves to the young, but to the old, like me, who have known so many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4726 sorrows and the causes of them. So, my dear, we will send him away to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4727 smoke the cigarette in the garden, whiles you and I have little talk all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4728 to ourselves.' I took the hint, and strolled about, and presently the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4729 professor came to the window and called me in. He looked grave, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4730 said: 'I have made careful examination, but there is no functional
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4731 cause. With you I agree that there has been much blood lost; it has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4732 been, but is not. But the conditions of her are in no way anæmic. I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4733 asked her to send me her maid, that I may ask just one or two question,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4734 that so I may not chance to miss nothing. I know well what she will say.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4735 And yet there is cause; there is always cause for everything. I must go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4736 back home and think. You must send to me the telegram every day; and if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4737 there be cause I shall come again. The disease--for not to be all well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4738 is a disease--interest me, and the sweet young dear, she interest me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4739 too. She charm me, and for her, if not for you or disease, I come.'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4740
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4741 "As I tell you, he would not say a word more, even when we were alone.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4742 And so now, Art, you know all I know. I shall keep stern watch. I trust
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4743 your poor father is rallying. It must be a terrible thing to you, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4744 dear old fellow, to be placed in such a position between two people who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4745 are both so dear to you. I know your idea of duty to your father, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4746 you are right to stick to it; but, if need be, I shall send you word to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4747 come at once to Lucy; so do not be over-anxious unless you hear from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4748 me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4749
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4750
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4751 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4752
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4753 _4 September._--Zoöphagous patient still keeps up our interest in him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4754 He had only one outburst and that was yesterday at an unusual time. Just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4755 before the stroke of noon he began to grow restless. The attendant knew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4756 the symptoms, and at once summoned aid. Fortunately the men came at a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4757 run, and were just in time, for at the stroke of noon he became so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4758 violent that it took all their strength to hold him. In about five
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4759 minutes, however, he began to get more and more quiet, and finally sank
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4760 into a sort of melancholy, in which state he has remained up to now. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4761 attendant tells me that his screams whilst in the paroxysm were really
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4762 appalling; I found my hands full when I got in, attending to some of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4763 other patients who were frightened by him. Indeed, I can quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4764 understand the effect, for the sounds disturbed even me, though I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4765 some distance away. It is now after the dinner-hour of the asylum, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4766 as yet my patient sits in a corner brooding, with a dull, sullen,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4767 woe-begone look in his face, which seems rather to indicate than to show
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4768 something directly. I cannot quite understand it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4769
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4770 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4771
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4772 _Later._--Another change in my patient. At five o'clock I looked in on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4773 him, and found him seemingly as happy and contented as he used to be. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4774 was catching flies and eating them, and was keeping note of his capture
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4775 by making nail-marks on the edge of the door between the ridges of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4776 padding. When he saw me, he came over and apologised for his bad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4777 conduct, and asked me in a very humble, cringing way to be led back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4778 his own room and to have his note-book again. I thought it well to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4779 humour him: so he is back in his room with the window open. He has the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4780 sugar of his tea spread out on the window-sill, and is reaping quite a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4781 harvest of flies. He is not now eating them, but putting them into a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4782 box, as of old, and is already examining the corners of his room to find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4783 a spider. I tried to get him to talk about the past few days, for any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4784 clue to his thoughts would be of immense help to me; but he would not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4785 rise. For a moment or two he looked very sad, and said in a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4786 far-away voice, as though saying it rather to himself than to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4787
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4788 "All over! all over! He has deserted me. No hope for me now unless I do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4789 it for myself!" Then suddenly turning to me in a resolute way, he said:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4790 "Doctor, won't you be very good to me and let me have a little more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4791 sugar? I think it would be good for me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4792
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4793 "And the flies?" I said.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4794
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4795 "Yes! The flies like it, too, and I like the flies; therefore I like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4796 it." And there are people who know so little as to think that madmen do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4797 not argue. I procured him a double supply, and left him as happy a man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4798 as, I suppose, any in the world. I wish I could fathom his mind.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4799
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4800 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4801
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4802 _Midnight._--Another change in him. I had been to see Miss Westenra,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4803 whom I found much better, and had just returned, and was standing at our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4804 own gate looking at the sunset, when once more I heard him yelling. As
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4805 his room is on this side of the house, I could hear it better than in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4806 the morning. It was a shock to me to turn from the wonderful smoky
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4807 beauty of a sunset over London, with its lurid lights and inky shadows
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4808 and all the marvellous tints that come on foul clouds even as on foul
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4809 water, and to realise all the grim sternness of my own cold stone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4810 building, with its wealth of breathing misery, and my own desolate heart
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4811 to endure it all. I reached him just as the sun was going down, and from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4812 his window saw the red disc sink. As it sank he became less and less
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4813 frenzied; and just as it dipped he slid from the hands that held him, an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4814 inert mass, on the floor. It is wonderful, however, what intellectual
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4815 recuperative power lunatics have, for within a few minutes he stood up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4816 quite calmly and looked around him. I signalled to the attendants not to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4817 hold him, for I was anxious to see what he would do. He went straight
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4818 over to the window and brushed out the crumbs of sugar; then he took his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4819 fly-box, and emptied it outside, and threw away the box; then he shut
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4820 the window, and crossing over, sat down on his bed. All this surprised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4821 me, so I asked him: "Are you not going to keep flies any more?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4822
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4823 "No," said he; "I am sick of all that rubbish!" He certainly is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4824 wonderfully interesting study. I wish I could get some glimpse of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4825 mind or of the cause of his sudden passion. Stop; there may be a clue
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4826 after all, if we can find why to-day his paroxysms came on at high noon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4827 and at sunset. Can it be that there is a malign influence of the sun at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4828 periods which affects certain natures--as at times the moon does others?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4829 We shall see.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4830
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4831
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4832 _Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4833
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4834 "_4 September._--Patient still better to-day."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4835
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4836
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4837 _Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4838
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4839 "_5 September._--Patient greatly improved. Good appetite; sleeps
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4840 naturally; good spirits; colour coming back."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4841
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4842
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4843 _Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4844
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4845 "_6 September._--Terrible change for the worse. Come at once; do not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4846 lose an hour. I hold over telegram to Holmwood till have seen you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4847
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4849
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4850
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4851 CHAPTER X
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4852
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4853
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4854 _Letter, Dr. Seward to Hon. Arthur Holmwood._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4855
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4856 "_6 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4857
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4858 "My dear Art,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4859
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4860 "My news to-day is not so good. Lucy this morning had gone back a bit.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4861 There is, however, one good thing which has arisen from it; Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4862 Westenra was naturally anxious concerning Lucy, and has consulted me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4863 professionally about her. I took advantage of the opportunity, and told
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4864 her that my old master, Van Helsing, the great specialist, was coming to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4865 stay with me, and that I would put her in his charge conjointly with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4866 myself; so now we can come and go without alarming her unduly, for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4867 shock to her would mean sudden death, and this, in Lucy's weak
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4868 condition, might be disastrous to her. We are hedged in with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4869 difficulties, all of us, my poor old fellow; but, please God, we shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4870 come through them all right. If any need I shall write, so that, if you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4871 do not hear from me, take it for granted that I am simply waiting for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4872 news. In haste
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4873
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4874 Yours ever,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4875
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4876 "JOHN SEWARD."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4877
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4878
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4879 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4880
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4881 _7 September._--The first thing Van Helsing said to me when we met at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4882 Liverpool Street was:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4883
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4884 "Have you said anything to our young friend the lover of her?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4885
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4886 "No," I said. "I waited till I had seen you, as I said in my telegram. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4887 wrote him a letter simply telling him that you were coming, as Miss
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4888 Westenra was not so well, and that I should let him know if need be."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4889
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4890 "Right, my friend," he said, "quite right! Better he not know as yet;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4891 perhaps he shall never know. I pray so; but if it be needed, then he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4892 shall know all. And, my good friend John, let me caution you. You deal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4893 with the madmen. All men are mad in some way or the other; and inasmuch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4894 as you deal discreetly with your madmen, so deal with God's madmen,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4895 too--the rest of the world. You tell not your madmen what you do nor why
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4896 you do it; you tell them not what you think. So you shall keep knowledge
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4897 in its place, where it may rest--where it may gather its kind around it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4898 and breed. You and I shall keep as yet what we know here, and here." He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4899 touched me on the heart and on the forehead, and then touched himself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4900 the same way. "I have for myself thoughts at the present. Later I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4901 unfold to you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4902
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4903 "Why not now?" I asked. "It may do some good; we may arrive at some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4904 decision." He stopped and looked at me, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4905
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4906 "My friend John, when the corn is grown, even before it has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4907 ripened--while the milk of its mother-earth is in him, and the sunshine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4908 has not yet begun to paint him with his gold, the husbandman he pull the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4909 ear and rub him between his rough hands, and blow away the green chaff,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4910 and say to you: 'Look! he's good corn; he will make good crop when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4911 time comes.'" I did not see the application, and told him so. For reply
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4912 he reached over and took my ear in his hand and pulled it playfully, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4913 he used long ago to do at lectures, and said: "The good husbandman tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4914 you so then because he knows, but not till then. But you do not find the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4915 good husbandman dig up his planted corn to see if he grow; that is for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4916 the children who play at husbandry, and not for those who take it as of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4917 the work of their life. See you now, friend John? I have sown my corn,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4918 and Nature has her work to do in making it sprout; if he sprout at all,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4919 there's some promise; and I wait till the ear begins to swell." He broke
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4920 off, for he evidently saw that I understood. Then he went on, and very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4921 gravely:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4922
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4923 "You were always a careful student, and your case-book was ever more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4924 full than the rest. You were only student then; now you are master, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4925 I trust that good habit have not fail. Remember, my friend, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4926 knowledge is stronger than memory, and we should not trust the weaker.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4927 Even if you have not kept the good practise, let me tell you that this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4928 case of our dear miss is one that may be--mind, I say _may be_--of such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4929 interest to us and others that all the rest may not make him kick the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4930 beam, as your peoples say. Take then good note of it. Nothing is too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4931 small. I counsel you, put down in record even your doubts and surmises.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4932 Hereafter it may be of interest to you to see how true you guess. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4933 learn from failure, not from success!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4934
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4935 When I described Lucy's symptoms--the same as before, but infinitely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4936 more marked--he looked very grave, but said nothing. He took with him a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4937 bag in which were many instruments and drugs, "the ghastly paraphernalia
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4938 of our beneficial trade," as he once called, in one of his lectures, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4939 equipment of a professor of the healing craft. When we were shown in,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4940 Mrs. Westenra met us. She was alarmed, but not nearly so much as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4941 expected to find her. Nature in one of her beneficent moods has ordained
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4942 that even death has some antidote to its own terrors. Here, in a case
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4943 where any shock may prove fatal, matters are so ordered that, from some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4944 cause or other, the things not personal--even the terrible change in her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4945 daughter to whom she is so attached--do not seem to reach her. It is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4946 something like the way Dame Nature gathers round a foreign body an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4947 envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4948 which it would otherwise harm by contact. If this be an ordered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4949 selfishness, then we should pause before we condemn any one for the vice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4950 of egoism, for there may be deeper root for its causes than we have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4951 knowledge of.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4952
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4953 I used my knowledge of this phase of spiritual pathology, and laid down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4954 a rule that she should not be present with Lucy or think of her illness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4955 more than was absolutely required. She assented readily, so readily that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4956 I saw again the hand of Nature fighting for life. Van Helsing and I were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4957 shown up to Lucy's room. If I was shocked when I saw her yesterday, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4958 was horrified when I saw her to-day. She was ghastly, chalkily pale; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4959 red seemed to have gone even from her lips and gums, and the bones of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4960 her face stood out prominently; her breathing was painful to see or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4961 hear. Van Helsing's face grew set as marble, and his eyebrows converged
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4962 till they almost touched over his nose. Lucy lay motionless, and did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4963 seem to have strength to speak, so for a while we were all silent. Then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4964 Van Helsing beckoned to me, and we went gently out of the room. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4965 instant we had closed the door he stepped quickly along the passage to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4966 the next door, which was open. Then he pulled me quickly in with him and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4967 closed the door. "My God!" he said; "this is dreadful. There is no time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4968 to be lost. She will die for sheer want of blood to keep the heart's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4969 action as it should be. There must be transfusion of blood at once. Is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4970 it you or me?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4971
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4972 "I am younger and stronger, Professor. It must be me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4973
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4974 "Then get ready at once. I will bring up my bag. I am prepared."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4975
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4976 I went downstairs with him, and as we were going there was a knock at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4977 the hall-door. When we reached the hall the maid had just opened the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4978 door, and Arthur was stepping quickly in. He rushed up to me, saying in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4979 an eager whisper:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4980
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4981 "Jack, I was so anxious. I read between the lines of your letter, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4982 have been in an agony. The dad was better, so I ran down here to see for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4983 myself. Is not that gentleman Dr. Van Helsing? I am so thankful to you,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4984 sir, for coming." When first the Professor's eye had lit upon him he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4985 been angry at his interruption at such a time; but now, as he took in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4986 his stalwart proportions and recognised the strong young manhood which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4987 seemed to emanate from him, his eyes gleamed. Without a pause he said to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4988 him gravely as he held out his hand:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4989
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4990 "Sir, you have come in time. You are the lover of our dear miss. She is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4991 bad, very, very bad. Nay, my child, do not go like that." For he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4992 suddenly grew pale and sat down in a chair almost fainting. "You are to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4993 help her. You can do more than any that live, and your courage is your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4994 best help."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4995
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4996 "What can I do?" asked Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me, and I shall do it. My
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4997 life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4998 her." The Professor has a strongly humorous side, and I could from old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 4999 knowledge detect a trace of its origin in his answer:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5000
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5001 "My young sir, I do not ask so much as that--not the last!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5002
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5003 "What shall I do?" There was fire in his eyes, and his open nostril
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5004 quivered with intent. Van Helsing slapped him on the shoulder. "Come!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5005 he said. "You are a man, and it is a man we want. You are better than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5006 me, better than my friend John." Arthur looked bewildered, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5007 Professor went on by explaining in a kindly way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5008
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5009 "Young miss is bad, very bad. She wants blood, and blood she must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5010 or die. My friend John and I have consulted; and we are about to perform
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5011 what we call transfusion of blood--to transfer from full veins of one to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5012 the empty veins which pine for him. John was to give his blood, as he is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5013 the more young and strong than me"--here Arthur took my hand and wrung
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5014 it hard in silence--"but, now you are here, you are more good than us,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5015 old or young, who toil much in the world of thought. Our nerves are not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5016 so calm and our blood not so bright than yours!" Arthur turned to him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5017 and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5018
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5019 "If you only knew how gladly I would die for her you would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5020 understand----"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5022 He stopped, with a sort of choke in his voice.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5023
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5024 "Good boy!" said Van Helsing. "In the not-so-far-off you will be happy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5025 that you have done all for her you love. Come now and be silent. You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5026 shall kiss her once before it is done, but then you must go; and you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5027 must leave at my sign. Say no word to Madame; you know how it is with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5028 her! There must be no shock; any knowledge of this would be one. Come!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5029
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5030 We all went up to Lucy's room. Arthur by direction remained outside.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5031 Lucy turned her head and looked at us, but said nothing. She was not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5032 asleep, but she was simply too weak to make the effort. Her eyes spoke
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5033 to us; that was all. Van Helsing took some things from his bag and laid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5034 them on a little table out of sight. Then he mixed a narcotic, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5035 coming over to the bed, said cheerily:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5036
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5037 "Now, little miss, here is your medicine. Drink it off, like a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5038 child. See, I lift you so that to swallow is easy. Yes." She had made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5039 the effort with success.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5040
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5041 It astonished me how long the drug took to act. This, in fact, marked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5042 the extent of her weakness. The time seemed endless until sleep began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5043 flicker in her eyelids. At last, however, the narcotic began to manifest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5044 its potency; and she fell into a deep sleep. When the Professor was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5045 satisfied he called Arthur into the room, and bade him strip off his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5046 coat. Then he added: "You may take that one little kiss whiles I bring
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5047 over the table. Friend John, help to me!" So neither of us looked whilst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5048 he bent over her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5049
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5050 Van Helsing turning to me, said:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5051
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5052 "He is so young and strong and of blood so pure that we need not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5053 defibrinate it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5054
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5055 Then with swiftness, but with absolute method, Van Helsing performed the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5056 operation. As the transfusion went on something like life seemed to come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5057 back to poor Lucy's cheeks, and through Arthur's growing pallor the joy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5058 of his face seemed absolutely to shine. After a bit I began to grow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5059 anxious, for the loss of blood was telling on Arthur, strong man as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5060 was. It gave me an idea of what a terrible strain Lucy's system must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5061 have undergone that what weakened Arthur only partially restored her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5062 But the Professor's face was set, and he stood watch in hand and with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5063 his eyes fixed now on the patient and now on Arthur. I could hear my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5064 heart beat. Presently he said in a soft voice: "Do not stir an instant.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5065 It is enough. You attend him; I will look to her." When all was over I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5066 could see how much Arthur was weakened. I dressed the wound and took his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5067 arm to bring him away, when Van Helsing spoke without turning round--the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5068 man seems to have eyes in the back of his head:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5069
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5070 "The brave lover, I think, deserve another kiss, which he shall have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5071 presently." And as he had now finished his operation, he adjusted the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5072 pillow to the patient's head. As he did so the narrow black velvet band
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5073 which she seems always to wear round her throat, buckled with an old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5074 diamond buckle which her lover had given her, was dragged a little up,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5075 and showed a red mark on her throat. Arthur did not notice it, but I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5076 could hear the deep hiss of indrawn breath which is one of Van Helsing's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5077 ways of betraying emotion. He said nothing at the moment, but turned to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5078 me, saying: "Now take down our brave young lover, give him of the port
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5079 wine, and let him lie down a while. He must then go home and rest, sleep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5080 much and eat much, that he may be recruited of what he has so given to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5081 his love. He must not stay here. Hold! a moment. I may take it, sir,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5082 that you are anxious of result. Then bring it with you that in all ways
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5083 the operation is successful. You have saved her life this time, and you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5084 can go home and rest easy in mind that all that can be is. I shall tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5085 her all when she is well; she shall love you none the less for what you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5086 have done. Good-bye."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5087
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5088 When Arthur had gone I went back to the room. Lucy was sleeping gently,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5089 but her breathing was stronger; I could see the counterpane move as her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5090 breast heaved. By the bedside sat Van Helsing, looking at her intently.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5091 The velvet band again covered the red mark. I asked the Professor in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5092 whisper:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5093
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5094 "What do you make of that mark on her throat?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5095
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5096 "What do you make of it?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5097
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5098 "I have not examined it yet," I answered, and then and there proceeded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5099 to loose the band. Just over the external jugular vein there were two
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5100 punctures, not large, but not wholesome-looking. There was no sign of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5101 disease, but the edges were white and worn-looking, as if by some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5102 trituration. It at once occurred to me that this wound, or whatever it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5103 was, might be the means of that manifest loss of blood; but I abandoned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5104 the idea as soon as formed, for such a thing could not be. The whole bed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5105 would have been drenched to a scarlet with the blood which the girl must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5106 have lost to leave such a pallor as she had before the transfusion.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5107
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5108 "Well?" said Van Helsing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5109
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5110 "Well," said I, "I can make nothing of it." The Professor stood up. "I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5111 must go back to Amsterdam to-night," he said. "There are books and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5112 things there which I want. You must remain here all the night, and you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5113 must not let your sight pass from her."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5114
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5115 "Shall I have a nurse?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5116
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5117 "We are the best nurses, you and I. You keep watch all night; see that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5118 she is well fed, and that nothing disturbs her. You must not sleep all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5119 the night. Later on we can sleep, you and I. I shall be back as soon as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5120 possible. And then we may begin."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5121
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5122 "May begin?" I said. "What on earth do you mean?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5123
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5124 "We shall see!" he answered, as he hurried out. He came back a moment
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5125 later and put his head inside the door and said with warning finger held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5126 up:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5127
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5128 "Remember, she is your charge. If you leave her, and harm befall, you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5129 shall not sleep easy hereafter!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5130
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5132 _Dr. Seward's Diary--continued._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5133
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5134 _8 September._--I sat up all night with Lucy. The opiate worked itself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5135 off towards dusk, and she waked naturally; she looked a different being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5136 from what she had been before the operation. Her spirits even were good,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5137 and she was full of a happy vivacity, but I could see evidences of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5138 absolute prostration which she had undergone. When I told Mrs. Westenra
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5139 that Dr. Van Helsing had directed that I should sit up with her she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5140 almost pooh-poohed the idea, pointing out her daughter's renewed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5141 strength and excellent spirits. I was firm, however, and made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5142 preparations for my long vigil. When her maid had prepared her for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5143 night I came in, having in the meantime had supper, and took a seat by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5144 the bedside. She did not in any way make objection, but looked at me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5145 gratefully whenever I caught her eye. After a long spell she seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5146 sinking off to sleep, but with an effort seemed to pull herself together
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5147 and shook it off. This was repeated several times, with greater effort
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5148 and with shorter pauses as the time moved on. It was apparent that she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5149 did not want to sleep, so I tackled the subject at once:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5150
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5151 "You do not want to go to sleep?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5152
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5153 "No; I am afraid."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5154
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5155 "Afraid to go to sleep! Why so? It is the boon we all crave for."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5156
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5157 "Ah, not if you were like me--if sleep was to you a presage of horror!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5158
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5159 "A presage of horror! What on earth do you mean?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5160
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5161 "I don't know; oh, I don't know. And that is what is so terrible. All
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5162 this weakness comes to me in sleep; until I dread the very thought."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5163
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5164 "But, my dear girl, you may sleep to-night. I am here watching you, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5165 I can promise that nothing will happen."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5166
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5167 "Ah, I can trust you!" I seized the opportunity, and said: "I promise
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5168 you that if I see any evidence of bad dreams I will wake you at once."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5169
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5170 "You will? Oh, will you really? How good you are to me. Then I will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5171 sleep!" And almost at the word she gave a deep sigh of relief, and sank
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5172 back, asleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5173
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5174 All night long I watched by her. She never stirred, but slept on and on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5175 in a deep, tranquil, life-giving, health-giving sleep. Her lips were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5176 slightly parted, and her breast rose and fell with the regularity of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5177 pendulum. There was a smile on her face, and it was evident that no bad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5178 dreams had come to disturb her peace of mind.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5179
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5180 In the early morning her maid came, and I left her in her care and took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5181 myself back home, for I was anxious about many things. I sent a short
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5182 wire to Van Helsing and to Arthur, telling them of the excellent result
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5183 of the operation. My own work, with its manifold arrears, took me all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5184 day to clear off; it was dark when I was able to inquire about my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5185 zoöphagous patient. The report was good; he had been quite quiet for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5186 past day and night. A telegram came from Van Helsing at Amsterdam whilst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5187 I was at dinner, suggesting that I should be at Hillingham to-night, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5188 it might be well to be at hand, and stating that he was leaving by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5189 night mail and would join me early in the morning.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5190
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5191 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5192
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5193 _9 September_.--I was pretty tired and worn out when I got to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5194 Hillingham. For two nights I had hardly had a wink of sleep, and my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5195 brain was beginning to feel that numbness which marks cerebral
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5196 exhaustion. Lucy was up and in cheerful spirits. When she shook hands
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5197 with me she looked sharply in my face and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5198
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5199 "No sitting up to-night for you. You are worn out. I am quite well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5200 again; indeed, I am; and if there is to be any sitting up, it is I who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5201 will sit up with you." I would not argue the point, but went and had my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5202 supper. Lucy came with me, and, enlivened by her charming presence, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5203 made an excellent meal, and had a couple of glasses of the more than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5204 excellent port. Then Lucy took me upstairs, and showed me a room next
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5205 her own, where a cozy fire was burning. "Now," she said, "you must stay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5206 here. I shall leave this door open and my door too. You can lie on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5207 sofa for I know that nothing would induce any of you doctors to go to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5208 bed whilst there is a patient above the horizon. If I want anything I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5209 shall call out, and you can come to me at once." I could not but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5210 acquiesce, for I was "dog-tired," and could not have sat up had I tried.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5211 So, on her renewing her promise to call me if she should want anything,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5212 I lay on the sofa, and forgot all about everything.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5213
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5214
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5215 _Lucy Westenra's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5216
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5217 _9 September._--I feel so happy to-night. I have been so miserably weak,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5218 that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5219 a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky. Somehow Arthur feels very,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5220 very close to me. I seem to feel his presence warm about me. I suppose
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5221 it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn our inner
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5222 eyes and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strength give Love
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5223 rein, and in thought and feeling he can wander where he wills. I know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5224 where my thoughts are. If Arthur only knew! My dear, my dear, your ears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5225 must tingle as you sleep, as mine do waking. Oh, the blissful rest of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5226 last night! How I slept, with that dear, good Dr. Seward watching me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5227 And to-night I shall not fear to sleep, since he is close at hand and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5228 within call. Thank everybody for being so good to me! Thank God!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5229 Good-night, Arthur.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5230
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5231
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5232 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5233
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5234 _10 September._--I was conscious of the Professor's hand on my head, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5235 started awake all in a second. That is one of the things that we learn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5236 in an asylum, at any rate.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5237
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5238 "And how is our patient?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5239
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5240 "Well, when I left her, or rather when she left me," I answered.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5241
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5242 "Come, let us see," he said. And together we went into the room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5243
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5244 The blind was down, and I went over to raise it gently, whilst Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5245 Helsing stepped, with his soft, cat-like tread, over to the bed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5246
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5247 As I raised the blind, and the morning sunlight flooded the room, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5248 heard the Professor's low hiss of inspiration, and knowing its rarity, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5249 deadly fear shot through my heart. As I passed over he moved back, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5250 his exclamation of horror, "Gott in Himmel!" needed no enforcement from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5251 his agonised face. He raised his hand and pointed to the bed, and his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5252 iron face was drawn and ashen white. I felt my knees begin to tremble.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5253
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5254 There on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5255 white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the gums
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5256 seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5257 corpse after a prolonged illness. Van Helsing raised his foot to stamp
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5258 in anger, but the instinct of his life and all the long years of habit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5259 stood to him, and he put it down again softly. "Quick!" he said. "Bring
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5260 the brandy." I flew to the dining-room, and returned with the decanter.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5261 He wetted the poor white lips with it, and together we rubbed palm and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5262 wrist and heart. He felt her heart, and after a few moments of agonising
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5263 suspense said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5264
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5265 "It is not too late. It beats, though but feebly. All our work is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5266 undone; we must begin again. There is no young Arthur here now; I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5267 to call on you yourself this time, friend John." As he spoke, he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5268 dipping into his bag and producing the instruments for transfusion; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5269 had taken off my coat and rolled up my shirt-sleeve. There was no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5270 possibility of an opiate just at present, and no need of one; and so,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5271 without a moment's delay, we began the operation. After a time--it did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5272 not seem a short time either, for the draining away of one's blood, no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5273 matter how willingly it be given, is a terrible feeling--Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5274 held up a warning finger. "Do not stir," he said, "but I fear that with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5275 growing strength she may wake; and that would make danger, oh, so much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5276 danger. But I shall precaution take. I shall give hypodermic injection
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5277 of morphia." He proceeded then, swiftly and deftly, to carry out his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5278 intent. The effect on Lucy was not bad, for the faint seemed to merge
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5279 subtly into the narcotic sleep. It was with a feeling of personal pride
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5280 that I could see a faint tinge of colour steal back into the pallid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5281 cheeks and lips. No man knows, till he experiences it, what it is to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5282 feel his own life-blood drawn away into the veins of the woman he loves.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5283
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5284 The Professor watched me critically. "That will do," he said. "Already?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5285 I remonstrated. "You took a great deal more from Art." To which he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5286 smiled a sad sort of smile as he replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5287
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5288 "He is her lover, her _fiancé_. You have work, much work, to do for her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5289 and for others; and the present will suffice."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5290
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5291 When we stopped the operation, he attended to Lucy, whilst I applied
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5292 digital pressure to my own incision. I laid down, whilst I waited his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5293 leisure to attend to me, for I felt faint and a little sick. By-and-by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5294 he bound up my wound, and sent me downstairs to get a glass of wine for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5295 myself. As I was leaving the room, he came after me, and half
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5296 whispered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5297
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5298 "Mind, nothing must be said of this. If our young lover should turn up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5299 unexpected, as before, no word to him. It would at once frighten him and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5300 enjealous him, too. There must be none. So!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5301
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5302 When I came back he looked at me carefully, and then said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5303
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5304 "You are not much the worse. Go into the room, and lie on your sofa, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5305 rest awhile; then have much breakfast, and come here to me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5306
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5307 I followed out his orders, for I knew how right and wise they were. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5308 had done my part, and now my next duty was to keep up my strength. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5309 felt very weak, and in the weakness lost something of the amazement at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5310 what had occurred. I fell asleep on the sofa, however, wondering over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5311 and over again how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5312 she could have been drained of so much blood with no sign anywhere to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5313 show for it. I think I must have continued my wonder in my dreams, for,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5314 sleeping and waking, my thoughts always came back to the little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5315 punctures in her throat and the ragged, exhausted appearance of their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5316 edges--tiny though they were.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5317
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5318 Lucy slept well into the day, and when she woke she was fairly well and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5319 strong, though not nearly so much so as the day before. When Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5320 had seen her, he went out for a walk, leaving me in charge, with strict
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5321 injunctions that I was not to leave her for a moment. I could hear his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5322 voice in the hall, asking the way to the nearest telegraph office.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5323
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5324 Lucy chatted with me freely, and seemed quite unconscious that anything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5325 had happened. I tried to keep her amused and interested. When her mother
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5326 came up to see her, she did not seem to notice any change whatever, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5327 said to me gratefully:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5328
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5329 "We owe you so much, Dr. Seward, for all you have done, but you really
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5330 must now take care not to overwork yourself. You are looking pale
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5331 yourself. You want a wife to nurse and look after you a bit; that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5332 do!" As she spoke, Lucy turned crimson, though it was only momentarily,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5333 for her poor wasted veins could not stand for long such an unwonted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5334 drain to the head. The reaction came in excessive pallor as she turned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5335 imploring eyes on me. I smiled and nodded, and laid my finger on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5336 lips; with a sigh, she sank back amid her pillows.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5337
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5338 Van Helsing returned in a couple of hours, and presently said to me:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5339 "Now you go home, and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself strong. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5340 stay here to-night, and I shall sit up with little miss myself. You and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5341 I must watch the case, and we must have none other to know. I have grave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5342 reasons. No, do not ask them; think what you will. Do not fear to think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5343 even the most not-probable. Good-night."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5344
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5345 In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5346 them might not sit up with Miss Lucy. They implored me to let them; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5347 when I said it was Dr. Van Helsing's wish that either he or I should sit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5348 up, they asked me quite piteously to intercede with the "foreign
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5349 gentleman." I was much touched by their kindness. Perhaps it is because
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5350 I am weak at present, and perhaps because it was on Lucy's account, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5351 their devotion was manifested; for over and over again have I seen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5352 similar instances of woman's kindness. I got back here in time for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5353 late dinner; went my rounds--all well; and set this down whilst waiting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5354 for sleep. It is coming.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5355
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5356 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5357
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5358 _11 September._--This afternoon I went over to Hillingham. Found Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5359 Helsing in excellent spirits, and Lucy much better. Shortly after I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5360 arrived, a big parcel from abroad came for the Professor. He opened it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5361 with much impressment--assumed, of course--and showed a great bundle of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5362 white flowers.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5363
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5364 "These are for you, Miss Lucy," he said.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5365
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5366 "For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5367
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5368 "Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines." Here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5369 Lucy made a wry face. "Nay, but they are not to take in a decoction or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5370 in nauseous form, so you need not snub that so charming nose, or I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5371 point out to my friend Arthur what woes he may have to endure in seeing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5372 so much beauty that he so loves so much distort. Aha, my pretty miss,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5373 that bring the so nice nose all straight again. This is medicinal, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5374 you do not know how. I put him in your window, I make pretty wreath, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5375 hang him round your neck, so that you sleep well. Oh yes! they, like the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5376 lotus flower, make your trouble forgotten. It smell so like the waters
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5377 of Lethe, and of that fountain of youth that the Conquistadores sought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5378 for in the Floridas, and find him all too late."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5379
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5380 Whilst he was speaking, Lucy had been examining the flowers and smelling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5381 them. Now she threw them down, saying, with half-laughter, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5382 half-disgust:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5383
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5384 "Oh, Professor, I believe you are only putting up a joke on me. Why,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5385 these flowers are only common garlic."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5386
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5387 To my surprise, Van Helsing rose up and said with all his sternness, his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5388 iron jaw set and his bushy eyebrows meeting:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5389
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5390 "No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in all I do;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5391 and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care, for the sake of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5392 others if not for your own." Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5393 well be, he went on more gently: "Oh, little miss, my dear, do not fear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5394 me. I only do for your good; but there is much virtue to you in those so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5395 common flowers. See, I place them myself in your room. I make myself the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5396 wreath that you are to wear. But hush! no telling to others that make so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5397 inquisitive questions. We must obey, and silence is a part of obedience;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5398 and obedience is to bring you strong and well into loving arms that wait
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5399 for you. Now sit still awhile. Come with me, friend John, and you shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5400 help me deck the room with my garlic, which is all the way from Haarlem,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5401 where my friend Vanderpool raise herb in his glass-houses all the year.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5402 I had to telegraph yesterday, or they would not have been here."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5403
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5404 We went into the room, taking the flowers with us. The Professor's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5405 actions were certainly odd and not to be found in any pharmacopoeia
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5406 that I ever heard of. First he fastened up the windows and latched them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5407 securely; next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5408 the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5409 in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with the wisp he rubbed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5410 all over the jamb of the door, above, below, and at each side, and round
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5411 the fireplace in the same way. It all seemed grotesque to me, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5412 presently I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5413
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5414 "Well, Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5415 this certainly puzzles me. It is well we have no sceptic here, or he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5416 would say that you were working some spell to keep out an evil spirit."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5417
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5418 "Perhaps I am!" he answered quietly as he began to make the wreath which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5419 Lucy was to wear round her neck.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5420
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5421 We then waited whilst Lucy made her toilet for the night, and when she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5422 was in bed he came and himself fixed the wreath of garlic round her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5423 neck. The last words he said to her were:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5424
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5425 "Take care you do not disturb it; and even if the room feel close, do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5426 not to-night open the window or the door."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5427
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5428 "I promise," said Lucy, "and thank you both a thousand times for all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5429 your kindness to me! Oh, what have I done to be blessed with such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5430 friends?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5431
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5432 As we left the house in my fly, which was waiting, Van Helsing said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5433
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5434 "To-night I can sleep in peace, and sleep I want--two nights of travel,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5435 much reading in the day between, and much anxiety on the day to follow,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5436 and a night to sit up, without to wink. To-morrow in the morning early
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5437 you call for me, and we come together to see our pretty miss, so much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5438 more strong for my 'spell' which I have work. Ho! ho!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5439
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5440 He seemed so confident that I, remembering my own confidence two nights
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5441 before and with the baneful result, felt awe and vague terror. It must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5442 have been my weakness that made me hesitate to tell it to my friend, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5443 I felt it all the more, like unshed tears.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5444
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5445
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5446
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5447
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5448 CHAPTER XI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5449
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5450 _Lucy Westenra's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5451
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5452
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5453 _12 September._--How good they all are to me. I quite love that dear Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5454 Van Helsing. I wonder why he was so anxious about these flowers. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5455 positively frightened me, he was so fierce. And yet he must have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5456 right, for I feel comfort from them already. Somehow, I do not dread
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5457 being alone to-night, and I can go to sleep without fear. I shall not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5458 mind any flapping outside the window. Oh, the terrible struggle that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5459 have had against sleep so often of late; the pain of the sleeplessness,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5460 or the pain of the fear of sleep, with such unknown horrors as it has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5461 for me! How blessed are some people, whose lives have no fears, no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5462 dreads; to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly, and brings
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5463 nothing but sweet dreams. Well, here I am to-night, hoping for sleep,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5464 and lying like Ophelia in the play, with "virgin crants and maiden
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5465 strewments." I never liked garlic before, but to-night it is delightful!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5466 There is peace in its smell; I feel sleep coming already. Good-night,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5467 everybody.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5468
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5469
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5470 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5471
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5472 _13 September._--Called at the Berkeley and found Van Helsing, as usual,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5473 up to time. The carriage ordered from the hotel was waiting. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5474 Professor took his bag, which he always brings with him now.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5475
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5476 Let all be put down exactly. Van Helsing and I arrived at Hillingham at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5477 eight o'clock. It was a lovely morning; the bright sunshine and all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5478 fresh feeling of early autumn seemed like the completion of nature's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5479 annual work. The leaves were turning to all kinds of beautiful colours,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5480 but had not yet begun to drop from the trees. When we entered we met
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5481 Mrs. Westenra coming out of the morning room. She is always an early
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5482 riser. She greeted us warmly and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5483
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5484 "You will be glad to know that Lucy is better. The dear child is still
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5485 asleep. I looked into her room and saw her, but did not go in, lest I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5486 should disturb her." The Professor smiled, and looked quite jubilant. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5487 rubbed his hands together, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5488
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5489 "Aha! I thought I had diagnosed the case. My treatment is working," to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5490 which she answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5491
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5492 "You must not take all the credit to yourself, doctor. Lucy's state this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5493 morning is due in part to me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5494
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5495 "How you do mean, ma'am?" asked the Professor.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5496
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5497 "Well, I was anxious about the dear child in the night, and went into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5498 her room. She was sleeping soundly--so soundly that even my coming did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5499 not wake her. But the room was awfully stuffy. There were a lot of those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5500 horrible, strong-smelling flowers about everywhere, and she had actually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5501 a bunch of them round her neck. I feared that the heavy odour would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5502 too much for the dear child in her weak state, so I took them all away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5503 and opened a bit of the window to let in a little fresh air. You will be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5504 pleased with her, I am sure."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5505
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5506 She moved off into her boudoir, where she usually breakfasted early. As
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5507 she had spoken, I watched the Professor's face, and saw it turn ashen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5508 grey. He had been able to retain his self-command whilst the poor lady
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5509 was present, for he knew her state and how mischievous a shock would be;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5510 he actually smiled on her as he held open the door for her to pass into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5511 her room. But the instant she had disappeared he pulled me, suddenly and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5512 forcibly, into the dining-room and closed the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5513
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5514 Then, for the first time in my life, I saw Van Helsing break down. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5515 raised his hands over his head in a sort of mute despair, and then beat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5516 his palms together in a helpless way; finally he sat down on a chair,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5517 and putting his hands before his face, began to sob, with loud, dry sobs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5518 that seemed to come from the very racking of his heart. Then he raised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5519 his arms again, as though appealing to the whole universe. "God! God!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5520 God!" he said. "What have we done, what has this poor thing done, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5521 we are so sore beset? Is there fate amongst us still, sent down from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5522 pagan world of old, that such things must be, and in such way? This poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5523 mother, all unknowing, and all for the best as she think, does such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5524 thing as lose her daughter body and soul; and we must not tell her, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5525 must not even warn her, or she die, and then both die. Oh, how we are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5526 beset! How are all the powers of the devils against us!" Suddenly he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5527 jumped to his feet. "Come," he said, "come, we must see and act. Devils
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5528 or no devils, or all the devils at once, it matters not; we fight him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5529 all the same." He went to the hall-door for his bag; and together we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5530 went up to Lucy's room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5531
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5532 Once again I drew up the blind, whilst Van Helsing went towards the bed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5533 This time he did not start as he looked on the poor face with the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5534 awful, waxen pallor as before. He wore a look of stern sadness and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5535 infinite pity.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5536
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5537 "As I expected," he murmured, with that hissing inspiration of his which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5538 meant so much. Without a word he went and locked the door, and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5539 began to set out on the little table the instruments for yet another
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5540 operation of transfusion of blood. I had long ago recognised the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5541 necessity, and begun to take off my coat, but he stopped me with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5542 warning hand. "No!" he said. "To-day you must operate. I shall provide.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5543 You are weakened already." As he spoke he took off his coat and rolled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5544 up his shirt-sleeve.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5545
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5546 Again the operation; again the narcotic; again some return of colour to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5547 the ashy cheeks, and the regular breathing of healthy sleep. This time I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5548 watched whilst Van Helsing recruited himself and rested.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5549
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5550 Presently he took an opportunity of telling Mrs. Westenra that she must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5551 not remove anything from Lucy's room without consulting him; that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5552 flowers were of medicinal value, and that the breathing of their odour
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5553 was a part of the system of cure. Then he took over the care of the case
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5554 himself, saying that he would watch this night and the next and would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5555 send me word when to come.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5556
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5557 After another hour Lucy waked from her sleep, fresh and bright and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5558 seemingly not much the worse for her terrible ordeal.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5559
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5560 What does it all mean? I am beginning to wonder if my long habit of life
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5561 amongst the insane is beginning to tell upon my own brain.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5562
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5563
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5564 _Lucy Westenra's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5565
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5566 _17 September._--Four days and nights of peace. I am getting so strong
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5567 again that I hardly know myself. It is as if I had passed through some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5568 long nightmare, and had just awakened to see the beautiful sunshine and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5569 feel the fresh air of the morning around me. I have a dim
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5570 half-remembrance of long, anxious times of waiting and fearing; darkness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5571 in which there was not even the pain of hope to make present distress
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5572 more poignant: and then long spells of oblivion, and the rising back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5573 life as a diver coming up through a great press of water. Since,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5574 however, Dr. Van Helsing has been with me, all this bad dreaming seems
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5575 to have passed away; the noises that used to frighten me out of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5576 wits--the flapping against the windows, the distant voices which seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5577 so close to me, the harsh sounds that came from I know not where and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5578 commanded me to do I know not what--have all ceased. I go to bed now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5579 without any fear of sleep. I do not even try to keep awake. I have grown
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5580 quite fond of the garlic, and a boxful arrives for me every day from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5581 Haarlem. To-night Dr. Van Helsing is going away, as he has to be for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5582 day in Amsterdam. But I need not be watched; I am well enough to be left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5583 alone. Thank God for mother's sake, and dear Arthur's, and for all our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5584 friends who have been so kind! I shall not even feel the change, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5585 last night Dr. Van Helsing slept in his chair a lot of the time. I found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5586 him asleep twice when I awoke; but I did not fear to go to sleep again,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5587 although the boughs or bats or something napped almost angrily against
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5588 the window-panes.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5589
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5590
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5591 _"The Pall Mall Gazette," 18 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5592
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5593 THE ESCAPED WOLF.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5594
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5595 PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF OUR INTERVIEWER.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5596
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5597 _Interview with the Keeper in the Zoölogical Gardens._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5598
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5599 After many inquiries and almost as many refusals, and perpetually using
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5600 the words "Pall Mall Gazette" as a sort of talisman, I managed to find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5601 the keeper of the section of the Zoölogical Gardens in which the wolf
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5602 department is included. Thomas Bilder lives in one of the cottages in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5603 the enclosure behind the elephant-house, and was just sitting down to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5604 his tea when I found him. Thomas and his wife are hospitable folk,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5605 elderly, and without children, and if the specimen I enjoyed of their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5606 hospitality be of the average kind, their lives must be pretty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5607 comfortable. The keeper would not enter on what he called "business"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5608 until the supper was over, and we were all satisfied. Then when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5609 table was cleared, and he had lit his pipe, he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5610
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5611 "Now, sir, you can go on and arsk me what you want. You'll excoose me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5612 refoosin' to talk of perfeshunal subjects afore meals. I gives the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5613 wolves and the jackals and the hyenas in all our section their tea afore
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5614 I begins to arsk them questions."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5615
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5616 "How do you mean, ask them questions?" I queried, wishful to get him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5617 into a talkative humour.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5618
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5619 "'Ittin' of them over the 'ead with a pole is one way; scratchin' of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5620 their hears is another, when gents as is flush wants a bit of a show-orf
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5621 to their gals. I don't so much mind the fust--the 'ittin' with a pole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5622 afore I chucks in their dinner; but I waits till they've 'ad their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5623 sherry and kawffee, so to speak, afore I tries on with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5624 ear-scratchin'. Mind you," he added philosophically, "there's a deal of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5625 the same nature in us as in them theer animiles. Here's you a-comin' and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5626 arskin' of me questions about my business, and I that grumpy-like that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5627 only for your bloomin' 'arf-quid I'd 'a' seen you blowed fust 'fore I'd
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5628 answer. Not even when you arsked me sarcastic-like if I'd like you to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5629 arsk the Superintendent if you might arsk me questions. Without offence
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5630 did I tell yer to go to 'ell?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5631
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5632 "You did."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5633
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5634 "An' when you said you'd report me for usin' of obscene language that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5635 was 'ittin' me over the 'ead; but the 'arf-quid made that all right. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5636 weren't a-goin' to fight, so I waited for the food, and did with my 'owl
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5637 as the wolves, and lions, and tigers does. But, Lor' love yer 'art, now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5638 that the old 'ooman has stuck a chunk of her tea-cake in me, an' rinsed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5639 me out with her bloomin' old teapot, and I've lit hup, you may scratch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5640 my ears for all you're worth, and won't git even a growl out of me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5641 Drive along with your questions. I know what yer a-comin' at, that 'ere
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5642 escaped wolf."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5643
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5644 "Exactly. I want you to give me your view of it. Just tell me how it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5645 happened; and when I know the facts I'll get you to say what you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5646 consider was the cause of it, and how you think the whole affair will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5647 end."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5648
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5649 "All right, guv'nor. This 'ere is about the 'ole story. That 'ere wolf
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5650 what we called Bersicker was one of three grey ones that came from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5651 Norway to Jamrach's, which we bought off him four years ago. He was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5652 nice well-behaved wolf, that never gave no trouble to talk of. I'm more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5653 surprised at 'im for wantin' to get out nor any other animile in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5654 place. But, there, you can't trust wolves no more nor women."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5655
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5656 "Don't you mind him, sir!" broke in Mrs. Tom, with a cheery laugh. "'E's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5657 got mindin' the animiles so long that blest if he ain't like a old wolf
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5658 'isself! But there ain't no 'arm in 'im."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5659
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5660 "Well, sir, it was about two hours after feedin' yesterday when I first
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5661 hear my disturbance. I was makin' up a litter in the monkey-house for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5662 young puma which is ill; but when I heard the yelpin' and 'owlin' I kem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5663 away straight. There was Bersicker a-tearin' like a mad thing at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5664 bars as if he wanted to get out. There wasn't much people about that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5665 day, and close at hand was only one man, a tall, thin chap, with a 'ook
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5666 nose and a pointed beard, with a few white hairs runnin' through it. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5667 had a 'ard, cold look and red eyes, and I took a sort of mislike to him,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5668 for it seemed as if it was 'im as they was hirritated at. He 'ad white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5669 kid gloves on 'is 'ands, and he pointed out the animiles to me and says:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5670 'Keeper, these wolves seem upset at something.'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5671
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5672 "'Maybe it's you,' says I, for I did not like the airs as he give
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5673 'isself. He didn't git angry, as I 'oped he would, but he smiled a kind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5674 of insolent smile, with a mouth full of white, sharp teeth. 'Oh no, they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5675 wouldn't like me,' 'e says.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5676
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5677 "'Ow yes, they would,' says I, a-imitatin' of him. 'They always likes a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5678 bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea-time, which you 'as a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5679 bagful.'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5680
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5681 "Well, it was a odd thing, but when the animiles see us a-talkin' they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5682 lay down, and when I went over to Bersicker he let me stroke his ears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5683 same as ever. That there man kem over, and blessed but if he didn't put
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5684 in his hand and stroke the old wolf's ears too!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5685
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5686 "'Tyke care,' says I. 'Bersicker is quick.'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5687
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5688 "'Never mind,' he says. 'I'm used to 'em!'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5689
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5690 "'Are you in the business yourself?' I says, tyking off my 'at, for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5691 man what trades in wolves, anceterer, is a good friend to keepers.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5692
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5693 "'No' says he, 'not exactly in the business, but I 'ave made pets of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5694 several.' And with that he lifts his 'at as perlite as a lord, and walks
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5695 away. Old Bersicker kep' a-lookin' arter 'im till 'e was out of sight,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5696 and then went and lay down in a corner and wouldn't come hout the 'ole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5697 hevening. Well, larst night, so soon as the moon was hup, the wolves
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5698 here all began a-'owling. There warn't nothing for them to 'owl at.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5699 There warn't no one near, except some one that was evidently a-callin' a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5700 dog somewheres out back of the gardings in the Park road. Once or twice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5701 I went out to see that all was right, and it was, and then the 'owling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5702 stopped. Just before twelve o'clock I just took a look round afore
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5703 turnin' in, an', bust me, but when I kem opposite to old Bersicker's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5704 cage I see the rails broken and twisted about and the cage empty. And
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5705 that's all I know for certing."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5706
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5707 "Did any one else see anything?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5708
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5709 "One of our gard'ners was a-comin' 'ome about that time from a 'armony,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5710 when he sees a big grey dog comin' out through the garding 'edges. At
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5711 least, so he says, but I don't give much for it myself, for if he did 'e
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5712 never said a word about it to his missis when 'e got 'ome, and it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5713 only after the escape of the wolf was made known, and we had been up all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5714 night-a-huntin' of the Park for Bersicker, that he remembered seein'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5715 anything. My own belief was that the 'armony 'ad got into his 'ead."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5716
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5717 "Now, Mr. Bilder, can you account in any way for the escape of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5718 wolf?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5719
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5720 "Well, sir," he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty, "I think I can;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5721 but I don't know as 'ow you'd be satisfied with the theory."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5722
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5723 "Certainly I shall. If a man like you, who knows the animals from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5724 experience, can't hazard a good guess at any rate, who is even to try?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5725
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5726 "Well then, sir, I accounts for it this way; it seems to me that 'ere
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5727 wolf escaped--simply because he wanted to get out."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5728
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5729 From the hearty way that both Thomas and his wife laughed at the joke I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5730 could see that it had done service before, and that the whole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5731 explanation was simply an elaborate sell. I couldn't cope in badinage
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5732 with the worthy Thomas, but I thought I knew a surer way to his heart,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5733 so I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5734
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5735 "Now, Mr. Bilder, we'll consider that first half-sovereign worked off,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5736 and this brother of his is waiting to be claimed when you've told me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5737 what you think will happen."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5738
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5739 "Right y'are, sir," he said briskly. "Ye'll excoose me, I know, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5740 a-chaffin' of ye, but the old woman here winked at me, which was as much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5741 as telling me to go on."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5742
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5743 "Well, I never!" said the old lady.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5744
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5745 "My opinion is this: that 'ere wolf is a-'idin' of, somewheres. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5746 gard'ner wot didn't remember said he was a-gallopin' northward faster
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5747 than a horse could go; but I don't believe him, for, yer see, sir,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5748 wolves don't gallop no more nor dogs does, they not bein' built that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5749 way. Wolves is fine things in a storybook, and I dessay when they gets
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5750 in packs and does be chivyin' somethin' that's more afeared than they is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5751 they can make a devil of a noise and chop it up, whatever it is. But,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5752 Lor' bless you, in real life a wolf is only a low creature, not half so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5753 clever or bold as a good dog; and not half a quarter so much fight in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5754 'im. This one ain't been used to fightin' or even to providin' for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5755 hisself, and more like he's somewhere round the Park a-'idin' an'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5756 a-shiverin' of, and, if he thinks at all, wonderin' where he is to get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5757 his breakfast from; or maybe he's got down some area and is in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5758 coal-cellar. My eye, won't some cook get a rum start when she sees his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5759 green eyes a-shining at her out of the dark! If he can't get food he's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5760 bound to look for it, and mayhap he may chance to light on a butcher's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5761 shop in time. If he doesn't, and some nursemaid goes a-walkin' orf with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5762 a soldier, leavin' of the hinfant in the perambulator--well, then I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5763 shouldn't be surprised if the census is one babby the less. That's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5764 all."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5765
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5766 I was handing him the half-sovereign, when something came bobbing up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5767 against the window, and Mr. Bilder's face doubled its natural length
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5768 with surprise.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5769
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5770 "God bless me!" he said. "If there ain't old Bersicker come back by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5771 'isself!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5772
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5773 He went to the door and opened it; a most unnecessary proceeding it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5774 seemed to me. I have always thought that a wild animal never looks so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5775 well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us; a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5776 personal experience has intensified rather than diminished that idea.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5777
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5778 After all, however, there is nothing like custom, for neither Bilder nor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5779 his wife thought any more of the wolf than I should of a dog. The animal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5780 itself was as peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5781 picture-wolves--Red Riding Hood's quondam friend, whilst moving her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5782 confidence in masquerade.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5783
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5784 The whole scene was an unutterable mixture of comedy and pathos. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5785 wicked wolf that for half a day had paralysed London and set all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5786 children in the town shivering in their shoes, was there in a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5787 penitent mood, and was received and petted like a sort of vulpine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5788 prodigal son. Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5789 solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5790
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5791 "There, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of trouble;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5792 didn't I say it all along? Here's his head all cut and full of broken
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5793 glass. 'E's been a-gettin' over some bloomin' wall or other. It's a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5794 shyme that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5795 This 'ere's what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5796
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5797 He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece of meat that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5798 satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary conditions of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5799 fatted calf, and went off to report.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5800
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5801 I came off, too, to report the only exclusive information that is given
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5802 to-day regarding the strange escapade at the Zoo.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5803
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5804
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5805 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5806
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5807 _17 September._--I was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5808 books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5809 had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5810 rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5811 thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5812 into the Superintendent's study is almost unknown. Without an instant's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5813 pause he made straight at me. He had a dinner-knife in his hand, and,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5814 as I saw he was dangerous, I tried to keep the table between us. He was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5815 too quick and too strong for me, however; for before I could get my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5816 balance he had struck at me and cut my left wrist rather severely.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5817 Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right and he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5818 sprawling on his back on the floor. My wrist bled freely, and quite a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5819 little pool trickled on to the carpet. I saw that my friend was not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5820 intent on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my wrist,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5821 keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time. When the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5822 attendants rushed in, and we turned our attention to him, his employment
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5823 positively sickened me. He was lying on his belly on the floor licking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5824 up, like a dog, the blood which had fallen from my wounded wrist. He was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5825 easily secured, and, to my surprise, went with the attendants quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5826 placidly, simply repeating over and over again: "The blood is the life!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5827 The blood is the life!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5828
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5829 I cannot afford to lose blood just at present; I have lost too much of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5830 late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain of Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5831 illness and its horrible phases is telling on me. I am over-excited and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5832 weary, and I need rest, rest, rest. Happily Van Helsing has not summoned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5833 me, so I need not forego my sleep; to-night I could not well do without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5834 it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5835
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5836
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5837 _Telegram, Van Helsing, Antwerp, to Seward, Carfax._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5838
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5839 (Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given; delivered late by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5840 twenty-two hours.)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5841
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5842 "_17 September._--Do not fail to be at Hillingham to-night. If not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5843 watching all the time frequently, visit and see that flowers are as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5844 placed; very important; do not fail. Shall be with you as soon as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5845 possible after arrival."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5846
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5847
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5848 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5849
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5850 _18 September._--Just off for train to London. The arrival of Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5851 Helsing's telegram filled me with dismay. A whole night lost, and I know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5852 by bitter experience what may happen in a night. Of course it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5853 possible that all may be well, but what _may_ have happened? Surely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5854 there is some horrible doom hanging over us that every possible accident
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5855 should thwart us in all we try to do. I shall take this cylinder with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5856 me, and then I can complete my entry on Lucy's phonograph.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5857
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5858
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5859 _Memorandum left by Lucy Westenra._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5860
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5861 _17 September. Night._--I write this and leave it to be seen, so that no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5862 one may by any chance get into trouble through me. This is an exact
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5863 record of what took place to-night. I feel I am dying of weakness, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5864 have barely strength to write, but it must be done if I die in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5865 doing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5866
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5867 I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were placed as Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5868 Van Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5869
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5870 I was waked by the flapping at the window, which had begun after that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5871 sleep-walking on the cliff at Whitby when Mina saved me, and which now I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5872 know so well. I was not afraid, but I did wish that Dr. Seward was in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5873 the next room--as Dr. Van Helsing said he would be--so that I might have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5874 called him. I tried to go to sleep, but could not. Then there came to me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5875 the old fear of sleep, and I determined to keep awake. Perversely sleep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5876 would try to come then when I did not want it; so, as I feared to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5877 alone, I opened my door and called out: "Is there anybody there?" There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5878 was no answer. I was afraid to wake mother, and so closed my door again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5879 Then outside in the shrubbery I heard a sort of howl like a dog's, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5880 more fierce and deeper. I went to the window and looked out, but could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5881 see nothing, except a big bat, which had evidently been buffeting its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5882 wings against the window. So I went back to bed again, but determined
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5883 not to go to sleep. Presently the door opened, and mother looked in;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5884 seeing by my moving that I was not asleep, came in, and sat by me. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5885 said to me even more sweetly and softly than her wont:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5886
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5887 "I was uneasy about you, darling, and came in to see that you were all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5888 right."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5889
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5890 I feared she might catch cold sitting there, and asked her to come in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5891 and sleep with me, so she came into bed, and lay down beside me; she did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5892 not take off her dressing gown, for she said she would only stay a while
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5893 and then go back to her own bed. As she lay there in my arms, and I in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5894 hers, the flapping and buffeting came to the window again. She was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5895 startled and a little frightened, and cried out: "What is that?" I tried
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5896 to pacify her, and at last succeeded, and she lay quiet; but I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5897 hear her poor dear heart still beating terribly. After a while there was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5898 the low howl again out in the shrubbery, and shortly after there was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5899 crash at the window, and a lot of broken glass was hurled on the floor.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5900 The window blind blew back with the wind that rushed in, and in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5901 aperture of the broken panes there was the head of a great, gaunt grey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5902 wolf. Mother cried out in a fright, and struggled up into a sitting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5903 posture, and clutched wildly at anything that would help her. Amongst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5904 other things, she clutched the wreath of flowers that Dr. Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5905 insisted on my wearing round my neck, and tore it away from me. For a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5906 second or two she sat up, pointing at the wolf, and there was a strange
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5907 and horrible gurgling in her throat; then she fell over--as if struck
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5908 with lightning, and her head hit my forehead and made me dizzy for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5909 moment or two. The room and all round seemed to spin round. I kept my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5910 eyes fixed on the window, but the wolf drew his head back, and a whole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5911 myriad of little specks seemed to come blowing in through the broken
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5912 window, and wheeling and circling round like the pillar of dust that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5913 travellers describe when there is a simoon in the desert. I tried to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5914 stir, but there was some spell upon me, and dear mother's poor body,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5915 which seemed to grow cold already--for her dear heart had ceased to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5916 beat--weighed me down; and I remembered no more for a while.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5917
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5918 The time did not seem long, but very, very awful, till I recovered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5919 consciousness again. Somewhere near, a passing bell was tolling; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5920 dogs all round the neighbourhood were howling; and in our shrubbery,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5921 seemingly just outside, a nightingale was singing. I was dazed and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5922 stupid with pain and terror and weakness, but the sound of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5923 nightingale seemed like the voice of my dead mother come back to comfort
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5924 me. The sounds seemed to have awakened the maids, too, for I could hear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5925 their bare feet pattering outside my door. I called to them, and they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5926 came in, and when they saw what had happened, and what it was that lay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5927 over me on the bed, they screamed out. The wind rushed in through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5928 broken window, and the door slammed to. They lifted off the body of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5929 dear mother, and laid her, covered up with a sheet, on the bed after I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5930 had got up. They were all so frightened and nervous that I directed them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5931 to go to the dining-room and have each a glass of wine. The door flew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5932 open for an instant and closed again. The maids shrieked, and then went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5933 in a body to the dining-room; and I laid what flowers I had on my dear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5934 mother's breast. When they were there I remembered what Dr. Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5935 had told me, but I didn't like to remove them, and, besides, I would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5936 have some of the servants to sit up with me now. I was surprised that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5937 the maids did not come back. I called them, but got no answer, so I went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5938 to the dining-room to look for them.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5939
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5940 My heart sank when I saw what had happened. They all four lay helpless
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5941 on the floor, breathing heavily. The decanter of sherry was on the table
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5942 half full, but there was a queer, acrid smell about. I was suspicious,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5943 and examined the decanter. It smelt of laudanum, and looking on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5944 sideboard, I found that the bottle which mother's doctor uses for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5945 her--oh! did use--was empty. What am I to do? what am I to do? I am back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5946 in the room with mother. I cannot leave her, and I am alone, save for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5947 the sleeping servants, whom some one has drugged. Alone with the dead! I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5948 dare not go out, for I can hear the low howl of the wolf through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5949 broken window.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5950
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5951 The air seems full of specks, floating and circling in the draught from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5952 the window, and the lights burn blue and dim. What am I to do? God
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5953 shield me from harm this night! I shall hide this paper in my breast,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5954 where they shall find it when they come to lay me out. My dear mother
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5955 gone! It is time that I go too. Good-bye, dear Arthur, if I should not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5956 survive this night. God keep you, dear, and God help me!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5957
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5958
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5959
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5960
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5961 CHAPTER XII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5962
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5963 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5964
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5965
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5966 _18 September._--I drove at once to Hillingham and arrived early.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5967 Keeping my cab at the gate, I went up the avenue alone. I knocked gently
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5968 and rang as quietly as possible, for I feared to disturb Lucy or her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5969 mother, and hoped to only bring a servant to the door. After a while,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5970 finding no response, I knocked and rang again; still no answer. I cursed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5971 the laziness of the servants that they should lie abed at such an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5972 hour--for it was now ten o'clock--and so rang and knocked again, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5973 more impatiently, but still without response. Hitherto I had blamed only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5974 the servants, but now a terrible fear began to assail me. Was this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5975 desolation but another link in the chain of doom which seemed drawing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5976 tight around us? Was it indeed a house of death to which I had come, too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5977 late? I knew that minutes, even seconds of delay, might mean hours of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5978 danger to Lucy, if she had had again one of those frightful relapses;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5979 and I went round the house to try if I could find by chance an entry
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5980 anywhere.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5981
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5982 I could find no means of ingress. Every window and door was fastened and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5983 locked, and I returned baffled to the porch. As I did so, I heard the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5984 rapid pit-pat of a swiftly driven horse's feet. They stopped at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5985 gate, and a few seconds later I met Van Helsing running up the avenue.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5986 When he saw me, he gasped out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5987
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5988 "Then it was you, and just arrived. How is she? Are we too late? Did you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5989 not get my telegram?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5990
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5991 I answered as quickly and coherently as I could that I had only got his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5992 telegram early in the morning, and had not lost a minute in coming here,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5993 and that I could not make any one in the house hear me. He paused and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5994 raised his hat as he said solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5995
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5996 "Then I fear we are too late. God's will be done!" With his usual
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5997 recuperative energy, he went on: "Come. If there be no way open to get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5998 in, we must make one. Time is all in all to us now."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 5999
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6000 We went round to the back of the house, where there was a kitchen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6001 window. The Professor took a small surgical saw from his case, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6002 handing it to me, pointed to the iron bars which guarded the window. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6003 attacked them at once and had very soon cut through three of them. Then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6004 with a long, thin knife we pushed back the fastening of the sashes and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6005 opened the window. I helped the Professor in, and followed him. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6006 was no one in the kitchen or in the servants' rooms, which were close at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6007 hand. We tried all the rooms as we went along, and in the dining-room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6008 dimly lit by rays of light through the shutters, found four
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6009 servant-women lying on the floor. There was no need to think them dead,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6010 for their stertorous breathing and the acrid smell of laudanum in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6011 room left no doubt as to their condition. Van Helsing and I looked at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6012 each other, and as we moved away he said: "We can attend to them later."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6013 Then we ascended to Lucy's room. For an instant or two we paused at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6014 door to listen, but there was no sound that we could hear. With white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6015 faces and trembling hands, we opened the door gently, and entered the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6016 room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6017
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6018 How shall I describe what we saw? On the bed lay two women, Lucy and her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6019 mother. The latter lay farthest in, and she was covered with a white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6020 sheet, the edge of which had been blown back by the draught through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6021 broken window, showing the drawn, white face, with a look of terror
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6022 fixed upon it. By her side lay Lucy, with face white and still more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6023 drawn. The flowers which had been round her neck we found upon her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6024 mother's bosom, and her throat was bare, showing the two little wounds
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6025 which we had noticed before, but looking horribly white and mangled.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6026 Without a word the Professor bent over the bed, his head almost touching
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6027 poor Lucy's breast; then he gave a quick turn of his head, as of one who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6028 listens, and leaping to his feet, he cried out to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6029
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6030 "It is not yet too late! Quick! quick! Bring the brandy!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6031
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6032 I flew downstairs and returned with it, taking care to smell and taste
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6033 it, lest it, too, were drugged like the decanter of sherry which I found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6034 on the table. The maids were still breathing, but more restlessly, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6035 fancied that the narcotic was wearing off. I did not stay to make sure,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6036 but returned to Van Helsing. He rubbed the brandy, as on another
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6037 occasion, on her lips and gums and on her wrists and the palms of her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6038 hands. He said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6039
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6040 "I can do this, all that can be at the present. You go wake those maids.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6041 Flick them in the face with a wet towel, and flick them hard. Make them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6042 get heat and fire and a warm bath. This poor soul is nearly as cold as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6043 that beside her. She will need be heated before we can do anything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6044 more."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6045
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6046 I went at once, and found little difficulty in waking three of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6047 women. The fourth was only a young girl, and the drug had evidently
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6048 affected her more strongly, so I lifted her on the sofa and let her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6049 sleep. The others were dazed at first, but as remembrance came back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6050 them they cried and sobbed in a hysterical manner. I was stern with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6051 them, however, and would not let them talk. I told them that one life
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6052 was bad enough to lose, and that if they delayed they would sacrifice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6053 Miss Lucy. So, sobbing and crying, they went about their way, half clad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6054 as they were, and prepared fire and water. Fortunately, the kitchen and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6055 boiler fires were still alive, and there was no lack of hot water. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6056 got a bath and carried Lucy out as she was and placed her in it. Whilst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6057 we were busy chafing her limbs there was a knock at the hall door. One
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6058 of the maids ran off, hurried on some more clothes, and opened it. Then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6059 she returned and whispered to us that there was a gentleman who had come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6060 with a message from Mr. Holmwood. I bade her simply tell him that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6061 must wait, for we could see no one now. She went away with the message,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6062 and, engrossed with our work, I clean forgot all about him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6063
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6064 I never saw in all my experience the Professor work in such deadly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6065 earnest. I knew--as he knew--that it was a stand-up fight with death,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6066 and in a pause told him so. He answered me in a way that I did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6067 understand, but with the sternest look that his face could wear:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6068
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6069 "If that were all, I would stop here where we are now, and let her fade
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6070 away into peace, for I see no light in life over her horizon." He went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6071 on with his work with, if possible, renewed and more frenzied vigour.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6072
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6073 Presently we both began to be conscious that the heat was beginning to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6074 be of some effect. Lucy's heart beat a trifle more audibly to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6075 stethoscope, and her lungs had a perceptible movement. Van Helsing's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6076 face almost beamed, and as we lifted her from the bath and rolled her in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6077 a hot sheet to dry her he said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6078
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6079 "The first gain is ours! Check to the King!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6080
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6081 We took Lucy into another room, which had by now been prepared, and laid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6082 her in bed and forced a few drops of brandy down her throat. I noticed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6083 that Van Helsing tied a soft silk handkerchief round her throat. She was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6084 still unconscious, and was quite as bad as, if not worse than, we had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6085 ever seen her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6086
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6087 Van Helsing called in one of the women, and told her to stay with her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6088 and not to take her eyes off her till we returned, and then beckoned me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6089 out of the room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6090
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6091 "We must consult as to what is to be done," he said as we descended the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6092 stairs. In the hall he opened the dining-room door, and we passed in, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6093 closing the door carefully behind him. The shutters had been opened, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6094 the blinds were already down, with that obedience to the etiquette of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6095 death which the British woman of the lower classes always rigidly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6096 observes. The room was, therefore, dimly dark. It was, however, light
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6097 enough for our purposes. Van Helsing's sternness was somewhat relieved
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6098 by a look of perplexity. He was evidently torturing his mind about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6099 something, so I waited for an instant, and he spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6100
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6101 "What are we to do now? Where are we to turn for help? We must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6102 another transfusion of blood, and that soon, or that poor girl's life
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6103 won't be worth an hour's purchase. You are exhausted already; I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6104 exhausted too. I fear to trust those women, even if they would have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6105 courage to submit. What are we to do for some one who will open his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6106 veins for her?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6107
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6108 "What's the matter with me, anyhow?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6109
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6110 The voice came from the sofa across the room, and its tones brought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6111 relief and joy to my heart, for they were those of Quincey Morris. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6112 Helsing started angrily at the first sound, but his face softened and a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6113 glad look came into his eyes as I cried out: "Quincey Morris!" and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6114 rushed towards him with outstretched hands.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6115
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6116 "What brought you here?" I cried as our hands met.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6117
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6118 "I guess Art is the cause."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6119
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6120 He handed me a telegram:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6121
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6122 "Have not heard from Seward for three days, and am terribly anxious.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6123 Cannot leave. Father still in same condition. Send me word how Lucy is.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6124 Do not delay.--HOLMWOOD."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6125
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6126 "I think I came just in the nick of time. You know you have only to tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6127 me what to do."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6128
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6129 Van Helsing strode forward, and took his hand, looking him straight in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6130 the eyes as he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6132 "A brave man's blood is the best thing on this earth when a woman is in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6133 trouble. You're a man and no mistake. Well, the devil may work against
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6134 us for all he's worth, but God sends us men when we want them."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6135
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6136 Once again we went through that ghastly operation. I have not the heart
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6137 to go through with the details. Lucy had got a terrible shock and it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6138 told on her more than before, for though plenty of blood went into her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6139 veins, her body did not respond to the treatment as well as on the other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6140 occasions. Her struggle back into life was something frightful to see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6141 and hear. However, the action of both heart and lungs improved, and Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6142 Helsing made a subcutaneous injection of morphia, as before, and with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6143 good effect. Her faint became a profound slumber. The Professor watched
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6144 whilst I went downstairs with Quincey Morris, and sent one of the maids
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6145 to pay off one of the cabmen who were waiting. I left Quincey lying down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6146 after having a glass of wine, and told the cook to get ready a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6147 breakfast. Then a thought struck me, and I went back to the room where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6148 Lucy now was. When I came softly in, I found Van Helsing with a sheet or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6149 two of note-paper in his hand. He had evidently read it, and was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6150 thinking it over as he sat with his hand to his brow. There was a look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6151 of grim satisfaction in his face, as of one who has had a doubt solved.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6152 He handed me the paper saying only: "It dropped from Lucy's breast when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6153 we carried her to the bath."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6154
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6155 When I had read it, I stood looking at the Professor, and after a pause
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6156 asked him: "In God's name, what does it all mean? Was she, or is she,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6157 mad; or what sort of horrible danger is it?" I was so bewildered that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6158 did not know what to say more. Van Helsing put out his hand and took the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6159 paper, saying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6160
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6161 "Do not trouble about it now. Forget it for the present. You shall know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6162 and understand it all in good time; but it will be later. And now what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6163 is it that you came to me to say?" This brought me back to fact, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6164 was all myself again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6165
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6166 "I came to speak about the certificate of death. If we do not act
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6167 properly and wisely, there may be an inquest, and that paper would have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6168 to be produced. I am in hopes that we need have no inquest, for if we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6169 had it would surely kill poor Lucy, if nothing else did. I know, and you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6170 know, and the other doctor who attended her knows, that Mrs. Westenra
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6171 had disease of the heart, and we can certify that she died of it. Let us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6172 fill up the certificate at once, and I shall take it myself to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6173 registrar and go on to the undertaker."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6174
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6175 "Good, oh my friend John! Well thought of! Truly Miss Lucy, if she be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6176 sad in the foes that beset her, is at least happy in the friends that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6177 love her. One, two, three, all open their veins for her, besides one old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6178 man. Ah yes, I know, friend John; I am not blind! I love you all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6179 more for it! Now go."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6180
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6181 In the hall I met Quincey Morris, with a telegram for Arthur telling him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6182 that Mrs. Westenra was dead; that Lucy also had been ill, but was now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6183 going on better; and that Van Helsing and I were with her. I told him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6184 where I was going, and he hurried me out, but as I was going said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6185
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6186 "When you come back, Jack, may I have two words with you all to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6187 ourselves?" I nodded in reply and went out. I found no difficulty about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6188 the registration, and arranged with the local undertaker to come up in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6189 the evening to measure for the coffin and to make arrangements.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6190
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6191 When I got back Quincey was waiting for me. I told him I would see him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6192 as soon as I knew about Lucy, and went up to her room. She was still
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6193 sleeping, and the Professor seemingly had not moved from his seat at her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6194 side. From his putting his finger to his lips, I gathered that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6195 expected her to wake before long and was afraid of forestalling nature.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6196 So I went down to Quincey and took him into the breakfast-room, where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6197 the blinds were not drawn down, and which was a little more cheerful, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6198 rather less cheerless, than the other rooms. When we were alone, he said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6199 to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6200
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6201 "Jack Seward, I don't want to shove myself in anywhere where I've no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6202 right to be; but this is no ordinary case. You know I loved that girl
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6203 and wanted to marry her; but, although that's all past and gone, I can't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6204 help feeling anxious about her all the same. What is it that's wrong
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6205 with her? The Dutchman--and a fine old fellow he is; I can see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6206 that--said, that time you two came into the room, that you must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6207 _another_ transfusion of blood, and that both you and he were exhausted.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6208 Now I know well that you medical men speak _in camera_, and that a man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6209 must not expect to know what they consult about in private. But this is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6210 no common matter, and, whatever it is, I have done my part. Is not that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6211 so?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6212
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6213 "That's so," I said, and he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6214
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6215 "I take it that both you and Van Helsing had done already what I did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6216 to-day. Is not that so?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6217
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6218 "That's so."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6219
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6220 "And I guess Art was in it too. When I saw him four days ago down at his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6221 own place he looked queer. I have not seen anything pulled down so quick
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6222 since I was on the Pampas and had a mare that I was fond of go to grass
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6223 all in a night. One of those big bats that they call vampires had got at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6224 her in the night, and what with his gorge and the vein left open, there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6225 wasn't enough blood in her to let her stand up, and I had to put a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6226 bullet through her as she lay. Jack, if you may tell me without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6227 betraying confidence, Arthur was the first, is not that so?" As he spoke
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6228 the poor fellow looked terribly anxious. He was in a torture of suspense
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6229 regarding the woman he loved, and his utter ignorance of the terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6230 mystery which seemed to surround her intensified his pain. His very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6231 heart was bleeding, and it took all the manhood of him--and there was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6232 royal lot of it, too--to keep him from breaking down. I paused before
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6233 answering, for I felt that I must not betray anything which the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6234 Professor wished kept secret; but already he knew so much, and guessed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6235 so much, that there could be no reason for not answering, so I answered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6236 in the same phrase: "That's so."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6237
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6238 "And how long has this been going on?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6239
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6240 "About ten days."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6241
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6242 "Ten days! Then I guess, Jack Seward, that that poor pretty creature
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6243 that we all love has had put into her veins within that time the blood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6244 of four strong men. Man alive, her whole body wouldn't hold it." Then,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6245 coming close to me, he spoke in a fierce half-whisper: "What took it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6246 out?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6247
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6248 I shook my head. "That," I said, "is the crux. Van Helsing is simply
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6249 frantic about it, and I am at my wits' end. I can't even hazard a guess.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6250 There has been a series of little circumstances which have thrown out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6251 all our calculations as to Lucy being properly watched. But these shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6252 not occur again. Here we stay until all be well--or ill." Quincey held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6253 out his hand. "Count me in," he said. "You and the Dutchman will tell me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6254 what to do, and I'll do it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6255
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6256 When she woke late in the afternoon, Lucy's first movement was to feel
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6257 in her breast, and, to my surprise, produced the paper which Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6258 had given me to read. The careful Professor had replaced it where it had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6259 come from, lest on waking she should be alarmed. Her eye then lit on Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6260 Helsing and on me too, and gladdened. Then she looked around the room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6261 and seeing where she was, shuddered; she gave a loud cry, and put her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6262 poor thin hands before her pale face. We both understood what that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6263 meant--that she had realised to the full her mother's death; so we tried
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6264 what we could to comfort her. Doubtless sympathy eased her somewhat, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6265 she was very low in thought and spirit, and wept silently and weakly for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6266 a long time. We told her that either or both of us would now remain with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6267 her all the time, and that seemed to comfort her. Towards dusk she fell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6268 into a doze. Here a very odd thing occurred. Whilst still asleep she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6269 took the paper from her breast and tore it in two. Van Helsing stepped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6270 over and took the pieces from her. All the same, however, she went on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6271 with the action of tearing, as though the material were still in her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6272 hands; finally she lifted her hands and opened them as though scattering
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6273 the fragments. Van Helsing seemed surprised, and his brows gathered as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6274 if in thought, but he said nothing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6275
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6276 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6277
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6278 _19 September._--All last night she slept fitfully, being always afraid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6279 to sleep, and something weaker when she woke from it. The Professor and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6280 I took it in turns to watch, and we never left her for a moment
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6281 unattended. Quincey Morris said nothing about his intention, but I knew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6282 that all night long he patrolled round and round the house.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6283
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6284 When the day came, its searching light showed the ravages in poor Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6285 strength. She was hardly able to turn her head, and the little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6286 nourishment which she could take seemed to do her no good. At times she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6287 slept, and both Van Helsing and I noticed the difference in her, between
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6288 sleeping and waking. Whilst asleep she looked stronger, although more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6289 haggard, and her breathing was softer; her open mouth showed the pale
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6290 gums drawn back from the teeth, which thus looked positively longer and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6291 sharper than usual; when she woke the softness of her eyes evidently
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6292 changed the expression, for she looked her own self, although a dying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6293 one. In the afternoon she asked for Arthur, and we telegraphed for him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6294 Quincey went off to meet him at the station.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6295
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6296 When he arrived it was nearly six o'clock, and the sun was setting full
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6297 and warm, and the red light streamed in through the window and gave more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6298 colour to the pale cheeks. When he saw her, Arthur was simply choking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6299 with emotion, and none of us could speak. In the hours that had passed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6300 the fits of sleep, or the comatose condition that passed for it, had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6301 grown more frequent, so that the pauses when conversation was possible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6302 were shortened. Arthur's presence, however, seemed to act as a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6303 stimulant; she rallied a little, and spoke to him more brightly than she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6304 had done since we arrived. He too pulled himself together, and spoke as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6305 cheerily as he could, so that the best was made of everything.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6306
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6307 It was now nearly one o'clock, and he and Van Helsing are sitting with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6308 her. I am to relieve them in a quarter of an hour, and I am entering
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6309 this on Lucy's phonograph. Until six o'clock they are to try to rest. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6310 fear that to-morrow will end our watching, for the shock has been too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6311 great; the poor child cannot rally. God help us all.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6312
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6313
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6314 _Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6315
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6316 (Unopened by her.)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6317
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6318 "_17 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6319
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6320 "My dearest Lucy,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6321
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6322 "It seems _an age_ since I heard from you, or indeed since I wrote. You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6323 will pardon me, I know, for all my faults when you have read all my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6324 budget of news. Well, I got my husband back all right; when we arrived
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6325 at Exeter there was a carriage waiting for us, and in it, though he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6326 an attack of gout, Mr. Hawkins. He took us to his house, where there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6327 were rooms for us all nice and comfortable, and we dined together. After
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6328 dinner Mr. Hawkins said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6329
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6330 "'My dears, I want to drink your health and prosperity; and may every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6331 blessing attend you both. I know you both from children, and have, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6332 love and pride, seen you grow up. Now I want you to make your home here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6333 with me. I have left to me neither chick nor child; all are gone, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6334 my will I have left you everything.' I cried, Lucy dear, as Jonathan and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6335 the old man clasped hands. Our evening was a very, very happy one.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6336
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6337 "So here we are, installed in this beautiful old house, and from both my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6338 bedroom and the drawing-room I can see the great elms of the cathedral
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6339 close, with their great black stems standing out against the old yellow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6340 stone of the cathedral and I can hear the rooks overhead cawing and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6341 cawing and chattering and gossiping all day, after the manner of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6342 rooks--and humans. I am busy, I need not tell you, arranging things and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6343 housekeeping. Jonathan and Mr. Hawkins are busy all day; for, now that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6344 Jonathan is a partner, Mr. Hawkins wants to tell him all about the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6345 clients.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6346
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6347 "How is your dear mother getting on? I wish I could run up to town for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6348 day or two to see you, dear, but I dare not go yet, with so much on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6349 shoulders; and Jonathan wants looking after still. He is beginning to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6350 put some flesh on his bones again, but he was terribly weakened by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6351 long illness; even now he sometimes starts out of his sleep in a sudden
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6352 way and awakes all trembling until I can coax him back to his usual
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6353 placidity. However, thank God, these occasions grow less frequent as the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6354 days go on, and they will in time pass away altogether, I trust. And now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6355 I have told you my news, let me ask yours. When are you to be married,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6356 and where, and who is to perform the ceremony, and what are you to wear,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6357 and is it to be a public or a private wedding? Tell me all about it,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6358 dear; tell me all about everything, for there is nothing which interests
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6359 you which will not be dear to me. Jonathan asks me to send his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6360 'respectful duty,' but I do not think that is good enough from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6361 junior partner of the important firm Hawkins & Harker; and so, as you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6362 love me, and he loves me, and I love you with all the moods and tenses
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6363 of the verb, I send you simply his 'love' instead. Good-bye, my dearest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6364 Lucy, and all blessings on you.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6365
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6366 "Yours,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6367
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6368 "MINA HARKER."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6369
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6370
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6371 _Report from Patrick Hennessey, M. D., M. R. C. S. L. K. Q. C. P. I.,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6372 etc., etc., to John Seward, M. D._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6373
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6374 "_20 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6375
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6376 "My dear Sir,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6377
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6378 "In accordance with your wishes, I enclose report of the conditions of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6379 everything left in my charge.... With regard to patient, Renfield, there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6380 is more to say. He has had another outbreak, which might have had a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6381 dreadful ending, but which, as it fortunately happened, was unattended
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6382 with any unhappy results. This afternoon a carrier's cart with two men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6383 made a call at the empty house whose grounds abut on ours--the house to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6384 which, you will remember, the patient twice ran away. The men stopped at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6385 our gate to ask the porter their way, as they were strangers. I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6386 myself looking out of the study window, having a smoke after dinner, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6387 saw one of them come up to the house. As he passed the window of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6388 Renfield's room, the patient began to rate him from within, and called
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6389 him all the foul names he could lay his tongue to. The man, who seemed a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6390 decent fellow enough, contented himself by telling him to "shut up for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6391 foul-mouthed beggar," whereon our man accused him of robbing him and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6392 wanting to murder him and said that he would hinder him if he were to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6393 swing for it. I opened the window and signed to the man not to notice,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6394 so he contented himself after looking the place over and making up his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6395 mind as to what kind of a place he had got to by saying: 'Lor' bless
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6396 yer, sir, I wouldn't mind what was said to me in a bloomin' madhouse. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6397 pity ye and the guv'nor for havin' to live in the house with a wild
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6398 beast like that.' Then he asked his way civilly enough, and I told him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6399 where the gate of the empty house was; he went away, followed by threats
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6400 and curses and revilings from our man. I went down to see if I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6401 make out any cause for his anger, since he is usually such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6402 well-behaved man, and except his violent fits nothing of the kind had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6403 ever occurred. I found him, to my astonishment, quite composed and most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6404 genial in his manner. I tried to get him to talk of the incident, but he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6405 blandly asked me questions as to what I meant, and led me to believe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6406 that he was completely oblivious of the affair. It was, I am sorry to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6407 say, however, only another instance of his cunning, for within half an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6408 hour I heard of him again. This time he had broken out through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6409 window of his room, and was running down the avenue. I called to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6410 attendants to follow me, and ran after him, for I feared he was intent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6411 on some mischief. My fear was justified when I saw the same cart which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6412 had passed before coming down the road, having on it some great wooden
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6413 boxes. The men were wiping their foreheads, and were flushed in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6414 face, as if with violent exercise. Before I could get up to him the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6415 patient rushed at them, and pulling one of them off the cart, began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6416 knock his head against the ground. If I had not seized him just at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6417 moment I believe he would have killed the man there and then. The other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6418 fellow jumped down and struck him over the head with the butt-end of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6419 heavy whip. It was a terrible blow; but he did not seem to mind it, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6420 seized him also, and struggled with the three of us, pulling us to and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6421 fro as if we were kittens. You know I am no light weight, and the others
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6422 were both burly men. At first he was silent in his fighting; but as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6423 began to master him, and the attendants were putting a strait-waistcoat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6424 on him, he began to shout: 'I'll frustrate them! They shan't rob me!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6425 they shan't murder me by inches! I'll fight for my Lord and Master!' and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6426 all sorts of similar incoherent ravings. It was with very considerable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6427 difficulty that they got him back to the house and put him in the padded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6428 room. One of the attendants, Hardy, had a finger broken. However, I set
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6429 it all right; and he is going on well.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6430
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6431 "The two carriers were at first loud in their threats of actions for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6432 damages, and promised to rain all the penalties of the law on us. Their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6433 threats were, however, mingled with some sort of indirect apology for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6434 the defeat of the two of them by a feeble madman. They said that if it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6435 had not been for the way their strength had been spent in carrying and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6436 raising the heavy boxes to the cart they would have made short work of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6437 him. They gave as another reason for their defeat the extraordinary
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6438 state of drouth to which they had been reduced by the dusty nature of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6439 their occupation and the reprehensible distance from the scene of their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6440 labours of any place of public entertainment. I quite understood their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6441 drift, and after a stiff glass of grog, or rather more of the same, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6442 with each a sovereign in hand, they made light of the attack, and swore
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6443 that they would encounter a worse madman any day for the pleasure of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6444 meeting so 'bloomin' good a bloke' as your correspondent. I took their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6445 names and addresses, in case they might be needed. They are as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6446 follows:--Jack Smollet, of Dudding's Rents, King George's Road, Great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6447 Walworth, and Thomas Snelling, Peter Farley's Row, Guide Court, Bethnal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6448 Green. They are both in the employment of Harris & Sons, Moving and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6449 Shipment Company, Orange Master's Yard, Soho.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6450
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6451 "I shall report to you any matter of interest occurring here, and shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6452 wire you at once if there is anything of importance.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6453
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6454 "Believe me, dear Sir,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6455
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6456 "Yours faithfully,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6457
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6458 "PATRICK HENNESSEY."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6459
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6460
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6461 _Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6462
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6463 (Unopened by her.)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6464
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6465 "_18 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6466
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6467 "My dearest Lucy,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6468
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6469 "Such a sad blow has befallen us. Mr. Hawkins has died very suddenly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6470 Some may not think it so sad for us, but we had both come to so love him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6471 that it really seems as though we had lost a father. I never knew either
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6472 father or mother, so that the dear old man's death is a real blow to me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6473 Jonathan is greatly distressed. It is not only that he feels sorrow,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6474 deep sorrow, for the dear, good man who has befriended him all his life,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6475 and now at the end has treated him like his own son and left him a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6476 fortune which to people of our modest bringing up is wealth beyond the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6477 dream of avarice, but Jonathan feels it on another account. He says the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6478 amount of responsibility which it puts upon him makes him nervous. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6479 begins to doubt himself. I try to cheer him up, and _my_ belief in _him_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6480 helps him to have a belief in himself. But it is here that the grave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6481 shock that he experienced tells upon him the most. Oh, it is too hard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6482 that a sweet, simple, noble, strong nature such as his--a nature which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6483 enabled him by our dear, good friend's aid to rise from clerk to master
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6484 in a few years--should be so injured that the very essence of its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6485 strength is gone. Forgive me, dear, if I worry you with my troubles in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6486 the midst of your own happiness; but, Lucy dear, I must tell some one,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6487 for the strain of keeping up a brave and cheerful appearance to Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6488 tries me, and I have no one here that I can confide in. I dread coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6489 up to London, as we must do the day after to-morrow; for poor Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6490 Hawkins left in his will that he was to be buried in the grave with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6491 father. As there are no relations at all, Jonathan will have to be chief
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6492 mourner. I shall try to run over to see you, dearest, if only for a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6493 minutes. Forgive me for troubling you. With all blessings,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6494
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6495 "Your loving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6496
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6497 "MINA HARKER."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6498
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6499
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6500 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6501
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6502 _20 September._--Only resolution and habit can let me make an entry
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6503 to-night. I am too miserable, too low-spirited, too sick of the world
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6504 and all in it, including life itself, that I would not care if I heard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6505 this moment the flapping of the wings of the angel of death. And he has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6506 been flapping those grim wings to some purpose of late--Lucy's mother
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6507 and Arthur's father, and now.... Let me get on with my work.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6508
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6509 I duly relieved Van Helsing in his watch over Lucy. We wanted Arthur to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6510 go to rest also, but he refused at first. It was only when I told him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6511 that we should want him to help us during the day, and that we must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6512 all break down for want of rest, lest Lucy should suffer, that he agreed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6513 to go. Van Helsing was very kind to him. "Come, my child," he said;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6514 "come with me. You are sick and weak, and have had much sorrow and much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6515 mental pain, as well as that tax on your strength that we know of. You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6516 must not be alone; for to be alone is to be full of fears and alarms.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6517 Come to the drawing-room, where there is a big fire, and there are two
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6518 sofas. You shall lie on one, and I on the other, and our sympathy will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6519 be comfort to each other, even though we do not speak, and even if we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6520 sleep." Arthur went off with him, casting back a longing look on Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6521 face, which lay in her pillow, almost whiter than the lawn. She lay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6522 quite still, and I looked round the room to see that all was as it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6523 should be. I could see that the Professor had carried out in this room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6524 as in the other, his purpose of using the garlic; the whole of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6525 window-sashes reeked with it, and round Lucy's neck, over the silk
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6526 handkerchief which Van Helsing made her keep on, was a rough chaplet of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6527 the same odorous flowers. Lucy was breathing somewhat stertorously, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6528 her face was at its worst, for the open mouth showed the pale gums. Her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6529 teeth, in the dim, uncertain light, seemed longer and sharper than they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6530 had been in the morning. In particular, by some trick of the light, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6531 canine teeth looked longer and sharper than the rest. I sat down by her,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6532 and presently she moved uneasily. At the same moment there came a sort
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6533 of dull flapping or buffeting at the window. I went over to it softly,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6534 and peeped out by the corner of the blind. There was a full moonlight,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6535 and I could see that the noise was made by a great bat, which wheeled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6536 round--doubtless attracted by the light, although so dim--and every now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6537 and again struck the window with its wings. When I came back to my seat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6538 I found that Lucy had moved slightly, and had torn away the garlic
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6539 flowers from her throat. I replaced them as well as I could, and sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6540 watching her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6541
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6542 Presently she woke, and I gave her food, as Van Helsing had prescribed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6543 She took but a little, and that languidly. There did not seem to be with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6544 her now the unconscious struggle for life and strength that had hitherto
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6545 so marked her illness. It struck me as curious that the moment she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6546 became conscious she pressed the garlic flowers close to her. It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6547 certainly odd that whenever she got into that lethargic state, with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6548 stertorous breathing, she put the flowers from her; but that when she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6549 waked she clutched them close. There was no possibility of making any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6550 mistake about this, for in the long hours that followed, she had many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6551 spells of sleeping and waking and repeated both actions many times.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6552
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6553 At six o'clock Van Helsing came to relieve me. Arthur had then fallen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6554 into a doze, and he mercifully let him sleep on. When he saw Lucy's face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6555 I could hear the sissing indraw of his breath, and he said to me in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6556 sharp whisper: "Draw up the blind; I want light!" Then he bent down,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6557 and, with his face almost touching Lucy's, examined her carefully. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6558 removed the flowers and lifted the silk handkerchief from her throat. As
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6559 he did so he started back, and I could hear his ejaculation, "Mein
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6560 Gott!" as it was smothered in his throat. I bent over and looked, too,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6561 and as I noticed some queer chill came over me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6562
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6563 The wounds on the throat had absolutely disappeared.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6564
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6565 For fully five minutes Van Helsing stood looking at her, with his face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6566 at its sternest. Then he turned to me and said calmly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6567
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6568 "She is dying. It will not be long now. It will be much difference, mark
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6569 me, whether she dies conscious or in her sleep. Wake that poor boy, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6570 let him come and see the last; he trusts us, and we have promised him."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6571
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6572 I went to the dining-room and waked him. He was dazed for a moment, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6573 when he saw the sunlight streaming in through the edges of the shutters
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6574 he thought he was late, and expressed his fear. I assured him that Lucy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6575 was still asleep, but told him as gently as I could that both Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6576 Helsing and I feared that the end was near. He covered his face with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6577 hands, and slid down on his knees by the sofa, where he remained,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6578 perhaps a minute, with his head buried, praying, whilst his shoulders
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6579 shook with grief. I took him by the hand and raised him up. "Come," I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6580 said, "my dear old fellow, summon all your fortitude: it will be best
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6581 and easiest for her."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6582
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6583 When we came into Lucy's room I could see that Van Helsing had, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6584 his usual forethought, been putting matters straight and making
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6585 everything look as pleasing as possible. He had even brushed Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6586 hair, so that it lay on the pillow in its usual sunny ripples. When we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6587 came into the room she opened her eyes, and seeing him, whispered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6588 softly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6589
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6590 "Arthur! Oh, my love, I am so glad you have come!" He was stooping to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6591 kiss her, when Van Helsing motioned him back. "No," he whispered, "not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6592 yet! Hold her hand; it will comfort her more."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6593
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6594 So Arthur took her hand and knelt beside her, and she looked her best,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6595 with all the soft lines matching the angelic beauty of her eyes. Then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6596 gradually her eyes closed, and she sank to sleep. For a little bit her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6597 breast heaved softly, and her breath came and went like a tired child's.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6598
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6599 And then insensibly there came the strange change which I had noticed in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6600 the night. Her breathing grew stertorous, the mouth opened, and the pale
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6601 gums, drawn back, made the teeth look longer and sharper than ever. In a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6602 sort of sleep-waking, vague, unconscious way she opened her eyes, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6603 were now dull and hard at once, and said in a soft, voluptuous voice,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6604 such as I had never heard from her lips:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6605
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6606 "Arthur! Oh, my love, I am so glad you have come! Kiss me!" Arthur bent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6607 eagerly over to kiss her; but at that instant Van Helsing, who, like me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6608 had been startled by her voice, swooped upon him, and catching him by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6609 the neck with both hands, dragged him back with a fury of strength which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6610 I never thought he could have possessed, and actually hurled him almost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6611 across the room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6612
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6613 "Not for your life!" he said; "not for your living soul and hers!" And
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6614 he stood between them like a lion at bay.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6615
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6616 Arthur was so taken aback that he did not for a moment know what to do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6617 or say; and before any impulse of violence could seize him he realised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6618 the place and the occasion, and stood silent, waiting.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6619
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6620 I kept my eyes fixed on Lucy, as did Van Helsing, and we saw a spasm as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6621 of rage flit like a shadow over her face; the sharp teeth champed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6622 together. Then her eyes closed, and she breathed heavily.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6623
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6624 Very shortly after she opened her eyes in all their softness, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6625 putting out her poor, pale, thin hand, took Van Helsing's great brown
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6626 one; drawing it to her, she kissed it. "My true friend," she said, in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6627 faint voice, but with untellable pathos, "My true friend, and his! Oh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6628 guard him, and give me peace!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6629
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6630 "I swear it!" he said solemnly, kneeling beside her and holding up his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6631 hand, as one who registers an oath. Then he turned to Arthur, and said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6632 to him: "Come, my child, take her hand in yours, and kiss her on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6633 forehead, and only once."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6634
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6635 Their eyes met instead of their lips; and so they parted.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6636
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6637 Lucy's eyes closed; and Van Helsing, who had been watching closely, took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6638 Arthur's arm, and drew him away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6639
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6640 And then Lucy's breathing became stertorous again, and all at once it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6641 ceased.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6642
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6643 "It is all over," said Van Helsing. "She is dead!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6644
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6645 I took Arthur by the arm, and led him away to the drawing-room, where he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6646 sat down, and covered his face with his hands, sobbing in a way that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6647 nearly broke me down to see.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6648
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6649 I went back to the room, and found Van Helsing looking at poor Lucy, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6650 his face was sterner than ever. Some change had come over her body.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6651 Death had given back part of her beauty, for her brow and cheeks had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6652 recovered some of their flowing lines; even the lips had lost their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6653 deadly pallor. It was as if the blood, no longer needed for the working
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6654 of the heart, had gone to make the harshness of death as little rude as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6655 might be.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6656
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6657 "We thought her dying whilst she slept,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6658 And sleeping when she died."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6659
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6660 I stood beside Van Helsing, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6661
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6662 "Ah, well, poor girl, there is peace for her at last. It is the end!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6663
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6664 He turned to me, and said with grave solemnity:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6665
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6666 "Not so; alas! not so. It is only the beginning!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6667
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6668 When I asked him what he meant, he only shook his head and answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6669
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6670 "We can do nothing as yet. Wait and see."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6671
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6672
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6673
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6674
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6675 CHAPTER XIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6676
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6677 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--_continued_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6678
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6679
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6680 The funeral was arranged for the next succeeding day, so that Lucy and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6681 her mother might be buried together. I attended to all the ghastly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6682 formalities, and the urbane undertaker proved that his staff were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6683 afflicted--or blessed--with something of his own obsequious suavity.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6684 Even the woman who performed the last offices for the dead remarked to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6685 me, in a confidential, brother-professional way, when she had come out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6686 from the death-chamber:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6687
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6688 "She makes a very beautiful corpse, sir. It's quite a privilege to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6689 attend on her. It's not too much to say that she will do credit to our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6690 establishment!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6691
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6692 I noticed that Van Helsing never kept far away. This was possible from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6693 the disordered state of things in the household. There were no relatives
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6694 at hand; and as Arthur had to be back the next day to attend at his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6695 father's funeral, we were unable to notify any one who should have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6696 bidden. Under the circumstances, Van Helsing and I took it upon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6697 ourselves to examine papers, etc. He insisted upon looking over Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6698 papers himself. I asked him why, for I feared that he, being a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6699 foreigner, might not be quite aware of English legal requirements, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6700 so might in ignorance make some unnecessary trouble. He answered me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6701
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6702 "I know; I know. You forget that I am a lawyer as well as a doctor. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6703 this is not altogether for the law. You knew that, when you avoided the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6704 coroner. I have more than him to avoid. There may be papers more--such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6705 as this."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6706
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6707 As he spoke he took from his pocket-book the memorandum which had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6708 in Lucy's breast, and which she had torn in her sleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6709
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6710 "When you find anything of the solicitor who is for the late Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6711 Westenra, seal all her papers, and write him to-night. For me, I watch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6712 here in the room and in Miss Lucy's old room all night, and I myself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6713 search for what may be. It is not well that her very thoughts go into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6714 the hands of strangers."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6715
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6716 I went on with my part of the work, and in another half hour had found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6717 the name and address of Mrs. Westenra's solicitor and had written to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6718 him. All the poor lady's papers were in order; explicit directions
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6719 regarding the place of burial were given. I had hardly sealed the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6720 letter, when, to my surprise, Van Helsing walked into the room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6721 saying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6722
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6723 "Can I help you, friend John? I am free, and if I may, my service is to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6724 you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6725
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6726 "Have you got what you looked for?" I asked, to which he replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6727
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6728 "I did not look for any specific thing. I only hoped to find, and find I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6729 have, all that there was--only some letters and a few memoranda, and a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6730 diary new begun. But I have them here, and we shall for the present say
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6731 nothing of them. I shall see that poor lad to-morrow evening, and, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6732 his sanction, I shall use some."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6733
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6734 When we had finished the work in hand, he said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6735
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6736 "And now, friend John, I think we may to bed. We want sleep, both you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6737 and I, and rest to recuperate. To-morrow we shall have much to do, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6738 for the to-night there is no need of us. Alas!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6739
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6740 Before turning in we went to look at poor Lucy. The undertaker had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6741 certainly done his work well, for the room was turned into a small
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6742 _chapelle ardente_. There was a wilderness of beautiful white flowers,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6743 and death was made as little repulsive as might be. The end of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6744 winding-sheet was laid over the face; when the Professor bent over and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6745 turned it gently back, we both started at the beauty before us, the tall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6746 wax candles showing a sufficient light to note it well. All Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6747 loveliness had come back to her in death, and the hours that had passed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6748 instead of leaving traces of "decay's effacing fingers," had but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6749 restored the beauty of life, till positively I could not believe my eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6750 that I was looking at a corpse.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6751
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6752 The Professor looked sternly grave. He had not loved her as I had, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6753 there was no need for tears in his eyes. He said to me: "Remain till I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6754 return," and left the room. He came back with a handful of wild garlic
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6755 from the box waiting in the hall, but which had not been opened, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6756 placed the flowers amongst the others on and around the bed. Then he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6757 took from his neck, inside his collar, a little gold crucifix, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6758 placed it over the mouth. He restored the sheet to its place, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6759 came away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6760
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6761 I was undressing in my own room, when, with a premonitory tap at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6762 door, he entered, and at once began to speak:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6763
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6764 "To-morrow I want you to bring me, before night, a set of post-mortem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6765 knives."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6766
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6767 "Must we make an autopsy?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6768
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6769 "Yes and no. I want to operate, but not as you think. Let me tell you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6770 now, but not a word to another. I want to cut off her head and take out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6771 her heart. Ah! you a surgeon, and so shocked! You, whom I have seen with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6772 no tremble of hand or heart, do operations of life and death that make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6773 the rest shudder. Oh, but I must not forget, my dear friend John, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6774 you loved her; and I have not forgotten it, for it is I that shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6775 operate, and you must only help. I would like to do it to-night, but for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6776 Arthur I must not; he will be free after his father's funeral to-morrow,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6777 and he will want to see her--to see _it_. Then, when she is coffined
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6778 ready for the next day, you and I shall come when all sleep. We shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6779 unscrew the coffin-lid, and shall do our operation: and then replace
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6780 all, so that none know, save we alone."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6781
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6782 "But why do it at all? The girl is dead. Why mutilate her poor body
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6783 without need? And if there is no necessity for a post-mortem and nothing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6784 to gain by it--no good to her, to us, to science, to human
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6785 knowledge--why do it? Without such it is monstrous."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6786
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6787 For answer he put his hand on my shoulder, and said, with infinite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6788 tenderness:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6789
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6790 "Friend John, I pity your poor bleeding heart; and I love you the more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6791 because it does so bleed. If I could, I would take on myself the burden
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6792 that you do bear. But there are things that you know not, but that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6793 shall know, and bless me for knowing, though they are not pleasant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6794 things. John, my child, you have been my friend now many years, and yet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6795 did you ever know me to do any without good cause? I may err--I am but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6796 man; but I believe in all I do. Was it not for these causes that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6797 send for me when the great trouble came? Yes! Were you not amazed, nay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6798 horrified, when I would not let Arthur kiss his love--though she was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6799 dying--and snatched him away by all my strength? Yes! And yet you saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6800 how she thanked me, with her so beautiful dying eyes, her voice, too, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6801 weak, and she kiss my rough old hand and bless me? Yes! And did you not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6802 hear me swear promise to her, that so she closed her eyes grateful? Yes!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6803
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6804 "Well, I have good reason now for all I want to do. You have for many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6805 years trust me; you have believe me weeks past, when there be things so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6806 strange that you might have well doubt. Believe me yet a little, friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6807 John. If you trust me not, then I must tell what I think; and that is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6808 not perhaps well. And if I work--as work I shall, no matter trust or no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6809 trust--without my friend trust in me, I work with heavy heart and feel,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6810 oh! so lonely when I want all help and courage that may be!" He paused a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6811 moment and went on solemnly: "Friend John, there are strange and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6812 terrible days before us. Let us not be two, but one, that so we work to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6813 a good end. Will you not have faith in me?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6814
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6815 I took his hand, and promised him. I held my door open as he went away,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6816 and watched him go into his room and close the door. As I stood without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6817 moving, I saw one of the maids pass silently along the passage--she had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6818 her back towards me, so did not see me--and go into the room where Lucy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6819 lay. The sight touched me. Devotion is so rare, and we are so grateful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6820 to those who show it unasked to those we love. Here was a poor girl
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6821 putting aside the terrors which she naturally had of death to go watch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6822 alone by the bier of the mistress whom she loved, so that the poor clay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6823 might not be lonely till laid to eternal rest....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6824
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6825 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6826
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6827 I must have slept long and soundly, for it was broad daylight when Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6828 Helsing waked me by coming into my room. He came over to my bedside and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6829 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6830
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6831 "You need not trouble about the knives; we shall not do it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6832
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6833 "Why not?" I asked. For his solemnity of the night before had greatly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6834 impressed me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6835
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6836 "Because," he said sternly, "it is too late--or too early. See!" Here he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6837 held up the little golden crucifix. "This was stolen in the night."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6838
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6839 "How, stolen," I asked in wonder, "since you have it now?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6840
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6841 "Because I get it back from the worthless wretch who stole it, from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6842 woman who robbed the dead and the living. Her punishment will surely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6843 come, but not through me; she knew not altogether what she did and thus
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6844 unknowing, she only stole. Now we must wait."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6845
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6846 He went away on the word, leaving me with a new mystery to think of, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6847 new puzzle to grapple with.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6849 The forenoon was a dreary time, but at noon the solicitor came: Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6850 Marquand, of Wholeman, Sons, Marquand & Lidderdale. He was very genial
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6851 and very appreciative of what we had done, and took off our hands all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6852 cares as to details. During lunch he told us that Mrs. Westenra had for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6853 some time expected sudden death from her heart, and had put her affairs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6854 in absolute order; he informed us that, with the exception of a certain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6855 entailed property of Lucy's father's which now, in default of direct
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6856 issue, went back to a distant branch of the family, the whole estate,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6857 real and personal, was left absolutely to Arthur Holmwood. When he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6858 told us so much he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6859
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6860 "Frankly we did our best to prevent such a testamentary disposition, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6861 pointed out certain contingencies that might leave her daughter either
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6862 penniless or not so free as she should be to act regarding a matrimonial
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6863 alliance. Indeed, we pressed the matter so far that we almost came into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6864 collision, for she asked us if we were or were not prepared to carry out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6865 her wishes. Of course, we had then no alternative but to accept. We were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6866 right in principle, and ninety-nine times out of a hundred we should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6867 have proved, by the logic of events, the accuracy of our judgment.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6868 Frankly, however, I must admit that in this case any other form of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6869 disposition would have rendered impossible the carrying out of her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6870 wishes. For by her predeceasing her daughter the latter would have come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6871 into possession of the property, and, even had she only survived her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6872 mother by five minutes, her property would, in case there were no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6873 will--and a will was a practical impossibility in such a case--have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6874 treated at her decease as under intestacy. In which case Lord Godalming,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6875 though so dear a friend, would have had no claim in the world; and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6876 inheritors, being remote, would not be likely to abandon their just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6877 rights, for sentimental reasons regarding an entire stranger. I assure
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6878 you, my dear sirs, I am rejoiced at the result, perfectly rejoiced."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6879
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6880 He was a good fellow, but his rejoicing at the one little part--in which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6881 he was officially interested--of so great a tragedy, was an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6882 object-lesson in the limitations of sympathetic understanding.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6883
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6884 He did not remain long, but said he would look in later in the day and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6885 see Lord Godalming. His coming, however, had been a certain comfort to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6886 us, since it assured us that we should not have to dread hostile
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6887 criticism as to any of our acts. Arthur was expected at five o'clock, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6888 a little before that time we visited the death-chamber. It was so in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6889 very truth, for now both mother and daughter lay in it. The undertaker,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6890 true to his craft, had made the best display he could of his goods, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6891 there was a mortuary air about the place that lowered our spirits at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6892 once. Van Helsing ordered the former arrangement to be adhered to,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6893 explaining that, as Lord Godalming was coming very soon, it would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6894 less harrowing to his feelings to see all that was left of his _fiancée_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6895 quite alone. The undertaker seemed shocked at his own stupidity and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6896 exerted himself to restore things to the condition in which we left them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6897 the night before, so that when Arthur came such shocks to his feelings
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6898 as we could avoid were saved.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6899
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6900 Poor fellow! He looked desperately sad and broken; even his stalwart
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6901 manhood seemed to have shrunk somewhat under the strain of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6902 much-tried emotions. He had, I knew, been very genuinely and devotedly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6903 attached to his father; and to lose him, and at such a time, was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6904 bitter blow to him. With me he was warm as ever, and to Van Helsing he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6905 was sweetly courteous; but I could not help seeing that there was some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6906 constraint with him. The Professor noticed it, too, and motioned me to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6907 bring him upstairs. I did so, and left him at the door of the room, as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6908 felt he would like to be quite alone with her, but he took my arm and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6909 led me in, saying huskily:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6910
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6911 "You loved her too, old fellow; she told me all about it, and there was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6912 no friend had a closer place in her heart than you. I don't know how to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6913 thank you for all you have done for her. I can't think yet...."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6914
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6915 Here he suddenly broke down, and threw his arms round my shoulders and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6916 laid his head on my breast, crying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6917
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6918 "Oh, Jack! Jack! What shall I do! The whole of life seems gone from me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6919 all at once, and there is nothing in the wide world for me to live for."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6920
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6921 I comforted him as well as I could. In such cases men do not need much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6922 expression. A grip of the hand, the tightening of an arm over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6923 shoulder, a sob in unison, are expressions of sympathy dear to a man's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6924 heart. I stood still and silent till his sobs died away, and then I said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6925 softly to him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6926
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6927 "Come and look at her."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6928
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6929 Together we moved over to the bed, and I lifted the lawn from her face.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6930 God! how beautiful she was. Every hour seemed to be enhancing her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6931 loveliness. It frightened and amazed me somewhat; and as for Arthur, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6932 fell a-trembling, and finally was shaken with doubt as with an ague. At
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6933 last, after a long pause, he said to me in a faint whisper:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6934
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6935 "Jack, is she really dead?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6936
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6937 I assured him sadly that it was so, and went on to suggest--for I felt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6938 that such a horrible doubt should not have life for a moment longer than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6939 I could help--that it often happened that after death faces became
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6940 softened and even resolved into their youthful beauty; that this was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6941 especially so when death had been preceded by any acute or prolonged
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6942 suffering. It seemed to quite do away with any doubt, and, after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6943 kneeling beside the couch for a while and looking at her lovingly and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6944 long, he turned aside. I told him that that must be good-bye, as the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6945 coffin had to be prepared; so he went back and took her dead hand in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6946 and kissed it, and bent over and kissed her forehead. He came away,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6947 fondly looking back over his shoulder at her as he came.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6948
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6949 I left him in the drawing-room, and told Van Helsing that he had said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6950 good-bye; so the latter went to the kitchen to tell the undertaker's men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6951 to proceed with the preparations and to screw up the coffin. When he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6952 came out of the room again I told him of Arthur's question, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6953 replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6954
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6955 "I am not surprised. Just now I doubted for a moment myself!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6956
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6957 We all dined together, and I could see that poor Art was trying to make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6958 the best of things. Van Helsing had been silent all dinner-time; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6959 when we had lit our cigars he said--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6960
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6961 "Lord----"; but Arthur interrupted him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6962
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6963 "No, no, not that, for God's sake! not yet at any rate. Forgive me, sir:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6964 I did not mean to speak offensively; it is only because my loss is so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6965 recent."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6966
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6967 The Professor answered very sweetly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6968
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6969 "I only used that name because I was in doubt. I must not call you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6970 'Mr.,' and I have grown to love you--yes, my dear boy, to love you--as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6971 Arthur."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6972
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6973 Arthur held out his hand, and took the old man's warmly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6974
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6975 "Call me what you will," he said. "I hope I may always have the title of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6976 a friend. And let me say that I am at a loss for words to thank you for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6977 your goodness to my poor dear." He paused a moment, and went on: "I know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6978 that she understood your goodness even better than I do; and if I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6979 rude or in any way wanting at that time you acted so--you remember"--the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6980 Professor nodded--"you must forgive me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6981
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6982 He answered with a grave kindness:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6983
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6984 "I know it was hard for you to quite trust me then, for to trust such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6985 violence needs to understand; and I take it that you do not--that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6986 cannot--trust me now, for you do not yet understand. And there may be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6987 more times when I shall want you to trust when you cannot--and may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6988 not--and must not yet understand. But the time will come when your trust
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6989 shall be whole and complete in me, and when you shall understand as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6990 though the sunlight himself shone through. Then you shall bless me from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6991 first to last for your own sake, and for the sake of others and for her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6992 dear sake to whom I swore to protect."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6993
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6994 "And, indeed, indeed, sir," said Arthur warmly, "I shall in all ways
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6995 trust you. I know and believe you have a very noble heart, and you are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6996 Jack's friend, and you were hers. You shall do what you like."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6997
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6998 The Professor cleared his throat a couple of times, as though about to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 6999 speak, and finally said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7000
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7001 "May I ask you something now?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7002
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7003 "Certainly."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7004
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7005 "You know that Mrs. Westenra left you all her property?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7006
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7007 "No, poor dear; I never thought of it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7008
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7009 "And as it is all yours, you have a right to deal with it as you will. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7010 want you to give me permission to read all Miss Lucy's papers and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7011 letters. Believe me, it is no idle curiosity. I have a motive of which,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7012 be sure, she would have approved. I have them all here. I took them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7013 before we knew that all was yours, so that no strange hand might touch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7014 them--no strange eye look through words into her soul. I shall keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7015 them, if I may; even you may not see them yet, but I shall keep them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7016 safe. No word shall be lost; and in the good time I shall give them back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7017 to you. It's a hard thing I ask, but you will do it, will you not, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7018 Lucy's sake?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7019
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7020 Arthur spoke out heartily, like his old self:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7022 "Dr. Van Helsing, you may do what you will. I feel that in saying this I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7023 am doing what my dear one would have approved. I shall not trouble you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7024 with questions till the time comes."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7025
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7026 The old Professor stood up as he said solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7027
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7028 "And you are right. There will be pain for us all; but it will not be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7029 all pain, nor will this pain be the last. We and you too--you most of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7030 all, my dear boy--will have to pass through the bitter water before we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7031 reach the sweet. But we must be brave of heart and unselfish, and do our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7032 duty, and all will be well!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7033
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7034 I slept on a sofa in Arthur's room that night. Van Helsing did not go to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7035 bed at all. He went to and fro, as if patrolling the house, and was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7036 never out of sight of the room where Lucy lay in her coffin, strewn with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7037 the wild garlic flowers, which sent, through the odour of lily and rose,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7038 a heavy, overpowering smell into the night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7039
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7040
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7041 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7042
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7043 _22 September._--In the train to Exeter. Jonathan sleeping.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7044
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7045 It seems only yesterday that the last entry was made, and yet how much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7046 between then, in Whitby and all the world before me, Jonathan away and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7047 no news of him; and now, married to Jonathan, Jonathan a solicitor, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7048 partner, rich, master of his business, Mr. Hawkins dead and buried, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7049 Jonathan with another attack that may harm him. Some day he may ask me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7050 about it. Down it all goes. I am rusty in my shorthand--see what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7051 unexpected prosperity does for us--so it may be as well to freshen it up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7052 again with an exercise anyhow....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7053
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7054 The service was very simple and very solemn. There were only ourselves
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7055 and the servants there, one or two old friends of his from Exeter, his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7056 London agent, and a gentleman representing Sir John Paxton, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7057 President of the Incorporated Law Society. Jonathan and I stood hand in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7058 hand, and we felt that our best and dearest friend was gone from us....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7059
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7060 We came back to town quietly, taking a 'bus to Hyde Park Corner.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7061 Jonathan thought it would interest me to go into the Row for a while, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7062 we sat down; but there were very few people there, and it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7063 sad-looking and desolate to see so many empty chairs. It made us think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7064 of the empty chair at home; so we got up and walked down Piccadilly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7065 Jonathan was holding me by the arm, the way he used to in old days
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7066 before I went to school. I felt it very improper, for you can't go on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7067 for some years teaching etiquette and decorum to other girls without the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7068 pedantry of it biting into yourself a bit; but it was Jonathan, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7069 was my husband, and we didn't know anybody who saw us--and we didn't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7070 care if they did--so on we walked. I was looking at a very beautiful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7071 girl, in a big cart-wheel hat, sitting in a victoria outside Guiliano's,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7072 when I felt Jonathan clutch my arm so tight that he hurt me, and he said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7073 under his breath: "My God!" I am always anxious about Jonathan, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7074 fear that some nervous fit may upset him again; so I turned to him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7075 quickly, and asked him what it was that disturbed him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7076
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7077 He was very pale, and his eyes seemed bulging out as, half in terror and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7078 half in amazement, he gazed at a tall, thin man, with a beaky nose and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7079 black moustache and pointed beard, who was also observing the pretty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7080 girl. He was looking at her so hard that he did not see either of us,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7081 and so I had a good view of him. His face was not a good face; it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7082 hard, and cruel, and sensual, and his big white teeth, that looked all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7083 the whiter because his lips were so red, were pointed like an animal's.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7084 Jonathan kept staring at him, till I was afraid he would notice. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7085 feared he might take it ill, he looked so fierce and nasty. I asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7086 Jonathan why he was disturbed, and he answered, evidently thinking that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7087 I knew as much about it as he did: "Do you see who it is?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7088
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7089 "No, dear," I said; "I don't know him; who is it?" His answer seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7090 shock and thrill me, for it was said as if he did not know that it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7091 to me, Mina, to whom he was speaking:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7092
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7093 "It is the man himself!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7094
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7095 The poor dear was evidently terrified at something--very greatly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7096 terrified; I do believe that if he had not had me to lean on and to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7097 support him he would have sunk down. He kept staring; a man came out of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7098 the shop with a small parcel, and gave it to the lady, who then drove
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7099 off. The dark man kept his eyes fixed on her, and when the carriage
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7100 moved up Piccadilly he followed in the same direction, and hailed a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7101 hansom. Jonathan kept looking after him, and said, as if to himself:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7102
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7103 "I believe it is the Count, but he has grown young. My God, if this be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7104 so! Oh, my God! my God! If I only knew! if I only knew!" He was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7105 distressing himself so much that I feared to keep his mind on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7106 subject by asking him any questions, so I remained silent. I drew him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7107 away quietly, and he, holding my arm, came easily. We walked a little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7108 further, and then went in and sat for a while in the Green Park. It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7109 a hot day for autumn, and there was a comfortable seat in a shady place.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7110 After a few minutes' staring at nothing, Jonathan's eyes closed, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7111 went quietly into a sleep, with his head on my shoulder. I thought it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7112 was the best thing for him, so did not disturb him. In about twenty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7113 minutes he woke up, and said to me quite cheerfully:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7114
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7115 "Why, Mina, have I been asleep! Oh, do forgive me for being so rude.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7116 Come, and we'll have a cup of tea somewhere." He had evidently forgotten
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7117 all about the dark stranger, as in his illness he had forgotten all that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7118 this episode had reminded him of. I don't like this lapsing into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7119 forgetfulness; it may make or continue some injury to the brain. I must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7120 not ask him, for fear I shall do more harm than good; but I must somehow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7121 learn the facts of his journey abroad. The time is come, I fear, when I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7122 must open that parcel, and know what is written. Oh, Jonathan, you will,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7123 I know, forgive me if I do wrong, but it is for your own dear sake.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7124
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7125 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7126
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7127 _Later._--A sad home-coming in every way--the house empty of the dear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7128 soul who was so good to us; Jonathan still pale and dizzy under a slight
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7129 relapse of his malady; and now a telegram from Van Helsing, whoever he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7130 may be:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7132 "You will be grieved to hear that Mrs. Westenra died five days ago, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7133 that Lucy died the day before yesterday. They were both buried to-day."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7134
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7135 Oh, what a wealth of sorrow in a few words! Poor Mrs. Westenra! poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7136 Lucy! Gone, gone, never to return to us! And poor, poor Arthur, to have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7137 lost such sweetness out of his life! God help us all to bear our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7138 troubles.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7139
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7140
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7141 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7142
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7143 _22 September._--It is all over. Arthur has gone back to Ring, and has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7144 taken Quincey Morris with him. What a fine fellow is Quincey! I believe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7145 in my heart of hearts that he suffered as much about Lucy's death as any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7146 of us; but he bore himself through it like a moral Viking. If America
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7147 can go on breeding men like that, she will be a power in the world
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7148 indeed. Van Helsing is lying down, having a rest preparatory to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7149 journey. He goes over to Amsterdam to-night, but says he returns
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7150 to-morrow night; that he only wants to make some arrangements which can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7151 only be made personally. He is to stop with me then, if he can; he says
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7152 he has work to do in London which may take him some time. Poor old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7153 fellow! I fear that the strain of the past week has broken down even his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7154 iron strength. All the time of the burial he was, I could see, putting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7155 some terrible restraint on himself. When it was all over, we were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7156 standing beside Arthur, who, poor fellow, was speaking of his part in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7157 the operation where his blood had been transfused to his Lucy's veins; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7158 could see Van Helsing's face grow white and purple by turns. Arthur was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7159 saying that he felt since then as if they two had been really married
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7160 and that she was his wife in the sight of God. None of us said a word of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7161 the other operations, and none of us ever shall. Arthur and Quincey went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7162 away together to the station, and Van Helsing and I came on here. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7163 moment we were alone in the carriage he gave way to a regular fit of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7164 hysterics. He has denied to me since that it was hysterics, and insisted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7165 that it was only his sense of humour asserting itself under very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7166 terrible conditions. He laughed till he cried, and I had to draw down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7167 the blinds lest any one should see us and misjudge; and then he cried,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7168 till he laughed again; and laughed and cried together, just as a woman
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7169 does. I tried to be stern with him, as one is to a woman under the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7170 circumstances; but it had no effect. Men and women are so different in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7171 manifestations of nervous strength or weakness! Then when his face grew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7172 grave and stern again I asked him why his mirth, and why at such a time.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7173 His reply was in a way characteristic of him, for it was logical and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7174 forceful and mysterious. He said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7175
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7176 "Ah, you don't comprehend, friend John. Do not think that I am not sad,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7177 though I laugh. See, I have cried even when the laugh did choke me. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7178 no more think that I am all sorry when I cry, for the laugh he come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7179 just the same. Keep it always with you that laughter who knock at your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7180 door and say, 'May I come in?' is not the true laughter. No! he is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7181 king, and he come when and how he like. He ask no person; he choose no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7182 time of suitability. He say, 'I am here.' Behold, in example I grieve my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7183 heart out for that so sweet young girl; I give my blood for her, though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7184 I am old and worn; I give my time, my skill, my sleep; I let my other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7185 sufferers want that so she may have all. And yet I can laugh at her very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7186 grave--laugh when the clay from the spade of the sexton drop upon her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7187 coffin and say 'Thud! thud!' to my heart, till it send back the blood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7188 from my cheek. My heart bleed for that poor boy--that dear boy, so of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7189 the age of mine own boy had I been so blessed that he live, and with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7190 hair and eyes the same. There, you know now why I love him so. And yet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7191 when he say things that touch my husband-heart to the quick, and make my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7192 father-heart yearn to him as to no other man--not even to you, friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7193 John, for we are more level in experiences than father and son--yet even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7194 at such moment King Laugh he come to me and shout and bellow in my ear,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7195 'Here I am! here I am!' till the blood come dance back and bring some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7196 the sunshine that he carry with him to my cheek. Oh, friend John, it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7197 a strange world, a sad world, a world full of miseries, and woes, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7198 troubles; and yet when King Laugh come he make them all dance to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7199 tune he play. Bleeding hearts, and dry bones of the churchyard, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7200 tears that burn as they fall--all dance together to the music that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7201 make with that smileless mouth of him. And believe me, friend John, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7202 he is good to come, and kind. Ah, we men and women are like ropes drawn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7203 tight with strain that pull us different ways. Then tears come; and,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7204 like the rain on the ropes, they brace us up, until perhaps the strain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7205 become too great, and we break. But King Laugh he come like the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7206 sunshine, and he ease off the strain again; and we bear to go on with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7207 our labour, what it may be."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7208
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7209 I did not like to wound him by pretending not to see his idea; but, as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7210 did not yet understand the cause of his laughter, I asked him. As he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7211 answered me his face grew stern, and he said in quite a different
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7212 tone:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7213
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7214 "Oh, it was the grim irony of it all--this so lovely lady garlanded with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7215 flowers, that looked so fair as life, till one by one we wondered if she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7216 were truly dead; she laid in that so fine marble house in that lonely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7217 churchyard, where rest so many of her kin, laid there with the mother
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7218 who loved her, and whom she loved; and that sacred bell going 'Toll!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7219 toll! toll!' so sad and slow; and those holy men, with the white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7220 garments of the angel, pretending to read books, and yet all the time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7221 their eyes never on the page; and all of us with the bowed head. And all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7222 for what? She is dead; so! Is it not?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7223
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7224 "Well, for the life of me, Professor," I said, "I can't see anything to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7225 laugh at in all that. Why, your explanation makes it a harder puzzle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7226 than before. But even if the burial service was comic, what about poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7227 Art and his trouble? Why, his heart was simply breaking."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7228
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7229 "Just so. Said he not that the transfusion of his blood to her veins had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7230 made her truly his bride?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7231
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7232 "Yes, and it was a sweet and comforting idea for him."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7233
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7234 "Quite so. But there was a difficulty, friend John. If so that, then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7235 what about the others? Ho, ho! Then this so sweet maid is a polyandrist,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7236 and me, with my poor wife dead to me, but alive by Church's law, though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7237 no wits, all gone--even I, who am faithful husband to this now-no-wife,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7238 am bigamist."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7239
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7240 "I don't see where the joke comes in there either!" I said; and I did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7241 not feel particularly pleased with him for saying such things. He laid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7242 his hand on my arm, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7243
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7244 "Friend John, forgive me if I pain. I showed not my feeling to others
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7245 when it would wound, but only to you, my old friend, whom I can trust.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7246 If you could have looked into my very heart then when I want to laugh;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7247 if you could have done so when the laugh arrived; if you could do so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7248 now, when King Laugh have pack up his crown, and all that is to him--for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7249 he go far, far away from me, and for a long, long time--maybe you would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7250 perhaps pity me the most of all."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7251
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7252 I was touched by the tenderness of his tone, and asked why.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7253
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7254 "Because I know!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7255
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7256 And now we are all scattered; and for many a long day loneliness will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7257 sit over our roofs with brooding wings. Lucy lies in the tomb of her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7258 kin, a lordly death-house in a lonely churchyard, away from teeming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7259 London; where the air is fresh, and the sun rises over Hampstead Hill,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7260 and where wild flowers grow of their own accord.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7261
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7262 So I can finish this diary; and God only knows if I shall ever begin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7263 another. If I do, or if I even open this again, it will be to deal with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7264 different people and different themes; for here at the end, where the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7265 romance of my life is told, ere I go back to take up the thread of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7266 life-work, I say sadly and without hope,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7267
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7268 "FINIS."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7269
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7270
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7271 _"The Westminster Gazette," 25 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7272
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7273 A HAMPSTEAD MYSTERY.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7274
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7275
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7276 The neighbourhood of Hampstead is just at present exercised with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7277 series of events which seem to run on lines parallel to those of what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7278 was known to the writers of headlines as "The Kensington Horror," or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7279 "The Stabbing Woman," or "The Woman in Black." During the past two or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7280 three days several cases have occurred of young children straying from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7281 home or neglecting to return from their playing on the Heath. In all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7282 these cases the children were too young to give any properly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7283 intelligible account of themselves, but the consensus of their excuses
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7284 is that they had been with a "bloofer lady." It has always been late in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7285 the evening when they have been missed, and on two occasions the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7286 children have not been found until early in the following morning. It is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7287 generally supposed in the neighbourhood that, as the first child missed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7288 gave as his reason for being away that a "bloofer lady" had asked him to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7289 come for a walk, the others had picked up the phrase and used it as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7290 occasion served. This is the more natural as the favourite game of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7291 little ones at present is luring each other away by wiles. A
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7292 correspondent writes us that to see some of the tiny tots pretending to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7293 be the "bloofer lady" is supremely funny. Some of our caricaturists
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7294 might, he says, take a lesson in the irony of grotesque by comparing the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7295 reality and the picture. It is only in accordance with general
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7296 principles of human nature that the "bloofer lady" should be the popular
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7297 rôle at these _al fresco_ performances. Our correspondent naïvely says
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7298 that even Ellen Terry could not be so winningly attractive as some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7299 these grubby-faced little children pretend--and even imagine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7300 themselves--to be.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7301
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7302 There is, however, possibly a serious side to the question, for some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7303 the children, indeed all who have been missed at night, have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7304 slightly torn or wounded in the throat. The wounds seem such as might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7305 made by a rat or a small dog, and although of not much importance
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7306 individually, would tend to show that whatever animal inflicts them has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7307 a system or method of its own. The police of the division have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7308 instructed to keep a sharp look-out for straying children, especially
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7309 when very young, in and around Hampstead Heath, and for any stray dog
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7310 which may be about.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7311
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7312
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7313 _"The Westminster Gazette," 25 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7314
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7315 _Extra Special._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7316
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7317 THE HAMPSTEAD HORROR.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7318
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7319 ANOTHER CHILD INJURED.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7320
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7321 _The "Bloofer Lady."_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7322
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7323 We have just received intelligence that another child, missed last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7324 night, was only discovered late in the morning under a furze bush at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7325 Shooter's Hill side of Hampstead Heath, which is, perhaps, less
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7326 frequented than the other parts. It has the same tiny wound in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7327 throat as has been noticed in other cases. It was terribly weak, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7328 looked quite emaciated. It too, when partially restored, had the common
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7329 story to tell of being lured away by the "bloofer lady."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7330
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7331
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7332
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7333
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7334 CHAPTER XIV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7335
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7336 MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7337
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7338
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7339 _23 September_.--Jonathan is better after a bad night. I am so glad that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7340 he has plenty of work to do, for that keeps his mind off the terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7341 things; and oh, I am rejoiced that he is not now weighed down with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7342 responsibility of his new position. I knew he would be true to himself,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7343 and now how proud I am to see my Jonathan rising to the height of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7344 advancement and keeping pace in all ways with the duties that come upon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7345 him. He will be away all day till late, for he said he could not lunch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7346 at home. My household work is done, so I shall take his foreign journal,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7347 and lock myself up in my room and read it....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7348
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7349
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7350 _24 September_.--I hadn't the heart to write last night; that terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7351 record of Jonathan's upset me so. Poor dear! How he must have suffered,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7352 whether it be true or only imagination. I wonder if there is any truth
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7353 in it at all. Did he get his brain fever, and then write all those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7354 terrible things, or had he some cause for it all? I suppose I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7355 never know, for I dare not open the subject to him.... And yet that man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7356 we saw yesterday! He seemed quite certain of him.... Poor fellow! I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7357 suppose it was the funeral upset him and sent his mind back on some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7358 train of thought.... He believes it all himself. I remember how on our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7359 wedding-day he said: "Unless some solemn duty come upon me to go back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7360 the bitter hours, asleep or awake, mad or sane." There seems to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7361 through it all some thread of continuity.... That fearful Count was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7362 coming to London.... If it should be, and he came to London, with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7363 teeming millions.... There may be a solemn duty; and if it come we must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7364 not shrink from it.... I shall be prepared. I shall get my typewriter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7365 this very hour and begin transcribing. Then we shall be ready for other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7366 eyes if required. And if it be wanted; then, perhaps, if I am ready,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7367 poor Jonathan may not be upset, for I can speak for him and never let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7368 him be troubled or worried with it at all. If ever Jonathan quite gets
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7369 over the nervousness he may want to tell me of it all, and I can ask him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7370 questions and find out things, and see how I may comfort him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7371
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7372
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7373 _Letter, Van Helsing to Mrs. Harker._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7374
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7375 "_24 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7376
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7377 (_Confidence_)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7378
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7379 "Dear Madam,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7380
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7381 "I pray you to pardon my writing, in that I am so far friend as that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7382 sent to you sad news of Miss Lucy Westenra's death. By the kindness of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7383 Lord Godalming, I am empowered to read her letters and papers, for I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7384 deeply concerned about certain matters vitally important. In them I find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7385 some letters from you, which show how great friends you were and how you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7386 love her. Oh, Madam Mina, by that love, I implore you, help me. It is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7387 for others' good that I ask--to redress great wrong, and to lift much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7388 and terrible troubles--that may be more great than you can know. May it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7389 be that I see you? You can trust me. I am friend of Dr. John Seward and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7390 of Lord Godalming (that was Arthur of Miss Lucy). I must keep it private
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7391 for the present from all. I should come to Exeter to see you at once if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7392 you tell me I am privilege to come, and where and when. I implore your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7393 pardon, madam. I have read your letters to poor Lucy, and know how good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7394 you are and how your husband suffer; so I pray you, if it may be,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7395 enlighten him not, lest it may harm. Again your pardon, and forgive me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7396
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7397 "VAN HELSING."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7398
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7399
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7400 _Telegram, Mrs. Harker to Van Helsing._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7401
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7402 "_25 September._--Come to-day by quarter-past ten train if you can catch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7403 it. Can see you any time you call.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7404
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7405 "WILHELMINA HARKER."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7406
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7407 MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7408
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7409 _25 September._--I cannot help feeling terribly excited as the time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7410 draws near for the visit of Dr. Van Helsing, for somehow I expect that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7411 it will throw some light upon Jonathan's sad experience; and as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7412 attended poor dear Lucy in her last illness, he can tell me all about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7413 her. That is the reason of his coming; it is concerning Lucy and her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7414 sleep-walking, and not about Jonathan. Then I shall never know the real
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7415 truth now! How silly I am. That awful journal gets hold of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7416 imagination and tinges everything with something of its own colour. Of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7417 course it is about Lucy. That habit came back to the poor dear, and that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7418 awful night on the cliff must have made her ill. I had almost forgotten
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7419 in my own affairs how ill she was afterwards. She must have told him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7420 of her sleep-walking adventure on the cliff, and that I knew all about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7421 it; and now he wants me to tell him what she knows, so that he may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7422 understand. I hope I did right in not saying anything of it to Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7423 Westenra; I should never forgive myself if any act of mine, were it even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7424 a negative one, brought harm on poor dear Lucy. I hope, too, Dr. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7425 Helsing will not blame me; I have had so much trouble and anxiety of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7426 late that I feel I cannot bear more just at present.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7427
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7428 I suppose a cry does us all good at times--clears the air as other rain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7429 does. Perhaps it was reading the journal yesterday that upset me, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7430 then Jonathan went away this morning to stay away from me a whole day
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7431 and night, the first time we have been parted since our marriage. I do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7432 hope the dear fellow will take care of himself, and that nothing will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7433 occur to upset him. It is two o'clock, and the doctor will be here soon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7434 now. I shall say nothing of Jonathan's journal unless he asks me. I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7435 so glad I have type-written out my own journal, so that, in case he asks
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7436 about Lucy, I can hand it to him; it will save much questioning.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7437
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7438 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7439
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7440 _Later._--He has come and gone. Oh, what a strange meeting, and how it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7441 all makes my head whirl round! I feel like one in a dream. Can it be all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7442 possible, or even a part of it? If I had not read Jonathan's journal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7443 first, I should never have accepted even a possibility. Poor, poor, dear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7444 Jonathan! How he must have suffered. Please the good God, all this may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7445 not upset him again. I shall try to save him from it; but it may be even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7446 a consolation and a help to him--terrible though it be and awful in its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7447 consequences--to know for certain that his eyes and ears and brain did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7448 not deceive him, and that it is all true. It may be that it is the doubt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7449 which haunts him; that when the doubt is removed, no matter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7450 which--waking or dreaming--may prove the truth, he will be more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7451 satisfied and better able to bear the shock. Dr. Van Helsing must be a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7452 good man as well as a clever one if he is Arthur's friend and Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7453 Seward's, and if they brought him all the way from Holland to look after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7454 Lucy. I feel from having seen him that he _is_ good and kind and of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7455 noble nature. When he comes to-morrow I shall ask him about Jonathan;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7456 and then, please God, all this sorrow and anxiety may lead to a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7457 end. I used to think I would like to practise interviewing; Jonathan's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7458 friend on "The Exeter News" told him that memory was everything in such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7459 work--that you must be able to put down exactly almost every word
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7460 spoken, even if you had to refine some of it afterwards. Here was a rare
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7461 interview; I shall try to record it _verbatim_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7462
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7463 It was half-past two o'clock when the knock came. I took my courage _à
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7464 deux mains_ and waited. In a few minutes Mary opened the door, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7465 announced "Dr. Van Helsing."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7466
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7467 I rose and bowed, and he came towards me; a man of medium weight,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7468 strongly built, with his shoulders set back over a broad, deep chest and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7469 a neck well balanced on the trunk as the head is on the neck. The poise
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7470 of the head strikes one at once as indicative of thought and power; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7471 head is noble, well-sized, broad, and large behind the ears. The face,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7472 clean-shaven, shows a hard, square chin, a large, resolute, mobile
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7473 mouth, a good-sized nose, rather straight, but with quick, sensitive
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7474 nostrils, that seem to broaden as the big, bushy brows come down and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7475 mouth tightens. The forehead is broad and fine, rising at first almost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7476 straight and then sloping back above two bumps or ridges wide apart;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7477 such a forehead that the reddish hair cannot possibly tumble over it,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7478 but falls naturally back and to the sides. Big, dark blue eyes are set
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7479 widely apart, and are quick and tender or stern with the man's moods. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7480 said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7481
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7482 "Mrs. Harker, is it not?" I bowed assent.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7483
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7484 "That was Miss Mina Murray?" Again I assented.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7485
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7486 "It is Mina Murray that I came to see that was friend of that poor dear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7487 child Lucy Westenra. Madam Mina, it is on account of the dead I come."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7488
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7489 "Sir," I said, "you could have no better claim on me than that you were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7490 a friend and helper of Lucy Westenra." And I held out my hand. He took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7491 it and said tenderly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7492
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7493 "Oh, Madam Mina, I knew that the friend of that poor lily girl must be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7494 good, but I had yet to learn----" He finished his speech with a courtly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7495 bow. I asked him what it was that he wanted to see me about, so he at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7496 once began:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7497
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7498 "I have read your letters to Miss Lucy. Forgive me, but I had to begin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7499 to inquire somewhere, and there was none to ask. I know that you were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7500 with her at Whitby. She sometimes kept a diary--you need not look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7501 surprised, Madam Mina; it was begun after you had left, and was in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7502 imitation of you--and in that diary she traces by inference certain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7503 things to a sleep-walking in which she puts down that you saved her. In
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7504 great perplexity then I come to you, and ask you out of your so much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7505 kindness to tell me all of it that you can remember."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7506
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7507 "I can tell you, I think, Dr. Van Helsing, all about it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7508
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7509 "Ah, then you have good memory for facts, for details? It is not always
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7510 so with young ladies."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7511
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7512 "No, doctor, but I wrote it all down at the time. I can show it to you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7513 if you like."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7514
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7515 "Oh, Madam Mina, I will be grateful; you will do me much favour." I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7516 could not resist the temptation of mystifying him a bit--I suppose it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7517 some of the taste of the original apple that remains still in our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7518 mouths--so I handed him the shorthand diary. He took it with a grateful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7519 bow, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7520
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7521 "May I read it?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7522
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7523 "If you wish," I answered as demurely as I could. He opened it, and for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7524 an instant his face fell. Then he stood up and bowed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7525
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7526 "Oh, you so clever woman!" he said. "I knew long that Mr. Jonathan was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7527 man of much thankfulness; but see, his wife have all the good things.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7528 And will you not so much honour me and so help me as to read it for me?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7529 Alas! I know not the shorthand." By this time my little joke was over,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7530 and I was almost ashamed; so I took the typewritten copy from my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7531 workbasket and handed it to him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7532
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7533 "Forgive me," I said: "I could not help it; but I had been thinking that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7534 it was of dear Lucy that you wished to ask, and so that you might not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7535 have time to wait--not on my account, but because I know your time must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7536 be precious--I have written it out on the typewriter for you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7537
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7538 He took it and his eyes glistened. "You are so good," he said. "And may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7539 I read it now? I may want to ask you some things when I have read."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7540
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7541 "By all means," I said, "read it over whilst I order lunch; and then you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7542 can ask me questions whilst we eat." He bowed and settled himself in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7543 chair with his back to the light, and became absorbed in the papers,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7544 whilst I went to see after lunch chiefly in order that he might not be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7545 disturbed. When I came back, I found him walking hurriedly up and down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7546 the room, his face all ablaze with excitement. He rushed up to me and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7547 took me by both hands.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7548
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7549 "Oh, Madam Mina," he said, "how can I say what I owe to you? This paper
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7550 is as sunshine. It opens the gate to me. I am daze, I am dazzle, with so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7551 much light, and yet clouds roll in behind the light every time. But that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7552 you do not, cannot, comprehend. Oh, but I am grateful to you, you so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7553 clever woman. Madam"--he said this very solemnly--"if ever Abraham Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7554 Helsing can do anything for you or yours, I trust you will let me know.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7555 It will be pleasure and delight if I may serve you as a friend; as a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7556 friend, but all I have ever learned, all I can ever do, shall be for you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7557 and those you love. There are darknesses in life, and there are lights;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7558 you are one of the lights. You will have happy life and good life, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7559 your husband will be blessed in you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7560
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7561 "But, doctor, you praise me too much, and--and you do not know me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7562
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7563 "Not know you--I, who am old, and who have studied all my life men and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7564 women; I, who have made my specialty the brain and all that belongs to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7565 him and all that follow from him! And I have read your diary that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7566 have so goodly written for me, and which breathes out truth in every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7567 line. I, who have read your so sweet letter to poor Lucy of your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7568 marriage and your trust, not know you! Oh, Madam Mina, good women tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7569 all their lives, and by day and by hour and by minute, such things that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7570 angels can read; and we men who wish to know have in us something of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7571 angels' eyes. Your husband is noble nature, and you are noble too, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7572 you trust, and trust cannot be where there is mean nature. And your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7573 husband--tell me of him. Is he quite well? Is all that fever gone, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7574 is he strong and hearty?" I saw here an opening to ask him about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7575 Jonathan, so I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7576
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7577 "He was almost recovered, but he has been greatly upset by Mr. Hawkins's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7578 death." He interrupted:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7579
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7580 "Oh, yes, I know, I know. I have read your last two letters." I went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7581 on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7582
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7583 "I suppose this upset him, for when we were in town on Thursday last he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7584 had a sort of shock."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7585
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7586 "A shock, and after brain fever so soon! That was not good. What kind of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7587 a shock was it?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7588
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7589 "He thought he saw some one who recalled something terrible, something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7590 which led to his brain fever." And here the whole thing seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7591 overwhelm me in a rush. The pity for Jonathan, the horror which he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7592 experienced, the whole fearful mystery of his diary, and the fear that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7593 has been brooding over me ever since, all came in a tumult. I suppose I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7594 was hysterical, for I threw myself on my knees and held up my hands to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7595 him, and implored him to make my husband well again. He took my hands
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7596 and raised me up, and made me sit on the sofa, and sat by me; he held my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7597 hand in his, and said to me with, oh, such infinite sweetness:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7598
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7599 "My life is a barren and lonely one, and so full of work that I have not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7600 had much time for friendships; but since I have been summoned to here by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7601 my friend John Seward I have known so many good people and seen such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7602 nobility that I feel more than ever--and it has grown with my advancing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7603 years--the loneliness of my life. Believe, me, then, that I come here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7604 full of respect for you, and you have given me hope--hope, not in what I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7605 am seeking of, but that there are good women still left to make life
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7606 happy--good women, whose lives and whose truths may make good lesson for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7607 the children that are to be. I am glad, glad, that I may here be of some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7608 use to you; for if your husband suffer, he suffer within the range of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7609 study and experience. I promise you that I will gladly do _all_ for him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7610 that I can--all to make his life strong and manly, and your life a happy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7611 one. Now you must eat. You are overwrought and perhaps over-anxious.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7612 Husband Jonathan would not like to see you so pale; and what he like not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7613 where he love, is not to his good. Therefore for his sake you must eat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7614 and smile. You have told me all about Lucy, and so now we shall not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7615 speak of it, lest it distress. I shall stay in Exeter to-night, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7616 want to think much over what you have told me, and when I have thought I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7617 will ask you questions, if I may. And then, too, you will tell me of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7618 husband Jonathan's trouble so far as you can, but not yet. You must eat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7619 now; afterwards you shall tell me all."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7620
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7621 After lunch, when we went back to the drawing-room, he said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7622
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7623 "And now tell me all about him." When it came to speaking to this great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7624 learned man, I began to fear that he would think me a weak fool, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7625 Jonathan a madman--that journal is all so strange--and I hesitated to go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7626 on. But he was so sweet and kind, and he had promised to help, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7627 trusted him, so I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7628
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7629 "Dr. Van Helsing, what I have to tell you is so queer that you must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7630 laugh at me or at my husband. I have been since yesterday in a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7631 fever of doubt; you must be kind to me, and not think me foolish that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7632 have even half believed some very strange things." He reassured me by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7633 his manner as well as his words when he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7634
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7635 "Oh, my dear, if you only know how strange is the matter regarding which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7636 I am here, it is you who would laugh. I have learned not to think little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7637 of any one's belief, no matter how strange it be. I have tried to keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7638 an open mind; and it is not the ordinary things of life that could close
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7639 it, but the strange things, the extraordinary things, the things that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7640 make one doubt if they be mad or sane."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7641
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7642 "Thank you, thank you, a thousand times! You have taken a weight off my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7643 mind. If you will let me, I shall give you a paper to read. It is long,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7644 but I have typewritten it out. It will tell you my trouble and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7645 Jonathan's. It is the copy of his journal when abroad, and all that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7646 happened. I dare not say anything of it; you will read for yourself and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7647 judge. And then when I see you, perhaps, you will be very kind and tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7648 me what you think."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7649
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7650 "I promise," he said as I gave him the papers; "I shall in the morning,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7651 so soon as I can, come to see you and your husband, if I may."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7652
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7653 "Jonathan will be here at half-past eleven, and you must come to lunch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7654 with us and see him then; you could catch the quick 3:34 train, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7655 will leave you at Paddington before eight." He was surprised at my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7656 knowledge of the trains off-hand, but he does not know that I have made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7657 up all the trains to and from Exeter, so that I may help Jonathan in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7658 case he is in a hurry.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7659
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7660 So he took the papers with him and went away, and I sit here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7661 thinking--thinking I don't know what.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7662
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7663 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7664
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7665 _Letter (by hand), Van Helsing to Mrs. Harker._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7666
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7667 "_25 September, 6 o'clock._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7668
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7669 "Dear Madam Mina,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7670
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7671 "I have read your husband's so wonderful diary. You may sleep without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7672 doubt. Strange and terrible as it is, it is _true_! I will pledge my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7673 life on it. It may be worse for others; but for him and you there is no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7674 dread. He is a noble fellow; and let me tell you from experience of men,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7675 that one who would do as he did in going down that wall and to that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7676 room--ay, and going a second time--is not one to be injured in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7677 permanence by a shock. His brain and his heart are all right; this I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7678 swear, before I have even seen him; so be at rest. I shall have much to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7679 ask him of other things. I am blessed that to-day I come to see you, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7680 I have learn all at once so much that again I am dazzle--dazzle more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7681 than ever, and I must think.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7682
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7683 "Yours the most faithful,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7684
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7685 "ABRAHAM VAN HELSING."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7686
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7687
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7688 _Letter, Mrs. Harker to Van Helsing._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7689
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7690 "_25 September, 6:30 p. m._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7691
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7692 "My dear Dr. Van Helsing,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7693
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7694 "A thousand thanks for your kind letter, which has taken a great weight
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7695 off my mind. And yet, if it be true, what terrible things there are in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7696 the world, and what an awful thing if that man, that monster, be really
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7697 in London! I fear to think. I have this moment, whilst writing, had a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7698 wire from Jonathan, saying that he leaves by the 6:25 to-night from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7699 Launceston and will be here at 10:18, so that I shall have no fear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7700 to-night. Will you, therefore, instead of lunching with us, please come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7701 to breakfast at eight o'clock, if this be not too early for you? You can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7702 get away, if you are in a hurry, by the 10:30 train, which will bring
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7703 you to Paddington by 2:35. Do not answer this, as I shall take it that,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7704 if I do not hear, you will come to breakfast.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7705
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7706 "Believe me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7707
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7708 "Your faithful and grateful friend,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7709
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7710 "MINA HARKER."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7711
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7712
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7713 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7714
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7715 _26 September._--I thought never to write in this diary again, but the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7716 time has come. When I got home last night Mina had supper ready, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7717 when we had supped she told me of Van Helsing's visit, and of her having
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7718 given him the two diaries copied out, and of how anxious she has been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7719 about me. She showed me in the doctor's letter that all I wrote down was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7720 true. It seems to have made a new man of me. It was the doubt as to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7721 reality of the whole thing that knocked me over. I felt impotent, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7722 the dark, and distrustful. But, now that I _know_, I am not afraid, even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7723 of the Count. He has succeeded after all, then, in his design in getting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7724 to London, and it was he I saw. He has got younger, and how? Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7725 is the man to unmask him and hunt him out, if he is anything like what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7726 Mina says. We sat late, and talked it all over. Mina is dressing, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7727 shall call at the hotel in a few minutes and bring him over....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7728
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7729 He was, I think, surprised to see me. When I came into the room where he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7730 was, and introduced myself, he took me by the shoulder, and turned my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7731 face round to the light, and said, after a sharp scrutiny:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7732
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7733 "But Madam Mina told me you were ill, that you had had a shock." It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7734 so funny to hear my wife called "Madam Mina" by this kindly,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7735 strong-faced old man. I smiled, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7736
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7737 "I _was_ ill, I _have_ had a shock; but you have cured me already."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7738
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7739 "And how?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7740
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7741 "By your letter to Mina last night. I was in doubt, and then everything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7742 took a hue of unreality, and I did not know what to trust, even the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7743 evidence of my own senses. Not knowing what to trust, I did not know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7744 what to do; and so had only to keep on working in what had hitherto been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7745 the groove of my life. The groove ceased to avail me, and I mistrusted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7746 myself. Doctor, you don't know what it is to doubt everything, even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7747 yourself. No, you don't; you couldn't with eyebrows like yours." He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7748 seemed pleased, and laughed as he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7749
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7750 "So! You are physiognomist. I learn more here with each hour. I am with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7751 so much pleasure coming to you to breakfast; and, oh, sir, you will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7752 pardon praise from an old man, but you are blessed in your wife." I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7753 would listen to him go on praising Mina for a day, so I simply nodded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7754 and stood silent.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7755
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7756 "She is one of God's women, fashioned by His own hand to show us men and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7757 other women that there is a heaven where we can enter, and that its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7758 light can be here on earth. So true, so sweet, so noble, so little an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7759 egoist--and that, let me tell you, is much in this age, so sceptical and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7760 selfish. And you, sir--I have read all the letters to poor Miss Lucy,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7761 and some of them speak of you, so I know you since some days from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7762 knowing of others; but I have seen your true self since last night. You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7763 will give me your hand, will you not? And let us be friends for all our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7764 lives."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7765
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7766 We shook hands, and he was so earnest and so kind that it made me quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7767 choky.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7768
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7769 "And now," he said, "may I ask you for some more help? I have a great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7770 task to do, and at the beginning it is to know. You can help me here.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7771 Can you tell me what went before your going to Transylvania? Later on I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7772 may ask more help, and of a different kind; but at first this will do."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7773
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7774 "Look here, sir," I said, "does what you have to do concern the Count?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7775
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7776 "It does," he said solemnly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7777
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7778 "Then I am with you heart and soul. As you go by the 10:30 train, you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7779 will not have time to read them; but I shall get the bundle of papers.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7780 You can take them with you and read them in the train."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7781
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7782 After breakfast I saw him to the station. When we were parting he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7783 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7784
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7785 "Perhaps you will come to town if I send to you, and take Madam Mina
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7786 too."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7787
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7788 "We shall both come when you will," I said.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7789
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7790 I had got him the morning papers and the London papers of the previous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7791 night, and while we were talking at the carriage window, waiting for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7792 train to start, he was turning them over. His eyes suddenly seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7793 catch something in one of them, "The Westminster Gazette"--I knew it by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7794 the colour--and he grew quite white. He read something intently,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7795 groaning to himself: "Mein Gott! Mein Gott! So soon! so soon!" I do not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7796 think he remembered me at the moment. Just then the whistle blew, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7797 the train moved off. This recalled him to himself, and he leaned out of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7798 the window and waved his hand, calling out: "Love to Madam Mina; I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7799 write so soon as ever I can."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7800
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7801
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7802 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7803
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7804 _26 September._--Truly there is no such thing as finality. Not a week
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7805 since I said "Finis," and yet here I am starting fresh again, or rather
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7806 going on with the same record. Until this afternoon I had no cause to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7807 think of what is done. Renfield had become, to all intents, as sane as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7808 he ever was. He was already well ahead with his fly business; and he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7809 just started in the spider line also; so he had not been of any trouble
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7810 to me. I had a letter from Arthur, written on Sunday, and from it I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7811 gather that he is bearing up wonderfully well. Quincey Morris is with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7812 him, and that is much of a help, for he himself is a bubbling well of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7813 good spirits. Quincey wrote me a line too, and from him I hear that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7814 Arthur is beginning to recover something of his old buoyancy; so as to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7815 them all my mind is at rest. As for myself, I was settling down to my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7816 work with the enthusiasm which I used to have for it, so that I might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7817 fairly have said that the wound which poor Lucy left on me was becoming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7818 cicatrised. Everything is, however, now reopened; and what is to be the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7819 end God only knows. I have an idea that Van Helsing thinks he knows,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7820 too, but he will only let out enough at a time to whet curiosity. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7821 went to Exeter yesterday, and stayed there all night. To-day he came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7822 back, and almost bounded into the room at about half-past five o'clock,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7823 and thrust last night's "Westminster Gazette" into my hand.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7824
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7825 "What do you think of that?" he asked as he stood back and folded his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7826 arms.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7827
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7828 I looked over the paper, for I really did not know what he meant; but he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7829 took it from me and pointed out a paragraph about children being decoyed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7830 away at Hampstead. It did not convey much to me, until I reached a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7831 passage where it described small punctured wounds on their throats. An
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7832 idea struck me, and I looked up. "Well?" he said.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7833
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7834 "It is like poor Lucy's."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7835
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7836 "And what do you make of it?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7837
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7838 "Simply that there is some cause in common. Whatever it was that injured
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7839 her has injured them." I did not quite understand his answer:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7840
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7841 "That is true indirectly, but not directly."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7842
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7843 "How do you mean, Professor?" I asked. I was a little inclined to take
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7844 his seriousness lightly--for, after all, four days of rest and freedom
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7845 from burning, harrowing anxiety does help to restore one's spirits--but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7846 when I saw his face, it sobered me. Never, even in the midst of our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7847 despair about poor Lucy, had he looked more stern.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7849 "Tell me!" I said. "I can hazard no opinion. I do not know what to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7850 think, and I have no data on which to found a conjecture."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7851
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7852 "Do you mean to tell me, friend John, that you have no suspicion as to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7853 what poor Lucy died of; not after all the hints given, not only by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7854 events, but by me?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7855
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7856 "Of nervous prostration following on great loss or waste of blood."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7857
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7858 "And how the blood lost or waste?" I shook my head. He stepped over and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7859 sat down beside me, and went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7860
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7861 "You are clever man, friend John; you reason well, and your wit is bold;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7862 but you are too prejudiced. You do not let your eyes see nor your ears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7863 hear, and that which is outside your daily life is not of account to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7864 you. Do you not think that there are things which you cannot understand,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7865 and yet which are; that some people see things that others cannot? But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7866 there are things old and new which must not be contemplate by men's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7867 eyes, because they know--or think they know--some things which other men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7868 have told them. Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7869 explain all; and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7870 explain. But yet we see around us every day the growth of new beliefs,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7871 which think themselves new; and which are yet but the old, which pretend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7872 to be young--like the fine ladies at the opera. I suppose now you do not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7873 believe in corporeal transference. No? Nor in materialisation. No? Nor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7874 in astral bodies. No? Nor in the reading of thought. No? Nor in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7875 hypnotism----"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7876
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7877 "Yes," I said. "Charcot has proved that pretty well." He smiled as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7878 went on: "Then you are satisfied as to it. Yes? And of course then you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7879 understand how it act, and can follow the mind of the great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7880 Charcot--alas that he is no more!--into the very soul of the patient
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7881 that he influence. No? Then, friend John, am I to take it that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7882 simply accept fact, and are satisfied to let from premise to conclusion
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7883 be a blank? No? Then tell me--for I am student of the brain--how you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7884 accept the hypnotism and reject the thought reading. Let me tell you, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7885 friend, that there are things done to-day in electrical science which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7886 would have been deemed unholy by the very men who discovered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7887 electricity--who would themselves not so long before have been burned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7888 as wizards. There are always mysteries in life. Why was it that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7889 Methuselah lived nine hundred years, and 'Old Parr' one hundred and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7890 sixty-nine, and yet that poor Lucy, with four men's blood in her poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7891 veins, could not live even one day? For, had she live one more day, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7892 could have save her. Do you know all the mystery of life and death? Do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7893 you know the altogether of comparative anatomy and can say wherefore the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7894 qualities of brutes are in some men, and not in others? Can you tell me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7895 why, when other spiders die small and soon, that one great spider lived
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7896 for centuries in the tower of the old Spanish church and grew and grew,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7897 till, on descending, he could drink the oil of all the church lamps? Can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7898 you tell me why in the Pampas, ay and elsewhere, there are bats that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7899 come at night and open the veins of cattle and horses and suck dry their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7900 veins; how in some islands of the Western seas there are bats which hang
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7901 on the trees all day, and those who have seen describe as like giant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7902 nuts or pods, and that when the sailors sleep on the deck, because that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7903 it is hot, flit down on them, and then--and then in the morning are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7904 found dead men, white as even Miss Lucy was?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7905
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7906 "Good God, Professor!" I said, starting up. "Do you mean to tell me that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7907 Lucy was bitten by such a bat; and that such a thing is here in London
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7908 in the nineteenth century?" He waved his hand for silence, and went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7909 on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7910
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7911 "Can you tell me why the tortoise lives more long than generations of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7912 men; why the elephant goes on and on till he have seen dynasties; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7913 why the parrot never die only of bite of cat or dog or other complaint?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7914 Can you tell me why men believe in all ages and places that there are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7915 some few who live on always if they be permit; that there are men and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7916 women who cannot die? We all know--because science has vouched for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7917 fact--that there have been toads shut up in rocks for thousands of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7918 years, shut in one so small hole that only hold him since the youth of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7919 the world. Can you tell me how the Indian fakir can make himself to die
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7920 and have been buried, and his grave sealed and corn sowed on it, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7921 corn reaped and be cut and sown and reaped and cut again, and then men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7922 come and take away the unbroken seal and that there lie the Indian
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7923 fakir, not dead, but that rise up and walk amongst them as before?" Here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7924 I interrupted him. I was getting bewildered; he so crowded on my mind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7925 his list of nature's eccentricities and possible impossibilities that my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7926 imagination was getting fired. I had a dim idea that he was teaching me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7927 some lesson, as long ago he used to do in his study at Amsterdam; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7928 he used then to tell me the thing, so that I could have the object of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7929 thought in mind all the time. But now I was without this help, yet I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7930 wanted to follow him, so I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7931
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7932 "Professor, let me be your pet student again. Tell me the thesis, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7933 that I may apply your knowledge as you go on. At present I am going in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7934 my mind from point to point as a mad man, and not a sane one, follows an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7935 idea. I feel like a novice lumbering through a bog in a mist, jumping
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7936 from one tussock to another in the mere blind effort to move on without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7937 knowing where I am going."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7938
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7939 "That is good image," he said. "Well, I shall tell you. My thesis is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7940 this: I want you to believe."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7941
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7942 "To believe what?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7943
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7944 "To believe in things that you cannot. Let me illustrate. I heard once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7945 of an American who so defined faith: 'that faculty which enables us to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7946 believe things which we know to be untrue.' For one, I follow that man.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7947 He meant that we shall have an open mind, and not let a little bit of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7948 truth check the rush of a big truth, like a small rock does a railway
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7949 truck. We get the small truth first. Good! We keep him, and we value
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7950 him; but all the same we must not let him think himself all the truth in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7951 the universe."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7952
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7953 "Then you want me not to let some previous conviction injure the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7954 receptivity of my mind with regard to some strange matter. Do I read
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7955 your lesson aright?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7956
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7957 "Ah, you are my favourite pupil still. It is worth to teach you. Now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7958 that you are willing to understand, you have taken the first step to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7959 understand. You think then that those so small holes in the children's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7960 throats were made by the same that made the hole in Miss Lucy?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7961
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7962 "I suppose so." He stood up and said solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7963
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7964 "Then you are wrong. Oh, would it were so! but alas! no. It is worse,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7965 far, far worse."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7966
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7967 "In God's name, Professor Van Helsing, what do you mean?" I cried.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7968
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7969 He threw himself with a despairing gesture into a chair, and placed his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7970 elbows on the table, covering his face with his hands as he spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7971
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7972 "They were made by Miss Lucy!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7973
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7974
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7975
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7976
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7977 CHAPTER XV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7978
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7979 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--_continued_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7980
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7981
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7982 For a while sheer anger mastered me; it was as if he had during her life
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7983 struck Lucy on the face. I smote the table hard and rose up as I said to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7984 him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7985
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7986 "Dr. Van Helsing, are you mad?" He raised his head and looked at me, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7987 somehow the tenderness of his face calmed me at once. "Would I were!" he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7988 said. "Madness were easy to bear compared with truth like this. Oh, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7989 friend, why, think you, did I go so far round, why take so long to tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7990 you so simple a thing? Was it because I hate you and have hated you all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7991 my life? Was it because I wished to give you pain? Was it that I wanted,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7992 now so late, revenge for that time when you saved my life, and from a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7993 fearful death? Ah no!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7994
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7995 "Forgive me," said I. He went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7996
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7997 "My friend, it was because I wished to be gentle in the breaking to you,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7998 for I know you have loved that so sweet lady. But even yet I do not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 7999 expect you to believe. It is so hard to accept at once any abstract
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8000 truth, that we may doubt such to be possible when we have always
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8001 believed the 'no' of it; it is more hard still to accept so sad a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8002 concrete truth, and of such a one as Miss Lucy. To-night I go to prove
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8003 it. Dare you come with me?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8004
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8005 This staggered me. A man does not like to prove such a truth; Byron
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8006 excepted from the category, jealousy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8007
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8008 "And prove the very truth he most abhorred."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8009
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8010 He saw my hesitation, and spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8011
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8012 "The logic is simple, no madman's logic this time, jumping from tussock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8013 to tussock in a misty bog. If it be not true, then proof will be relief;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8014 at worst it will not harm. If it be true! Ah, there is the dread; yet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8015 very dread should help my cause, for in it is some need of belief. Come,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8016 I tell you what I propose: first, that we go off now and see that child
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8017 in the hospital. Dr. Vincent, of the North Hospital, where the papers
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8018 say the child is, is friend of mine, and I think of yours since you were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8019 in class at Amsterdam. He will let two scientists see his case, if he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8020 will not let two friends. We shall tell him nothing, but only that we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8021 wish to learn. And then----"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8022
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8023 "And then?" He took a key from his pocket and held it up. "And then we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8024 spend the night, you and I, in the churchyard where Lucy lies. This is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8025 the key that lock the tomb. I had it from the coffin-man to give to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8026 Arthur." My heart sank within me, for I felt that there was some fearful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8027 ordeal before us. I could do nothing, however, so I plucked up what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8028 heart I could and said that we had better hasten, as the afternoon was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8029 passing....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8030
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8031 We found the child awake. It had had a sleep and taken some food, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8032 altogether was going on well. Dr. Vincent took the bandage from its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8033 throat, and showed us the punctures. There was no mistaking the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8034 similarity to those which had been on Lucy's throat. They were smaller,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8035 and the edges looked fresher; that was all. We asked Vincent to what he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8036 attributed them, and he replied that it must have been a bite of some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8037 animal, perhaps a rat; but, for his own part, he was inclined to think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8038 that it was one of the bats which are so numerous on the northern
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8039 heights of London. "Out of so many harmless ones," he said, "there may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8040 be some wild specimen from the South of a more malignant species. Some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8041 sailor may have brought one home, and it managed to escape; or even from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8042 the Zoölogical Gardens a young one may have got loose, or one be bred
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8043 there from a vampire. These things do occur, you know. Only ten days ago
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8044 a wolf got out, and was, I believe, traced up in this direction. For a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8045 week after, the children were playing nothing but Red Riding Hood on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8046 Heath and in every alley in the place until this 'bloofer lady' scare
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8047 came along, since when it has been quite a gala-time with them. Even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8048 this poor little mite, when he woke up to-day, asked the nurse if he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8049 might go away. When she asked him why he wanted to go, he said he wanted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8050 to play with the 'bloofer lady.'"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8051
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8052 "I hope," said Van Helsing, "that when you are sending the child home
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8053 you will caution its parents to keep strict watch over it. These fancies
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8054 to stray are most dangerous; and if the child were to remain out another
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8055 night, it would probably be fatal. But in any case I suppose you will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8056 not let it away for some days?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8057
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8058 "Certainly not, not for a week at least; longer if the wound is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8059 healed."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8060
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8061 Our visit to the hospital took more time than we had reckoned on, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8062 the sun had dipped before we came out. When Van Helsing saw how dark it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8063 was, he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8064
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8065 "There is no hurry. It is more late than I thought. Come, let us seek
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8066 somewhere that we may eat, and then we shall go on our way."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8067
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8068 We dined at "Jack Straw's Castle" along with a little crowd of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8069 bicyclists and others who were genially noisy. About ten o'clock we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8070 started from the inn. It was then very dark, and the scattered lamps
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8071 made the darkness greater when we were once outside their individual
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8072 radius. The Professor had evidently noted the road we were to go, for he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8073 went on unhesitatingly; but, as for me, I was in quite a mixup as to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8074 locality. As we went further, we met fewer and fewer people, till at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8075 last we were somewhat surprised when we met even the patrol of horse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8076 police going their usual suburban round. At last we reached the wall of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8077 the churchyard, which we climbed over. With some little difficulty--for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8078 it was very dark, and the whole place seemed so strange to us--we found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8079 the Westenra tomb. The Professor took the key, opened the creaky door,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8080 and standing back, politely, but quite unconsciously, motioned me to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8081 precede him. There was a delicious irony in the offer, in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8082 courtliness of giving preference on such a ghastly occasion. My
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8083 companion followed me quickly, and cautiously drew the door to, after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8084 carefully ascertaining that the lock was a falling, and not a spring,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8085 one. In the latter case we should have been in a bad plight. Then he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8086 fumbled in his bag, and taking out a matchbox and a piece of candle,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8087 proceeded to make a light. The tomb in the day-time, and when wreathed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8088 with fresh flowers, had looked grim and gruesome enough; but now, some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8089 days afterwards, when the flowers hung lank and dead, their whites
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8090 turning to rust and their greens to browns; when the spider and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8091 beetle had resumed their accustomed dominance; when time-discoloured
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8092 stone, and dust-encrusted mortar, and rusty, dank iron, and tarnished
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8093 brass, and clouded silver-plating gave back the feeble glimmer of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8094 candle, the effect was more miserable and sordid than could have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8095 imagined. It conveyed irresistibly the idea that life--animal life--was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8096 not the only thing which could pass away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8097
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8098 Van Helsing went about his work systematically. Holding his candle so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8099 that he could read the coffin plates, and so holding it that the sperm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8100 dropped in white patches which congealed as they touched the metal, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8101 made assurance of Lucy's coffin. Another search in his bag, and he took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8102 out a turnscrew.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8103
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8104 "What are you going to do?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8105
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8106 "To open the coffin. You shall yet be convinced." Straightway he began
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8107 taking out the screws, and finally lifted off the lid, showing the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8108 casing of lead beneath. The sight was almost too much for me. It seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8109 to be as much an affront to the dead as it would have been to have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8110 stripped off her clothing in her sleep whilst living; I actually took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8111 hold of his hand to stop him. He only said: "You shall see," and again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8112 fumbling in his bag, took out a tiny fret-saw. Striking the turnscrew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8113 through the lead with a swift downward stab, which made me wince, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8114 made a small hole, which was, however, big enough to admit the point of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8115 the saw. I had expected a rush of gas from the week-old corpse. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8116 doctors, who have had to study our dangers, have to become accustomed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8117 such things, and I drew back towards the door. But the Professor never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8118 stopped for a moment; he sawed down a couple of feet along one side of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8119 the lead coffin, and then across, and down the other side. Taking the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8120 edge of the loose flange, he bent it back towards the foot of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8121 coffin, and holding up the candle into the aperture, motioned to me to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8122 look.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8123
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8124 I drew near and looked. The coffin was empty.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8125
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8126 It was certainly a surprise to me, and gave me a considerable shock, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8127 Van Helsing was unmoved. He was now more sure than ever of his ground,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8128 and so emboldened to proceed in his task. "Are you satisfied now, friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8129 John?" he asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8130
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8131 I felt all the dogged argumentativeness of my nature awake within me as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8132 I answered him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8133
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8134 "I am satisfied that Lucy's body is not in that coffin; but that only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8135 proves one thing."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8136
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8137 "And what is that, friend John?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8138
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8139 "That it is not there."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8140
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8141 "That is good logic," he said, "so far as it goes. But how do you--how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8142 can you--account for it not being there?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8143
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8144 "Perhaps a body-snatcher," I suggested. "Some of the undertaker's people
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8145 may have stolen it." I felt that I was speaking folly, and yet it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8146 the only real cause which I could suggest. The Professor sighed. "Ah
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8147 well!" he said, "we must have more proof. Come with me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8148
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8149 He put on the coffin-lid again, gathered up all his things and placed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8150 them in the bag, blew out the light, and placed the candle also in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8151 bag. We opened the door, and went out. Behind us he closed the door and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8152 locked it. He handed me the key, saying: "Will you keep it? You had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8153 better be assured." I laughed--it was not a very cheerful laugh, I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8154 bound to say--as I motioned him to keep it. "A key is nothing," I said;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8155 "there may be duplicates; and anyhow it is not difficult to pick a lock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8156 of that kind." He said nothing, but put the key in his pocket. Then he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8157 told me to watch at one side of the churchyard whilst he would watch at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8158 the other. I took up my place behind a yew-tree, and I saw his dark
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8159 figure move until the intervening headstones and trees hid it from my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8160 sight.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8161
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8162 It was a lonely vigil. Just after I had taken my place I heard a distant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8163 clock strike twelve, and in time came one and two. I was chilled and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8164 unnerved, and angry with the Professor for taking me on such an errand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8165 and with myself for coming. I was too cold and too sleepy to be keenly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8166 observant, and not sleepy enough to betray my trust so altogether I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8167 a dreary, miserable time.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8168
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8169 Suddenly, as I turned round, I thought I saw something like a white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8170 streak, moving between two dark yew-trees at the side of the churchyard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8171 farthest from the tomb; at the same time a dark mass moved from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8172 Professor's side of the ground, and hurriedly went towards it. Then I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8173 too moved; but I had to go round headstones and railed-off tombs, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8174 stumbled over graves. The sky was overcast, and somewhere far off an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8175 early cock crew. A little way off, beyond a line of scattered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8176 juniper-trees, which marked the pathway to the church, a white, dim
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8177 figure flitted in the direction of the tomb. The tomb itself was hidden
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8178 by trees, and I could not see where the figure disappeared. I heard the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8179 rustle of actual movement where I had first seen the white figure, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8180 coming over, found the Professor holding in his arms a tiny child. When
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8181 he saw me he held it out to me, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8182
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8183 "Are you satisfied now?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8184
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8185 "No," I said, in a way that I felt was aggressive.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8186
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8187 "Do you not see the child?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8188
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8189 "Yes, it is a child, but who brought it here? And is it wounded?" I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8190 asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8191
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8192 "We shall see," said the Professor, and with one impulse we took our way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8193 out of the churchyard, he carrying the sleeping child.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8194
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8195 When we had got some little distance away, we went into a clump of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8196 trees, and struck a match, and looked at the child's throat. It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8197 without a scratch or scar of any kind.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8198
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8199 "Was I right?" I asked triumphantly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8200
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8201 "We were just in time," said the Professor thankfully.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8202
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8203 We had now to decide what we were to do with the child, and so consulted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8204 about it. If we were to take it to a police-station we should have to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8205 give some account of our movements during the night; at least, we should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8206 have had to make some statement as to how we had come to find the child.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8207 So finally we decided that we would take it to the Heath, and when we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8208 heard a policeman coming, would leave it where he could not fail to find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8209 it; we would then seek our way home as quickly as we could. All fell out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8210 well. At the edge of Hampstead Heath we heard a policeman's heavy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8211 tramp, and laying the child on the pathway, we waited and watched until
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8212 he saw it as he flashed his lantern to and fro. We heard his exclamation
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8213 of astonishment, and then we went away silently. By good chance we got a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8214 cab near the "Spaniards," and drove to town.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8215
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8216 I cannot sleep, so I make this entry. But I must try to get a few hours'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8217 sleep, as Van Helsing is to call for me at noon. He insists that I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8218 go with him on another expedition.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8219
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8220 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8221
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8222 _27 September._--It was two o'clock before we found a suitable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8223 opportunity for our attempt. The funeral held at noon was all completed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8224 and the last stragglers of the mourners had taken themselves lazily
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8225 away, when, looking carefully from behind a clump of alder-trees, we saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8226 the sexton lock the gate after him. We knew then that we were safe till
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8227 morning did we desire it; but the Professor told me that we should not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8228 want more than an hour at most. Again I felt that horrid sense of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8229 reality of things, in which any effort of imagination seemed out of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8230 place; and I realised distinctly the perils of the law which we were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8231 incurring in our unhallowed work. Besides, I felt it was all so useless.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8232 Outrageous as it was to open a leaden coffin, to see if a woman dead
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8233 nearly a week were really dead, it now seemed the height of folly to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8234 open the tomb again, when we knew, from the evidence of our own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8235 eyesight, that the coffin was empty. I shrugged my shoulders, however,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8236 and rested silent, for Van Helsing had a way of going on his own road,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8237 no matter who remonstrated. He took the key, opened the vault, and again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8238 courteously motioned me to precede. The place was not so gruesome as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8239 last night, but oh, how unutterably mean-looking when the sunshine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8240 streamed in. Van Helsing walked over to Lucy's coffin, and I followed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8241 He bent over and again forced back the leaden flange; and then a shock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8242 of surprise and dismay shot through me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8243
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8244 There lay Lucy, seemingly just as we had seen her the night before her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8245 funeral. She was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful than ever; and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8246 could not believe that she was dead. The lips were red, nay redder than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8247 before; and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8248
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8249 "Is this a juggle?" I said to him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8250
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8251 "Are you convinced now?" said the Professor in response, and as he spoke
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8252 he put over his hand, and in a way that made me shudder, pulled back the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8253 dead lips and showed the white teeth.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8254
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8255 "See," he went on, "see, they are even sharper than before. With this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8256 and this"--and he touched one of the canine teeth and that below
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8257 it--"the little children can be bitten. Are you of belief now, friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8258 John?" Once more, argumentative hostility woke within me. I _could_ not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8259 accept such an overwhelming idea as he suggested; so, with an attempt to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8260 argue of which I was even at the moment ashamed, I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8261
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8262 "She may have been placed here since last night."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8263
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8264 "Indeed? That is so, and by whom?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8265
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8266 "I do not know. Some one has done it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8267
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8268 "And yet she has been dead one week. Most peoples in that time would not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8269 look so." I had no answer for this, so was silent. Van Helsing did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8270 seem to notice my silence; at any rate, he showed neither chagrin nor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8271 triumph. He was looking intently at the face of the dead woman, raising
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8272 the eyelids and looking at the eyes, and once more opening the lips and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8273 examining the teeth. Then he turned to me and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8274
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8275 "Here, there is one thing which is different from all recorded; here is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8276 some dual life that is not as the common. She was bitten by the vampire
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8277 when she was in a trance, sleep-walking--oh, you start; you do not know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8278 that, friend John, but you shall know it all later--and in trance could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8279 he best come to take more blood. In trance she died, and in trance she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8280 is Un-Dead, too. So it is that she differ from all other. Usually when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8281 the Un-Dead sleep at home"--as he spoke he made a comprehensive sweep of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8282 his arm to designate what to a vampire was "home"--"their face show what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8283 they are, but this so sweet that was when she not Un-Dead she go back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8284 the nothings of the common dead. There is no malign there, see, and so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8285 it make hard that I must kill her in her sleep." This turned my blood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8286 cold, and it began to dawn upon me that I was accepting Van Helsing's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8287 theories; but if she were really dead, what was there of terror in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8288 idea of killing her? He looked up at me, and evidently saw the change in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8289 my face, for he said almost joyously:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8290
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8291 "Ah, you believe now?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8292
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8293 I answered: "Do not press me too hard all at once. I am willing to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8294 accept. How will you do this bloody work?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8295
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8296 "I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic, and I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8297 drive a stake through her body." It made me shudder to think of so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8298 mutilating the body of the woman whom I had loved. And yet the feeling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8299 was not so strong as I had expected. I was, in fact, beginning to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8300 shudder at the presence of this being, this Un-Dead, as Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8301 called it, and to loathe it. Is it possible that love is all subjective,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8302 or all objective?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8303
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8304 I waited a considerable time for Van Helsing to begin, but he stood as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8305 if wrapped in thought. Presently he closed the catch of his bag with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8306 snap, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8307
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8308 "I have been thinking, and have made up my mind as to what is best. If I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8309 did simply follow my inclining I would do now, at this moment, what is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8310 to be done; but there are other things to follow, and things that are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8311 thousand times more difficult in that them we do not know. This is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8312 simple. She have yet no life taken, though that is of time; and to act
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8313 now would be to take danger from her for ever. But then we may have to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8314 want Arthur, and how shall we tell him of this? If you, who saw the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8315 wounds on Lucy's throat, and saw the wounds so similar on the child's at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8316 the hospital; if you, who saw the coffin empty last night and full
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8317 to-day with a woman who have not change only to be more rose and more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8318 beautiful in a whole week, after she die--if you know of this and know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8319 of the white figure last night that brought the child to the churchyard,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8320 and yet of your own senses you did not believe, how, then, can I expect
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8321 Arthur, who know none of those things, to believe? He doubted me when I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8322 took him from her kiss when she was dying. I know he has forgiven me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8323 because in some mistaken idea I have done things that prevent him say
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8324 good-bye as he ought; and he may think that in some more mistaken idea
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8325 this woman was buried alive; and that in most mistake of all we have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8326 killed her. He will then argue back that it is we, mistaken ones, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8327 have killed her by our ideas; and so he will be much unhappy always. Yet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8328 he never can be sure; and that is the worst of all. And he will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8329 sometimes think that she he loved was buried alive, and that will paint
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8330 his dreams with horrors of what she must have suffered; and again, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8331 will think that we may be right, and that his so beloved was, after all,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8332 an Un-Dead. No! I told him once, and since then I learn much. Now, since
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8333 I know it is all true, a hundred thousand times more do I know that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8334 must pass through the bitter waters to reach the sweet. He, poor fellow,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8335 must have one hour that will make the very face of heaven grow black to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8336 him; then we can act for good all round and send him peace. My mind is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8337 made up. Let us go. You return home for to-night to your asylum, and see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8338 that all be well. As for me, I shall spend the night here in this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8339 churchyard in my own way. To-morrow night you will come to me to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8340 Berkeley Hotel at ten of the clock. I shall send for Arthur to come too,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8341 and also that so fine young man of America that gave his blood. Later we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8342 shall all have work to do. I come with you so far as Piccadilly and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8343 there dine, for I must be back here before the sun set."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8344
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8345 So we locked the tomb and came away, and got over the wall of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8346 churchyard, which was not much of a task, and drove back to Piccadilly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8347
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8348
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8349 _Note left by Van Helsing in his portmanteau, Berkeley Hotel directed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8350 John Seward, M. D._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8351
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8352 (Not delivered.)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8353
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8354 "_27 September._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8355
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8356 "Friend John,--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8357
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8358 "I write this in case anything should happen. I go alone to watch in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8359 that churchyard. It pleases me that the Un-Dead, Miss Lucy, shall not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8360 leave to-night, that so on the morrow night she may be more eager.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8361 Therefore I shall fix some things she like not--garlic and a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8362 crucifix--and so seal up the door of the tomb. She is young as Un-Dead,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8363 and will heed. Moreover, these are only to prevent her coming out; they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8364 may not prevail on her wanting to get in; for then the Un-Dead is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8365 desperate, and must find the line of least resistance, whatsoever it may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8366 be. I shall be at hand all the night from sunset till after the sunrise,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8367 and if there be aught that may be learned I shall learn it. For Miss
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8368 Lucy or from her, I have no fear; but that other to whom is there that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8369 she is Un-Dead, he have now the power to seek her tomb and find shelter.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8370 He is cunning, as I know from Mr. Jonathan and from the way that all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8371 along he have fooled us when he played with us for Miss Lucy's life, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8372 we lost; and in many ways the Un-Dead are strong. He have always the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8373 strength in his hand of twenty men; even we four who gave our strength
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8374 to Miss Lucy it also is all to him. Besides, he can summon his wolf and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8375 I know not what. So if it be that he come thither on this night he shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8376 find me; but none other shall--until it be too late. But it may be that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8377 he will not attempt the place. There is no reason why he should; his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8378 hunting ground is more full of game than the churchyard where the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8379 Un-Dead woman sleep, and the one old man watch.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8380
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8381 "Therefore I write this in case.... Take the papers that are with this,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8382 the diaries of Harker and the rest, and read them, and then find this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8383 great Un-Dead, and cut off his head and burn his heart or drive a stake
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8384 through it, so that the world may rest from him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8385
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8386 "If it be so, farewell.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8387
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8388 "VAN HELSING."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8389
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8390
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8391
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8392 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8393
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8394 _28 September._--It is wonderful what a good night's sleep will do for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8395 one. Yesterday I was almost willing to accept Van Helsing's monstrous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8396 ideas; but now they seem to start out lurid before me as outrages on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8397 common sense. I have no doubt that he believes it all. I wonder if his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8398 mind can have become in any way unhinged. Surely there must be _some_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8399 rational explanation of all these mysterious things. Is it possible that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8400 the Professor can have done it himself? He is so abnormally clever that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8401 if he went off his head he would carry out his intent with regard to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8402 some fixed idea in a wonderful way. I am loath to think it, and indeed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8403 it would be almost as great a marvel as the other to find that Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8404 Helsing was mad; but anyhow I shall watch him carefully. I may get some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8405 light on the mystery.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8406
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8407 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8408
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8409 _29 September, morning._.... Last night, at a little before ten o'clock,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8410 Arthur and Quincey came into Van Helsing's room; he told us all that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8411 wanted us to do, but especially addressing himself to Arthur, as if all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8412 our wills were centred in his. He began by saying that he hoped we would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8413 all come with him too, "for," he said, "there is a grave duty to be done
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8414 there. You were doubtless surprised at my letter?" This query was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8415 directly addressed to Lord Godalming.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8416
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8417 "I was. It rather upset me for a bit. There has been so much trouble
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8418 around my house of late that I could do without any more. I have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8419 curious, too, as to what you mean. Quincey and I talked it over; but the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8420 more we talked, the more puzzled we got, till now I can say for myself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8421 that I'm about up a tree as to any meaning about anything."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8422
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8423 "Me too," said Quincey Morris laconically.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8424
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8425 "Oh," said the Professor, "then you are nearer the beginning, both of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8426 you, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8427 even get so far as to begin."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8428
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8429 It was evident that he recognised my return to my old doubting frame of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8430 mind without my saying a word. Then, turning to the other two, he said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8431 with intense gravity:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8432
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8433 "I want your permission to do what I think good this night. It is, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8434 know, much to ask; and when you know what it is I propose to do you will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8435 know, and only then, how much. Therefore may I ask that you promise me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8436 in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry with me for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8437 time--I must not disguise from myself the possibility that such may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8438 be--you shall not blame yourselves for anything."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8439
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8440 "That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the Professor.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8441 I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest; and that's good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8442 enough for me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8443
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8444 "I thank you, sir," said Van Helsing proudly. "I have done myself the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8445 honour of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is dear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8446 to me." He held out a hand, which Quincey took.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8447
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8448 Then Arthur spoke out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8449
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8450 "Dr. Van Helsing, I don't quite like to 'buy a pig in a poke,' as they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8451 say in Scotland, and if it be anything in which my honour as a gentleman
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8452 or my faith as a Christian is concerned, I cannot make such a promise.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8453 If you can assure me that what you intend does not violate either of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8454 these two, then I give my consent at once; though for the life of me, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8455 cannot understand what you are driving at."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8456
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8457 "I accept your limitation," said Van Helsing, "and all I ask of you is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8458 that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will first
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8459 consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8460 reservations."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8461
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8462 "Agreed!" said Arthur; "that is only fair. And now that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8463 _pourparlers_ are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8464
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8465 "I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8466 Kingstead."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8467
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8468 Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8469
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8470 "Where poor Lucy is buried?" The Professor bowed. Arthur went on: "And
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8471 when there?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8472
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8473 "To enter the tomb!" Arthur stood up.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8474
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8475 "Professor, are you in earnest; or it is some monstrous joke? Pardon me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8476 I see that you are in earnest." He sat down again, but I could see that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8477 he sat firmly and proudly, as one who is on his dignity. There was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8478 silence until he asked again:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8479
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8480 "And when in the tomb?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8481
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8482 "To open the coffin."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8483
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8484 "This is too much!" he said, angrily rising again. "I am willing to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8485 patient in all things that are reasonable; but in this--this desecration
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8486 of the grave--of one who----" He fairly choked with indignation. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8487 Professor looked pityingly at him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8488
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8489 "If I could spare you one pang, my poor friend," he said, "God knows I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8490 would. But this night our feet must tread in thorny paths; or later, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8491 for ever, the feet you love must walk in paths of flame!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8492
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8493 Arthur looked up with set white face and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8494
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8495 "Take care, sir, take care!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8496
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8497 "Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8498 "And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8499 on?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8500
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8501 "That's fair enough," broke in Morris.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8502
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8503 After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8504
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8505 "Miss Lucy is dead; is it not so? Yes! Then there can be no wrong to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8506 her. But if she be not dead----"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8507
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8508 Arthur jumped to his feet.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8509
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8510 "Good God!" he cried. "What do you mean? Has there been any mistake; has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8511 she been buried alive?" He groaned in anguish that not even hope could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8512 soften.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8513
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8514 "I did not say she was alive, my child; I did not think it. I go no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8515 further than to say that she might be Un-Dead."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8516
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8517 "Un-Dead! Not alive! What do you mean? Is this all a nightmare, or what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8518 is it?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8519
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8520 "There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8521 may solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of one. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8522 I have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8523
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8524 "Heavens and earth, no!" cried Arthur in a storm of passion. "Not for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8525 the wide world will I consent to any mutilation of her dead body. Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8526 Van Helsing, you try me too far. What have I done to you that you should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8527 torture me so? What did that poor, sweet girl do that you should want to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8528 cast such dishonour on her grave? Are you mad that speak such things, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8529 am I mad to listen to them? Don't dare to think more of such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8530 desecration; I shall not give my consent to anything you do. I have a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8531 duty to do in protecting her grave from outrage; and, by God, I shall do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8532 it!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8533
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8534 Van Helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8535 said, gravely and sternly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8536
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8537 "My Lord Godalming, I, too, have a duty to do, a duty to others, a duty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8538 to you, a duty to the dead; and, by God, I shall do it! All I ask you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8539 now is that you come with me, that you look and listen; and if when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8540 later I make the same request you do not be more eager for its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8541 fulfilment even than I am, then--then I shall do my duty, whatever it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8542 may seem to me. And then, to follow of your Lordship's wishes I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8543 hold myself at your disposal to render an account to you, when and where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8544 you will." His voice broke a little, and he went on with a voice full of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8545 pity:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8546
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8547 "But, I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8548 acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did wring
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8549 my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now. Believe me that if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8550 the time comes for you to change your mind towards me, one look from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8551 you will wipe away all this so sad hour, for I would do what a man can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8552 to save you from sorrow. Just think. For why should I give myself so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8553 much of labour and so much of sorrow? I have come here from my own land
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8554 to do what I can of good; at the first to please my friend John, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8555 then to help a sweet young lady, whom, too, I came to love. For her--I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8556 am ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness--I gave what you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8557 gave; the blood of my veins; I gave it, I, who was not, like you, her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8558 lover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave to her my nights
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8559 and days--before death, after death; and if my death can do her good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8560 even now, when she is the dead Un-Dead, she shall have it freely." He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8561 said this with a very grave, sweet pride, and Arthur was much affected
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8562 by it. He took the old man's hand and said in a broken voice:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8563
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8564 "Oh, it is hard to think of it, and I cannot understand; but at least I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8565 shall go with you and wait."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8566
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8567
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8568
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8569
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8570 CHAPTER XVI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8571
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8572 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--_continued_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8573
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8574
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8575 It was just a quarter before twelve o'clock when we got into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8576 churchyard over the low wall. The night was dark with occasional gleams
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8577 of moonlight between the rents of the heavy clouds that scudded across
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8578 the sky. We all kept somehow close together, with Van Helsing slightly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8579 in front as he led the way. When we had come close to the tomb I looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8580 well at Arthur, for I feared that the proximity to a place laden with so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8581 sorrowful a memory would upset him; but he bore himself well. I took it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8582 that the very mystery of the proceeding was in some way a counteractant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8583 to his grief. The Professor unlocked the door, and seeing a natural
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8584 hesitation amongst us for various reasons, solved the difficulty by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8585 entering first himself. The rest of us followed, and he closed the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8586 He then lit a dark lantern and pointed to the coffin. Arthur stepped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8587 forward hesitatingly; Van Helsing said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8588
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8589 "You were with me here yesterday. Was the body of Miss Lucy in that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8590 coffin?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8591
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8592 "It was." The Professor turned to the rest saying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8593
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8594 "You hear; and yet there is no one who does not believe with me." He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8595 took his screwdriver and again took off the lid of the coffin. Arthur
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8596 looked on, very pale but silent; when the lid was removed he stepped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8597 forward. He evidently did not know that there was a leaden coffin, or,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8598 at any rate, had not thought of it. When he saw the rent in the lead,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8599 the blood rushed to his face for an instant, but as quickly fell away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8600 again, so that he remained of a ghastly whiteness; he was still silent.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8601 Van Helsing forced back the leaden flange, and we all looked in and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8602 recoiled.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8603
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8604 The coffin was empty!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8605
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8606 For several minutes no one spoke a word. The silence was broken by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8607 Quincey Morris:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8608
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8609 "Professor, I answered for you. Your word is all I want. I wouldn't ask
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8610 such a thing ordinarily--I wouldn't so dishonour you as to imply a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8611 doubt; but this is a mystery that goes beyond any honour or dishonour.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8612 Is this your doing?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8613
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8614 "I swear to you by all that I hold sacred that I have not removed nor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8615 touched her. What happened was this: Two nights ago my friend Seward and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8616 I came here--with good purpose, believe me. I opened that coffin, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8617 was then sealed up, and we found it, as now, empty. We then waited, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8618 saw something white come through the trees. The next day we came here in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8619 day-time, and she lay there. Did she not, friend John?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8620
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8621 "Yes."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8622
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8623 "That night we were just in time. One more so small child was missing,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8624 and we find it, thank God, unharmed amongst the graves. Yesterday I came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8625 here before sundown, for at sundown the Un-Dead can move. I waited here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8626 all the night till the sun rose, but I saw nothing. It was most probable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8627 that it was because I had laid over the clamps of those doors garlic,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8628 which the Un-Dead cannot bear, and other things which they shun. Last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8629 night there was no exodus, so to-night before the sundown I took away my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8630 garlic and other things. And so it is we find this coffin empty. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8631 bear with me. So far there is much that is strange. Wait you with me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8632 outside, unseen and unheard, and things much stranger are yet to be.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8633 So"--here he shut the dark slide of his lantern--"now to the outside."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8634 He opened the door, and we filed out, he coming last and locking the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8635 door behind him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8636
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8637 Oh! but it seemed fresh and pure in the night air after the terror of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8638 that vault. How sweet it was to see the clouds race by, and the passing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8639 gleams of the moonlight between the scudding clouds crossing and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8640 passing--like the gladness and sorrow of a man's life; how sweet it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8641 to breathe the fresh air, that had no taint of death and decay; how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8642 humanising to see the red lighting of the sky beyond the hill, and to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8643 hear far away the muffled roar that marks the life of a great city. Each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8644 in his own way was solemn and overcome. Arthur was silent, and was, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8645 could see, striving to grasp the purpose and the inner meaning of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8646 mystery. I was myself tolerably patient, and half inclined again to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8647 throw aside doubt and to accept Van Helsing's conclusions. Quincey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8648 Morris was phlegmatic in the way of a man who accepts all things, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8649 accepts them in the spirit of cool bravery, with hazard of all he has to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8650 stake. Not being able to smoke, he cut himself a good-sized plug of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8651 tobacco and began to chew. As to Van Helsing, he was employed in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8652 definite way. First he took from his bag a mass of what looked like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8653 thin, wafer-like biscuit, which was carefully rolled up in a white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8654 napkin; next he took out a double-handful of some whitish stuff, like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8655 dough or putty. He crumbled the wafer up fine and worked it into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8656 mass between his hands. This he then took, and rolling it into thin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8657 strips, began to lay them into the crevices between the door and its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8658 setting in the tomb. I was somewhat puzzled at this, and being close,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8659 asked him what it was that he was doing. Arthur and Quincey drew near
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8660 also, as they too were curious. He answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8661
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8662 "I am closing the tomb, so that the Un-Dead may not enter."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8663
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8664 "And is that stuff you have put there going to do it?" asked Quincey.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8665 "Great Scott! Is this a game?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8666
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8667 "It is."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8668
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8669 "What is that which you are using?" This time the question was by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8670 Arthur. Van Helsing reverently lifted his hat as he answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8671
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8672 "The Host. I brought it from Amsterdam. I have an Indulgence." It was an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8673 answer that appalled the most sceptical of us, and we felt individually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8674 that in the presence of such earnest purpose as the Professor's, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8675 purpose which could thus use the to him most sacred of things, it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8676 impossible to distrust. In respectful silence we took the places
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8677 assigned to us close round the tomb, but hidden from the sight of any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8678 one approaching. I pitied the others, especially Arthur. I had myself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8679 been apprenticed by my former visits to this watching horror; and yet I,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8680 who had up to an hour ago repudiated the proofs, felt my heart sink
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8681 within me. Never did tombs look so ghastly white; never did cypress, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8682 yew, or juniper so seem the embodiment of funereal gloom; never did tree
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8683 or grass wave or rustle so ominously; never did bough creak so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8684 mysteriously; and never did the far-away howling of dogs send such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8685 woeful presage through the night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8686
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8687 There was a long spell of silence, a big, aching void, and then from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8688 Professor a keen "S-s-s-s!" He pointed; and far down the avenue of yews
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8689 we saw a white figure advance--a dim white figure, which held something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8690 dark at its breast. The figure stopped, and at the moment a ray of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8691 moonlight fell upon the masses of driving clouds and showed in startling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8692 prominence a dark-haired woman, dressed in the cerements of the grave.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8693 We could not see the face, for it was bent down over what we saw to be a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8694 fair-haired child. There was a pause and a sharp little cry, such as a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8695 child gives in sleep, or a dog as it lies before the fire and dreams. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8696 were starting forward, but the Professor's warning hand, seen by us as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8697 he stood behind a yew-tree, kept us back; and then as we looked the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8698 white figure moved forwards again. It was now near enough for us to see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8699 clearly, and the moonlight still held. My own heart grew cold as ice,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8700 and I could hear the gasp of Arthur, as we recognised the features of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8701 Lucy Westenra. Lucy Westenra, but yet how changed. The sweetness was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8702 turned to adamantine, heartless cruelty, and the purity to voluptuous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8703 wantonness. Van Helsing stepped out, and, obedient to his gesture, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8704 all advanced too; the four of us ranged in a line before the door of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8705 tomb. Van Helsing raised his lantern and drew the slide; by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8706 concentrated light that fell on Lucy's face we could see that the lips
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8707 were crimson with fresh blood, and that the stream had trickled over her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8708 chin and stained the purity of her lawn death-robe.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8709
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8710 We shuddered with horror. I could see by the tremulous light that even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8711 Van Helsing's iron nerve had failed. Arthur was next to me, and if I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8712 not seized his arm and held him up, he would have fallen.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8713
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8714 When Lucy--I call the thing that was before us Lucy because it bore her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8715 shape--saw us she drew back with an angry snarl, such as a cat gives
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8716 when taken unawares; then her eyes ranged over us. Lucy's eyes in form
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8717 and colour; but Lucy's eyes unclean and full of hell-fire, instead of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8718 the pure, gentle orbs we knew. At that moment the remnant of my love
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8719 passed into hate and loathing; had she then to be killed, I could have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8720 done it with savage delight. As she looked, her eyes blazed with unholy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8721 light, and the face became wreathed with a voluptuous smile. Oh, God,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8722 how it made me shudder to see it! With a careless motion, she flung to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8723 the ground, callous as a devil, the child that up to now she had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8724 clutched strenuously to her breast, growling over it as a dog growls
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8725 over a bone. The child gave a sharp cry, and lay there moaning. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8726 was a cold-bloodedness in the act which wrung a groan from Arthur; when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8727 she advanced to him with outstretched arms and a wanton smile he fell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8728 back and hid his face in his hands.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8729
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8730 She still advanced, however, and with a languorous, voluptuous grace,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8731 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8732
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8733 "Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My arms are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8734 hungry for you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my husband, come!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8735
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8736 There was something diabolically sweet in her tones--something of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8737 tingling of glass when struck--which rang through the brains even of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8738 who heard the words addressed to another. As for Arthur, he seemed under
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8739 a spell; moving his hands from his face, he opened wide his arms. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8740 was leaping for them, when Van Helsing sprang forward and held between
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8741 them his little golden crucifix. She recoiled from it, and, with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8742 suddenly distorted face, full of rage, dashed past him as if to enter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8743 the tomb.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8744
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8745 When within a foot or two of the door, however, she stopped, as if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8746 arrested by some irresistible force. Then she turned, and her face was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8747 shown in the clear burst of moonlight and by the lamp, which had now no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8748 quiver from Van Helsing's iron nerves. Never did I see such baffled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8749 malice on a face; and never, I trust, shall such ever be seen again by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8750 mortal eyes. The beautiful colour became livid, the eyes seemed to throw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8751 out sparks of hell-fire, the brows were wrinkled as though the folds of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8752 the flesh were the coils of Medusa's snakes, and the lovely,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8753 blood-stained mouth grew to an open square, as in the passion masks of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8754 the Greeks and Japanese. If ever a face meant death--if looks could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8755 kill--we saw it at that moment.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8756
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8757 And so for full half a minute, which seemed an eternity, she remained
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8758 between the lifted crucifix and the sacred closing of her means of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8759 entry. Van Helsing broke the silence by asking Arthur:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8760
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8761 "Answer me, oh my friend! Am I to proceed in my work?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8762
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8763 Arthur threw himself on his knees, and hid his face in his hands, as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8764 answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8765
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8766 "Do as you will, friend; do as you will. There can be no horror like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8767 this ever any more;" and he groaned in spirit. Quincey and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8768 simultaneously moved towards him, and took his arms. We could hear the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8769 click of the closing lantern as Van Helsing held it down; coming close
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8770 to the tomb, he began to remove from the chinks some of the sacred
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8771 emblem which he had placed there. We all looked on in horrified
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8772 amazement as we saw, when he stood back, the woman, with a corporeal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8773 body as real at that moment as our own, pass in through the interstice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8774 where scarce a knife-blade could have gone. We all felt a glad sense of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8775 relief when we saw the Professor calmly restoring the strings of putty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8776 to the edges of the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8777
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8778 When this was done, he lifted the child and said:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8779
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8780 "Come now, my friends; we can do no more till to-morrow. There is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8781 funeral at noon, so here we shall all come before long after that. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8782 friends of the dead will all be gone by two, and when the sexton lock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8783 the gate we shall remain. Then there is more to do; but not like this of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8784 to-night. As for this little one, he is not much harm, and by to-morrow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8785 night he shall be well. We shall leave him where the police will find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8786 him, as on the other night; and then to home." Coming close to Arthur,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8787 he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8788
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8789 "My friend Arthur, you have had a sore trial; but after, when you look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8790 back, you will see how it was necessary. You are now in the bitter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8791 waters, my child. By this time to-morrow you will, please God, have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8792 passed them, and have drunk of the sweet waters; so do not mourn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8793 overmuch. Till then I shall not ask you to forgive me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8794
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8795 Arthur and Quincey came home with me, and we tried to cheer each other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8796 on the way. We had left the child in safety, and were tired; so we all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8797 slept with more or less reality of sleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8798
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8799 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8800
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8801 _29 September, night._--A little before twelve o'clock we three--Arthur,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8802 Quincey Morris, and myself--called for the Professor. It was odd to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8803 notice that by common consent we had all put on black clothes. Of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8804 course, Arthur wore black, for he was in deep mourning, but the rest of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8805 us wore it by instinct. We got to the churchyard by half-past one, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8806 strolled about, keeping out of official observation, so that when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8807 gravediggers had completed their task and the sexton under the belief
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8808 that every one had gone, had locked the gate, we had the place all to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8809 ourselves. Van Helsing, instead of his little black bag, had with him a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8810 long leather one, something like a cricketing bag; it was manifestly of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8811 fair weight.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8812
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8813 When we were alone and had heard the last of the footsteps die out up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8814 the road, we silently, and as if by ordered intention, followed the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8815 Professor to the tomb. He unlocked the door, and we entered, closing it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8816 behind us. Then he took from his bag the lantern, which he lit, and also
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8817 two wax candles, which, when lighted, he stuck, by melting their own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8818 ends, on other coffins, so that they might give light sufficient to work
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8819 by. When he again lifted the lid off Lucy's coffin we all looked--Arthur
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8820 trembling like an aspen--and saw that the body lay there in all its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8821 death-beauty. But there was no love in my own heart, nothing but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8822 loathing for the foul Thing which had taken Lucy's shape without her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8823 soul. I could see even Arthur's face grow hard as he looked. Presently
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8824 he said to Van Helsing:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8825
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8826 "Is this really Lucy's body, or only a demon in her shape?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8827
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8828 "It is her body, and yet not it. But wait a while, and you all see her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8829 as she was, and is."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8830
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8831 She seemed like a nightmare of Lucy as she lay there; the pointed teeth,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8832 the bloodstained, voluptuous mouth--which it made one shudder to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8833 see--the whole carnal and unspiritual appearance, seeming like a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8834 devilish mockery of Lucy's sweet purity. Van Helsing, with his usual
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8835 methodicalness, began taking the various contents from his bag and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8836 placing them ready for use. First he took out a soldering iron and some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8837 plumbing solder, and then a small oil-lamp, which gave out, when lit in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8838 a corner of the tomb, gas which burned at fierce heat with a blue
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8839 flame; then his operating knives, which he placed to hand; and last a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8840 round wooden stake, some two and a half or three inches thick and about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8841 three feet long. One end of it was hardened by charring in the fire, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8842 was sharpened to a fine point. With this stake came a heavy hammer, such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8843 as in households is used in the coal-cellar for breaking the lumps. To
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8844 me, a doctor's preparations for work of any kind are stimulating and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8845 bracing, but the effect of these things on both Arthur and Quincey was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8846 to cause them a sort of consternation. They both, however, kept their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8847 courage, and remained silent and quiet.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8849 When all was ready, Van Helsing said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8850
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8851 "Before we do anything, let me tell you this; it is out of the lore and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8852 experience of the ancients and of all those who have studied the powers
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8853 of the Un-Dead. When they become such, there comes with the change the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8854 curse of immortality; they cannot die, but must go on age after age
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8855 adding new victims and multiplying the evils of the world; for all that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8856 die from the preying of the Un-Dead becomes themselves Un-Dead, and prey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8857 on their kind. And so the circle goes on ever widening, like as the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8858 ripples from a stone thrown in the water. Friend Arthur, if you had met
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8859 that kiss which you know of before poor Lucy die; or again, last night
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8860 when you open your arms to her, you would in time, when you had died,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8861 have become _nosferatu_, as they call it in Eastern Europe, and would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8862 all time make more of those Un-Deads that so have fill us with horror.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8863 The career of this so unhappy dear lady is but just begun. Those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8864 children whose blood she suck are not as yet so much the worse; but if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8865 she live on, Un-Dead, more and more they lose their blood and by her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8866 power over them they come to her; and so she draw their blood with that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8867 so wicked mouth. But if she die in truth, then all cease; the tiny
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8868 wounds of the throats disappear, and they go back to their plays
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8869 unknowing ever of what has been. But of the most blessed of all, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8870 this now Un-Dead be made to rest as true dead, then the soul of the poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8871 lady whom we love shall again be free. Instead of working wickedness by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8872 night and growing more debased in the assimilating of it by day, she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8873 shall take her place with the other Angels. So that, my friend, it will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8874 be a blessed hand for her that shall strike the blow that sets her free.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8875 To this I am willing; but is there none amongst us who has a better
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8876 right? Will it be no joy to think of hereafter in the silence of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8877 night when sleep is not: 'It was my hand that sent her to the stars; it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8878 was the hand of him that loved her best; the hand that of all she would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8879 herself have chosen, had it been to her to choose?' Tell me if there be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8880 such a one amongst us?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8881
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8882 We all looked at Arthur. He saw, too, what we all did, the infinite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8883 kindness which suggested that his should be the hand which would restore
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8884 Lucy to us as a holy, and not an unholy, memory; he stepped forward and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8885 said bravely, though his hand trembled, and his face was as pale as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8886 snow:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8887
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8888 "My true friend, from the bottom of my broken heart I thank you. Tell me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8889 what I am to do, and I shall not falter!" Van Helsing laid a hand on his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8890 shoulder, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8891
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8892 "Brave lad! A moment's courage, and it is done. This stake must be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8893 driven through her. It will be a fearful ordeal--be not deceived in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8894 that--but it will be only a short time, and you will then rejoice more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8895 than your pain was great; from this grim tomb you will emerge as though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8896 you tread on air. But you must not falter when once you have begun. Only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8897 think that we, your true friends, are round you, and that we pray for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8898 you all the time."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8899
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8900 "Go on," said Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me what I am to do."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8901
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8902 "Take this stake in your left hand, ready to place the point over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8903 heart, and the hammer in your right. Then when we begin our prayer for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8904 the dead--I shall read him, I have here the book, and the others shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8905 follow--strike in God's name, that so all may be well with the dead that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8906 we love and that the Un-Dead pass away."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8907
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8908 Arthur took the stake and the hammer, and when once his mind was set on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8909 action his hands never trembled nor even quivered. Van Helsing opened
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8910 his missal and began to read, and Quincey and I followed as well as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8911 could. Arthur placed the point over the heart, and as I looked I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8912 see its dint in the white flesh. Then he struck with all his might.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8913
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8914 The Thing in the coffin writhed; and a hideous, blood-curdling screech
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8915 came from the opened red lips. The body shook and quivered and twisted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8916 in wild contortions; the sharp white teeth champed together till the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8917 lips were cut, and the mouth was smeared with a crimson foam. But Arthur
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8918 never faltered. He looked like a figure of Thor as his untrembling arm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8919 rose and fell, driving deeper and deeper the mercy-bearing stake, whilst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8920 the blood from the pierced heart welled and spurted up around it. His
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8921 face was set, and high duty seemed to shine through it; the sight of it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8922 gave us courage so that our voices seemed to ring through the little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8923 vault.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8924
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8925 And then the writhing and quivering of the body became less, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8926 teeth seemed to champ, and the face to quiver. Finally it lay still. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8927 terrible task was over.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8928
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8929 The hammer fell from Arthur's hand. He reeled and would have fallen had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8930 we not caught him. The great drops of sweat sprang from his forehead,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8931 and his breath came in broken gasps. It had indeed been an awful strain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8932 on him; and had he not been forced to his task by more than human
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8933 considerations he could never have gone through with it. For a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8934 minutes we were so taken up with him that we did not look towards the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8935 coffin. When we did, however, a murmur of startled surprise ran from one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8936 to the other of us. We gazed so eagerly that Arthur rose, for he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8937 been seated on the ground, and came and looked too; and then a glad,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8938 strange light broke over his face and dispelled altogether the gloom of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8939 horror that lay upon it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8940
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8941 There, in the coffin lay no longer the foul Thing that we had so dreaded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8942 and grown to hate that the work of her destruction was yielded as a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8943 privilege to the one best entitled to it, but Lucy as we had seen her in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8944 her life, with her face of unequalled sweetness and purity. True that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8945 there were there, as we had seen them in life, the traces of care and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8946 pain and waste; but these were all dear to us, for they marked her truth
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8947 to what we knew. One and all we felt that the holy calm that lay like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8948 sunshine over the wasted face and form was only an earthly token and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8949 symbol of the calm that was to reign for ever.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8950
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8951 Van Helsing came and laid his hand on Arthur's shoulder, and said to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8952 him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8953
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8954 "And now, Arthur my friend, dear lad, am I not forgiven?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8955
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8956 The reaction of the terrible strain came as he took the old man's hand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8957 in his, and raising it to his lips, pressed it, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8958
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8959 "Forgiven! God bless you that you have given my dear one her soul again,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8960 and me peace." He put his hands on the Professor's shoulder, and laying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8961 his head on his breast, cried for a while silently, whilst we stood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8962 unmoving. When he raised his head Van Helsing said to him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8963
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8964 "And now, my child, you may kiss her. Kiss her dead lips if you will, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8965 she would have you to, if for her to choose. For she is not a grinning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8966 devil now--not any more a foul Thing for all eternity. No longer she is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8967 the devil's Un-Dead. She is God's true dead, whose soul is with Him!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8968
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8969 Arthur bent and kissed her, and then we sent him and Quincey out of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8970 tomb; the Professor and I sawed the top off the stake, leaving the point
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8971 of it in the body. Then we cut off the head and filled the mouth with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8972 garlic. We soldered up the leaden coffin, screwed on the coffin-lid,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8973 and gathering up our belongings, came away. When the Professor locked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8974 the door he gave the key to Arthur.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8975
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8976 Outside the air was sweet, the sun shone, and the birds sang, and it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8977 seemed as if all nature were tuned to a different pitch. There was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8978 gladness and mirth and peace everywhere, for we were at rest ourselves
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8979 on one account, and we were glad, though it was with a tempered joy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8980
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8981 Before we moved away Van Helsing said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8982
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8983 "Now, my friends, one step of our work is done, one the most harrowing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8984 to ourselves. But there remains a greater task: to find out the author
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8985 of all this our sorrow and to stamp him out. I have clues which we can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8986 follow; but it is a long task, and a difficult, and there is danger in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8987 it, and pain. Shall you not all help me? We have learned to believe, all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8988 of us--is it not so? And since so, do we not see our duty? Yes! And do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8989 we not promise to go on to the bitter end?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8990
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8991 Each in turn, we took his hand, and the promise was made. Then said the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8992 Professor as we moved off:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8993
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8994 "Two nights hence you shall meet with me and dine together at seven of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8995 the clock with friend John. I shall entreat two others, two that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8996 know not as yet; and I shall be ready to all our work show and our plans
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8997 unfold. Friend John, you come with me home, for I have much to consult
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8998 about, and you can help me. To-night I leave for Amsterdam, but shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 8999 return to-morrow night. And then begins our great quest. But first I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9000 shall have much to say, so that you may know what is to do and to dread.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9001 Then our promise shall be made to each other anew; for there is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9002 terrible task before us, and once our feet are on the ploughshare we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9003 must not draw back."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9004
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9005
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9006
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9007
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9008 CHAPTER XVII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9009
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9010 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--_continued_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9011
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9012
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9013 When we arrived at the Berkeley Hotel, Van Helsing found a telegram
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9014 waiting for him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9015
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9016 "Am coming up by train. Jonathan at Whitby. Important news.--MINA
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9017 HARKER."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9018
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9019 The Professor was delighted. "Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina," he said,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9020 "pearl among women! She arrive, but I cannot stay. She must go to your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9021 house, friend John. You must meet her at the station. Telegraph her _en
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9022 route_, so that she may be prepared."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9023
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9024 When the wire was despatched he had a cup of tea; over it he told me of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9025 a diary kept by Jonathan Harker when abroad, and gave me a typewritten
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9026 copy of it, as also of Mrs. Harker's diary at Whitby. "Take these," he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9027 said, "and study them well. When I have returned you will be master of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9028 all the facts, and we can then better enter on our inquisition. Keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9029 them safe, for there is in them much of treasure. You will need all your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9030 faith, even you who have had such an experience as that of to-day. What
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9031 is here told," he laid his hand heavily and gravely on the packet of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9032 papers as he spoke, "may be the beginning of the end to you and me and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9033 many another; or it may sound the knell of the Un-Dead who walk the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9034 earth. Read all, I pray you, with the open mind; and if you can add in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9035 any way to the story here told do so, for it is all-important. You have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9036 kept diary of all these so strange things; is it not so? Yes! Then we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9037 shall go through all these together when we meet." He then made ready
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9038 for his departure, and shortly after drove off to Liverpool Street. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9039 took my way to Paddington, where I arrived about fifteen minutes before
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9040 the train came in.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9041
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9042 The crowd melted away, after the bustling fashion common to arrival
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9043 platforms; and I was beginning to feel uneasy, lest I might miss my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9044 guest, when a sweet-faced, dainty-looking girl stepped up to me, and,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9045 after a quick glance, said: "Dr. Seward, is it not?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9046
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9047 "And you are Mrs. Harker!" I answered at once; whereupon she held out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9048 her hand.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9049
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9050 "I knew you from the description of poor dear Lucy; but----" She stopped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9051 suddenly, and a quick blush overspread her face.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9052
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9053 The blush that rose to my own cheeks somehow set us both at ease, for it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9054 was a tacit answer to her own. I got her luggage, which included a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9055 typewriter, and we took the Underground to Fenchurch Street, after I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9056 sent a wire to my housekeeper to have a sitting-room and bedroom
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9057 prepared at once for Mrs. Harker.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9058
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9059 In due time we arrived. She knew, of course, that the place was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9060 lunatic asylum, but I could see that she was unable to repress a shudder
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9061 when we entered.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9062
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9063 She told me that, if she might, she would come presently to my study, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9064 she had much to say. So here I am finishing my entry in my phonograph
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9065 diary whilst I await her. As yet I have not had the chance of looking at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9066 the papers which Van Helsing left with me, though they lie open before
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9067 me. I must get her interested in something, so that I may have an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9068 opportunity of reading them. She does not know how precious time is, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9069 what a task we have in hand. I must be careful not to frighten her. Here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9070 she is!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9071
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9072
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9073 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9074
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9075 _29 September._--After I had tidied myself, I went down to Dr. Seward's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9076 study. At the door I paused a moment, for I thought I heard him talking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9077 with some one. As, however, he had pressed me to be quick, I knocked at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9078 the door, and on his calling out, "Come in," I entered.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9079
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9080 To my intense surprise, there was no one with him. He was quite alone,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9081 and on the table opposite him was what I knew at once from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9082 description to be a phonograph. I had never seen one, and was much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9083 interested.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9084
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9085 "I hope I did not keep you waiting," I said; "but I stayed at the door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9086 as I heard you talking, and thought there was some one with you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9087
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9088 "Oh," he replied with a smile, "I was only entering my diary."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9089
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9090 "Your diary?" I asked him in surprise.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9091
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9092 "Yes," he answered. "I keep it in this." As he spoke he laid his hand on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9093 the phonograph. I felt quite excited over it, and blurted out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9094
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9095 "Why, this beats even shorthand! May I hear it say something?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9096
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9097 "Certainly," he replied with alacrity, and stood up to put it in train
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9098 for speaking. Then he paused, and a troubled look overspread his face.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9099
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9100 "The fact is," he began awkwardly, "I only keep my diary in it; and as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9101 it is entirely--almost entirely--about my cases, it may be awkward--that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9102 is, I mean----" He stopped, and I tried to help him out of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9103 embarrassment:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9104
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9105 "You helped to attend dear Lucy at the end. Let me hear how she died;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9106 for all that I know of her, I shall be very grateful. She was very, very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9107 dear to me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9108
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9109 To my surprise, he answered, with a horrorstruck look in his face:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9110
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9111 "Tell you of her death? Not for the wide world!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9112
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9113 "Why not?" I asked, for some grave, terrible feeling was coming over me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9114 Again he paused, and I could see that he was trying to invent an excuse.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9115 At length he stammered out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9116
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9117 "You see, I do not know how to pick out any particular part of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9118 diary." Even while he was speaking an idea dawned upon him, and he said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9119 with unconscious simplicity, in a different voice, and with the naïveté
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9120 of a child: "That's quite true, upon my honour. Honest Indian!" I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9121 not but smile, at which he grimaced. "I gave myself away that time!" he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9122 said. "But do you know that, although I have kept the diary for months
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9123 past, it never once struck me how I was going to find any particular
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9124 part of it in case I wanted to look it up?" By this time my mind was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9125 made up that the diary of a doctor who attended Lucy might have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9126 something to add to the sum of our knowledge of that terrible Being, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9127 I said boldly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9128
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9129 "Then, Dr. Seward, you had better let me copy it out for you on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9130 typewriter." He grew to a positively deathly pallor as he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9132 "No! no! no! For all the world, I wouldn't let you know that terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9133 story!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9134
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9135 Then it was terrible; my intuition was right! For a moment I thought,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9136 and as my eyes ranged the room, unconsciously looking for something or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9137 some opportunity to aid me, they lit on a great batch of typewriting on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9138 the table. His eyes caught the look in mine, and, without his thinking,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9139 followed their direction. As they saw the parcel he realised my meaning.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9140
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9141 "You do not know me," I said. "When you have read those papers--my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9142 diary and my husband's also, which I have typed--you will know me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9143 better. I have not faltered in giving every thought of my own heart in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9144 this cause; but, of course, you do not know me--yet; and I must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9145 expect you to trust me so far."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9146
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9147 He is certainly a man of noble nature; poor dear Lucy was right about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9148 him. He stood up and opened a large drawer, in which were arranged in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9149 order a number of hollow cylinders of metal covered with dark wax, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9150 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9151
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9152 "You are quite right. I did not trust you because I did not know you.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9153 But I know you now; and let me say that I should have known you long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9154 ago. I know that Lucy told you of me; she told me of you too. May I make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9155 the only atonement in my power? Take the cylinders and hear them--the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9156 first half-dozen of them are personal to me, and they will not horrify
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9157 you; then you will know me better. Dinner will by then be ready. In the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9158 meantime I shall read over some of these documents, and shall be better
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9159 able to understand certain things." He carried the phonograph himself up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9160 to my sitting-room and adjusted it for me. Now I shall learn something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9161 pleasant, I am sure; for it will tell me the other side of a true love
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9162 episode of which I know one side already....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9163
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9164
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9165 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9166
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9167 _29 September._--I was so absorbed in that wonderful diary of Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9168 Harker and that other of his wife that I let the time run on without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9169 thinking. Mrs. Harker was not down when the maid came to announce
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9170 dinner, so I said: "She is possibly tired; let dinner wait an hour," and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9171 I went on with my work. I had just finished Mrs. Harker's diary, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9172 she came in. She looked sweetly pretty, but very sad, and her eyes were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9173 flushed with crying. This somehow moved me much. Of late I have had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9174 cause for tears, God knows! but the relief of them was denied me; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9175 now the sight of those sweet eyes, brightened with recent tears, went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9176 straight to my heart. So I said as gently as I could:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9177
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9178 "I greatly fear I have distressed you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9179
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9180 "Oh, no, not distressed me," she replied, "but I have been more touched
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9181 than I can say by your grief. That is a wonderful machine, but it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9182 cruelly true. It told me, in its very tones, the anguish of your heart.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9183 It was like a soul crying out to Almighty God. No one must hear them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9184 spoken ever again! See, I have tried to be useful. I have copied out the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9185 words on my typewriter, and none other need now hear your heart beat, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9186 I did."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9187
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9188 "No one need ever know, shall ever know," I said in a low voice. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9189 laid her hand on mine and said very gravely:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9190
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9191 "Ah, but they must!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9192
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9193 "Must! But why?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9194
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9195 "Because it is a part of the terrible story, a part of poor dear Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9196 death and all that led to it; because in the struggle which we have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9197 before us to rid the earth of this terrible monster we must have all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9198 the knowledge and all the help which we can get. I think that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9199 cylinders which you gave me contained more than you intended me to know;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9200 but I can see that there are in your record many lights to this dark
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9201 mystery. You will let me help, will you not? I know all up to a certain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9202 point; and I see already, though your diary only took me to 7 September,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9203 how poor Lucy was beset, and how her terrible doom was being wrought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9204 out. Jonathan and I have been working day and night since Professor Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9205 Helsing saw us. He is gone to Whitby to get more information, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9206 will be here to-morrow to help us. We need have no secrets amongst us;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9207 working together and with absolute trust, we can surely be stronger than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9208 if some of us were in the dark." She looked at me so appealingly, and at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9209 the same time manifested such courage and resolution in her bearing,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9210 that I gave in at once to her wishes. "You shall," I said, "do as you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9211 like in the matter. God forgive me if I do wrong! There are terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9212 things yet to learn of; but if you have so far travelled on the road to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9213 poor Lucy's death, you will not be content, I know, to remain in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9214 dark. Nay, the end--the very end--may give you a gleam of peace. Come,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9215 there is dinner. We must keep one another strong for what is before us;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9216 we have a cruel and dreadful task. When you have eaten you shall learn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9217 the rest, and I shall answer any questions you ask--if there be anything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9218 which you do not understand, though it was apparent to us who were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9219 present."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9220
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9221
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9222 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9223
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9224 _29 September._--After dinner I came with Dr. Seward to his study. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9225 brought back the phonograph from my room, and I took my typewriter. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9226 placed me in a comfortable chair, and arranged the phonograph so that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9227 could touch it without getting up, and showed me how to stop it in case
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9228 I should want to pause. Then he very thoughtfully took a chair, with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9229 back to me, so that I might be as free as possible, and began to read. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9230 put the forked metal to my ears and listened.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9231
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9232 When the terrible story of Lucy's death, and--and all that followed, was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9233 done, I lay back in my chair powerless. Fortunately I am not of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9234 fainting disposition. When Dr. Seward saw me he jumped up with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9235 horrified exclamation, and hurriedly taking a case-bottle from a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9236 cupboard, gave me some brandy, which in a few minutes somewhat restored
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9237 me. My brain was all in a whirl, and only that there came through all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9238 the multitude of horrors, the holy ray of light that my dear, dear Lucy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9239 was at last at peace, I do not think I could have borne it without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9240 making a scene. It is all so wild, and mysterious, and strange that if I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9241 had not known Jonathan's experience in Transylvania I could not have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9242 believed. As it was, I didn't know what to believe, and so got out of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9243 difficulty by attending to something else. I took the cover off my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9244 typewriter, and said to Dr. Seward:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9245
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9246 "Let me write this all out now. We must be ready for Dr. Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9247 when he comes. I have sent a telegram to Jonathan to come on here when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9248 he arrives in London from Whitby. In this matter dates are everything,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9249 and I think that if we get all our material ready, and have every item
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9250 put in chronological order, we shall have done much. You tell me that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9251 Lord Godalming and Mr. Morris are coming too. Let us be able to tell him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9252 when they come." He accordingly set the phonograph at a slow pace, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9253 began to typewrite from the beginning of the seventh cylinder. I used
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9254 manifold, and so took three copies of the diary, just as I had done with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9255 all the rest. It was late when I got through, but Dr. Seward went about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9256 his work of going his round of the patients; when he had finished he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9257 came back and sat near me, reading, so that I did not feel too lonely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9258 whilst I worked. How good and thoughtful he is; the world seems full of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9259 good men--even if there _are_ monsters in it. Before I left him I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9260 remembered what Jonathan put in his diary of the Professor's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9261 perturbation at reading something in an evening paper at the station at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9262 Exeter; so, seeing that Dr. Seward keeps his newspapers, I borrowed the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9263 files of "The Westminster Gazette" and "The Pall Mall Gazette," and took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9264 them to my room. I remember how much "The Dailygraph" and "The Whitby
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9265 Gazette," of which I had made cuttings, helped us to understand the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9266 terrible events at Whitby when Count Dracula landed, so I shall look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9267 through the evening papers since then, and perhaps I shall get some new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9268 light. I am not sleepy, and the work will help to keep me quiet.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9269
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9270
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9271 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9272
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9273 _30 September._--Mr. Harker arrived at nine o'clock. He had got his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9274 wife's wire just before starting. He is uncommonly clever, if one can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9275 judge from his face, and full of energy. If this journal be true--and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9276 judging by one's own wonderful experiences, it must be--he is also a man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9277 of great nerve. That going down to the vault a second time was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9278 remarkable piece of daring. After reading his account of it I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9279 prepared to meet a good specimen of manhood, but hardly the quiet,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9280 business-like gentleman who came here to-day.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9281
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9282 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9283
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9284 _Later._--After lunch Harker and his wife went back to their own room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9285 and as I passed a while ago I heard the click of the typewriter. They
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9286 are hard at it. Mrs. Harker says that they are knitting together in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9287 chronological order every scrap of evidence they have. Harker has got
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9288 the letters between the consignee of the boxes at Whitby and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9289 carriers in London who took charge of them. He is now reading his wife's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9290 typescript of my diary. I wonder what they make out of it. Here it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9291 is....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9292
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9293 Strange that it never struck me that the very next house might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9294 the Count's hiding-place! Goodness knows that we had enough clues
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9295 from the conduct of the patient Renfield! The bundle of letters
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9296 relating to the purchase of the house were with the typescript. Oh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9297 if we had only had them earlier we might have saved poor Lucy!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9298 Stop; that way madness lies! Harker has gone back, and is again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9299 collating his material. He says that by dinner-time they will be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9300 able to show a whole connected narrative. He thinks that in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9301 meantime I should see Renfield, as hitherto he has been a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9302 index to the coming and going of the Count. I hardly see this yet,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9303 but when I get at the dates I suppose I shall. What a good thing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9304 that Mrs. Harker put my cylinders into type! We never could have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9305 found the dates otherwise....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9306
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9307 I found Renfield sitting placidly in his room with his hands
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9308 folded, smiling benignly. At the moment he seemed as sane as any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9309 one I ever saw. I sat down and talked with him on a lot of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9310 subjects, all of which he treated naturally. He then, of his own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9311 accord, spoke of going home, a subject he has never mentioned to my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9312 knowledge during his sojourn here. In fact, he spoke quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9313 confidently of getting his discharge at once. I believe that, had I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9314 not had the chat with Harker and read the letters and the dates of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9315 his outbursts, I should have been prepared to sign for him after a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9316 brief time of observation. As it is, I am darkly suspicious. All
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9317 those outbreaks were in some way linked with the proximity of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9318 Count. What then does this absolute content mean? Can it be that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9319 his instinct is satisfied as to the vampire's ultimate triumph?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9320 Stay; he is himself zoöphagous, and in his wild ravings outside the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9321 chapel door of the deserted house he always spoke of "master." This
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9322 all seems confirmation of our idea. However, after a while I came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9323 away; my friend is just a little too sane at present to make it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9324 safe to probe him too deep with questions. He might begin to think,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9325 and then--! So I came away. I mistrust these quiet moods of his; so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9326 I have given the attendant a hint to look closely after him, and to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9327 have a strait-waistcoat ready in case of need.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9328
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9329
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9330 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9331
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9332 _29 September, in train to London._--When I received Mr. Billington's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9333 courteous message that he would give me any information in his power I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9334 thought it best to go down to Whitby and make, on the spot, such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9335 inquiries as I wanted. It was now my object to trace that horrid cargo
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9336 of the Count's to its place in London. Later, we may be able to deal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9337 with it. Billington junior, a nice lad, met me at the station, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9338 brought me to his father's house, where they had decided that I must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9339 stay the night. They are hospitable, with true Yorkshire hospitality:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9340 give a guest everything, and leave him free to do as he likes. They all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9341 knew that I was busy, and that my stay was short, and Mr. Billington had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9342 ready in his office all the papers concerning the consignment of boxes.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9343 It gave me almost a turn to see again one of the letters which I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9344 seen on the Count's table before I knew of his diabolical plans.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9345 Everything had been carefully thought out, and done systematically and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9346 with precision. He seemed to have been prepared for every obstacle which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9347 might be placed by accident in the way of his intentions being carried
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9348 out. To use an Americanism, he had "taken no chances," and the absolute
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9349 accuracy with which his instructions were fulfilled, was simply the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9350 logical result of his care. I saw the invoice, and took note of it:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9351 "Fifty cases of common earth, to be used for experimental purposes."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9352 Also the copy of letter to Carter Paterson, and their reply; of both of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9353 these I got copies. This was all the information Mr. Billington could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9354 give me, so I went down to the port and saw the coastguards, the Customs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9355 officers and the harbour-master. They had all something to say of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9356 strange entry of the ship, which is already taking its place in local
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9357 tradition; but no one could add to the simple description "Fifty cases
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9358 of common earth." I then saw the station-master, who kindly put me in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9359 communication with the men who had actually received the boxes. Their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9360 tally was exact with the list, and they had nothing to add except that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9361 the boxes were "main and mortal heavy," and that shifting them was dry
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9362 work. One of them added that it was hard lines that there wasn't any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9363 gentleman "such-like as yourself, squire," to show some sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9364 appreciation of their efforts in a liquid form; another put in a rider
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9365 that the thirst then generated was such that even the time which had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9366 elapsed had not completely allayed it. Needless to add, I took care
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9367 before leaving to lift, for ever and adequately, this source of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9368 reproach.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9369
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9370 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9371
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9372 _30 September._--The station-master was good enough to give me a line to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9373 his old companion the station-master at King's Cross, so that when I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9374 arrived there in the morning I was able to ask him about the arrival of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9375 the boxes. He, too, put me at once in communication with the proper
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9376 officials, and I saw that their tally was correct with the original
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9377 invoice. The opportunities of acquiring an abnormal thirst had been here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9378 limited; a noble use of them had, however, been made, and again I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9379 compelled to deal with the result in an _ex post facto_ manner.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9380
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9381 From thence I went on to Carter Paterson's central office, where I met
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9382 with the utmost courtesy. They looked up the transaction in their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9383 day-book and letter-book, and at once telephoned to their King's Cross
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9384 office for more details. By good fortune, the men who did the teaming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9385 were waiting for work, and the official at once sent them over, sending
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9386 also by one of them the way-bill and all the papers connected with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9387 delivery of the boxes at Carfax. Here again I found the tally agreeing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9388 exactly; the carriers' men were able to supplement the paucity of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9389 written words with a few details. These were, I shortly found, connected
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9390 almost solely with the dusty nature of the job, and of the consequent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9391 thirst engendered in the operators. On my affording an opportunity,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9392 through the medium of the currency of the realm, of the allaying, at a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9393 later period, this beneficial evil, one of the men remarked:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9394
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9395 "That 'ere 'ouse, guv'nor, is the rummiest I ever was in. Blyme! but it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9396 ain't been touched sence a hundred years. There was dust that thick in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9397 the place that you might have slep' on it without 'urtin' of yer bones;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9398 an' the place was that neglected that yer might 'ave smelled ole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9399 Jerusalem in it. But the ole chapel--that took the cike, that did! Me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9400 and my mate, we thort we wouldn't never git out quick enough. Lor', I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9401 wouldn't take less nor a quid a moment to stay there arter dark."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9402
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9403 Having been in the house, I could well believe him; but if he knew what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9404 I know, he would, I think, have raised his terms.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9405
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9406 Of one thing I am now satisfied: that _all_ the boxes which arrived at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9407 Whitby from Varna in the _Demeter_ were safely deposited in the old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9408 chapel at Carfax. There should be fifty of them there, unless any have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9409 since been removed--as from Dr. Seward's diary I fear.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9410
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9411 I shall try to see the carter who took away the boxes from Carfax when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9412 Renfield attacked them. By following up this clue we may learn a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9413 deal.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9414
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9415 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9416
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9417 _Later._--Mina and I have worked all day, and we have put all the papers
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9418 into order.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9419
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9420
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9421 _Mina Harker's Journal_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9422
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9423 _30 September._--I am so glad that I hardly know how to contain myself.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9424 It is, I suppose, the reaction from the haunting fear which I have had:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9425 that this terrible affair and the reopening of his old wound might act
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9426 detrimentally on Jonathan. I saw him leave for Whitby with as brave a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9427 face as I could, but I was sick with apprehension. The effort has,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9428 however, done him good. He was never so resolute, never so strong, never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9429 so full of volcanic energy, as at present. It is just as that dear, good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9430 Professor Van Helsing said: he is true grit, and he improves under
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9431 strain that would kill a weaker nature. He came back full of life and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9432 hope and determination; we have got everything in order for to-night. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9433 feel myself quite wild with excitement. I suppose one ought to pity any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9434 thing so hunted as is the Count. That is just it: this Thing is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9435 human--not even beast. To read Dr. Seward's account of poor Lucy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9436 death, and what followed, is enough to dry up the springs of pity in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9437 one's heart.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9438
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9439 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9440
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9441 _Later._--Lord Godalming and Mr. Morris arrived earlier than we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9442 expected. Dr. Seward was out on business, and had taken Jonathan with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9443 him, so I had to see them. It was to me a painful meeting, for it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9444 brought back all poor dear Lucy's hopes of only a few months ago. Of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9445 course they had heard Lucy speak of me, and it seemed that Dr. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9446 Helsing, too, has been quite "blowing my trumpet," as Mr. Morris
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9447 expressed it. Poor fellows, neither of them is aware that I know all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9448 about the proposals they made to Lucy. They did not quite know what to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9449 say or do, as they were ignorant of the amount of my knowledge; so they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9450 had to keep on neutral subjects. However, I thought the matter over, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9451 came to the conclusion that the best thing I could do would be to post
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9452 them in affairs right up to date. I knew from Dr. Seward's diary that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9453 they had been at Lucy's death--her real death--and that I need not fear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9454 to betray any secret before the time. So I told them, as well as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9455 could, that I had read all the papers and diaries, and that my husband
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9456 and I, having typewritten them, had just finished putting them in order.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9457 I gave them each a copy to read in the library. When Lord Godalming got
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9458 his and turned it over--it does make a pretty good pile--he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9459
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9460 "Did you write all this, Mrs. Harker?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9461
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9462 I nodded, and he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9463
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9464 "I don't quite see the drift of it; but you people are all so good and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9465 kind, and have been working so earnestly and so energetically, that all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9466 I can do is to accept your ideas blindfold and try to help you. I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9467 had one lesson already in accepting facts that should make a man humble
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9468 to the last hour of his life. Besides, I know you loved my poor Lucy--"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9469 Here he turned away and covered his face with his hands. I could hear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9470 the tears in his voice. Mr. Morris, with instinctive delicacy, just laid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9471 a hand for a moment on his shoulder, and then walked quietly out of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9472 room. I suppose there is something in woman's nature that makes a man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9473 free to break down before her and express his feelings on the tender or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9474 emotional side without feeling it derogatory to his manhood; for when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9475 Lord Godalming found himself alone with me he sat down on the sofa and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9476 gave way utterly and openly. I sat down beside him and took his hand. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9477 hope he didn't think it forward of me, and that if he ever thinks of it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9478 afterwards he never will have such a thought. There I wrong him; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9479 _know_ he never will--he is too true a gentleman. I said to him, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9480 could see that his heart was breaking:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9481
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9482 "I loved dear Lucy, and I know what she was to you, and what you were to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9483 her. She and I were like sisters; and now she is gone, will you not let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9484 me be like a sister to you in your trouble? I know what sorrows you have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9485 had, though I cannot measure the depth of them. If sympathy and pity can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9486 help in your affliction, won't you let me be of some little service--for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9487 Lucy's sake?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9488
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9489 In an instant the poor dear fellow was overwhelmed with grief. It seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9490 to me that all that he had of late been suffering in silence found a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9491 vent at once. He grew quite hysterical, and raising his open hands, beat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9492 his palms together in a perfect agony of grief. He stood up and then sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9493 down again, and the tears rained down his cheeks. I felt an infinite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9494 pity for him, and opened my arms unthinkingly. With a sob he laid his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9495 head on my shoulder and cried like a wearied child, whilst he shook with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9496 emotion.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9497
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9498 We women have something of the mother in us that makes us rise above
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9499 smaller matters when the mother-spirit is invoked; I felt this big
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9500 sorrowing man's head resting on me, as though it were that of the baby
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9501 that some day may lie on my bosom, and I stroked his hair as though he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9502 were my own child. I never thought at the time how strange it all was.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9503
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9504 After a little bit his sobs ceased, and he raised himself with an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9505 apology, though he made no disguise of his emotion. He told me that for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9506 days and nights past--weary days and sleepless nights--he had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9507 unable to speak with any one, as a man must speak in his time of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9508 sorrow. There was no woman whose sympathy could be given to him, or with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9509 whom, owing to the terrible circumstance with which his sorrow was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9510 surrounded, he could speak freely. "I know now how I suffered," he said,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9511 as he dried his eyes, "but I do not know even yet--and none other can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9512 ever know--how much your sweet sympathy has been to me to-day. I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9513 know better in time; and believe me that, though I am not ungrateful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9514 now, my gratitude will grow with my understanding. You will let me be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9515 like a brother, will you not, for all our lives--for dear Lucy's sake?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9516
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9517 "For dear Lucy's sake," I said as we clasped hands. "Ay, and for your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9518 own sake," he added, "for if a man's esteem and gratitude are ever worth
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9519 the winning, you have won mine to-day. If ever the future should bring
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9520 to you a time when you need a man's help, believe me, you will not call
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9521 in vain. God grant that no such time may ever come to you to break the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9522 sunshine of your life; but if it should ever come, promise me that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9523 will let me know." He was so earnest, and his sorrow was so fresh, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9524 I felt it would comfort him, so I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9525
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9526 "I promise."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9527
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9528 As I came along the corridor I saw Mr. Morris looking out of a window.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9529 He turned as he heard my footsteps. "How is Art?" he said. Then noticing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9530 my red eyes, he went on: "Ah, I see you have been comforting him. Poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9531 old fellow! he needs it. No one but a woman can help a man when he is in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9532 trouble of the heart; and he had no one to comfort him."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9533
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9534 He bore his own trouble so bravely that my heart bled for him. I saw the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9535 manuscript in his hand, and I knew that when he read it he would realise
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9536 how much I knew; so I said to him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9537
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9538 "I wish I could comfort all who suffer from the heart. Will you let me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9539 be your friend, and will you come to me for comfort if you need it? You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9540 will know, later on, why I speak." He saw that I was in earnest, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9541 stooping, took my hand, and raising it to his lips, kissed it. It seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9542 but poor comfort to so brave and unselfish a soul, and impulsively I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9543 bent over and kissed him. The tears rose in his eyes, and there was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9544 momentary choking in his throat; he said quite calmly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9545
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9546 "Little girl, you will never regret that true-hearted kindness, so long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9547 as ever you live!" Then he went into the study to his friend.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9548
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9549 "Little girl!"--the very words he had used to Lucy, and oh, but he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9550 proved himself a friend!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9551
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9552
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9553
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9554
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9555 CHAPTER XVIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9556
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9557 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9558
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9559
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9560 _30 September._--I got home at five o'clock, and found that Godalming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9561 and Morris had not only arrived, but had already studied the transcript
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9562 of the various diaries and letters which Harker and his wonderful wife
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9563 had made and arranged. Harker had not yet returned from his visit to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9564 carriers' men, of whom Dr. Hennessey had written to me. Mrs. Harker gave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9565 us a cup of tea, and I can honestly say that, for the first time since I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9566 have lived in it, this old house seemed like _home_. When we had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9567 finished, Mrs. Harker said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9568
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9569 "Dr. Seward, may I ask a favour? I want to see your patient, Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9570 Renfield. Do let me see him. What you have said of him in your diary
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9571 interests me so much!" She looked so appealing and so pretty that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9572 could not refuse her, and there was no possible reason why I should; so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9573 I took her with me. When I went into the room, I told the man that a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9574 lady would like to see him; to which he simply answered: "Why?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9575
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9576 "She is going through the house, and wants to see every one in it," I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9577 answered. "Oh, very well," he said; "let her come in, by all means; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9578 just wait a minute till I tidy up the place." His method of tidying was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9579 peculiar: he simply swallowed all the flies and spiders in the boxes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9580 before I could stop him. It was quite evident that he feared, or was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9581 jealous of, some interference. When he had got through his disgusting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9582 task, he said cheerfully: "Let the lady come in," and sat down on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9583 edge of his bed with his head down, but with his eyelids raised so that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9584 he could see her as she entered. For a moment I thought that he might
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9585 have some homicidal intent; I remembered how quiet he had been just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9586 before he attacked me in my own study, and I took care to stand where I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9587 could seize him at once if he attempted to make a spring at her. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9588 came into the room with an easy gracefulness which would at once command
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9589 the respect of any lunatic--for easiness is one of the qualities mad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9590 people most respect. She walked over to him, smiling pleasantly, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9591 held out her hand.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9592
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9593 "Good-evening, Mr. Renfield," said she. "You see, I know you, for Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9594 Seward has told me of you." He made no immediate reply, but eyed her all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9595 over intently with a set frown on his face. This look gave way to one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9596 of wonder, which merged in doubt; then, to my intense astonishment, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9597 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9598
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9599 "You're not the girl the doctor wanted to marry, are you? You can't be,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9600 you know, for she's dead." Mrs. Harker smiled sweetly as she replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9601
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9602 "Oh no! I have a husband of my own, to whom I was married before I ever
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9603 saw Dr. Seward, or he me. I am Mrs. Harker."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9604
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9605 "Then what are you doing here?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9606
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9607 "My husband and I are staying on a visit with Dr. Seward."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9608
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9609 "Then don't stay."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9610
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9611 "But why not?" I thought that this style of conversation might not be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9612 pleasant to Mrs. Harker, any more than it was to me, so I joined in:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9613
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9614 "How did you know I wanted to marry any one?" His reply was simply
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9615 contemptuous, given in a pause in which he turned his eyes from Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9616 Harker to me, instantly turning them back again:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9617
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9618 "What an asinine question!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9619
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9620 "I don't see that at all, Mr. Renfield," said Mrs. Harker, at once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9621 championing me. He replied to her with as much courtesy and respect as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9622 he had shown contempt to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9623
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9624 "You will, of course, understand, Mrs. Harker, that when a man is so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9625 loved and honoured as our host is, everything regarding him is of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9626 interest in our little community. Dr. Seward is loved not only by his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9627 household and his friends, but even by his patients, who, being some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9628 them hardly in mental equilibrium, are apt to distort causes and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9629 effects. Since I myself have been an inmate of a lunatic asylum, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9630 cannot but notice that the sophistic tendencies of some of its inmates
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9631 lean towards the errors of _non causa_ and _ignoratio elenchi_." I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9632 positively opened my eyes at this new development. Here was my own pet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9633 lunatic--the most pronounced of his type that I had ever met
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9634 with--talking elemental philosophy, and with the manner of a polished
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9635 gentleman. I wonder if it was Mrs. Harker's presence which had touched
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9636 some chord in his memory. If this new phase was spontaneous, or in any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9637 way due to her unconscious influence, she must have some rare gift or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9638 power.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9639
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9640 We continued to talk for some time; and, seeing that he was seemingly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9641 quite reasonable, she ventured, looking at me questioningly as she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9642 began, to lead him to his favourite topic. I was again astonished, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9643 he addressed himself to the question with the impartiality of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9644 completest sanity; he even took himself as an example when he mentioned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9645 certain things.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9646
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9647 "Why, I myself am an instance of a man who had a strange belief. Indeed,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9648 it was no wonder that my friends were alarmed, and insisted on my being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9649 put under control. I used to fancy that life was a positive and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9650 perpetual entity, and that by consuming a multitude of live things, no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9651 matter how low in the scale of creation, one might indefinitely prolong
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9652 life. At times I held the belief so strongly that I actually tried to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9653 take human life. The doctor here will bear me out that on one occasion I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9654 tried to kill him for the purpose of strengthening my vital powers by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9655 the assimilation with my own body of his life through the medium of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9656 blood--relying, of course, upon the Scriptural phrase, 'For the blood is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9657 the life.' Though, indeed, the vendor of a certain nostrum has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9658 vulgarised the truism to the very point of contempt. Isn't that true,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9659 doctor?" I nodded assent, for I was so amazed that I hardly knew what to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9660 either think or say; it was hard to imagine that I had seen him eat up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9661 his spiders and flies not five minutes before. Looking at my watch, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9662 saw that I should go to the station to meet Van Helsing, so I told Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9663 Harker that it was time to leave. She came at once, after saying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9664 pleasantly to Mr. Renfield: "Good-bye, and I hope I may see you often,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9665 under auspices pleasanter to yourself," to which, to my astonishment, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9666 replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9667
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9668 "Good-bye, my dear. I pray God I may never see your sweet face again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9669 May He bless and keep you!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9670
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9671 When I went to the station to meet Van Helsing I left the boys behind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9672 me. Poor Art seemed more cheerful than he has been since Lucy first took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9673 ill, and Quincey is more like his own bright self than he has been for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9674 many a long day.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9675
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9676 Van Helsing stepped from the carriage with the eager nimbleness of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9677 boy. He saw me at once, and rushed up to me, saying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9678
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9679 "Ah, friend John, how goes all? Well? So! I have been busy, for I come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9680 here to stay if need be. All affairs are settled with me, and I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9681 much to tell. Madam Mina is with you? Yes. And her so fine husband? And
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9682 Arthur and my friend Quincey, they are with you, too? Good!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9683
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9684 As I drove to the house I told him of what had passed, and of how my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9685 diary had come to be of some use through Mrs. Harker's suggestion; at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9686 which the Professor interrupted me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9687
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9688 "Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man's brain--a brain that a man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9689 should have were he much gifted--and a woman's heart. The good God
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9690 fashioned her for a purpose, believe me, when He made that so good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9691 combination. Friend John, up to now fortune has made that woman of help
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9692 to us; after to-night she must not have to do with this so terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9693 affair. It is not good that she run a risk so great. We men are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9694 determined--nay, are we not pledged?--to destroy this monster; but it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9695 no part for a woman. Even if she be not harmed, her heart may fail her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9696 in so much and so many horrors; and hereafter she may suffer--both in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9697 waking, from her nerves, and in sleep, from her dreams. And, besides,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9698 she is young woman and not so long married; there may be other things to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9699 think of some time, if not now. You tell me she has wrote all, then she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9700 must consult with us; but to-morrow she say good-bye to this work, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9701 we go alone." I agreed heartily with him, and then I told him what we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9702 had found in his absence: that the house which Dracula had bought was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9703 the very next one to my own. He was amazed, and a great concern seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9704 to come on him. "Oh that we had known it before!" he said, "for then we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9705 might have reached him in time to save poor Lucy. However, 'the milk
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9706 that is spilt cries not out afterwards,' as you say. We shall not think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9707 of that, but go on our way to the end." Then he fell into a silence that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9708 lasted till we entered my own gateway. Before we went to prepare for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9709 dinner he said to Mrs. Harker:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9710
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9711 "I am told, Madam Mina, by my friend John that you and your husband have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9712 put up in exact order all things that have been, up to this moment."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9713
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9714 "Not up to this moment, Professor," she said impulsively, "but up to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9715 this morning."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9716
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9717 "But why not up to now? We have seen hitherto how good light all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9718 little things have made. We have told our secrets, and yet no one who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9719 has told is the worse for it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9720
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9721 Mrs. Harker began to blush, and taking a paper from her pockets, she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9722 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9723
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9724 "Dr. Van Helsing, will you read this, and tell me if it must go in. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9725 is my record of to-day. I too have seen the need of putting down at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9726 present everything, however trivial; but there is little in this except
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9727 what is personal. Must it go in?" The Professor read it over gravely,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9728 and handed it back, saying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9729
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9730 "It need not go in if you do not wish it; but I pray that it may. It can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9731 but make your husband love you the more, and all us, your friends, more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9732 honour you--as well as more esteem and love." She took it back with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9733 another blush and a bright smile.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9734
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9735 And so now, up to this very hour, all the records we have are complete
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9736 and in order. The Professor took away one copy to study after dinner,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9737 and before our meeting, which is fixed for nine o'clock. The rest of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9738 have already read everything; so when we meet in the study we shall all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9739 be informed as to facts, and can arrange our plan of battle with this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9740 terrible and mysterious enemy.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9741
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9742
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9743 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9744
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9745 _30 September._--When we met in Dr. Seward's study two hours after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9746 dinner, which had been at six o'clock, we unconsciously formed a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9747 board or committee. Professor Van Helsing took the head of the table, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9748 which Dr. Seward motioned him as he came into the room. He made me sit
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9749 next to him on his right, and asked me to act as secretary; Jonathan sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9750 next to me. Opposite us were Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, and Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9751 Morris--Lord Godalming being next the Professor, and Dr. Seward in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9752 centre. The Professor said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9753
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9754 "I may, I suppose, take it that we are all acquainted with the facts
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9755 that are in these papers." We all expressed assent, and he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9756
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9757 "Then it were, I think good that I tell you something of the kind of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9758 enemy with which we have to deal. I shall then make known to you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9759 something of the history of this man, which has been ascertained for me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9760 So we then can discuss how we shall act, and can take our measure
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9761 according.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9762
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9763 "There are such beings as vampires; some of us have evidence that they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9764 exist. Even had we not the proof of our own unhappy experience, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9765 teachings and the records of the past give proof enough for sane
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9766 peoples. I admit that at the first I was sceptic. Were it not that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9767 through long years I have train myself to keep an open mind, I could not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9768 have believe until such time as that fact thunder on my ear. 'See! see!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9769 I prove; I prove.' Alas! Had I known at the first what now I know--nay,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9770 had I even guess at him--one so precious life had been spared to many of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9771 us who did love her. But that is gone; and we must so work, that other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9772 poor souls perish not, whilst we can save. The _nosferatu_ do not die
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9773 like the bee when he sting once. He is only stronger; and being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9774 stronger, have yet more power to work evil. This vampire which is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9775 amongst us is of himself so strong in person as twenty men; he is of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9776 cunning more than mortal, for his cunning be the growth of ages; he have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9777 still the aids of necromancy, which is, as his etymology imply, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9778 divination by the dead, and all the dead that he can come nigh to are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9779 for him at command; he is brute, and more than brute; he is devil in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9780 callous, and the heart of him is not; he can, within limitations, appear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9781 at will when, and where, and in any of the forms that are to him; he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9782 can, within his range, direct the elements; the storm, the fog, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9783 thunder; he can command all the meaner things: the rat, and the owl, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9784 the bat--the moth, and the fox, and the wolf; he can grow and become
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9785 small; and he can at times vanish and come unknown. How then are we to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9786 begin our strike to destroy him? How shall we find his where; and having
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9787 found it, how can we destroy? My friends, this is much; it is a terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9788 task that we undertake, and there may be consequence to make the brave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9789 shudder. For if we fail in this our fight he must surely win; and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9790 where end we? Life is nothings; I heed him not. But to fail here, is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9791 mere life or death. It is that we become as him; that we henceforward
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9792 become foul things of the night like him--without heart or conscience,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9793 preying on the bodies and the souls of those we love best. To us for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9794 ever are the gates of heaven shut; for who shall open them to us again?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9795 We go on for all time abhorred by all; a blot on the face of God's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9796 sunshine; an arrow in the side of Him who died for man. But we are face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9797 to face with duty; and in such case must we shrink? For me, I say, no;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9798 but then I am old, and life, with his sunshine, his fair places, his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9799 song of birds, his music and his love, lie far behind. You others are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9800 young. Some have seen sorrow; but there are fair days yet in store. What
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9801 say you?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9802
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9803 Whilst he was speaking, Jonathan had taken my hand. I feared, oh so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9804 much, that the appalling nature of our danger was overcoming him when I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9805 saw his hand stretch out; but it was life to me to feel its touch--so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9806 strong, so self-reliant, so resolute. A brave man's hand can speak for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9807 itself; it does not even need a woman's love to hear its music.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9808
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9809 When the Professor had done speaking my husband looked in my eyes, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9810 in his; there was no need for speaking between us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9811
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9812 "I answer for Mina and myself," he said.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9813
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9814 "Count me in, Professor," said Mr. Quincey Morris, laconically as usual.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9815
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9816 "I am with you," said Lord Godalming, "for Lucy's sake, if for no other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9817 reason."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9818
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9819 Dr. Seward simply nodded. The Professor stood up and, after laying his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9820 golden crucifix on the table, held out his hand on either side. I took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9821 his right hand, and Lord Godalming his left; Jonathan held my right with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9822 his left and stretched across to Mr. Morris. So as we all took hands our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9823 solemn compact was made. I felt my heart icy cold, but it did not even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9824 occur to me to draw back. We resumed our places, and Dr. Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9825 went on with a sort of cheerfulness which showed that the serious work
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9826 had begun. It was to be taken as gravely, and in as businesslike a way,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9827 as any other transaction of life:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9828
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9829 "Well, you know what we have to contend against; but we, too, are not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9830 without strength. We have on our side power of combination--a power
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9831 denied to the vampire kind; we have sources of science; we are free to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9832 act and think; and the hours of the day and the night are ours equally.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9833 In fact, so far as our powers extend, they are unfettered, and we are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9834 free to use them. We have self-devotion in a cause, and an end to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9835 achieve which is not a selfish one. These things are much.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9836
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9837 "Now let us see how far the general powers arrayed against us are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9838 restrict, and how the individual cannot. In fine, let us consider the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9839 limitations of the vampire in general, and of this one in particular.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9840
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9841 "All we have to go upon are traditions and superstitions. These do not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9842 at the first appear much, when the matter is one of life and death--nay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9843 of more than either life or death. Yet must we be satisfied; in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9844 first place because we have to be--no other means is at our control--and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9845 secondly, because, after all, these things--tradition and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9846 superstition--are everything. Does not the belief in vampires rest for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9847 others--though not, alas! for us--on them? A year ago which of us would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9848 have received such a possibility, in the midst of our scientific,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9849 sceptical, matter-of-fact nineteenth century? We even scouted a belief
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9850 that we saw justified under our very eyes. Take it, then, that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9851 vampire, and the belief in his limitations and his cure, rest for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9852 moment on the same base. For, let me tell you, he is known everywhere
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9853 that men have been. In old Greece, in old Rome; he flourish in Germany
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9854 all over, in France, in India, even in the Chernosese; and in China, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9855 far from us in all ways, there even is he, and the peoples fear him at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9856 this day. He have follow the wake of the berserker Icelander, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9857 devil-begotten Hun, the Slav, the Saxon, the Magyar. So far, then, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9858 have all we may act upon; and let me tell you that very much of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9859 beliefs are justified by what we have seen in our own so unhappy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9860 experience. The vampire live on, and cannot die by mere passing of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9861 time; he can flourish when that he can fatten on the blood of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9862 living. Even more, we have seen amongst us that he can even grow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9863 younger; that his vital faculties grow strenuous, and seem as though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9864 they refresh themselves when his special pabulum is plenty. But he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9865 cannot flourish without this diet; he eat not as others. Even friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9866 Jonathan, who lived with him for weeks, did never see him to eat, never!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9867 He throws no shadow; he make in the mirror no reflect, as again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9868 Jonathan observe. He has the strength of many of his hand--witness again
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9869 Jonathan when he shut the door against the wolfs, and when he help him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9870 from the diligence too. He can transform himself to wolf, as we gather
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9871 from the ship arrival in Whitby, when he tear open the dog; he can be as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9872 bat, as Madam Mina saw him on the window at Whitby, and as friend John
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9873 saw him fly from this so near house, and as my friend Quincey saw him at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9874 the window of Miss Lucy. He can come in mist which he create--that noble
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9875 ship's captain proved him of this; but, from what we know, the distance
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9876 he can make this mist is limited, and it can only be round himself. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9877 come on moonlight rays as elemental dust--as again Jonathan saw those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9878 sisters in the castle of Dracula. He become so small--we ourselves saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9879 Miss Lucy, ere she was at peace, slip through a hairbreadth space at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9880 tomb door. He can, when once he find his way, come out from anything or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9881 into anything, no matter how close it be bound or even fused up with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9882 fire--solder you call it. He can see in the dark--no small power this,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9883 in a world which is one half shut from the light. Ah, but hear me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9884 through. He can do all these things, yet he is not free. Nay; he is even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9885 more prisoner than the slave of the galley, than the madman in his cell.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9886 He cannot go where he lists; he who is not of nature has yet to obey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9887 some of nature's laws--why we know not. He may not enter anywhere at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9888 first, unless there be some one of the household who bid him to come;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9889 though afterwards he can come as he please. His power ceases, as does
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9890 that of all evil things, at the coming of the day. Only at certain times
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9891 can he have limited freedom. If he be not at the place whither he is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9892 bound, he can only change himself at noon or at exact sunrise or sunset.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9893 These things are we told, and in this record of ours we have proof by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9894 inference. Thus, whereas he can do as he will within his limit, when he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9895 have his earth-home, his coffin-home, his hell-home, the place
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9896 unhallowed, as we saw when he went to the grave of the suicide at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9897 Whitby; still at other time he can only change when the time come. It is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9898 said, too, that he can only pass running water at the slack or the flood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9899 of the tide. Then there are things which so afflict him that he has no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9900 power, as the garlic that we know of; and as for things sacred, as this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9901 symbol, my crucifix, that was amongst us even now when we resolve, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9902 them he is nothing, but in their presence he take his place far off and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9903 silent with respect. There are others, too, which I shall tell you of,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9904 lest in our seeking we may need them. The branch of wild rose on his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9905 coffin keep him that he move not from it; a sacred bullet fired into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9906 coffin kill him so that he be true dead; and as for the stake through
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9907 him, we know already of its peace; or the cut-off head that giveth rest.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9908 We have seen it with our eyes.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9909
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9910 "Thus when we find the habitation of this man-that-was, we can confine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9911 him to his coffin and destroy him, if we obey what we know. But he is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9912 clever. I have asked my friend Arminius, of Buda-Pesth University, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9913 make his record; and, from all the means that are, he tell me of what he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9914 has been. He must, indeed, have been that Voivode Dracula who won his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9915 name against the Turk, over the great river on the very frontier of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9916 Turkey-land. If it be so, then was he no common man; for in that time,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9917 and for centuries after, he was spoken of as the cleverest and the most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9918 cunning, as well as the bravest of the sons of the 'land beyond the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9919 forest.' That mighty brain and that iron resolution went with him to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9920 grave, and are even now arrayed against us. The Draculas were, says
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9921 Arminius, a great and noble race, though now and again were scions who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9922 were held by their coevals to have had dealings with the Evil One. They
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9923 learned his secrets in the Scholomance, amongst the mountains over Lake
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9924 Hermanstadt, where the devil claims the tenth scholar as his due. In the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9925 records are such words as 'stregoica'--witch, 'ordog,' and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9926 'pokol'--Satan and hell; and in one manuscript this very Dracula is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9927 spoken of as 'wampyr,' which we all understand too well. There have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9928 from the loins of this very one great men and good women, and their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9929 graves make sacred the earth where alone this foulness can dwell. For it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9930 is not the least of its terrors that this evil thing is rooted deep in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9931 all good; in soil barren of holy memories it cannot rest."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9932
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9933 Whilst they were talking Mr. Morris was looking steadily at the window,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9934 and he now got up quietly, and went out of the room. There was a little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9935 pause, and then the Professor went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9936
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9937 "And now we must settle what we do. We have here much data, and we must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9938 proceed to lay out our campaign. We know from the inquiry of Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9939 that from the castle to Whitby came fifty boxes of earth, all of which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9940 were delivered at Carfax; we also know that at least some of these boxes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9941 have been removed. It seems to me, that our first step should be to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9942 ascertain whether all the rest remain in the house beyond that wall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9943 where we look to-day; or whether any more have been removed. If the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9944 latter, we must trace----"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9945
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9946 Here we were interrupted in a very startling way. Outside the house came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9947 the sound of a pistol-shot; the glass of the window was shattered with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9948 bullet, which, ricochetting from the top of the embrasure, struck the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9949 far wall of the room. I am afraid I am at heart a coward, for I shrieked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9950 out. The men all jumped to their feet; Lord Godalming flew over to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9951 window and threw up the sash. As he did so we heard Mr. Morris's voice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9952 without:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9953
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9954 "Sorry! I fear I have alarmed you. I shall come in and tell you about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9955 it." A minute later he came in and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9956
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9957 "It was an idiotic thing of me to do, and I ask your pardon, Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9958 Harker, most sincerely; I fear I must have frightened you terribly. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9959 the fact is that whilst the Professor was talking there came a big bat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9960 and sat on the window-sill. I have got such a horror of the damned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9961 brutes from recent events that I cannot stand them, and I went out to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9962 have a shot, as I have been doing of late of evenings, whenever I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9963 seen one. You used to laugh at me for it then, Art."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9964
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9965 "Did you hit it?" asked Dr. Van Helsing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9966
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9967 "I don't know; I fancy not, for it flew away into the wood." Without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9968 saying any more he took his seat, and the Professor began to resume his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9969 statement:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9970
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9971 "We must trace each of these boxes; and when we are ready, we must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9972 either capture or kill this monster in his lair; or we must, so to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9973 speak, sterilise the earth, so that no more he can seek safety in it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9974 Thus in the end we may find him in his form of man between the hours of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9975 noon and sunset, and so engage with him when he is at his most weak.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9976
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9977 "And now for you, Madam Mina, this night is the end until all be well.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9978 You are too precious to us to have such risk. When we part to-night, you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9979 no more must question. We shall tell you all in good time. We are men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9980 and are able to bear; but you must be our star and our hope, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9981 shall act all the more free that you are not in the danger, such as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9982 are."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9983
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9984 All the men, even Jonathan, seemed relieved; but it did not seem to me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9985 good that they should brave danger and, perhaps, lessen their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9986 safety--strength being the best safety--through care of me; but their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9987 minds were made up, and, though it was a bitter pill for me to swallow,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9988 I could say nothing, save to accept their chivalrous care of me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9989
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9990 Mr. Morris resumed the discussion:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9991
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9992 "As there is no time to lose, I vote we have a look at his house right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9993 now. Time is everything with him; and swift action on our part may save
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9994 another victim."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9995
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9996 I own that my heart began to fail me when the time for action came so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9997 close, but I did not say anything, for I had a greater fear that if I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9998 appeared as a drag or a hindrance to their work, they might even leave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 9999 me out of their counsels altogether. They have now gone off to Carfax,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10000 with means to get into the house.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10001
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10002 Manlike, they had told me to go to bed and sleep; as if a woman can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10003 sleep when those she loves are in danger! I shall lie down and pretend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10004 to sleep, lest Jonathan have added anxiety about me when he returns.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10005
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10006
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10007 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10008
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10009 _1 October, 4 a. m._--Just as we were about to leave the house, an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10010 urgent message was brought to me from Renfield to know if I would see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10011 him at once, as he had something of the utmost importance to say to me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10012 I told the messenger to say that I would attend to his wishes in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10013 morning; I was busy just at the moment. The attendant added:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10014
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10015 "He seems very importunate, sir. I have never seen him so eager. I don't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10016 know but what, if you don't see him soon, he will have one of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10017 violent fits." I knew the man would not have said this without some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10018 cause, so I said: "All right; I'll go now"; and I asked the others to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10019 wait a few minutes for me, as I had to go and see my "patient."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10020
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10021 "Take me with you, friend John," said the Professor. "His case in your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10022 diary interest me much, and it had bearing, too, now and again on _our_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10023 case. I should much like to see him, and especial when his mind is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10024 disturbed."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10025
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10026 "May I come also?" asked Lord Godalming.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10027
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10028 "Me too?" said Quincey Morris. "May I come?" said Harker. I nodded, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10029 we all went down the passage together.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10030
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10031 We found him in a state of considerable excitement, but far more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10032 rational in his speech and manner than I had ever seen him. There was an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10033 unusual understanding of himself, which was unlike anything I had ever
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10034 met with in a lunatic; and he took it for granted that his reasons would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10035 prevail with others entirely sane. We all four went into the room, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10036 none of the others at first said anything. His request was that I would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10037 at once release him from the asylum and send him home. This he backed up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10038 with arguments regarding his complete recovery, and adduced his own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10039 existing sanity. "I appeal to your friends," he said, "they will,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10040 perhaps, not mind sitting in judgment on my case. By the way, you have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10041 not introduced me." I was so much astonished, that the oddness of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10042 introducing a madman in an asylum did not strike me at the moment; and,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10043 besides, there was a certain dignity in the man's manner, so much of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10044 the habit of equality, that I at once made the introduction: "Lord
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10045 Godalming; Professor Van Helsing; Mr. Quincey Morris, of Texas; Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10046 Renfield." He shook hands with each of them, saying in turn:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10047
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10048 "Lord Godalming, I had the honour of seconding your father at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10049 Windham; I grieve to know, by your holding the title, that he is no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10050 more. He was a man loved and honoured by all who knew him; and in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10051 youth was, I have heard, the inventor of a burnt rum punch, much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10052 patronised on Derby night. Mr. Morris, you should be proud of your great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10053 state. Its reception into the Union was a precedent which may have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10054 far-reaching effects hereafter, when the Pole and the Tropics may hold
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10055 alliance to the Stars and Stripes. The power of Treaty may yet prove a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10056 vast engine of enlargement, when the Monroe doctrine takes its true
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10057 place as a political fable. What shall any man say of his pleasure at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10058 meeting Van Helsing? Sir, I make no apology for dropping all forms of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10059 conventional prefix. When an individual has revolutionised therapeutics
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10060 by his discovery of the continuous evolution of brain-matter,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10061 conventional forms are unfitting, since they would seem to limit him to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10062 one of a class. You, gentlemen, who by nationality, by heredity, or by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10063 the possession of natural gifts, are fitted to hold your respective
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10064 places in the moving world, I take to witness that I am as sane as at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10065 least the majority of men who are in full possession of their liberties.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10066 And I am sure that you, Dr. Seward, humanitarian and medico-jurist as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10067 well as scientist, will deem it a moral duty to deal with me as one to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10068 be considered as under exceptional circumstances." He made this last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10069 appeal with a courtly air of conviction which was not without its own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10070 charm.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10071
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10072 I think we were all staggered. For my own part, I was under the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10073 conviction, despite my knowledge of the man's character and history,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10074 that his reason had been restored; and I felt under a strong impulse to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10075 tell him that I was satisfied as to his sanity, and would see about the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10076 necessary formalities for his release in the morning. I thought it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10077 better to wait, however, before making so grave a statement, for of old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10078 I knew the sudden changes to which this particular patient was liable.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10079 So I contented myself with making a general statement that he appeared
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10080 to be improving very rapidly; that I would have a longer chat with him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10081 in the morning, and would then see what I could do in the direction of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10082 meeting his wishes. This did not at all satisfy him, for he said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10083 quickly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10084
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10085 "But I fear, Dr. Seward, that you hardly apprehend my wish. I desire to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10086 go at once--here--now--this very hour--this very moment, if I may. Time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10087 presses, and in our implied agreement with the old scytheman it is of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10088 the essence of the contract. I am sure it is only necessary to put
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10089 before so admirable a practitioner as Dr. Seward so simple, yet so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10090 momentous a wish, to ensure its fulfilment." He looked at me keenly, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10091 seeing the negative in my face, turned to the others, and scrutinised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10092 them closely. Not meeting any sufficient response, he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10093
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10094 "Is it possible that I have erred in my supposition?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10095
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10096 "You have," I said frankly, but at the same time, as I felt, brutally.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10097 There was a considerable pause, and then he said slowly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10098
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10099 "Then I suppose I must only shift my ground of request. Let me ask for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10100 this concession--boon, privilege, what you will. I am content to implore
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10101 in such a case, not on personal grounds, but for the sake of others. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10102 am not at liberty to give you the whole of my reasons; but you may, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10103 assure you, take it from me that they are good ones, sound and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10104 unselfish, and spring from the highest sense of duty. Could you look,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10105 sir, into my heart, you would approve to the full the sentiments which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10106 animate me. Nay, more, you would count me amongst the best and truest of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10107 your friends." Again he looked at us all keenly. I had a growing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10108 conviction that this sudden change of his entire intellectual method was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10109 but yet another form or phase of his madness, and so determined to let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10110 him go on a little longer, knowing from experience that he would, like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10111 all lunatics, give himself away in the end. Van Helsing was gazing at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10112 him with a look of utmost intensity, his bushy eyebrows almost meeting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10113 with the fixed concentration of his look. He said to Renfield in a tone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10114 which did not surprise me at the time, but only when I thought of it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10115 afterwards--for it was as of one addressing an equal:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10116
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10117 "Can you not tell frankly your real reason for wishing to be free
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10118 to-night? I will undertake that if you will satisfy even me--a stranger,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10119 without prejudice, and with the habit of keeping an open mind--Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10120 Seward will give you, at his own risk and on his own responsibility, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10121 privilege you seek." He shook his head sadly, and with a look of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10122 poignant regret on his face. The Professor went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10123
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10124 "Come, sir, bethink yourself. You claim the privilege of reason in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10125 highest degree, since you seek to impress us with your complete
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10126 reasonableness. You do this, whose sanity we have reason to doubt, since
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10127 you are not yet released from medical treatment for this very defect. If
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10128 you will not help us in our effort to choose the wisest course, how can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10129 we perform the duty which you yourself put upon us? Be wise, and help
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10130 us; and if we can we shall aid you to achieve your wish." He still shook
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10131 his head as he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10132
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10133 "Dr. Van Helsing, I have nothing to say. Your argument is complete, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10134 if I were free to speak I should not hesitate a moment; but I am not my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10135 own master in the matter. I can only ask you to trust me. If I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10136 refused, the responsibility does not rest with me." I thought it was now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10137 time to end the scene, which was becoming too comically grave, so I went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10138 towards the door, simply saying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10139
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10140 "Come, my friends, we have work to do. Good-night."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10141
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10142 As, however, I got near the door, a new change came over the patient. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10143 moved towards me so quickly that for the moment I feared that he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10144 about to make another homicidal attack. My fears, however, were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10145 groundless, for he held up his two hands imploringly, and made his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10146 petition in a moving manner. As he saw that the very excess of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10147 emotion was militating against him, by restoring us more to our old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10148 relations, he became still more demonstrative. I glanced at Van Helsing,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10149 and saw my conviction reflected in his eyes; so I became a little more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10150 fixed in my manner, if not more stern, and motioned to him that his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10151 efforts were unavailing. I had previously seen something of the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10152 constantly growing excitement in him when he had to make some request of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10153 which at the time he had thought much, such, for instance, as when he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10154 wanted a cat; and I was prepared to see the collapse into the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10155 sullen acquiescence on this occasion. My expectation was not realised,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10156 for, when he found that his appeal would not be successful, he got into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10157 quite a frantic condition. He threw himself on his knees, and held up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10158 his hands, wringing them in plaintive supplication, and poured forth a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10159 torrent of entreaty, with the tears rolling down his cheeks, and his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10160 whole face and form expressive of the deepest emotion:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10161
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10162 "Let me entreat you, Dr. Seward, oh, let me implore you, to let me out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10163 of this house at once. Send me away how you will and where you will;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10164 send keepers with me with whips and chains; let them take me in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10165 strait-waistcoat, manacled and leg-ironed, even to a gaol; but let me go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10166 out of this. You don't know what you do by keeping me here. I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10167 speaking from the depths of my heart--of my very soul. You don't know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10168 whom you wrong, or how; and I may not tell. Woe is me! I may not tell.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10169 By all you hold sacred--by all you hold dear--by your love that is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10170 lost--by your hope that lives--for the sake of the Almighty, take me out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10171 of this and save my soul from guilt! Can't you hear me, man? Can't you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10172 understand? Will you never learn? Don't you know that I am sane and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10173 earnest now; that I am no lunatic in a mad fit, but a sane man fighting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10174 for his soul? Oh, hear me! hear me! Let me go! let me go! let me go!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10175
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10176 I thought that the longer this went on the wilder he would get, and so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10177 would bring on a fit; so I took him by the hand and raised him up.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10178
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10179 "Come," I said sternly, "no more of this; we have had quite enough
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10180 already. Get to your bed and try to behave more discreetly."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10181
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10182 He suddenly stopped and looked at me intently for several moments. Then,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10183 without a word, he rose and moving over, sat down on the side of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10184 bed. The collapse had come, as on former occasion, just as I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10185 expected.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10186
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10187 When I was leaving the room, last of our party, he said to me in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10188 quiet, well-bred voice:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10189
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10190 "You will, I trust, Dr. Seward, do me the justice to bear in mind, later
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10191 on, that I did what I could to convince you to-night."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10192
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10193
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10194
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10195
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10196 CHAPTER XIX
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10197
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10198 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10199
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10200
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10201 _1 October, 5 a. m._--I went with the party to the search with an easy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10202 mind, for I think I never saw Mina so absolutely strong and well. I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10203 so glad that she consented to hold back and let us men do the work.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10204 Somehow, it was a dread to me that she was in this fearful business at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10205 all; but now that her work is done, and that it is due to her energy and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10206 brains and foresight that the whole story is put together in such a way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10207 that every point tells, she may well feel that her part is finished, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10208 that she can henceforth leave the rest to us. We were, I think, all a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10209 little upset by the scene with Mr. Renfield. When we came away from his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10210 room we were silent till we got back to the study. Then Mr. Morris said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10211 to Dr. Seward:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10212
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10213 "Say, Jack, if that man wasn't attempting a bluff, he is about the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10214 sanest lunatic I ever saw. I'm not sure, but I believe that he had some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10215 serious purpose, and if he had, it was pretty rough on him not to get a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10216 chance." Lord Godalming and I were silent, but Dr. Van Helsing added:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10217
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10218 "Friend John, you know more of lunatics than I do, and I'm glad of it,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10219 for I fear that if it had been to me to decide I would before that last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10220 hysterical outburst have given him free. But we live and learn, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10221 our present task we must take no chance, as my friend Quincey would say.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10222 All is best as they are." Dr. Seward seemed to answer them both in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10223 dreamy kind of way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10224
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10225 "I don't know but that I agree with you. If that man had been an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10226 ordinary lunatic I would have taken my chance of trusting him; but he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10227 seems so mixed up with the Count in an indexy kind of way that I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10228 afraid of doing anything wrong by helping his fads. I can't forget how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10229 he prayed with almost equal fervour for a cat, and then tried to tear my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10230 throat out with his teeth. Besides, he called the Count 'lord and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10231 master,' and he may want to get out to help him in some diabolical way.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10232 That horrid thing has the wolves and the rats and his own kind to help
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10233 him, so I suppose he isn't above trying to use a respectable lunatic. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10234 certainly did seem earnest, though. I only hope we have done what is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10235 best. These things, in conjunction with the wild work we have in hand,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10236 help to unnerve a man." The Professor stepped over, and laying his hand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10237 on his shoulder, said in his grave, kindly way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10238
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10239 "Friend John, have no fear. We are trying to do our duty in a very sad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10240 and terrible case; we can only do as we deem best. What else have we to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10241 hope for, except the pity of the good God?" Lord Godalming had slipped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10242 away for a few minutes, but now he returned. He held up a little silver
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10243 whistle, as he remarked:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10244
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10245 "That old place may be full of rats, and if so, I've got an antidote on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10246 call." Having passed the wall, we took our way to the house, taking care
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10247 to keep in the shadows of the trees on the lawn when the moonlight shone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10248 out. When we got to the porch the Professor opened his bag and took out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10249 a lot of things, which he laid on the step, sorting them into four
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10250 little groups, evidently one for each. Then he spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10251
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10252 "My friends, we are going into a terrible danger, and we need arms of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10253 many kinds. Our enemy is not merely spiritual. Remember that he has the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10254 strength of twenty men, and that, though our necks or our windpipes are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10255 of the common kind--and therefore breakable or crushable--his are not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10256 amenable to mere strength. A stronger man, or a body of men more strong
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10257 in all than him, can at certain times hold him; but they cannot hurt him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10258 as we can be hurt by him. We must, therefore, guard ourselves from his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10259 touch. Keep this near your heart"--as he spoke he lifted a little silver
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10260 crucifix and held it out to me, I being nearest to him--"put these
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10261 flowers round your neck"--here he handed to me a wreath of withered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10262 garlic blossoms--"for other enemies more mundane, this revolver and this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10263 knife; and for aid in all, these so small electric lamps, which you can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10264 fasten to your breast; and for all, and above all at the last, this,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10265 which we must not desecrate needless." This was a portion of Sacred
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10266 Wafer, which he put in an envelope and handed to me. Each of the others
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10267 was similarly equipped. "Now," he said, "friend John, where are the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10268 skeleton keys? If so that we can open the door, we need not break house
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10269 by the window, as before at Miss Lucy's."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10270
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10271 Dr. Seward tried one or two skeleton keys, his mechanical dexterity as a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10272 surgeon standing him in good stead. Presently he got one to suit; after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10273 a little play back and forward the bolt yielded, and, with a rusty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10274 clang, shot back. We pressed on the door, the rusty hinges creaked, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10275 it slowly opened. It was startlingly like the image conveyed to me in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10276 Dr. Seward's diary of the opening of Miss Westenra's tomb; I fancy that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10277 the same idea seemed to strike the others, for with one accord they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10278 shrank back. The Professor was the first to move forward, and stepped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10279 into the open door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10280
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10281 "_In manus tuas, Domine!_" he said, crossing himself as he passed over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10282 the threshold. We closed the door behind us, lest when we should have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10283 lit our lamps we should possibly attract attention from the road. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10284 Professor carefully tried the lock, lest we might not be able to open it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10285 from within should we be in a hurry making our exit. Then we all lit our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10286 lamps and proceeded on our search.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10287
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10288 The light from the tiny lamps fell in all sorts of odd forms, as the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10289 rays crossed each other, or the opacity of our bodies threw great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10290 shadows. I could not for my life get away from the feeling that there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10291 was some one else amongst us. I suppose it was the recollection, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10292 powerfully brought home to me by the grim surroundings, of that terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10293 experience in Transylvania. I think the feeling was common to us all,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10294 for I noticed that the others kept looking over their shoulders at every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10295 sound and every new shadow, just as I felt myself doing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10296
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10297 The whole place was thick with dust. The floor was seemingly inches
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10298 deep, except where there were recent footsteps, in which on holding down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10299 my lamp I could see marks of hobnails where the dust was cracked. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10300 walls were fluffy and heavy with dust, and in the corners were masses of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10301 spider's webs, whereon the dust had gathered till they looked like old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10302 tattered rags as the weight had torn them partly down. On a table in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10303 hall was a great bunch of keys, with a time-yellowed label on each. They
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10304 had been used several times, for on the table were several similar rents
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10305 in the blanket of dust, similar to that exposed when the Professor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10306 lifted them. He turned to me and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10307
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10308 "You know this place, Jonathan. You have copied maps of it, and you know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10309 it at least more than we do. Which is the way to the chapel?" I had an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10310 idea of its direction, though on my former visit I had not been able to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10311 get admission to it; so I led the way, and after a few wrong turnings
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10312 found myself opposite a low, arched oaken door, ribbed with iron bands.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10313 "This is the spot," said the Professor as he turned his lamp on a small
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10314 map of the house, copied from the file of my original correspondence
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10315 regarding the purchase. With a little trouble we found the key on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10316 bunch and opened the door. We were prepared for some unpleasantness, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10317 as we were opening the door a faint, malodorous air seemed to exhale
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10318 through the gaps, but none of us ever expected such an odour as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10319 encountered. None of the others had met the Count at all at close
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10320 quarters, and when I had seen him he was either in the fasting stage of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10321 his existence in his rooms or, when he was gloated with fresh blood, in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10322 a ruined building open to the air; but here the place was small and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10323 close, and the long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul. There was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10324 an earthy smell, as of some dry miasma, which came through the fouler
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10325 air. But as to the odour itself, how shall I describe it? It was not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10326 alone that it was composed of all the ills of mortality and with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10327 pungent, acrid smell of blood, but it seemed as though corruption had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10328 become itself corrupt. Faugh! it sickens me to think of it. Every breath
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10329 exhaled by that monster seemed to have clung to the place and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10330 intensified its loathsomeness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10331
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10332 Under ordinary circumstances such a stench would have brought our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10333 enterprise to an end; but this was no ordinary case, and the high and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10334 terrible purpose in which we were involved gave us a strength which rose
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10335 above merely physical considerations. After the involuntary shrinking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10336 consequent on the first nauseous whiff, we one and all set about our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10337 work as though that loathsome place were a garden of roses.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10338
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10339 We made an accurate examination of the place, the Professor saying as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10340 began:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10341
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10342 "The first thing is to see how many of the boxes are left; we must then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10343 examine every hole and corner and cranny and see if we cannot get some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10344 clue as to what has become of the rest." A glance was sufficient to show
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10345 how many remained, for the great earth chests were bulky, and there was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10346 no mistaking them.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10347
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10348 There were only twenty-nine left out of the fifty! Once I got a fright,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10349 for, seeing Lord Godalming suddenly turn and look out of the vaulted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10350 door into the dark passage beyond, I looked too, and for an instant my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10351 heart stood still. Somewhere, looking out from the shadow, I seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10352 see the high lights of the Count's evil face, the ridge of the nose, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10353 red eyes, the red lips, the awful pallor. It was only for a moment, for,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10354 as Lord Godalming said, "I thought I saw a face, but it was only the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10355 shadows," and resumed his inquiry, I turned my lamp in the direction,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10356 and stepped into the passage. There was no sign of any one; and as there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10357 were no corners, no doors, no aperture of any kind, but only the solid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10358 walls of the passage, there could be no hiding-place even for _him_. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10359 took it that fear had helped imagination, and said nothing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10360
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10361 A few minutes later I saw Morris step suddenly back from a corner, which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10362 he was examining. We all followed his movements with our eyes, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10363 undoubtedly some nervousness was growing on us, and we saw a whole mass
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10364 of phosphorescence, which twinkled like stars. We all instinctively drew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10365 back. The whole place was becoming alive with rats.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10366
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10367 For a moment or two we stood appalled, all save Lord Godalming, who was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10368 seemingly prepared for such an emergency. Rushing over to the great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10369 iron-bound oaken door, which Dr. Seward had described from the outside,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10370 and which I had seen myself, he turned the key in the lock, drew the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10371 huge bolts, and swung the door open. Then, taking his little silver
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10372 whistle from his pocket, he blew a low, shrill call. It was answered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10373 from behind Dr. Seward's house by the yelping of dogs, and after about a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10374 minute three terriers came dashing round the corner of the house.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10375 Unconsciously we had all moved towards the door, and as we moved I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10376 noticed that the dust had been much disturbed: the boxes which had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10377 taken out had been brought this way. But even in the minute that had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10378 elapsed the number of the rats had vastly increased. They seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10379 swarm over the place all at once, till the lamplight, shining on their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10380 moving dark bodies and glittering, baleful eyes, made the place look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10381 like a bank of earth set with fireflies. The dogs dashed on, but at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10382 threshold suddenly stopped and snarled, and then, simultaneously lifting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10383 their noses, began to howl in most lugubrious fashion. The rats were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10384 multiplying in thousands, and we moved out.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10385
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10386 Lord Godalming lifted one of the dogs, and carrying him in, placed him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10387 on the floor. The instant his feet touched the ground he seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10388 recover his courage, and rushed at his natural enemies. They fled before
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10389 him so fast that before he had shaken the life out of a score, the other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10390 dogs, who had by now been lifted in the same manner, had but small prey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10391 ere the whole mass had vanished.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10392
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10393 With their going it seemed as if some evil presence had departed, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10394 the dogs frisked about and barked merrily as they made sudden darts at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10395 their prostrate foes, and turned them over and over and tossed them in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10396 the air with vicious shakes. We all seemed to find our spirits rise.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10397 Whether it was the purifying of the deadly atmosphere by the opening of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10398 the chapel door, or the relief which we experienced by finding ourselves
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10399 in the open I know not; but most certainly the shadow of dread seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10400 slip from us like a robe, and the occasion of our coming lost something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10401 of its grim significance, though we did not slacken a whit in our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10402 resolution. We closed the outer door and barred and locked it, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10403 bringing the dogs with us, began our search of the house. We found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10404 nothing throughout except dust in extraordinary proportions, and all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10405 untouched save for my own footsteps when I had made my first visit.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10406 Never once did the dogs exhibit any symptom of uneasiness, and even when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10407 we returned to the chapel they frisked about as though they had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10408 rabbit-hunting in a summer wood.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10409
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10410 The morning was quickening in the east when we emerged from the front.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10411 Dr. Van Helsing had taken the key of the hall-door from the bunch, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10412 locked the door in orthodox fashion, putting the key into his pocket
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10413 when he had done.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10414
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10415 "So far," he said, "our night has been eminently successful. No harm has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10416 come to us such as I feared might be and yet we have ascertained how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10417 many boxes are missing. More than all do I rejoice that this, our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10418 first--and perhaps our most difficult and dangerous--step has been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10419 accomplished without the bringing thereinto our most sweet Madam Mina or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10420 troubling her waking or sleeping thoughts with sights and sounds and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10421 smells of horror which she might never forget. One lesson, too, we have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10422 learned, if it be allowable to argue _a particulari_: that the brute
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10423 beasts which are to the Count's command are yet themselves not amenable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10424 to his spiritual power; for look, these rats that would come to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10425 call, just as from his castle top he summon the wolves to your going and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10426 to that poor mother's cry, though they come to him, they run pell-mell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10427 from the so little dogs of my friend Arthur. We have other matters
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10428 before us, other dangers, other fears; and that monster--he has not used
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10429 his power over the brute world for the only or the last time to-night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10430 So be it that he has gone elsewhere. Good! It has given us opportunity
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10431 to cry 'check' in some ways in this chess game, which we play for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10432 stake of human souls. And now let us go home. The dawn is close at hand,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10433 and we have reason to be content with our first night's work. It may be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10434 ordained that we have many nights and days to follow, if full of peril;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10435 but we must go on, and from no danger shall we shrink."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10436
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10437 The house was silent when we got back, save for some poor creature who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10438 was screaming away in one of the distant wards, and a low, moaning sound
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10439 from Renfield's room. The poor wretch was doubtless torturing himself,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10440 after the manner of the insane, with needless thoughts of pain.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10441
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10442 I came tiptoe into our own room, and found Mina asleep, breathing so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10443 softly that I had to put my ear down to hear it. She looks paler than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10444 usual. I hope the meeting to-night has not upset her. I am truly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10445 thankful that she is to be left out of our future work, and even of our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10446 deliberations. It is too great a strain for a woman to bear. I did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10447 think so at first, but I know better now. Therefore I am glad that it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10448 settled. There may be things which would frighten her to hear; and yet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10449 to conceal them from her might be worse than to tell her if once she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10450 suspected that there was any concealment. Henceforth our work is to be a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10451 sealed book to her, till at least such time as we can tell her that all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10452 is finished, and the earth free from a monster of the nether world. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10453 daresay it will be difficult to begin to keep silence after such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10454 confidence as ours; but I must be resolute, and to-morrow I shall keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10455 dark over to-night's doings, and shall refuse to speak of anything that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10456 has happened. I rest on the sofa, so as not to disturb her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10457
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10458 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10459
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10460 _1 October, later._--I suppose it was natural that we should have all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10461 overslept ourselves, for the day was a busy one, and the night had no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10462 rest at all. Even Mina must have felt its exhaustion, for though I slept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10463 till the sun was high, I was awake before her, and had to call two or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10464 three times before she awoke. Indeed, she was so sound asleep that for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10465 few seconds she did not recognize me, but looked at me with a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10466 blank terror, as one looks who has been waked out of a bad dream. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10467 complained a little of being tired, and I let her rest till later in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10468 day. We now know of twenty-one boxes having been removed, and if it be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10469 that several were taken in any of these removals we may be able to trace
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10470 them all. Such will, of course, immensely simplify our labour, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10471 sooner the matter is attended to the better. I shall look up Thomas
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10472 Snelling to-day.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10473
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10474
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10475 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10476
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10477 _1 October._--It was towards noon when I was awakened by the Professor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10478 walking into my room. He was more jolly and cheerful than usual, and it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10479 is quite evident that last night's work has helped to take some of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10480 brooding weight off his mind. After going over the adventure of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10481 night he suddenly said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10482
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10483 "Your patient interests me much. May it be that with you I visit him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10484 this morning? Or if that you are too occupy, I can go alone if it may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10485 be. It is a new experience to me to find a lunatic who talk philosophy,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10486 and reason so sound." I had some work to do which pressed, so I told him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10487 that if he would go alone I would be glad, as then I should not have to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10488 keep him waiting; so I called an attendant and gave him the necessary
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10489 instructions. Before the Professor left the room I cautioned him against
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10490 getting any false impression from my patient. "But," he answered, "I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10491 want him to talk of himself and of his delusion as to consuming live
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10492 things. He said to Madam Mina, as I see in your diary of yesterday, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10493 he had once had such a belief. Why do you smile, friend John?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10494
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10495 "Excuse me," I said, "but the answer is here." I laid my hand on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10496 type-written matter. "When our sane and learned lunatic made that very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10497 statement of how he _used_ to consume life, his mouth was actually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10498 nauseous with the flies and spiders which he had eaten just before Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10499 Harker entered the room." Van Helsing smiled in turn. "Good!" he said.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10500 "Your memory is true, friend John. I should have remembered. And yet it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10501 is this very obliquity of thought and memory which makes mental disease
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10502 such a fascinating study. Perhaps I may gain more knowledge out of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10503 folly of this madman than I shall from the teaching of the most wise.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10504 Who knows?" I went on with my work, and before long was through that in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10505 hand. It seemed that the time had been very short indeed, but there was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10506 Van Helsing back in the study. "Do I interrupt?" he asked politely as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10507 stood at the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10508
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10509 "Not at all," I answered. "Come in. My work is finished, and I am free.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10510 I can go with you now, if you like.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10511
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10512 "It is needless; I have seen him!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10513
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10514 "Well?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10515
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10516 "I fear that he does not appraise me at much. Our interview was short.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10517 When I entered his room he was sitting on a stool in the centre, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10518 his elbows on his knees, and his face was the picture of sullen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10519 discontent. I spoke to him as cheerfully as I could, and with such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10520 measure of respect as I could assume. He made no reply whatever. "Don't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10521 you know me?" I asked. His answer was not reassuring: "I know you well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10522 enough; you are the old fool Van Helsing. I wish you would take yourself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10523 and your idiotic brain theories somewhere else. Damn all thick-headed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10524 Dutchmen!" Not a word more would he say, but sat in his implacable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10525 sullenness as indifferent to me as though I had not been in the room at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10526 all. Thus departed for this time my chance of much learning from this so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10527 clever lunatic; so I shall go, if I may, and cheer myself with a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10528 happy words with that sweet soul Madam Mina. Friend John, it does
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10529 rejoice me unspeakable that she is no more to be pained, no more to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10530 worried with our terrible things. Though we shall much miss her help, it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10531 is better so."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10532
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10533 "I agree with you with all my heart," I answered earnestly, for I did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10534 not want him to weaken in this matter. "Mrs. Harker is better out of it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10535 Things are quite bad enough for us, all men of the world, and who have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10536 been in many tight places in our time; but it is no place for a woman,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10537 and if she had remained in touch with the affair, it would in time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10538 infallibly have wrecked her."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10539
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10540 So Van Helsing has gone to confer with Mrs. Harker and Harker; Quincey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10541 and Art are all out following up the clues as to the earth-boxes. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10542 shall finish my round of work and we shall meet to-night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10543
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10544
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10545 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10546
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10547 _1 October._--It is strange to me to be kept in the dark as I am to-day;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10548 after Jonathan's full confidence for so many years, to see him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10549 manifestly avoid certain matters, and those the most vital of all. This
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10550 morning I slept late after the fatigues of yesterday, and though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10551 Jonathan was late too, he was the earlier. He spoke to me before he went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10552 out, never more sweetly or tenderly, but he never mentioned a word of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10553 what had happened in the visit to the Count's house. And yet he must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10554 have known how terribly anxious I was. Poor dear fellow! I suppose it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10555 must have distressed him even more than it did me. They all agreed that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10556 it was best that I should not be drawn further into this awful work, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10557 I acquiesced. But to think that he keeps anything from me! And now I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10558 crying like a silly fool, when I _know_ it comes from my husband's great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10559 love and from the good, good wishes of those other strong men.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10560
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10561 That has done me good. Well, some day Jonathan will tell me all; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10562 lest it should ever be that he should think for a moment that I kept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10563 anything from him, I still keep my journal as usual. Then if he has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10564 feared of my trust I shall show it to him, with every thought of my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10565 heart put down for his dear eyes to read. I feel strangely sad and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10566 low-spirited to-day. I suppose it is the reaction from the terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10567 excitement.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10568
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10569 Last night I went to bed when the men had gone, simply because they told
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10570 me to. I didn't feel sleepy, and I did feel full of devouring anxiety. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10571 kept thinking over everything that has been ever since Jonathan came to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10572 see me in London, and it all seems like a horrible tragedy, with fate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10573 pressing on relentlessly to some destined end. Everything that one does
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10574 seems, no matter how right it may be, to bring on the very thing which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10575 is most to be deplored. If I hadn't gone to Whitby, perhaps poor dear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10576 Lucy would be with us now. She hadn't taken to visiting the churchyard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10577 till I came, and if she hadn't come there in the day-time with me she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10578 wouldn't have walked there in her sleep; and if she hadn't gone there at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10579 night and asleep, that monster couldn't have destroyed her as he did.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10580 Oh, why did I ever go to Whitby? There now, crying again! I wonder what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10581 has come over me to-day. I must hide it from Jonathan, for if he knew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10582 that I had been crying twice in one morning--I, who never cried on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10583 own account, and whom he has never caused to shed a tear--the dear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10584 fellow would fret his heart out. I shall put a bold face on, and if I do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10585 feel weepy, he shall never see it. I suppose it is one of the lessons
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10586 that we poor women have to learn....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10587
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10588 I can't quite remember how I fell asleep last night. I remember hearing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10589 the sudden barking of the dogs and a lot of queer sounds, like praying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10590 on a very tumultuous scale, from Mr. Renfield's room, which is somewhere
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10591 under this. And then there was silence over everything, silence so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10592 profound that it startled me, and I got up and looked out of the window.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10593 All was dark and silent, the black shadows thrown by the moonlight
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10594 seeming full of a silent mystery of their own. Not a thing seemed to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10595 stirring, but all to be grim and fixed as death or fate; so that a thin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10596 streak of white mist, that crept with almost imperceptible slowness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10597 across the grass towards the house, seemed to have a sentience and a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10598 vitality of its own. I think that the digression of my thoughts must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10599 have done me good, for when I got back to bed I found a lethargy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10600 creeping over me. I lay a while, but could not quite sleep, so I got out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10601 and looked out of the window again. The mist was spreading, and was now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10602 close up to the house, so that I could see it lying thick against the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10603 wall, as though it were stealing up to the windows. The poor man was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10604 more loud than ever, and though I could not distinguish a word he said,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10605 I could in some way recognise in his tones some passionate entreaty on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10606 his part. Then there was the sound of a struggle, and I knew that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10607 attendants were dealing with him. I was so frightened that I crept into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10608 bed, and pulled the clothes over my head, putting my fingers in my ears.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10609 I was not then a bit sleepy, at least so I thought; but I must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10610 fallen asleep, for, except dreams, I do not remember anything until the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10611 morning, when Jonathan woke me. I think that it took me an effort and a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10612 little time to realise where I was, and that it was Jonathan who was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10613 bending over me. My dream was very peculiar, and was almost typical of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10614 the way that waking thoughts become merged in, or continued in, dreams.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10615
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10616 I thought that I was asleep, and waiting for Jonathan to come back. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10617 was very anxious about him, and I was powerless to act; my feet, and my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10618 hands, and my brain were weighted, so that nothing could proceed at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10619 usual pace. And so I slept uneasily and thought. Then it began to dawn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10620 upon me that the air was heavy, and dank, and cold. I put back the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10621 clothes from my face, and found, to my surprise, that all was dim
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10622 around. The gaslight which I had left lit for Jonathan, but turned down,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10623 came only like a tiny red spark through the fog, which had evidently
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10624 grown thicker and poured into the room. Then it occurred to me that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10625 had shut the window before I had come to bed. I would have got out to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10626 make certain on the point, but some leaden lethargy seemed to chain my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10627 limbs and even my will. I lay still and endured; that was all. I closed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10628 my eyes, but could still see through my eyelids. (It is wonderful what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10629 tricks our dreams play us, and how conveniently we can imagine.) The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10630 mist grew thicker and thicker and I could see now how it came in, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10631 could see it like smoke--or with the white energy of boiling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10632 water--pouring in, not through the window, but through the joinings of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10633 the door. It got thicker and thicker, till it seemed as if it became
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10634 concentrated into a sort of pillar of cloud in the room, through the top
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10635 of which I could see the light of the gas shining like a red eye. Things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10636 began to whirl through my brain just as the cloudy column was now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10637 whirling in the room, and through it all came the scriptural words "a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10638 pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night." Was it indeed some such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10639 spiritual guidance that was coming to me in my sleep? But the pillar was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10640 composed of both the day and the night-guiding, for the fire was in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10641 red eye, which at the thought got a new fascination for me; till, as I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10642 looked, the fire divided, and seemed to shine on me through the fog like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10643 two red eyes, such as Lucy told me of in her momentary mental wandering
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10644 when, on the cliff, the dying sunlight struck the windows of St. Mary's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10645 Church. Suddenly the horror burst upon me that it was thus that Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10646 had seen those awful women growing into reality through the whirling mist
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10647 in the moonlight, and in my dream I must have fainted, for all became
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10648 black darkness. The last conscious effort which imagination made was to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10649 show me a livid white face bending over me out of the mist. I must be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10650 careful of such dreams, for they would unseat one's reason if there were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10651 too much of them. I would get Dr. Van Helsing or Dr. Seward to prescribe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10652 something for me which would make me sleep, only that I fear to alarm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10653 them. Such a dream at the present time would become woven into their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10654 fears for me. To-night I shall strive hard to sleep naturally. If I do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10655 not, I shall to-morrow night get them to give me a dose of chloral; that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10656 cannot hurt me for once, and it will give me a good night's sleep. Last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10657 night tired me more than if I had not slept at all.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10658
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10659 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10660
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10661 _2 October 10 p. m._--Last night I slept, but did not dream. I must have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10662 slept soundly, for I was not waked by Jonathan coming to bed; but the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10663 sleep has not refreshed me, for to-day I feel terribly weak and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10664 spiritless. I spent all yesterday trying to read, or lying down dozing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10665 In the afternoon Mr. Renfield asked if he might see me. Poor man, he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10666 very gentle, and when I came away he kissed my hand and bade God bless
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10667 me. Some way it affected me much; I am crying when I think of him. This
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10668 is a new weakness, of which I must be careful. Jonathan would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10669 miserable if he knew I had been crying. He and the others were out till
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10670 dinner-time, and they all came in tired. I did what I could to brighten
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10671 them up, and I suppose that the effort did me good, for I forgot how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10672 tired I was. After dinner they sent me to bed, and all went off to smoke
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10673 together, as they said, but I knew that they wanted to tell each other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10674 of what had occurred to each during the day; I could see from Jonathan's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10675 manner that he had something important to communicate. I was not so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10676 sleepy as I should have been; so before they went I asked Dr. Seward to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10677 give me a little opiate of some kind, as I had not slept well the night
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10678 before. He very kindly made me up a sleeping draught, which he gave to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10679 me, telling me that it would do me no harm, as it was very mild.... I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10680 have taken it, and am waiting for sleep, which still keeps aloof. I hope
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10681 I have not done wrong, for as sleep begins to flirt with me, a new fear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10682 comes: that I may have been foolish in thus depriving myself of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10683 power of waking. I might want it. Here comes sleep. Good-night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10684
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10685
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10686
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10687
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10688 CHAPTER XX
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10689
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10690 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10691
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10692
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10693 _1 October, evening._--I found Thomas Snelling in his house at Bethnal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10694 Green, but unhappily he was not in a condition to remember anything. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10695 very prospect of beer which my expected coming had opened to him had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10696 proved too much, and he had begun too early on his expected debauch. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10697 learned, however, from his wife, who seemed a decent, poor soul, that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10698 was only the assistant to Smollet, who of the two mates was the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10699 responsible person. So off I drove to Walworth, and found Mr. Joseph
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10700 Smollet at home and in his shirtsleeves, taking a late tea out of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10701 saucer. He is a decent, intelligent fellow, distinctly a good, reliable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10702 type of workman, and with a headpiece of his own. He remembered all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10703 about the incident of the boxes, and from a wonderful dog's-eared
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10704 notebook, which he produced from some mysterious receptacle about the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10705 seat of his trousers, and which had hieroglyphical entries in thick,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10706 half-obliterated pencil, he gave me the destinations of the boxes. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10707 were, he said, six in the cartload which he took from Carfax and left at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10708 197, Chicksand Street, Mile End New Town, and another six which he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10709 deposited at Jamaica Lane, Bermondsey. If then the Count meant to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10710 scatter these ghastly refuges of his over London, these places were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10711 chosen as the first of delivery, so that later he might distribute more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10712 fully. The systematic manner in which this was done made me think that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10713 he could not mean to confine himself to two sides of London. He was now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10714 fixed on the far east of the northern shore, on the east of the southern
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10715 shore, and on the south. The north and west were surely never meant to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10716 be left out of his diabolical scheme--let alone the City itself and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10717 very heart of fashionable London in the south-west and west. I went back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10718 to Smollet, and asked him if he could tell us if any other boxes had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10719 been taken from Carfax.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10720
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10721 He replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10722
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10723 "Well, guv'nor, you've treated me wery 'an'some"--I had given him half a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10724 sovereign--"an' I'll tell yer all I know. I heard a man by the name of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10725 Bloxam say four nights ago in the 'Are an' 'Ounds, in Pincher's Alley,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10726 as 'ow he an' his mate 'ad 'ad a rare dusty job in a old 'ouse at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10727 Purfect. There ain't a-many such jobs as this 'ere, an' I'm thinkin'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10728 that maybe Sam Bloxam could tell ye summut." I asked if he could tell me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10729 where to find him. I told him that if he could get me the address it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10730 would be worth another half-sovereign to him. So he gulped down the rest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10731 of his tea and stood up, saying that he was going to begin the search
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10732 then and there. At the door he stopped, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10733
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10734 "Look 'ere, guv'nor, there ain't no sense in me a-keepin' you 'ere. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10735 may find Sam soon, or I mayn't; but anyhow he ain't like to be in a way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10736 to tell ye much to-night. Sam is a rare one when he starts on the booze.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10737 If you can give me a envelope with a stamp on it, and put yer address on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10738 it, I'll find out where Sam is to be found and post it ye to-night. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10739 ye'd better be up arter 'im soon in the mornin', or maybe ye won't ketch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10740 'im; for Sam gets off main early, never mind the booze the night afore."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10741
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10742 This was all practical, so one of the children went off with a penny to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10743 buy an envelope and a sheet of paper, and to keep the change. When she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10744 came back, I addressed the envelope and stamped it, and when Smollet had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10745 again faithfully promised to post the address when found, I took my way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10746 to home. We're on the track anyhow. I am tired to-night, and want sleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10747 Mina is fast asleep, and looks a little too pale; her eyes look as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10748 though she had been crying. Poor dear, I've no doubt it frets her to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10749 kept in the dark, and it may make her doubly anxious about me and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10750 others. But it is best as it is. It is better to be disappointed and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10751 worried in such a way now than to have her nerve broken. The doctors
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10752 were quite right to insist on her being kept out of this dreadful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10753 business. I must be firm, for on me this particular burden of silence
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10754 must rest. I shall not ever enter on the subject with her under any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10755 circumstances. Indeed, it may not be a hard task, after all, for she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10756 herself has become reticent on the subject, and has not spoken of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10757 Count or his doings ever since we told her of our decision.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10758
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10759 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10760
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10761 _2 October, evening._--A long and trying and exciting day. By the first
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10762 post I got my directed envelope with a dirty scrap of paper enclosed, on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10763 which was written with a carpenter's pencil in a sprawling hand:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10764
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10765 "Sam Bloxam, Korkrans, 4, Poters Cort, Bartel Street, Walworth. Arsk for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10766 the depite."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10767
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10768 I got the letter in bed, and rose without waking Mina. She looked heavy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10769 and sleepy and pale, and far from well. I determined not to wake her,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10770 but that, when I should return from this new search, I would arrange for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10771 her going back to Exeter. I think she would be happier in our own home,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10772 with her daily tasks to interest her, than in being here amongst us and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10773 in ignorance. I only saw Dr. Seward for a moment, and told him where I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10774 was off to, promising to come back and tell the rest so soon as I should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10775 have found out anything. I drove to Walworth and found, with some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10776 difficulty, Potter's Court. Mr. Smollet's spelling misled me, as I asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10777 for Poter's Court instead of Potter's Court. However, when I had found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10778 the court, I had no difficulty in discovering Corcoran's lodging-house.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10779 When I asked the man who came to the door for the "depite," he shook his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10780 head, and said: "I dunno 'im. There ain't no such a person 'ere; I never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10781 'eard of 'im in all my bloomin' days. Don't believe there ain't nobody
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10782 of that kind livin' ere or anywheres." I took out Smollet's letter, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10783 as I read it it seemed to me that the lesson of the spelling of the name
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10784 of the court might guide me. "What are you?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10785
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10786 "I'm the depity," he answered. I saw at once that I was on the right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10787 track; phonetic spelling had again misled me. A half-crown tip put the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10788 deputy's knowledge at my disposal, and I learned that Mr. Bloxam, who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10789 had slept off the remains of his beer on the previous night at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10790 Corcoran's, had left for his work at Poplar at five o'clock that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10791 morning. He could not tell me where the place of work was situated, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10792 he had a vague idea that it was some kind of a "new-fangled ware'us";
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10793 and with this slender clue I had to start for Poplar. It was twelve
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10794 o'clock before I got any satisfactory hint of such a building, and this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10795 I got at a coffee-shop, where some workmen were having their dinner. One
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10796 of these suggested that there was being erected at Cross Angel Street a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10797 new "cold storage" building; and as this suited the condition of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10798 "new-fangled ware'us," I at once drove to it. An interview with a surly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10799 gatekeeper and a surlier foreman, both of whom were appeased with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10800 coin of the realm, put me on the track of Bloxam; he was sent for on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10801 suggesting that I was willing to pay his day's wages to his foreman for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10802 the privilege of asking him a few questions on a private matter. He was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10803 a smart enough fellow, though rough of speech and bearing. When I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10804 promised to pay for his information and given him an earnest, he told me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10805 that he had made two journeys between Carfax and a house in Piccadilly,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10806 and had taken from this house to the latter nine great boxes--"main
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10807 heavy ones"--with a horse and cart hired by him for this purpose. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10808 asked him if he could tell me the number of the house in Piccadilly, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10809 which he replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10810
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10811 "Well, guv'nor, I forgits the number, but it was only a few doors from a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10812 big white church or somethink of the kind, not long built. It was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10813 dusty old 'ouse, too, though nothin' to the dustiness of the 'ouse we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10814 tooked the bloomin' boxes from."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10815
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10816 "How did you get into the houses if they were both empty?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10817
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10818 "There was the old party what engaged me a-waitin' in the 'ouse at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10819 Purfleet. He 'elped me to lift the boxes and put them in the dray. Curse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10820 me, but he was the strongest chap I ever struck, an' him a old feller,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10821 with a white moustache, one that thin you would think he couldn't throw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10822 a shadder."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10823
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10824 How this phrase thrilled through me!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10825
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10826 "Why, 'e took up 'is end o' the boxes like they was pounds of tea, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10827 me a-puffin' an' a-blowin' afore I could up-end mine anyhow--an' I'm no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10828 chicken, neither."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10829
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10830 "How did you get into the house in Piccadilly?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10831
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10832 "He was there too. He must 'a' started off and got there afore me, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10833 when I rung of the bell he kem an' opened the door 'isself an' 'elped me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10834 to carry the boxes into the 'all."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10835
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10836 "The whole nine?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10837
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10838 "Yus; there was five in the first load an' four in the second. It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10839 main dry work, an' I don't so well remember 'ow I got 'ome." I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10840 interrupted him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10841
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10842 "Were the boxes left in the hall?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10843
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10844 "Yus; it was a big 'all, an' there was nothin' else in it." I made one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10845 more attempt to further matters:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10846
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10847 "You didn't have any key?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10849 "Never used no key nor nothink. The old gent, he opened the door 'isself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10850 an' shut it again when I druv off. I don't remember the last time--but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10851 that was the beer."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10852
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10853 "And you can't remember the number of the house?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10854
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10855 "No, sir. But ye needn't have no difficulty about that. It's a 'igh 'un
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10856 with a stone front with a bow on it, an' 'igh steps up to the door. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10857 know them steps, 'avin' 'ad to carry the boxes up with three loafers
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10858 what come round to earn a copper. The old gent give them shillin's, an'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10859 they seein' they got so much, they wanted more; but 'e took one of them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10860 by the shoulder and was like to throw 'im down the steps, till the lot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10861 of them went away cussin'." I thought that with this description I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10862 find the house, so, having paid my friend for his information, I started
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10863 off for Piccadilly. I had gained a new painful experience; the Count
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10864 could, it was evident, handle the earth-boxes himself. If so, time was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10865 precious; for, now that he had achieved a certain amount of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10866 distribution, he could, by choosing his own time, complete the task
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10867 unobserved. At Piccadilly Circus I discharged my cab, and walked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10868 westward; beyond the Junior Constitutional I came across the house
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10869 described, and was satisfied that this was the next of the lairs
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10870 arranged by Dracula. The house looked as though it had been long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10871 untenanted. The windows were encrusted with dust, and the shutters were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10872 up. All the framework was black with time, and from the iron the paint
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10873 had mostly scaled away. It was evident that up to lately there had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10874 a large notice-board in front of the balcony; it had, however, been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10875 roughly torn away, the uprights which had supported it still remaining.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10876 Behind the rails of the balcony I saw there were some loose boards,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10877 whose raw edges looked white. I would have given a good deal to have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10878 been able to see the notice-board intact, as it would, perhaps, have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10879 given some clue to the ownership of the house. I remembered my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10880 experience of the investigation and purchase of Carfax, and I could not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10881 but feel that if I could find the former owner there might be some means
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10882 discovered of gaining access to the house.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10883
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10884 There was at present nothing to be learned from the Piccadilly side, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10885 nothing could be done; so I went round to the back to see if anything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10886 could be gathered from this quarter. The mews were active, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10887 Piccadilly houses being mostly in occupation. I asked one or two of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10888 grooms and helpers whom I saw around if they could tell me anything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10889 about the empty house. One of them said that he heard it had lately been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10890 taken, but he couldn't say from whom. He told me, however, that up to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10891 very lately there had been a notice-board of "For Sale" up, and that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10892 perhaps Mitchell, Sons, & Candy, the house agents, could tell me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10893 something, as he thought he remembered seeing the name of that firm on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10894 the board. I did not wish to seem too eager, or to let my informant know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10895 or guess too much, so, thanking him in the usual manner, I strolled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10896 away. It was now growing dusk, and the autumn night was closing in, so I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10897 did not lose any time. Having learned the address of Mitchell, Sons, &
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10898 Candy from a directory at the Berkeley, I was soon at their office in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10899 Sackville Street.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10900
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10901 The gentleman who saw me was particularly suave in manner, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10902 uncommunicative in equal proportion. Having once told me that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10903 Piccadilly house--which throughout our interview he called a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10904 "mansion"--was sold, he considered my business as concluded. When I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10905 asked who had purchased it, he opened his eyes a thought wider, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10906 paused a few seconds before replying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10907
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10908 "It is sold, sir."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10909
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10910 "Pardon me," I said, with equal politeness, "but I have a special reason
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10911 for wishing to know who purchased it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10912
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10913 Again he paused longer, and raised his eyebrows still more. "It is sold,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10914 sir," was again his laconic reply.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10915
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10916 "Surely," I said, "you do not mind letting me know so much."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10917
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10918 "But I do mind," he answered. "The affairs of their clients are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10919 absolutely safe in the hands of Mitchell, Sons, & Candy." This was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10920 manifestly a prig of the first water, and there was no use arguing with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10921 him. I thought I had best meet him on his own ground, so I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10922
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10923 "Your clients, sir, are happy in having so resolute a guardian of their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10924 confidence. I am myself a professional man." Here I handed him my card.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10925 "In this instance I am not prompted by curiosity; I act on the part of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10926 Lord Godalming, who wishes to know something of the property which was,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10927 he understood, lately for sale." These words put a different complexion
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10928 on affairs. He said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10929
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10930 "I would like to oblige you if I could, Mr. Harker, and especially would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10931 I like to oblige his lordship. We once carried out a small matter of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10932 renting some chambers for him when he was the Honourable Arthur
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10933 Holmwood. If you will let me have his lordship's address I will consult
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10934 the House on the subject, and will, in any case, communicate with his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10935 lordship by to-night's post. It will be a pleasure if we can so far
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10936 deviate from our rules as to give the required information to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10937 lordship."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10938
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10939 I wanted to secure a friend, and not to make an enemy, so I thanked him,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10940 gave the address at Dr. Seward's and came away. It was now dark, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10941 was tired and hungry. I got a cup of tea at the Aërated Bread Company
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10942 and came down to Purfleet by the next train.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10943
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10944 I found all the others at home. Mina was looking tired and pale, but she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10945 made a gallant effort to be bright and cheerful, it wrung my heart to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10946 think that I had had to keep anything from her and so caused her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10947 inquietude. Thank God, this will be the last night of her looking on at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10948 our conferences, and feeling the sting of our not showing our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10949 confidence. It took all my courage to hold to the wise resolution of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10950 keeping her out of our grim task. She seems somehow more reconciled; or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10951 else the very subject seems to have become repugnant to her, for when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10952 any accidental allusion is made she actually shudders. I am glad we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10953 made our resolution in time, as with such a feeling as this, our growing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10954 knowledge would be torture to her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10955
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10956 I could not tell the others of the day's discovery till we were alone;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10957 so after dinner--followed by a little music to save appearances even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10958 amongst ourselves--I took Mina to her room and left her to go to bed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10959 The dear girl was more affectionate with me than ever, and clung to me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10960 as though she would detain me; but there was much to be talked of and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10961 came away. Thank God, the ceasing of telling things has made no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10962 difference between us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10963
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10964 When I came down again I found the others all gathered round the fire in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10965 the study. In the train I had written my diary so far, and simply read
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10966 it off to them as the best means of letting them get abreast of my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10967 information; when I had finished Van Helsing said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10968
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10969 "This has been a great day's work, friend Jonathan. Doubtless we are on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10970 the track of the missing boxes. If we find them all in that house, then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10971 our work is near the end. But if there be some missing, we must search
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10972 until we find them. Then shall we make our final _coup_, and hunt the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10973 wretch to his real death." We all sat silent awhile and all at once Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10974 Morris spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10975
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10976 "Say! how are we going to get into that house?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10977
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10978 "We got into the other," answered Lord Godalming quickly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10979
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10980 "But, Art, this is different. We broke house at Carfax, but we had night
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10981 and a walled park to protect us. It will be a mighty different thing to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10982 commit burglary in Piccadilly, either by day or night. I confess I don't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10983 see how we are going to get in unless that agency duck can find us a key
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10984 of some sort; perhaps we shall know when you get his letter in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10985 morning." Lord Godalming's brows contracted, and he stood up and walked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10986 about the room. By-and-by he stopped and said, turning from one to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10987 another of us:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10988
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10989 "Quincey's head is level. This burglary business is getting serious; we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10990 got off once all right; but we have now a rare job on hand--unless we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10991 can find the Count's key basket."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10992
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10993 As nothing could well be done before morning, and as it would be at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10994 least advisable to wait till Lord Godalming should hear from Mitchell's,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10995 we decided not to take any active step before breakfast time. For a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10996 while we sat and smoked, discussing the matter in its various lights and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10997 bearings; I took the opportunity of bringing this diary right up to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10998 moment. I am very sleepy and shall go to bed....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 10999
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11000 Just a line. Mina sleeps soundly and her breathing is regular. Her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11001 forehead is puckered up into little wrinkles, as though she thinks even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11002 in her sleep. She is still too pale, but does not look so haggard as she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11003 did this morning. To-morrow will, I hope, mend all this; she will be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11004 herself at home in Exeter. Oh, but I am sleepy!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11005
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11006
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11007 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11008
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11009 _1 October._--I am puzzled afresh about Renfield. His moods change so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11010 rapidly that I find it difficult to keep touch of them, and as they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11011 always mean something more than his own well-being, they form a more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11012 than interesting study. This morning, when I went to see him after his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11013 repulse of Van Helsing, his manner was that of a man commanding destiny.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11014 He was, in fact, commanding destiny--subjectively. He did not really
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11015 care for any of the things of mere earth; he was in the clouds and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11016 looked down on all the weaknesses and wants of us poor mortals. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11017 thought I would improve the occasion and learn something, so I asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11018 him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11019
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11020 "What about the flies these times?" He smiled on me in quite a superior
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11021 sort of way--such a smile as would have become the face of Malvolio--as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11022 he answered me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11023
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11024 "The fly, my dear sir, has one striking feature; its wings are typical
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11025 of the aërial powers of the psychic faculties. The ancients did well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11026 when they typified the soul as a butterfly!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11027
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11028 I thought I would push his analogy to its utmost logically, so I said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11029 quickly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11030
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11031 "Oh, it is a soul you are after now, is it?" His madness foiled his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11032 reason, and a puzzled look spread over his face as, shaking his head
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11033 with a decision which I had but seldom seen in him, he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11034
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11035 "Oh, no, oh no! I want no souls. Life is all I want." Here he brightened
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11036 up; "I am pretty indifferent about it at present. Life is all right; I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11037 have all I want. You must get a new patient, doctor, if you wish to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11038 study zoöphagy!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11039
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11040 This puzzled me a little, so I drew him on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11041
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11042 "Then you command life; you are a god, I suppose?" He smiled with an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11043 ineffably benign superiority.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11044
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11045 "Oh no! Far be it from me to arrogate to myself the attributes of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11046 Deity. I am not even concerned in His especially spiritual doings. If I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11047 may state my intellectual position I am, so far as concerns things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11048 purely terrestrial, somewhat in the position which Enoch occupied
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11049 spiritually!" This was a poser to me. I could not at the moment recall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11050 Enoch's appositeness; so I had to ask a simple question, though I felt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11051 that by so doing I was lowering myself in the eyes of the lunatic:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11052
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11053 "And why with Enoch?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11054
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11055 "Because he walked with God." I could not see the analogy, but did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11056 like to admit it; so I harked back to what he had denied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11057
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11058 "So you don't care about life and you don't want souls. Why not?" I put
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11059 my question quickly and somewhat sternly, on purpose to disconcert him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11060 The effort succeeded; for an instant he unconsciously relapsed into his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11061 old servile manner, bent low before me, and actually fawned upon me as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11062 he replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11063
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11064 "I don't want any souls, indeed, indeed! I don't. I couldn't use them if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11065 I had them; they would be no manner of use to me. I couldn't eat them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11066 or----" He suddenly stopped and the old cunning look spread over his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11067 face, like a wind-sweep on the surface of the water. "And doctor, as to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11068 life, what is it after all? When you've got all you require, and you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11069 know that you will never want, that is all. I have friends--good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11070 friends--like you, Dr. Seward"; this was said with a leer of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11071 inexpressible cunning. "I know that I shall never lack the means of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11072 life!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11073
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11074 I think that through the cloudiness of his insanity he saw some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11075 antagonism in me, for he at once fell back on the last refuge of such as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11076 he--a dogged silence. After a short time I saw that for the present it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11077 was useless to speak to him. He was sulky, and so I came away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11078
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11079 Later in the day he sent for me. Ordinarily I would not have come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11080 without special reason, but just at present I am so interested in him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11081 that I would gladly make an effort. Besides, I am glad to have anything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11082 to help to pass the time. Harker is out, following up clues; and so are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11083 Lord Godalming and Quincey. Van Helsing sits in my study poring over the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11084 record prepared by the Harkers; he seems to think that by accurate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11085 knowledge of all details he will light upon some clue. He does not wish
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11086 to be disturbed in the work, without cause. I would have taken him with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11087 me to see the patient, only I thought that after his last repulse he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11088 might not care to go again. There was also another reason: Renfield
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11089 might not speak so freely before a third person as when he and I were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11090 alone.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11091
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11092 I found him sitting out in the middle of the floor on his stool, a pose
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11093 which is generally indicative of some mental energy on his part. When I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11094 came in, he said at once, as though the question had been waiting on his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11095 lips:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11096
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11097 "What about souls?" It was evident then that my surmise had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11098 correct. Unconscious cerebration was doing its work, even with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11099 lunatic. I determined to have the matter out. "What about them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11100 yourself?" I asked. He did not reply for a moment but looked all round
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11101 him, and up and down, as though he expected to find some inspiration for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11102 an answer.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11103
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11104 "I don't want any souls!" he said in a feeble, apologetic way. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11105 matter seemed preying on his mind, and so I determined to use it--to "be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11106 cruel only to be kind." So I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11107
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11108 "You like life, and you want life?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11109
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11110 "Oh yes! but that is all right; you needn't worry about that!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11111
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11112 "But," I asked, "how are we to get the life without getting the soul
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11113 also?" This seemed to puzzle him, so I followed it up:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11114
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11115 "A nice time you'll have some time when you're flying out there, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11116 the souls of thousands of flies and spiders and birds and cats buzzing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11117 and twittering and miauing all round you. You've got their lives, you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11118 know, and you must put up with their souls!" Something seemed to affect
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11119 his imagination, for he put his fingers to his ears and shut his eyes,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11120 screwing them up tightly just as a small boy does when his face is being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11121 soaped. There was something pathetic in it that touched me; it also gave
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11122 me a lesson, for it seemed that before me was a child--only a child,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11123 though the features were worn, and the stubble on the jaws was white. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11124 was evident that he was undergoing some process of mental disturbance,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11125 and, knowing how his past moods had interpreted things seemingly foreign
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11126 to himself, I thought I would enter into his mind as well as I could and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11127 go with him. The first step was to restore confidence, so I asked him,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11128 speaking pretty loud so that he would hear me through his closed ears:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11129
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11130 "Would you like some sugar to get your flies round again?" He seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11131 wake up all at once, and shook his head. With a laugh he replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11132
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11133 "Not much! flies are poor things, after all!" After a pause he added,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11134 "But I don't want their souls buzzing round me, all the same."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11135
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11136 "Or spiders?" I went on.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11137
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11138 "Blow spiders! What's the use of spiders? There isn't anything in them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11139 to eat or"--he stopped suddenly, as though reminded of a forbidden
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11140 topic.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11141
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11142 "So, so!" I thought to myself, "this is the second time he has suddenly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11143 stopped at the word 'drink'; what does it mean?" Renfield seemed himself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11144 aware of having made a lapse, for he hurried on, as though to distract
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11145 my attention from it:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11146
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11147 "I don't take any stock at all in such matters. 'Rats and mice and such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11148 small deer,' as Shakespeare has it, 'chicken-feed of the larder' they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11149 might be called. I'm past all that sort of nonsense. You might as well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11150 ask a man to eat molecules with a pair of chop-sticks, as to try to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11151 interest me about the lesser carnivora, when I know of what is before
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11152 me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11153
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11154 "I see," I said. "You want big things that you can make your teeth meet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11155 in? How would you like to breakfast on elephant?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11156
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11157 "What ridiculous nonsense you are talking!" He was getting too wide
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11158 awake, so I thought I would press him hard. "I wonder," I said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11159 reflectively, "what an elephant's soul is like!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11160
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11161 The effect I desired was obtained, for he at once fell from his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11162 high-horse and became a child again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11163
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11164 "I don't want an elephant's soul, or any soul at all!" he said. For a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11165 few moments he sat despondently. Suddenly he jumped to his feet, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11166 his eyes blazing and all the signs of intense cerebral excitement. "To
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11167 hell with you and your souls!" he shouted. "Why do you plague me about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11168 souls? Haven't I got enough to worry, and pain, and distract me already,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11169 without thinking of souls!" He looked so hostile that I thought he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11170 in for another homicidal fit, so I blew my whistle. The instant,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11171 however, that I did so he became calm, and said apologetically:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11172
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11173 "Forgive me, Doctor; I forgot myself. You do not need any help. I am so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11174 worried in my mind that I am apt to be irritable. If you only knew the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11175 problem I have to face, and that I am working out, you would pity, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11176 tolerate, and pardon me. Pray do not put me in a strait-waistcoat. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11177 want to think and I cannot think freely when my body is confined. I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11178 sure you will understand!" He had evidently self-control; so when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11179 attendants came I told them not to mind, and they withdrew. Renfield
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11180 watched them go; when the door was closed he said, with considerable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11181 dignity and sweetness:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11182
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11183 "Dr. Seward, you have been very considerate towards me. Believe me that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11184 I am very, very grateful to you!" I thought it well to leave him in this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11185 mood, and so I came away. There is certainly something to ponder over in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11186 this man's state. Several points seem to make what the American
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11187 interviewer calls "a story," if one could only get them in proper order.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11188 Here they are:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11189
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11190 Will not mention "drinking."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11191
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11192 Fears the thought of being burdened with the "soul" of anything.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11193
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11194 Has no dread of wanting "life" in the future.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11195
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11196 Despises the meaner forms of life altogether, though he dreads being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11197 haunted by their souls.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11198
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11199 Logically all these things point one way! he has assurance of some kind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11200 that he will acquire some higher life. He dreads the consequence--the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11201 burden of a soul. Then it is a human life he looks to!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11202
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11203 And the assurance--?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11204
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11205 Merciful God! the Count has been to him, and there is some new scheme of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11206 terror afoot!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11207
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11208 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11209
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11210 _Later._--I went after my round to Van Helsing and told him my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11211 suspicion. He grew very grave; and, after thinking the matter over for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11212 while asked me to take him to Renfield. I did so. As we came to the door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11213 we heard the lunatic within singing gaily, as he used to do in the time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11214 which now seems so long ago. When we entered we saw with amazement that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11215 he had spread out his sugar as of old; the flies, lethargic with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11216 autumn, were beginning to buzz into the room. We tried to make him talk
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11217 of the subject of our previous conversation, but he would not attend. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11218 went on with his singing, just as though we had not been present. He had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11219 got a scrap of paper and was folding it into a note-book. We had to come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11220 away as ignorant as we went in.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11221
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11222 His is a curious case indeed; we must watch him to-night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11223
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11224
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11225 _Letter, Mitchell, Sons and Candy to Lord Godalming._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11226
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11227 _"1 October._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11228
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11229 "My Lord,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11230
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11231 "We are at all times only too happy to meet your wishes. We beg, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11232 regard to the desire of your Lordship, expressed by Mr. Harker on your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11233 behalf, to supply the following information concerning the sale and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11234 purchase of No. 347, Piccadilly. The original vendors are the executors
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11235 of the late Mr. Archibald Winter-Suffield. The purchaser is a foreign
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11236 nobleman, Count de Ville, who effected the purchase himself paying the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11237 purchase money in notes 'over the counter,' if your Lordship will pardon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11238 us using so vulgar an expression. Beyond this we know nothing whatever
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11239 of him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11240
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11241 "We are, my Lord,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11242
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11243 "Your Lordship's humble servants,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11244
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11245 "MITCHELL, SONS & CANDY."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11246
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11247
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11248 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11249
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11250 _2 October._--I placed a man in the corridor last night, and told him to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11251 make an accurate note of any sound he might hear from Renfield's room,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11252 and gave him instructions that if there should be anything strange he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11253 was to call me. After dinner, when we had all gathered round the fire
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11254 in the study--Mrs. Harker having gone to bed--we discussed the attempts
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11255 and discoveries of the day. Harker was the only one who had any result,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11256 and we are in great hopes that his clue may be an important one.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11257
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11258 Before going to bed I went round to the patient's room and looked in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11259 through the observation trap. He was sleeping soundly, and his heart
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11260 rose and fell with regular respiration.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11261
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11262 This morning the man on duty reported to me that a little after midnight
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11263 he was restless and kept saying his prayers somewhat loudly. I asked him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11264 if that was all; he replied that it was all he heard. There was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11265 something about his manner so suspicious that I asked him point blank if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11266 he had been asleep. He denied sleep, but admitted to having "dozed" for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11267 a while. It is too bad that men cannot be trusted unless they are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11268 watched.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11269
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11270 To-day Harker is out following up his clue, and Art and Quincey are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11271 looking after horses. Godalming thinks that it will be well to have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11272 horses always in readiness, for when we get the information which we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11273 seek there will be no time to lose. We must sterilise all the imported
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11274 earth between sunrise and sunset; we shall thus catch the Count at his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11275 weakest, and without a refuge to fly to. Van Helsing is off to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11276 British Museum looking up some authorities on ancient medicine. The old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11277 physicians took account of things which their followers do not accept,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11278 and the Professor is searching for witch and demon cures which may be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11279 useful to us later.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11280
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11281 I sometimes think we must be all mad and that we shall wake to sanity in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11282 strait-waistcoats.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11283
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11284 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11285
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11286 _Later._--We have met again. We seem at last to be on the track, and our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11287 work of to-morrow may be the beginning of the end. I wonder if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11288 Renfield's quiet has anything to do with this. His moods have so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11289 followed the doings of the Count, that the coming destruction of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11290 monster may be carried to him in some subtle way. If we could only get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11291 some hint as to what passed in his mind, between the time of my argument
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11292 with him to-day and his resumption of fly-catching, it might afford us a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11293 valuable clue. He is now seemingly quiet for a spell.... Is he?---- That
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11294 wild yell seemed to come from his room....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11295
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11296 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11297
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11298 The attendant came bursting into my room and told me that Renfield had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11299 somehow met with some accident. He had heard him yell; and when he went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11300 to him found him lying on his face on the floor, all covered with blood.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11301 I must go at once....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11302
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11303
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11304
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11305
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11306 CHAPTER XXI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11307
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11308 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11309
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11310
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11311 _3 October._--Let me put down with exactness all that happened, as well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11312 as I can remember it, since last I made an entry. Not a detail that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11313 can recall must be forgotten; in all calmness I must proceed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11314
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11315 When I came to Renfield's room I found him lying on the floor on his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11316 left side in a glittering pool of blood. When I went to move him, it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11317 became at once apparent that he had received some terrible injuries;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11318 there seemed none of that unity of purpose between the parts of the body
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11319 which marks even lethargic sanity. As the face was exposed I could see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11320 that it was horribly bruised, as though it had been beaten against the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11321 floor--indeed it was from the face wounds that the pool of blood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11322 originated. The attendant who was kneeling beside the body said to me as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11323 we turned him over:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11324
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11325 "I think, sir, his back is broken. See, both his right arm and leg and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11326 the whole side of his face are paralysed." How such a thing could have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11327 happened puzzled the attendant beyond measure. He seemed quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11328 bewildered, and his brows were gathered in as he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11329
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11330 "I can't understand the two things. He could mark his face like that by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11331 beating his own head on the floor. I saw a young woman do it once at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11332 Eversfield Asylum before anyone could lay hands on her. And I suppose he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11333 might have broke his neck by falling out of bed, if he got in an awkward
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11334 kink. But for the life of me I can't imagine how the two things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11335 occurred. If his back was broke, he couldn't beat his head; and if his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11336 face was like that before the fall out of bed, there would be marks of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11337 it." I said to him:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11338
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11339 "Go to Dr. Van Helsing, and ask him to kindly come here at once. I want
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11340 him without an instant's delay." The man ran off, and within a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11341 minutes the Professor, in his dressing gown and slippers, appeared. When
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11342 he saw Renfield on the ground, he looked keenly at him a moment, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11343 then turned to me. I think he recognised my thought in my eyes, for he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11344 said very quietly, manifestly for the ears of the attendant:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11345
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11346 "Ah, a sad accident! He will need very careful watching, and much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11347 attention. I shall stay with you myself; but I shall first dress myself.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11348 If you will remain I shall in a few minutes join you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11349
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11350 The patient was now breathing stertorously and it was easy to see that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11351 he had suffered some terrible injury. Van Helsing returned with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11352 extraordinary celerity, bearing with him a surgical case. He had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11353 evidently been thinking and had his mind made up; for, almost before he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11354 looked at the patient, he whispered to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11355
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11356 "Send the attendant away. We must be alone with him when he becomes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11357 conscious, after the operation." So I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11358
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11359 "I think that will do now, Simmons. We have done all that we can at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11360 present. You had better go your round, and Dr. Van Helsing will operate.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11361 Let me know instantly if there be anything unusual anywhere."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11362
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11363 The man withdrew, and we went into a strict examination of the patient.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11364 The wounds of the face was superficial; the real injury was a depressed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11365 fracture of the skull, extending right up through the motor area. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11366 Professor thought a moment and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11367
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11368 "We must reduce the pressure and get back to normal conditions, as far
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11369 as can be; the rapidity of the suffusion shows the terrible nature of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11370 his injury. The whole motor area seems affected. The suffusion of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11371 brain will increase quickly, so we must trephine at once or it may be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11372 too late." As he was speaking there was a soft tapping at the door. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11373 went over and opened it and found in the corridor without, Arthur and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11374 Quincey in pajamas and slippers: the former spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11375
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11376 "I heard your man call up Dr. Van Helsing and tell him of an accident.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11377 So I woke Quincey or rather called for him as he was not asleep. Things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11378 are moving too quickly and too strangely for sound sleep for any of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11379 these times. I've been thinking that to-morrow night will not see things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11380 as they have been. We'll have to look back--and forward a little more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11381 than we have done. May we come in?" I nodded, and held the door open
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11382 till they had entered; then I closed it again. When Quincey saw the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11383 attitude and state of the patient, and noted the horrible pool on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11384 floor, he said softly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11385
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11386 "My God! what has happened to him? Poor, poor devil!" I told him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11387 briefly, and added that we expected he would recover consciousness after
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11388 the operation--for a short time, at all events. He went at once and sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11389 down on the edge of the bed, with Godalming beside him; we all watched
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11390 in patience.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11391
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11392 "We shall wait," said Van Helsing, "just long enough to fix the best
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11393 spot for trephining, so that we may most quickly and perfectly remove
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11394 the blood clot; for it is evident that the hæmorrhage is increasing."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11395
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11396 The minutes during which we waited passed with fearful slowness. I had a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11397 horrible sinking in my heart, and from Van Helsing's face I gathered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11398 that he felt some fear or apprehension as to what was to come. I dreaded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11399 the words that Renfield might speak. I was positively afraid to think;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11400 but the conviction of what was coming was on me, as I have read of men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11401 who have heard the death-watch. The poor man's breathing came in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11402 uncertain gasps. Each instant he seemed as though he would open his eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11403 and speak; but then would follow a prolonged stertorous breath, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11404 would relapse into a more fixed insensibility. Inured as I was to sick
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11405 beds and death, this suspense grew, and grew upon me. I could almost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11406 hear the beating of my own heart; and the blood surging through my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11407 temples sounded like blows from a hammer. The silence finally became
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11408 agonising. I looked at my companions, one after another, and saw from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11409 their flushed faces and damp brows that they were enduring equal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11410 torture. There was a nervous suspense over us all, as though overhead
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11411 some dread bell would peal out powerfully when we should least expect
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11412 it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11413
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11414 At last there came a time when it was evident that the patient was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11415 sinking fast; he might die at any moment. I looked up at the Professor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11416 and caught his eyes fixed on mine. His face was sternly set as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11417 spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11418
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11419 "There is no time to lose. His words may be worth many lives; I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11420 been thinking so, as I stood here. It may be there is a soul at stake!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11421 We shall operate just above the ear."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11422
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11423 Without another word he made the operation. For a few moments the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11424 breathing continued to be stertorous. Then there came a breath so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11425 prolonged that it seemed as though it would tear open his chest.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11426 Suddenly his eyes opened, and became fixed in a wild, helpless stare.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11427 This was continued for a few moments; then it softened into a glad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11428 surprise, and from the lips came a sigh of relief. He moved
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11429 convulsively, and as he did so, said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11430
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11431 "I'll be quiet, Doctor. Tell them to take off the strait-waistcoat. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11432 have had a terrible dream, and it has left me so weak that I cannot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11433 move. What's wrong with my face? it feels all swollen, and it smarts
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11434 dreadfully." He tried to turn his head; but even with the effort his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11435 eyes seemed to grow glassy again so I gently put it back. Then Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11436 Helsing said in a quiet grave tone:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11437
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11438 "Tell us your dream, Mr. Renfield." As he heard the voice his face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11439 brightened, through its mutilation, and he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11440
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11441 "That is Dr. Van Helsing. How good it is of you to be here. Give me some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11442 water, my lips are dry; and I shall try to tell you. I dreamed"--he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11443 stopped and seemed fainting, I called quietly to Quincey--"The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11444 brandy--it is in my study--quick!" He flew and returned with a glass,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11445 the decanter of brandy and a carafe of water. We moistened the parched
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11446 lips, and the patient quickly revived. It seemed, however, that his poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11447 injured brain had been working in the interval, for, when he was quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11448 conscious, he looked at me piercingly with an agonised confusion which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11449 shall never forget, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11450
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11451 "I must not deceive myself; it was no dream, but all a grim reality."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11452 Then his eyes roved round the room; as they caught sight of the two
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11453 figures sitting patiently on the edge of the bed he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11454
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11455 "If I were not sure already, I would know from them." For an instant his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11456 eyes closed--not with pain or sleep but voluntarily, as though he were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11457 bringing all his faculties to bear; when he opened them he said,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11458 hurriedly, and with more energy than he had yet displayed:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11459
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11460 "Quick, Doctor, quick. I am dying! I feel that I have but a few minutes;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11461 and then I must go back to death--or worse! Wet my lips with brandy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11462 again. I have something that I must say before I die; or before my poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11463 crushed brain dies anyhow. Thank you! It was that night after you left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11464 me, when I implored you to let me go away. I couldn't speak then, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11465 felt my tongue was tied; but I was as sane then, except in that way, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11466 I am now. I was in an agony of despair for a long time after you left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11467 me; it seemed hours. Then there came a sudden peace to me. My brain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11468 seemed to become cool again, and I realised where I was. I heard the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11469 dogs bark behind our house, but not where He was!" As he spoke, Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11470 Helsing's eyes never blinked, but his hand came out and met mine and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11471 gripped it hard. He did not, however, betray himself; he nodded slightly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11472 and said: "Go on," in a low voice. Renfield proceeded:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11473
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11474 "He came up to the window in the mist, as I had seen him often before;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11475 but he was solid then--not a ghost, and his eyes were fierce like a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11476 man's when angry. He was laughing with his red mouth; the sharp white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11477 teeth glinted in the moonlight when he turned to look back over the belt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11478 of trees, to where the dogs were barking. I wouldn't ask him to come in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11479 at first, though I knew he wanted to--just as he had wanted all along.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11480 Then he began promising me things--not in words but by doing them." He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11481 was interrupted by a word from the Professor:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11482
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11483 "How?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11484
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11485 "By making them happen; just as he used to send in the flies when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11486 sun was shining. Great big fat ones with steel and sapphire on their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11487 wings; and big moths, in the night, with skull and cross-bones on their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11488 backs." Van Helsing nodded to him as he whispered to me unconsciously:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11489
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11490 "The _Acherontia Aitetropos of the Sphinges_--what you call the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11491 'Death's-head Moth'?" The patient went on without stopping.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11492
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11493 "Then he began to whisper: 'Rats, rats, rats! Hundreds, thousands,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11494 millions of them, and every one a life; and dogs to eat them, and cats
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11495 too. All lives! all red blood, with years of life in it; and not merely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11496 buzzing flies!' I laughed at him, for I wanted to see what he could do.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11497 Then the dogs howled, away beyond the dark trees in His house. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11498 beckoned me to the window. I got up and looked out, and He raised his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11499 hands, and seemed to call out without using any words. A dark mass
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11500 spread over the grass, coming on like the shape of a flame of fire; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11501 then He moved the mist to the right and left, and I could see that there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11502 were thousands of rats with their eyes blazing red--like His, only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11503 smaller. He held up his hand, and they all stopped; and I thought he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11504 seemed to be saying: 'All these lives will I give you, ay, and many more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11505 and greater, through countless ages, if you will fall down and worship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11506 me!' And then a red cloud, like the colour of blood, seemed to close
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11507 over my eyes; and before I knew what I was doing, I found myself opening
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11508 the sash and saying to Him: 'Come in, Lord and Master!' The rats were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11509 all gone, but He slid into the room through the sash, though it was only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11510 open an inch wide--just as the Moon herself has often come in through
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11511 the tiniest crack and has stood before me in all her size and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11512 splendour."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11513
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11514 His voice was weaker, so I moistened his lips with the brandy again, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11515 he continued; but it seemed as though his memory had gone on working in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11516 the interval for his story was further advanced. I was about to call him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11517 back to the point, but Van Helsing whispered to me: "Let him go on. Do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11518 not interrupt him; he cannot go back, and maybe could not proceed at all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11519 if once he lost the thread of his thought." He proceeded:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11520
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11521 "All day I waited to hear from him, but he did not send me anything, not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11522 even a blow-fly, and when the moon got up I was pretty angry with him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11523 When he slid in through the window, though it was shut, and did not even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11524 knock, I got mad with him. He sneered at me, and his white face looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11525 out of the mist with his red eyes gleaming, and he went on as though he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11526 owned the whole place, and I was no one. He didn't even smell the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11527 as he went by me. I couldn't hold him. I thought that, somehow, Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11528 Harker had come into the room."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11529
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11530 The two men sitting on the bed stood up and came over, standing behind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11531 him so that he could not see them, but where they could hear better.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11532 They were both silent, but the Professor started and quivered; his face,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11533 however, grew grimmer and sterner still. Renfield went on without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11534 noticing:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11535
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11536 "When Mrs. Harker came in to see me this afternoon she wasn't the same;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11537 it was like tea after the teapot had been watered." Here we all moved,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11538 but no one said a word; he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11539
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11540 "I didn't know that she was here till she spoke; and she didn't look the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11541 same. I don't care for the pale people; I like them with lots of blood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11542 in them, and hers had all seemed to have run out. I didn't think of it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11543 at the time; but when she went away I began to think, and it made me mad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11544 to know that He had been taking the life out of her." I could feel that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11545 the rest quivered, as I did, but we remained otherwise still. "So when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11546 He came to-night I was ready for Him. I saw the mist stealing in, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11547 grabbed it tight. I had heard that madmen have unnatural strength; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11548 as I knew I was a madman--at times anyhow--I resolved to use my power.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11549 Ay, and He felt it too, for He had to come out of the mist to struggle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11550 with me. I held tight; and I thought I was going to win, for I didn't
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11551 mean Him to take any more of her life, till I saw His eyes. They burned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11552 into me, and my strength became like water. He slipped through it, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11553 when I tried to cling to Him, He raised me up and flung me down. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11554 was a red cloud before me, and a noise like thunder, and the mist seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11555 to steal away under the door." His voice was becoming fainter and his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11556 breath more stertorous. Van Helsing stood up instinctively.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11557
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11558 "We know the worst now," he said. "He is here, and we know his purpose.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11559 It may not be too late. Let us be armed--the same as we were the other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11560 night, but lose no time; there is not an instant to spare." There was no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11561 need to put our fear, nay our conviction, into words--we shared them in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11562 common. We all hurried and took from our rooms the same things that we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11563 had when we entered the Count's house. The Professor had his ready, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11564 as we met in the corridor he pointed to them significantly as he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11565
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11566 "They never leave me; and they shall not till this unhappy business is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11567 over. Be wise also, my friends. It is no common enemy that we deal with.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11568 Alas! alas! that that dear Madam Mina should suffer!" He stopped; his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11569 voice was breaking, and I do not know if rage or terror predominated in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11570 my own heart.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11571
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11572 Outside the Harkers' door we paused. Art and Quincey held back, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11573 latter said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11574
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11575 "Should we disturb her?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11576
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11577 "We must," said Van Helsing grimly. "If the door be locked, I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11578 break it in."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11579
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11580 "May it not frighten her terribly? It is unusual to break into a lady's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11581 room!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11582
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11583 Van Helsing said solemnly, "You are always right; but this is life and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11584 death. All chambers are alike to the doctor; and even were they not they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11585 are all as one to me to-night. Friend John, when I turn the handle, if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11586 the door does not open, do you put your shoulder down and shove; and you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11587 too, my friends. Now!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11588
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11589 He turned the handle as he spoke, but the door did not yield. We threw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11590 ourselves against it; with a crash it burst open, and we almost fell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11591 headlong into the room. The Professor did actually fall, and I saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11592 across him as he gathered himself up from hands and knees. What I saw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11593 appalled me. I felt my hair rise like bristles on the back of my neck,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11594 and my heart seemed to stand still.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11595
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11596 The moonlight was so bright that through the thick yellow blind the room
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11597 was light enough to see. On the bed beside the window lay Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11598 Harker, his face flushed and breathing heavily as though in a stupor.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11599 Kneeling on the near edge of the bed facing outwards was the white-clad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11600 figure of his wife. By her side stood a tall, thin man, clad in black.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11601 His face was turned from us, but the instant we saw we all recognised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11602 the Count--in every way, even to the scar on his forehead. With his left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11603 hand he held both Mrs. Harker's hands, keeping them away with her arms
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11604 at full tension; his right hand gripped her by the back of the neck,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11605 forcing her face down on his bosom. Her white nightdress was smeared
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11606 with blood, and a thin stream trickled down the man's bare breast which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11607 was shown by his torn-open dress. The attitude of the two had a terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11608 resemblance to a child forcing a kitten's nose into a saucer of milk to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11609 compel it to drink. As we burst into the room, the Count turned his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11610 face, and the hellish look that I had heard described seemed to leap
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11611 into it. His eyes flamed red with devilish passion; the great nostrils
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11612 of the white aquiline nose opened wide and quivered at the edge; and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11613 white sharp teeth, behind the full lips of the blood-dripping mouth,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11614 champed together like those of a wild beast. With a wrench, which threw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11615 his victim back upon the bed as though hurled from a height, he turned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11616 and sprang at us. But by this time the Professor had gained his feet,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11617 and was holding towards him the envelope which contained the Sacred
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11618 Wafer. The Count suddenly stopped, just as poor Lucy had done outside
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11619 the tomb, and cowered back. Further and further back he cowered, as we,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11620 lifting our crucifixes, advanced. The moonlight suddenly failed, as a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11621 great black cloud sailed across the sky; and when the gaslight sprang up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11622 under Quincey's match, we saw nothing but a faint vapour. This, as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11623 looked, trailed under the door, which with the recoil from its bursting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11624 open, had swung back to its old position. Van Helsing, Art, and I moved
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11625 forward to Mrs. Harker, who by this time had drawn her breath and with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11626 it had given a scream so wild, so ear-piercing, so despairing that it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11627 seems to me now that it will ring in my ears till my dying day. For a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11628 few seconds she lay in her helpless attitude and disarray. Her face was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11629 ghastly, with a pallor which was accentuated by the blood which smeared
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11630 her lips and cheeks and chin; from her throat trickled a thin stream of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11631 blood; her eyes were mad with terror. Then she put before her face her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11632 poor crushed hands, which bore on their whiteness the red mark of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11633 Count's terrible grip, and from behind them came a low desolate wail
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11634 which made the terrible scream seem only the quick expression of an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11635 endless grief. Van Helsing stepped forward and drew the coverlet gently
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11636 over her body, whilst Art, after looking at her face for an instant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11637 despairingly, ran out of the room. Van Helsing whispered to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11638
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11639 "Jonathan is in a stupor such as we know the Vampire can produce. We can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11640 do nothing with poor Madam Mina for a few moments till she recovers
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11641 herself; I must wake him!" He dipped the end of a towel in cold water
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11642 and with it began to flick him on the face, his wife all the while
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11643 holding her face between her hands and sobbing in a way that was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11644 heart-breaking to hear. I raised the blind, and looked out of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11645 window. There was much moonshine; and as I looked I could see Quincey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11646 Morris run across the lawn and hide himself in the shadow of a great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11647 yew-tree. It puzzled me to think why he was doing this; but at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11648 instant I heard Harker's quick exclamation as he woke to partial
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11649 consciousness, and turned to the bed. On his face, as there might well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11650 be, was a look of wild amazement. He seemed dazed for a few seconds, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11651 then full consciousness seemed to burst upon him all at once, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11652 started up. His wife was aroused by the quick movement, and turned to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11653 him with her arms stretched out, as though to embrace him; instantly,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11654 however, she drew them in again, and putting her elbows together, held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11655 her hands before her face, and shuddered till the bed beneath her shook.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11656
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11657 "In God's name what does this mean?" Harker cried out. "Dr. Seward, Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11658 Van Helsing, what is it? What has happened? What is wrong? Mina, dear,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11659 what is it? What does that blood mean? My God, my God! has it come to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11660 this!" and, raising himself to his knees, he beat his hands wildly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11661 together. "Good God help us! help her! oh, help her!" With a quick
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11662 movement he jumped from bed, and began to pull on his clothes,--all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11663 man in him awake at the need for instant exertion. "What has happened?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11664 Tell me all about it!" he cried without pausing. "Dr. Van Helsing, you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11665 love Mina, I know. Oh, do something to save her. It cannot have gone too
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11666 far yet. Guard her while I look for _him_!" His wife, through her terror
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11667 and horror and distress, saw some sure danger to him: instantly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11668 forgetting her own grief, she seized hold of him and cried out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11669
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11670 "No! no! Jonathan, you must not leave me. I have suffered enough
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11671 to-night, God knows, without the dread of his harming you. You must stay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11672 with me. Stay with these friends who will watch over you!" Her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11673 expression became frantic as she spoke; and, he yielding to her, she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11674 pulled him down sitting on the bed side, and clung to him fiercely.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11675
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11676 Van Helsing and I tried to calm them both. The Professor held up his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11677 little golden crucifix, and said with wonderful calmness:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11678
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11679 "Do not fear, my dear. We are here; and whilst this is close to you no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11680 foul thing can approach. You are safe for to-night; and we must be calm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11681 and take counsel together." She shuddered and was silent, holding down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11682 her head on her husband's breast. When she raised it, his white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11683 night-robe was stained with blood where her lips had touched, and where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11684 the thin open wound in her neck had sent forth drops. The instant she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11685 saw it she drew back, with a low wail, and whispered, amidst choking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11686 sobs:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11687
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11688 "Unclean, unclean! I must touch him or kiss him no more. Oh, that it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11689 should be that it is I who am now his worst enemy, and whom he may have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11690 most cause to fear." To this he spoke out resolutely:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11691
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11692 "Nonsense, Mina. It is a shame to me to hear such a word. I would not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11693 hear it of you; and I shall not hear it from you. May God judge me by my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11694 deserts, and punish me with more bitter suffering than even this hour,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11695 if by any act or will of mine anything ever come between us!" He put out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11696 his arms and folded her to his breast; and for a while she lay there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11697 sobbing. He looked at us over her bowed head, with eyes that blinked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11698 damply above his quivering nostrils; his mouth was set as steel. After a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11699 while her sobs became less frequent and more faint, and then he said to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11700 me, speaking with a studied calmness which I felt tried his nervous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11701 power to the utmost:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11702
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11703 "And now, Dr. Seward, tell me all about it. Too well I know the broad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11704 fact; tell me all that has been." I told him exactly what had happened,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11705 and he listened with seeming impassiveness; but his nostrils twitched
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11706 and his eyes blazed as I told how the ruthless hands of the Count had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11707 held his wife in that terrible and horrid position, with her mouth to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11708 the open wound in his breast. It interested me, even at that moment, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11709 see, that, whilst the face of white set passion worked convulsively over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11710 the bowed head, the hands tenderly and lovingly stroked the ruffled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11711 hair. Just as I had finished, Quincey and Godalming knocked at the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11712 They entered in obedience to our summons. Van Helsing looked at me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11713 questioningly. I understood him to mean if we were to take advantage of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11714 their coming to divert if possible the thoughts of the unhappy husband
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11715 and wife from each other and from themselves; so on nodding acquiescence
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11716 to him he asked them what they had seen or done. To which Lord Godalming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11717 answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11718
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11719 "I could not see him anywhere in the passage, or in any of our rooms. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11720 looked in the study but, though he had been there, he had gone. He had,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11721 however----" He stopped suddenly, looking at the poor drooping figure on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11722 the bed. Van Helsing said gravely:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11723
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11724 "Go on, friend Arthur. We want here no more concealments. Our hope now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11725 is in knowing all. Tell freely!" So Art went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11726
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11727 "He had been there, and though it could only have been for a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11728 seconds, he made rare hay of the place. All the manuscript had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11729 burned, and the blue flames were flickering amongst the white ashes; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11730 cylinders of your phonograph too were thrown on the fire, and the wax
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11731 had helped the flames." Here I interrupted. "Thank God there is the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11732 other copy in the safe!" His face lit for a moment, but fell again as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11733 went on: "I ran downstairs then, but could see no sign of him. I looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11734 into Renfield's room; but there was no trace there except----!" Again he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11735 paused. "Go on," said Harker hoarsely; so he bowed his head and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11736 moistening his lips with his tongue, added: "except that the poor fellow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11737 is dead." Mrs. Harker raised her head, looking from one to the other of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11738 us she said solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11739
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11740 "God's will be done!" I could not but feel that Art was keeping back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11741 something; but, as I took it that it was with a purpose, I said nothing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11742 Van Helsing turned to Morris and asked:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11743
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11744 "And you, friend Quincey, have you any to tell?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11745
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11746 "A little," he answered. "It may be much eventually, but at present I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11747 can't say. I thought it well to know if possible where the Count would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11748 go when he left the house. I did not see him; but I saw a bat rise from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11749 Renfield's window, and flap westward. I expected to see him in some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11750 shape go back to Carfax; but he evidently sought some other lair. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11751 will not be back to-night; for the sky is reddening in the east, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11752 dawn is close. We must work to-morrow!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11753
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11754 He said the latter words through his shut teeth. For a space of perhaps
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11755 a couple of minutes there was silence, and I could fancy that I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11756 hear the sound of our hearts beating; then Van Helsing said, placing his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11757 hand very tenderly on Mrs. Harker's head:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11758
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11759 "And now, Madam Mina--poor, dear, dear Madam Mina--tell us exactly what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11760 happened. God knows that I do not want that you be pained; but it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11761 need that we know all. For now more than ever has all work to be done
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11762 quick and sharp, and in deadly earnest. The day is close to us that must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11763 end all, if it may be so; and now is the chance that we may live and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11764 learn."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11765
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11766 The poor, dear lady shivered, and I could see the tension of her nerves
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11767 as she clasped her husband closer to her and bent her head lower and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11768 lower still on his breast. Then she raised her head proudly, and held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11769 out one hand to Van Helsing who took it in his, and, after stooping and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11770 kissing it reverently, held it fast. The other hand was locked in that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11771 of her husband, who held his other arm thrown round her protectingly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11772 After a pause in which she was evidently ordering her thoughts, she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11773 began:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11774
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11775 "I took the sleeping draught which you had so kindly given me, but for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11776 long time it did not act. I seemed to become more wakeful, and myriads
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11777 of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind--all of them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11778 connected with death, and vampires; with blood, and pain, and trouble."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11779 Her husband involuntarily groaned as she turned to him and said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11780 lovingly: "Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and help me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11781 through the horrible task. If you only knew what an effort it is to me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11782 to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand how much I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11783 need your help. Well, I saw I must try to help the medicine to its work
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11784 with my will, if it was to do me any good, so I resolutely set myself to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11785 sleep. Sure enough sleep must soon have come to me, for I remember no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11786 more. Jonathan coming in had not waked me, for he lay by my side when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11787 next I remember. There was in the room the same thin white mist that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11788 had before noticed. But I forget now if you know of this; you will find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11789 it in my diary which I shall show you later. I felt the same vague
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11790 terror which had come to me before and the same sense of some presence.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11791 I turned to wake Jonathan, but found that he slept so soundly that it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11792 seemed as if it was he who had taken the sleeping draught, and not I. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11793 tried, but I could not wake him. This caused me a great fear, and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11794 looked around terrified. Then indeed, my heart sank within me: beside
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11795 the bed, as if he had stepped out of the mist--or rather as if the mist
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11796 had turned into his figure, for it had entirely disappeared--stood a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11797 tall, thin man, all in black. I knew him at once from the description of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11798 the others. The waxen face; the high aquiline nose, on which the light
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11799 fell in a thin white line; the parted red lips, with the sharp white
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11800 teeth showing between; and the red eyes that I had seemed to see in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11801 sunset on the windows of St. Mary's Church at Whitby. I knew, too, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11802 red scar on his forehead where Jonathan had struck him. For an instant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11803 my heart stood still, and I would have screamed out, only that I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11804 paralysed. In the pause he spoke in a sort of keen, cutting whisper,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11805 pointing as he spoke to Jonathan:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11806
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11807 "'Silence! If you make a sound I shall take him and dash his brains out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11808 before your very eyes.' I was appalled and was too bewildered to do or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11809 say anything. With a mocking smile, he placed one hand upon my shoulder
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11810 and, holding me tight, bared my throat with the other, saying as he did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11811 so, 'First, a little refreshment to reward my exertions. You may as well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11812 be quiet; it is not the first time, or the second, that your veins have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11813 appeased my thirst!' I was bewildered, and, strangely enough, I did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11814 want to hinder him. I suppose it is a part of the horrible curse that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11815 such is, when his touch is on his victim. And oh, my God, my God, pity
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11816 me! He placed his reeking lips upon my throat!" Her husband groaned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11817 again. She clasped his hand harder, and looked at him pityingly, as if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11818 he were the injured one, and went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11819
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11820 "I felt my strength fading away, and I was in a half swoon. How long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11821 this horrible thing lasted I know not; but it seemed that a long time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11822 must have passed before he took his foul, awful, sneering mouth away. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11823 saw it drip with the fresh blood!" The remembrance seemed for a while to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11824 overpower her, and she drooped and would have sunk down but for her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11825 husband's sustaining arm. With a great effort she recovered herself and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11826 went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11827
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11828 "Then he spoke to me mockingly, 'And so you, like the others, would play
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11829 your brains against mine. You would help these men to hunt me and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11830 frustrate me in my designs! You know now, and they know in part already,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11831 and will know in full before long, what it is to cross my path. They
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11832 should have kept their energies for use closer to home. Whilst they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11833 played wits against me--against me who commanded nations, and intrigued
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11834 for them, and fought for them, hundreds of years before they were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11835 born--I was countermining them. And you, their best beloved one, are now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11836 to me, flesh of my flesh; blood of my blood; kin of my kin; my bountiful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11837 wine-press for a while; and shall be later on my companion and my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11838 helper. You shall be avenged in turn; for not one of them but shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11839 minister to your needs. But as yet you are to be punished for what you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11840 have done. You have aided in thwarting me; now you shall come to my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11841 call. When my brain says "Come!" to you, you shall cross land or sea to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11842 do my bidding; and to that end this!' With that he pulled open his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11843 shirt, and with his long sharp nails opened a vein in his breast. When
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11844 the blood began to spurt out, he took my hands in one of his, holding
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11845 them tight, and with the other seized my neck and pressed my mouth to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11846 the wound, so that I must either suffocate or swallow some of the---- Oh
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11847 my God! my God! what have I done? What have I done to deserve such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11848 fate, I who have tried to walk in meekness and righteousness all my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11849 days. God pity me! Look down on a poor soul in worse than mortal peril;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11850 and in mercy pity those to whom she is dear!" Then she began to rub her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11851 lips as though to cleanse them from pollution.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11852
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11853 As she was telling her terrible story, the eastern sky began to quicken,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11854 and everything became more and more clear. Harker was still and quiet;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11855 but over his face, as the awful narrative went on, came a grey look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11856 which deepened and deepened in the morning light, till when the first
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11857 red streak of the coming dawn shot up, the flesh stood darkly out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11858 against the whitening hair.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11859
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11860 We have arranged that one of us is to stay within call of the unhappy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11861 pair till we can meet together and arrange about taking action.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11862
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11863 Of this I am sure: the sun rises to-day on no more miserable house in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11864 all the great round of its daily course.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11865
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11866
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11867
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11868
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11869 CHAPTER XXII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11870
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11871 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11872
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11873
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11874 _3 October._--As I must do something or go mad, I write this diary. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11875 is now six o'clock, and we are to meet in the study in half an hour and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11876 take something to eat; for Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward are agreed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11877 that if we do not eat we cannot work our best. Our best will be, God
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11878 knows, required to-day. I must keep writing at every chance, for I dare
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11879 not stop to think. All, big and little, must go down; perhaps at the end
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11880 the little things may teach us most. The teaching, big or little, could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11881 not have landed Mina or me anywhere worse than we are to-day. However,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11882 we must trust and hope. Poor Mina told me just now, with the tears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11883 running down her dear cheeks, that it is in trouble and trial that our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11884 faith is tested--that we must keep on trusting; and that God will aid us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11885 up to the end. The end! oh my God! what end?... To work! To work!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11886
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11887 When Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward had come back from seeing poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11888 Renfield, we went gravely into what was to be done. First, Dr. Seward
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11889 told us that when he and Dr. Van Helsing had gone down to the room below
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11890 they had found Renfield lying on the floor, all in a heap. His face was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11891 all bruised and crushed in, and the bones of the neck were broken.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11892
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11893 Dr. Seward asked the attendant who was on duty in the passage if he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11894 heard anything. He said that he had been sitting down--he confessed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11895 half dozing--when he heard loud voices in the room, and then Renfield
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11896 had called out loudly several times, "God! God! God!" after that there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11897 was a sound of falling, and when he entered the room he found him lying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11898 on the floor, face down, just as the doctors had seen him. Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11899 asked if he had heard "voices" or "a voice," and he said he could not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11900 say; that at first it had seemed to him as if there were two, but as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11901 there was no one in the room it could have been only one. He could swear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11902 to it, if required, that the word "God" was spoken by the patient. Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11903 Seward said to us, when we were alone, that he did not wish to go into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11904 the matter; the question of an inquest had to be considered, and it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11905 would never do to put forward the truth, as no one would believe it. As
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11906 it was, he thought that on the attendant's evidence he could give a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11907 certificate of death by misadventure in falling from bed. In case the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11908 coroner should demand it, there would be a formal inquest, necessarily
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11909 to the same result.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11910
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11911 When the question began to be discussed as to what should be our next
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11912 step, the very first thing we decided was that Mina should be in full
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11913 confidence; that nothing of any sort--no matter how painful--should be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11914 kept from her. She herself agreed as to its wisdom, and it was pitiful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11915 to see her so brave and yet so sorrowful, and in such a depth of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11916 despair. "There must be no concealment," she said, "Alas! we have had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11917 too much already. And besides there is nothing in all the world that can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11918 give me more pain than I have already endured--than I suffer now!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11919 Whatever may happen, it must be of new hope or of new courage to me!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11920 Van Helsing was looking at her fixedly as she spoke, and said, suddenly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11921 but quietly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11922
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11923 "But dear Madam Mina, are you not afraid; not for yourself, but for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11924 others from yourself, after what has happened?" Her face grew set in its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11925 lines, but her eyes shone with the devotion of a martyr as she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11926 answered:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11927
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11928 "Ah no! for my mind is made up!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11929
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11930 "To what?" he asked gently, whilst we were all very still; for each in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11931 our own way we had a sort of vague idea of what she meant. Her answer
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11932 came with direct simplicity, as though she were simply stating a fact:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11933
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11934 "Because if I find in myself--and I shall watch keenly for it--a sign of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11935 harm to any that I love, I shall die!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11936
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11937 "You would not kill yourself?" he asked, hoarsely.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11938
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11939 "I would; if there were no friend who loved me, who would save me such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11940 pain, and so desperate an effort!" She looked at him meaningly as she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11941 spoke. He was sitting down; but now he rose and came close to her and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11942 put his hand on her head as he said solemnly:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11943
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11944 "My child, there is such an one if it were for your good. For myself I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11945 could hold it in my account with God to find such an euthanasia for you,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11946 even at this moment if it were best. Nay, were it safe! But my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11947 child----" For a moment he seemed choked, and a great sob rose in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11948 throat; he gulped it down and went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11949
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11950 "There are here some who would stand between you and death. You must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11951 die. You must not die by any hand; but least of all by your own. Until
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11952 the other, who has fouled your sweet life, is true dead you must not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11953 die; for if he is still with the quick Un-Dead, your death would make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11954 you even as he is. No, you must live! You must struggle and strive to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11955 live, though death would seem a boon unspeakable. You must fight Death
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11956 himself, though he come to you in pain or in joy; by the day, or the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11957 night; in safety or in peril! On your living soul I charge you that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11958 do not die--nay, nor think of death--till this great evil be past." The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11959 poor dear grew white as death, and shock and shivered, as I have seen a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11960 quicksand shake and shiver at the incoming of the tide. We were all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11961 silent; we could do nothing. At length she grew more calm and turning to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11962 him said, sweetly, but oh! so sorrowfully, as she held out her hand:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11963
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11964 "I promise you, my dear friend, that if God will let me live, I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11965 strive to do so; till, if it may be in His good time, this horror may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11966 have passed away from me." She was so good and brave that we all felt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11967 that our hearts were strengthened to work and endure for her, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11968 began to discuss what we were to do. I told her that she was to have all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11969 the papers in the safe, and all the papers or diaries and phonographs we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11970 might hereafter use; and was to keep the record as she had done before.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11971 She was pleased with the prospect of anything to do--if "pleased" could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11972 be used in connection with so grim an interest.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11973
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11974 As usual Van Helsing had thought ahead of everyone else, and was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11975 prepared with an exact ordering of our work.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11976
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11977 "It is perhaps well," he said, "that at our meeting after our visit to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11978 Carfax we decided not to do anything with the earth-boxes that lay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11979 there. Had we done so, the Count must have guessed our purpose, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11980 would doubtless have taken measures in advance to frustrate such an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11981 effort with regard to the others; but now he does not know our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11982 intentions. Nay, more, in all probability, he does not know that such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11983 power exists to us as can sterilise his lairs, so that he cannot use
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11984 them as of old. We are now so much further advanced in our knowledge as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11985 to their disposition that, when we have examined the house in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11986 Piccadilly, we may track the very last of them. To-day, then, is ours;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11987 and in it rests our hope. The sun that rose on our sorrow this morning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11988 guards us in its course. Until it sets to-night, that monster must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11989 retain whatever form he now has. He is confined within the limitations
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11990 of his earthly envelope. He cannot melt into thin air nor disappear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11991 through cracks or chinks or crannies. If he go through a doorway, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11992 must open the door like a mortal. And so we have this day to hunt out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11993 all his lairs and sterilise them. So we shall, if we have not yet catch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11994 him and destroy him, drive him to bay in some place where the catching
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11995 and the destroying shall be, in time, sure." Here I started up for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11996 could not contain myself at the thought that the minutes and seconds so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11997 preciously laden with Mina's life and happiness were flying from us,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11998 since whilst we talked action was impossible. But Van Helsing held up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 11999 his hand warningly. "Nay, friend Jonathan," he said, "in this, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12000 quickest way home is the longest way, so your proverb say. We shall all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12001 act and act with desperate quick, when the time has come. But think, in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12002 all probable the key of the situation is in that house in Piccadilly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12003 The Count may have many houses which he has bought. Of them he will have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12004 deeds of purchase, keys and other things. He will have paper that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12005 write on; he will have his book of cheques. There are many belongings
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12006 that he must have somewhere; why not in this place so central, so quiet,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12007 where he come and go by the front or the back at all hour, when in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12008 very vast of the traffic there is none to notice. We shall go there and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12009 search that house; and when we learn what it holds, then we do what our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12010 friend Arthur call, in his phrases of hunt 'stop the earths' and so we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12011 run down our old fox--so? is it not?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12012
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12013 "Then let us come at once," I cried, "we are wasting the precious,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12014 precious time!" The Professor did not move, but simply said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12015
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12016 "And how are we to get into that house in Piccadilly?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12017
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12018 "Any way!" I cried. "We shall break in if need be."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12019
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12020 "And your police; where will they be, and what will they say?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12022 I was staggered; but I knew that if he wished to delay he had a good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12023 reason for it. So I said, as quietly as I could:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12024
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12025 "Don't wait more than need be; you know, I am sure, what torture I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12026 in."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12027
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12028 "Ah, my child, that I do; and indeed there is no wish of me to add to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12029 your anguish. But just think, what can we do, until all the world be at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12030 movement. Then will come our time. I have thought and thought, and it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12031 seems to me that the simplest way is the best of all. Now we wish to get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12032 into the house, but we have no key; is it not so?" I nodded.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12033
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12034 "Now suppose that you were, in truth, the owner of that house, and could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12035 not still get it; and think there was to you no conscience of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12036 housebreaker, what would you do?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12037
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12038 "I should get a respectable locksmith, and set him to work to pick the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12039 lock for me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12040
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12041 "And your police, they would interfere, would they not?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12042
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12043 "Oh, no! not if they knew the man was properly employed."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12044
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12045 "Then," he looked at me as keenly as he spoke, "all that is in doubt is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12046 the conscience of the employer, and the belief of your policemen as to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12047 whether or no that employer has a good conscience or a bad one. Your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12048 police must indeed be zealous men and clever--oh, so clever!--in reading
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12049 the heart, that they trouble themselves in such matter. No, no, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12050 friend Jonathan, you go take the lock off a hundred empty house in this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12051 your London, or of any city in the world; and if you do it as such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12052 things are rightly done, and at the time such things are rightly done,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12053 no one will interfere. I have read of a gentleman who owned a so fine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12054 house in London, and when he went for months of summer to Switzerland
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12055 and lock up his house, some burglar came and broke window at back and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12056 got in. Then he went and made open the shutters in front and walk out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12057 and in through the door, before the very eyes of the police. Then he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12058 have an auction in that house, and advertise it, and put up big notice;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12059 and when the day come he sell off by a great auctioneer all the goods of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12060 that other man who own them. Then he go to a builder, and he sell him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12061 that house, making an agreement that he pull it down and take all away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12062 within a certain time. And your police and other authority help him all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12063 they can. And when that owner come back from his holiday in Switzerland
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12064 he find only an empty hole where his house had been. This was all done
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12065 _en règle_; and in our work we shall be _en règle_ too. We shall not go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12066 so early that the policemen who have then little to think of, shall deem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12067 it strange; but we shall go after ten o'clock, when there are many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12068 about, and such things would be done were we indeed owners of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12069 house."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12070
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12071 I could not but see how right he was and the terrible despair of Mina's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12072 face became relaxed a thought; there was hope in such good counsel. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12073 Helsing went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12074
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12075 "When once within that house we may find more clues; at any rate some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12076 us can remain there whilst the rest find the other places where there be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12077 more earth-boxes--at Bermondsey and Mile End."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12078
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12079 Lord Godalming stood up. "I can be of some use here," he said. "I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12080 wire to my people to have horses and carriages where they will be most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12081 convenient."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12082
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12083 "Look here, old fellow," said Morris, "it is a capital idea to have all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12084 ready in case we want to go horsebacking; but don't you think that one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12085 of your snappy carriages with its heraldic adornments in a byway of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12086 Walworth or Mile End would attract too much attention for our purposes?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12087 It seems to me that we ought to take cabs when we go south or east; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12088 even leave them somewhere near the neighbourhood we are going to."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12089
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12090 "Friend Quincey is right!" said the Professor. "His head is what you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12091 call in plane with the horizon. It is a difficult thing that we go to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12092 do, and we do not want no peoples to watch us if so it may."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12093
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12094 Mina took a growing interest in everything and I was rejoiced to see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12095 that the exigency of affairs was helping her to forget for a time the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12096 terrible experience of the night. She was very, very pale--almost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12097 ghastly, and so thin that her lips were drawn away, showing her teeth in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12098 somewhat of prominence. I did not mention this last, lest it should give
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12099 her needless pain; but it made my blood run cold in my veins to think of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12100 what had occurred with poor Lucy when the Count had sucked her blood. As
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12101 yet there was no sign of the teeth growing sharper; but the time as yet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12102 was short, and there was time for fear.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12103
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12104 When we came to the discussion of the sequence of our efforts and of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12105 disposition of our forces, there were new sources of doubt. It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12106 finally agreed that before starting for Piccadilly we should destroy the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12107 Count's lair close at hand. In case he should find it out too soon, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12108 should thus be still ahead of him in our work of destruction; and his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12109 presence in his purely material shape, and at his weakest, might give us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12110 some new clue.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12111
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12112 As to the disposal of forces, it was suggested by the Professor that,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12113 after our visit to Carfax, we should all enter the house in Piccadilly;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12114 that the two doctors and I should remain there, whilst Lord Godalming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12115 and Quincey found the lairs at Walworth and Mile End and destroyed them.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12116 It was possible, if not likely, the Professor urged, that the Count
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12117 might appear in Piccadilly during the day, and that if so we might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12118 able to cope with him then and there. At any rate, we might be able to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12119 follow him in force. To this plan I strenuously objected, and so far as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12120 my going was concerned, for I said that I intended to stay and protect
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12121 Mina, I thought that my mind was made up on the subject; but Mina would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12122 not listen to my objection. She said that there might be some law matter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12123 in which I could be useful; that amongst the Count's papers might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12124 some clue which I could understand out of my experience in Transylvania;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12125 and that, as it was, all the strength we could muster was required to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12126 cope with the Count's extraordinary power. I had to give in, for Mina's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12127 resolution was fixed; she said that it was the last hope for _her_ that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12128 we should all work together. "As for me," she said, "I have no fear.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12129 Things have been as bad as they can be; and whatever may happen must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12130 have in it some element of hope or comfort. Go, my husband! God can, if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12131 He wishes it, guard me as well alone as with any one present." So I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12132 started up crying out: "Then in God's name let us come at once, for we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12133 are losing time. The Count may come to Piccadilly earlier than we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12134 think."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12135
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12136 "Not so!" said Van Helsing, holding up his hand.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12137
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12138 "But why?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12139
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12140 "Do you forget," he said, with actually a smile, "that last night he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12141 banqueted heavily, and will sleep late?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12142
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12143 Did I forget! shall I ever--can I ever! Can any of us ever forget that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12144 terrible scene! Mina struggled hard to keep her brave countenance; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12145 the pain overmastered her and she put her hands before her face, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12146 shuddered whilst she moaned. Van Helsing had not intended to recall her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12147 frightful experience. He had simply lost sight of her and her part in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12148 the affair in his intellectual effort. When it struck him what he said,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12149 he was horrified at his thoughtlessness and tried to comfort her. "Oh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12150 Madam Mina," he said, "dear, dear Madam Mina, alas! that I of all who so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12151 reverence you should have said anything so forgetful. These stupid old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12152 lips of mine and this stupid old head do not deserve so; but you will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12153 forget it, will you not?" He bent low beside her as he spoke; she took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12154 his hand, and looking at him through her tears, said hoarsely:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12155
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12156 "No, I shall not forget, for it is well that I remember; and with it I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12157 have so much in memory of you that is sweet, that I take it all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12158 together. Now, you must all be going soon. Breakfast is ready, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12159 must all eat that we may be strong."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12160
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12161 Breakfast was a strange meal to us all. We tried to be cheerful and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12162 encourage each other, and Mina was the brightest and most cheerful of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12163 us. When it was over, Van Helsing stood up and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12164
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12165 "Now, my dear friends, we go forth to our terrible enterprise. Are we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12166 all armed, as we were on that night when first we visited our enemy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12167 lair; armed against ghostly as well as carnal attack?" We all assured
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12168 him. "Then it is well. Now, Madam Mina, you are in any case _quite_ safe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12169 here until the sunset; and before then we shall return--if---- We shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12170 return! But before we go let me see you armed against personal attack. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12171 have myself, since you came down, prepared your chamber by the placing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12172 of things of which we know, so that He may not enter. Now let me guard
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12173 yourself. On your forehead I touch this piece of Sacred Wafer in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12174 name of the Father, the Son, and----"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12175
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12176 There was a fearful scream which almost froze our hearts to hear. As he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12177 had placed the Wafer on Mina's forehead, it had seared it--had burned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12178 into the flesh as though it had been a piece of white-hot metal. My poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12179 darling's brain had told her the significance of the fact as quickly as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12180 her nerves received the pain of it; and the two so overwhelmed her that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12181 her overwrought nature had its voice in that dreadful scream. But the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12182 words to her thought came quickly; the echo of the scream had not ceased
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12183 to ring on the air when there came the reaction, and she sank on her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12184 knees on the floor in an agony of abasement. Pulling her beautiful hair
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12185 over her face, as the leper of old his mantle, she wailed out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12186
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12187 "Unclean! Unclean! Even the Almighty shuns my polluted flesh! I must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12188 bear this mark of shame upon my forehead until the Judgment Day." They
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12189 all paused. I had thrown myself beside her in an agony of helpless
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12190 grief, and putting my arms around held her tight. For a few minutes our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12191 sorrowful hearts beat together, whilst the friends around us turned away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12192 their eyes that ran tears silently. Then Van Helsing turned and said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12193 gravely; so gravely that I could not help feeling that he was in some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12194 way inspired, and was stating things outside himself:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12195
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12196 "It may be that you may have to bear that mark till God himself see fit,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12197 as He most surely shall, on the Judgment Day, to redress all wrongs of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12198 the earth and of His children that He has placed thereon. And oh, Madam
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12199 Mina, my dear, my dear, may we who love you be there to see, when that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12200 red scar, the sign of God's knowledge of what has been, shall pass away,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12201 and leave your forehead as pure as the heart we know. For so surely as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12202 we live, that scar shall pass away when God sees right to lift the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12203 burden that is hard upon us. Till then we bear our Cross, as His Son did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12204 in obedience to His Will. It may be that we are chosen instruments of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12205 His good pleasure, and that we ascend to His bidding as that other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12206 through stripes and shame; through tears and blood; through doubts and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12207 fears, and all that makes the difference between God and man."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12208
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12209 There was hope in his words, and comfort; and they made for resignation.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12210 Mina and I both felt so, and simultaneously we each took one of the old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12211 man's hands and bent over and kissed it. Then without a word we all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12212 knelt down together, and, all holding hands, swore to be true to each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12213 other. We men pledged ourselves to raise the veil of sorrow from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12214 head of her whom, each in his own way, we loved; and we prayed for help
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12215 and guidance in the terrible task which lay before us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12216
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12217 It was then time to start. So I said farewell to Mina, a parting which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12218 neither of us shall forget to our dying day; and we set out.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12219
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12220 To one thing I have made up my mind: if we find out that Mina must be a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12221 vampire in the end, then she shall not go into that unknown and terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12222 land alone. I suppose it is thus that in old times one vampire meant
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12223 many; just as their hideous bodies could only rest in sacred earth, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12224 the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for their ghastly ranks.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12225
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12226 We entered Carfax without trouble and found all things the same as on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12227 the first occasion. It was hard to believe that amongst so prosaic
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12228 surroundings of neglect and dust and decay there was any ground for such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12229 fear as already we knew. Had not our minds been made up, and had there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12230 not been terrible memories to spur us on, we could hardly have proceeded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12231 with our task. We found no papers, or any sign of use in the house; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12232 in the old chapel the great boxes looked just as we had seen them last.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12233 Dr. Van Helsing said to us solemnly as we stood before them:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12234
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12235 "And now, my friends, we have a duty here to do. We must sterilise this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12236 earth, so sacred of holy memories, that he has brought from a far
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12237 distant land for such fell use. He has chosen this earth because it has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12238 been holy. Thus we defeat him with his own weapon, for we make it more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12239 holy still. It was sanctified to such use of man, now we sanctify it to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12240 God." As he spoke he took from his bag a screwdriver and a wrench, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12241 very soon the top of one of the cases was thrown open. The earth smelled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12242 musty and close; but we did not somehow seem to mind, for our attention
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12243 was concentrated on the Professor. Taking from his box a piece of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12244 Sacred Wafer he laid it reverently on the earth, and then shutting down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12245 the lid began to screw it home, we aiding him as he worked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12246
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12247 One by one we treated in the same way each of the great boxes, and left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12248 them as we had found them to all appearance; but in each was a portion
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12249 of the Host.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12250
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12251 When we closed the door behind us, the Professor said solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12252
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12253 "So much is already done. If it may be that with all the others we can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12254 be so successful, then the sunset of this evening may shine on Madam
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12255 Mina's forehead all white as ivory and with no stain!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12256
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12257 As we passed across the lawn on our way to the station to catch our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12258 train we could see the front of the asylum. I looked eagerly, and in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12259 window of my own room saw Mina. I waved my hand to her, and nodded to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12260 tell that our work there was successfully accomplished. She nodded in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12261 reply to show that she understood. The last I saw, she was waving her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12262 hand in farewell. It was with a heavy heart that we sought the station
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12263 and just caught the train, which was steaming in as we reached the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12264 platform.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12265
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12266 I have written this in the train.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12267
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12268 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12269
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12270 _Piccadilly, 12:30 o'clock._--Just before we reached Fenchurch Street
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12271 Lord Godalming said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12272
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12273 "Quincey and I will find a locksmith. You had better not come with us in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12274 case there should be any difficulty; for under the circumstances it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12275 wouldn't seem so bad for us to break into an empty house. But you are a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12276 solicitor and the Incorporated Law Society might tell you that you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12277 should have known better." I demurred as to my not sharing any danger
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12278 even of odium, but he went on: "Besides, it will attract less attention
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12279 if there are not too many of us. My title will make it all right with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12280 the locksmith, and with any policeman that may come along. You had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12281 better go with Jack and the Professor and stay in the Green Park,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12282 somewhere in sight of the house; and when you see the door opened and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12283 the smith has gone away, do you all come across. We shall be on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12284 lookout for you, and shall let you in."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12285
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12286 "The advice is good!" said Van Helsing, so we said no more. Godalming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12287 and Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another. At the corner
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12288 of Arlington Street our contingent got out and strolled into the Green
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12289 Park. My heart beat as I saw the house on which so much of our hope was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12290 centred, looming up grim and silent in its deserted condition amongst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12291 its more lively and spruce-looking neighbours. We sat down on a bench
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12292 within good view, and began to smoke cigars so as to attract as little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12293 attention as possible. The minutes seemed to pass with leaden feet as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12294 waited for the coming of the others.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12295
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12296 At length we saw a four-wheeler drive up. Out of it, in leisurely
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12297 fashion, got Lord Godalming and Morris; and down from the box descended
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12298 a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of tools. Morris paid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12299 the cabman, who touched his hat and drove away. Together the two
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12300 ascended the steps, and Lord Godalming pointed out what he wanted done.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12301 The workman took off his coat leisurely and hung it on one of the spikes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12302 of the rail, saying something to a policeman who just then sauntered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12303 along. The policeman nodded acquiescence, and the man kneeling down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12304 placed his bag beside him. After searching through it, he took out a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12305 selection of tools which he produced to lay beside him in orderly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12306 fashion. Then he stood up, looked into the keyhole, blew into it, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12307 turning to his employers, made some remark. Lord Godalming smiled, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12308 the man lifted a good-sized bunch of keys; selecting one of them, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12309 began to probe the lock, as if feeling his way with it. After fumbling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12310 about for a bit he tried a second, and then a third. All at once the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12311 door opened under a slight push from him, and he and the two others
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12312 entered the hall. We sat still; my own cigar burnt furiously, but Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12313 Helsing's went cold altogether. We waited patiently as we saw the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12314 workman come out and bring in his bag. Then he held the door partly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12315 open, steadying it with his knees, whilst he fitted a key to the lock.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12316 This he finally handed to Lord Godalming, who took out his purse and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12317 gave him something. The man touched his hat, took his bag, put on his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12318 coat and departed; not a soul took the slightest notice of the whole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12319 transaction.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12320
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12321 When the man had fairly gone, we three crossed the street and knocked at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12322 the door. It was immediately opened by Quincey Morris, beside whom stood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12323 Lord Godalming lighting a cigar.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12324
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12325 "The place smells so vilely," said the latter as we came in. It did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12326 indeed smell vilely--like the old chapel at Carfax--and with our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12327 previous experience it was plain to us that the Count had been using the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12328 place pretty freely. We moved to explore the house, all keeping together
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12329 in case of attack; for we knew we had a strong and wily enemy to deal
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12330 with, and as yet we did not know whether the Count might not be in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12331 house. In the dining-room, which lay at the back of the hall, we found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12332 eight boxes of earth. Eight boxes only out of the nine, which we sought!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12333 Our work was not over, and would never be until we should have found the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12334 missing box. First we opened the shutters of the window which looked out
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12335 across a narrow stone-flagged yard at the blank face of a stable,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12336 pointed to look like the front of a miniature house. There were no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12337 windows in it, so we were not afraid of being over-looked. We did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12338 lose any time in examining the chests. With the tools which we had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12339 brought with us we opened them, one by one, and treated them as we had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12340 treated those others in the old chapel. It was evident to us that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12341 Count was not at present in the house, and we proceeded to search for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12342 any of his effects.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12343
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12344 After a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms, from basement to attic,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12345 we came to the conclusion that the dining-room contained any effects
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12346 which might belong to the Count; and so we proceeded to minutely examine
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12347 them. They lay in a sort of orderly disorder on the great dining-room
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12348 table. There were title deeds of the Piccadilly house in a great bundle;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12349 deeds of the purchase of the houses at Mile End and Bermondsey;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12350 note-paper, envelopes, and pens and ink. All were covered up in thin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12351 wrapping paper to keep them from the dust. There were also a clothes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12352 brush, a brush and comb, and a jug and basin--the latter containing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12353 dirty water which was reddened as if with blood. Last of all was a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12354 little heap of keys of all sorts and sizes, probably those belonging to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12355 the other houses. When we had examined this last find, Lord Godalming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12356 and Quincey Morris taking accurate notes of the various addresses of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12357 houses in the East and the South, took with them the keys in a great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12358 bunch, and set out to destroy the boxes in these places. The rest of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12359 are, with what patience we can, waiting their return--or the coming of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12360 the Count.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12361
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12362
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12363
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12364
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12365 CHAPTER XXIII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12366
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12367 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12368
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12369
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12370 _3 October._--The time seemed terrible long whilst we were waiting for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12371 the coming of Godalming and Quincey Morris. The Professor tried to keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12372 our minds active by using them all the time. I could see his beneficent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12373 purpose, by the side glances which he threw from time to time at Harker.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12374 The poor fellow is overwhelmed in a misery that is appalling to see.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12375 Last night he was a frank, happy-looking man, with strong, youthful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12376 face, full of energy, and with dark brown hair. To-day he is a drawn,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12377 haggard old man, whose white hair matches well with the hollow burning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12378 eyes and grief-written lines of his face. His energy is still intact; in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12379 fact, he is like a living flame. This may yet be his salvation, for, if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12380 all go well, it will tide him over the despairing period; he will then,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12381 in a kind of way, wake again to the realities of life. Poor fellow, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12382 thought my own trouble was bad enough, but his----! The Professor knows
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12383 this well enough, and is doing his best to keep his mind active. What he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12384 has been saying was, under the circumstances, of absorbing interest. So
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12385 well as I can remember, here it is:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12386
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12387 "I have studied, over and over again since they came into my hands, all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12388 the papers relating to this monster; and the more I have studied, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12389 greater seems the necessity to utterly stamp him out. All through there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12390 are signs of his advance; not only of his power, but of his knowledge of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12391 it. As I learned from the researches of my friend Arminus of Buda-Pesth,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12392 he was in life a most wonderful man. Soldier, statesman, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12393 alchemist--which latter was the highest development of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12394 science-knowledge of his time. He had a mighty brain, a learning beyond
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12395 compare, and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse. He dared even to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12396 attend the Scholomance, and there was no branch of knowledge of his time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12397 that he did not essay. Well, in him the brain powers survived the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12398 physical death; though it would seem that memory was not all complete.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12399 In some faculties of mind he has been, and is, only a child; but he is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12400 growing, and some things that were childish at the first are now of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12401 man's stature. He is experimenting, and doing it well; and if it had not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12402 been that we have crossed his path he would be yet--he may be yet if we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12403 fail--the father or furtherer of a new order of beings, whose road must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12404 lead through Death, not Life."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12405
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12406 Harker groaned and said, "And this is all arrayed against my darling!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12407 But how is he experimenting? The knowledge may help us to defeat him!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12408
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12409 "He has all along, since his coming, been trying his power, slowly but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12410 surely; that big child-brain of his is working. Well for us, it is, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12411 yet, a child-brain; for had he dared, at the first, to attempt certain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12412 things he would long ago have been beyond our power. However, he means
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12413 to succeed, and a man who has centuries before him can afford to wait
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12414 and to go slow. _Festina lente_ may well be his motto."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12415
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12416 "I fail to understand," said Harker wearily. "Oh, do be more plain to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12417 me! Perhaps grief and trouble are dulling my brain."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12418
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12419 The Professor laid his hand tenderly on his shoulder as he spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12420
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12421 "Ah, my child, I will be plain. Do you not see how, of late, this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12422 monster has been creeping into knowledge experimentally. How he has been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12423 making use of the zoöphagous patient to effect his entry into friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12424 John's home; for your Vampire, though in all afterwards he can come when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12425 and how he will, must at the first make entry only when asked thereto by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12426 an inmate. But these are not his most important experiments. Do we not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12427 see how at the first all these so great boxes were moved by others. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12428 knew not then but that must be so. But all the time that so great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12429 child-brain of his was growing, and he began to consider whether he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12430 might not himself move the box. So he began to help; and then, when he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12431 found that this be all-right, he try to move them all alone. And so he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12432 progress, and he scatter these graves of him; and none but he know where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12433 they are hidden. He may have intend to bury them deep in the ground. So
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12434 that he only use them in the night, or at such time as he can change his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12435 form, they do him equal well; and none may know these are his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12436 hiding-place! But, my child, do not despair; this knowledge come to him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12437 just too late! Already all of his lairs but one be sterilise as for him;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12438 and before the sunset this shall be so. Then he have no place where he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12439 can move and hide. I delayed this morning that so we might be sure. Is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12440 there not more at stake for us than for him? Then why we not be even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12441 more careful than him? By my clock it is one hour and already, if all be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12442 well, friend Arthur and Quincey are on their way to us. To-day is our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12443 day, and we must go sure, if slow, and lose no chance. See! there are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12444 five of us when those absent ones return."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12445
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12446 Whilst he was speaking we were startled by a knock at the hall door, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12447 double postman's knock of the telegraph boy. We all moved out to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12448 hall with one impulse, and Van Helsing, holding up his hand to us to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12449 keep silence, stepped to the door and opened it. The boy handed in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12450 despatch. The Professor closed the door again, and, after looking at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12451 direction, opened it and read aloud.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12452
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12453 "Look out for D. He has just now, 12:45, come from Carfax hurriedly and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12454 hastened towards the South. He seems to be going the round and may want
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12455 to see you: Mina."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12456
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12457 There was a pause, broken by Jonathan Harker's voice:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12458
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12459 "Now, God be thanked, we shall soon meet!" Van Helsing turned to him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12460 quickly and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12461
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12462 "God will act in His own way and time. Do not fear, and do not rejoice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12463 as yet; for what we wish for at the moment may be our undoings."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12464
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12465 "I care for nothing now," he answered hotly, "except to wipe out this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12466 brute from the face of creation. I would sell my soul to do it!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12467
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12468 "Oh, hush, hush, my child!" said Van Helsing. "God does not purchase
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12469 souls in this wise; and the Devil, though he may purchase, does not keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12470 faith. But God is merciful and just, and knows your pain and your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12471 devotion to that dear Madam Mina. Think you, how her pain would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12472 doubled, did she but hear your wild words. Do not fear any of us, we are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12473 all devoted to this cause, and to-day shall see the end. The time is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12474 coming for action; to-day this Vampire is limit to the powers of man,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12475 and till sunset he may not change. It will take him time to arrive
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12476 here--see, it is twenty minutes past one--and there are yet some times
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12477 before he can hither come, be he never so quick. What we must hope for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12478 is that my Lord Arthur and Quincey arrive first."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12479
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12480 About half an hour after we had received Mrs. Harker's telegram, there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12481 came a quiet, resolute knock at the hall door. It was just an ordinary
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12482 knock, such as is given hourly by thousands of gentlemen, but it made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12483 the Professor's heart and mine beat loudly. We looked at each other, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12484 together moved out into the hall; we each held ready to use our various
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12485 armaments--the spiritual in the left hand, the mortal in the right. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12486 Helsing pulled back the latch, and, holding the door half open, stood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12487 back, having both hands ready for action. The gladness of our hearts
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12488 must have shown upon our faces when on the step, close to the door, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12489 saw Lord Godalming and Quincey Morris. They came quickly in and closed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12490 the door behind them, the former saying, as they moved along the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12491 hall:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12492
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12493 "It is all right. We found both places; six boxes in each and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12494 destroyed them all!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12495
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12496 "Destroyed?" asked the Professor.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12497
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12498 "For him!" We were silent for a minute, and then Quincey said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12499
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12500 "There's nothing to do but to wait here. If, however, he doesn't turn up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12501 by five o'clock, we must start off; for it won't do to leave Mrs. Harker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12502 alone after sunset."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12503
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12504 "He will be here before long now," said Van Helsing, who had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12505 consulting his pocket-book. "_Nota bene_, in Madam's telegram he went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12506 south from Carfax, that means he went to cross the river, and he could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12507 only do so at slack of tide, which should be something before one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12508 o'clock. That he went south has a meaning for us. He is as yet only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12509 suspicious; and he went from Carfax first to the place where he would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12510 suspect interference least. You must have been at Bermondsey only a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12511 short time before him. That he is not here already shows that he went to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12512 Mile End next. This took him some time; for he would then have to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12513 carried over the river in some way. Believe me, my friends, we shall not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12514 have long to wait now. We should have ready some plan of attack, so that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12515 we may throw away no chance. Hush, there is no time now. Have all your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12516 arms! Be ready!" He held up a warning hand as he spoke, for we all could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12517 hear a key softly inserted in the lock of the hall door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12518
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12519 I could not but admire, even at such a moment, the way in which a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12520 dominant spirit asserted itself. In all our hunting parties and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12521 adventures in different parts of the world, Quincey Morris had always
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12522 been the one to arrange the plan of action, and Arthur and I had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12523 accustomed to obey him implicitly. Now, the old habit seemed to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12524 renewed instinctively. With a swift glance around the room, he at once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12525 laid out our plan of attack, and, without speaking a word, with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12526 gesture, placed us each in position. Van Helsing, Harker, and I were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12527 just behind the door, so that when it was opened the Professor could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12528 guard it whilst we two stepped between the incomer and the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12529 Godalming behind and Quincey in front stood just out of sight ready to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12530 move in front of the window. We waited in a suspense that made the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12531 seconds pass with nightmare slowness. The slow, careful steps came along
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12532 the hall; the Count was evidently prepared for some surprise--at least
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12533 he feared it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12534
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12535 Suddenly with a single bound he leaped into the room, winning a way past
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12536 us before any of us could raise a hand to stay him. There was something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12537 so panther-like in the movement--something so unhuman, that it seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12538 to sober us all from the shock of his coming. The first to act was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12539 Harker, who, with a quick movement, threw himself before the door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12540 leading into the room in the front of the house. As the Count saw us, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12541 horrible sort of snarl passed over his face, showing the eye-teeth long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12542 and pointed; but the evil smile as quickly passed into a cold stare of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12543 lion-like disdain. His expression again changed as, with a single
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12544 impulse, we all advanced upon him. It was a pity that we had not some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12545 better organised plan of attack, for even at the moment I wondered what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12546 we were to do. I did not myself know whether our lethal weapons would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12547 avail us anything. Harker evidently meant to try the matter, for he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12548 ready his great Kukri knife and made a fierce and sudden cut at him. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12549 blow was a powerful one; only the diabolical quickness of the Count's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12550 leap back saved him. A second less and the trenchant blade had shorne
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12551 through his heart. As it was, the point just cut the cloth of his coat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12552 making a wide gap whence a bundle of bank-notes and a stream of gold
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12553 fell out. The expression of the Count's face was so hellish, that for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12554 moment I feared for Harker, though I saw him throw the terrible knife
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12555 aloft again for another stroke. Instinctively I moved forward with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12556 protective impulse, holding the Crucifix and Wafer in my left hand. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12557 felt a mighty power fly along my arm; and it was without surprise that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12558 saw the monster cower back before a similar movement made spontaneously
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12559 by each one of us. It would be impossible to describe the expression of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12560 hate and baffled malignity--of anger and hellish rage--which came over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12561 the Count's face. His waxen hue became greenish-yellow by the contrast
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12562 of his burning eyes, and the red scar on the forehead showed on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12563 pallid skin like a palpitating wound. The next instant, with a sinuous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12564 dive he swept under Harker's arm, ere his blow could fall, and, grasping
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12565 a handful of the money from the floor, dashed across the room, threw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12566 himself at the window. Amid the crash and glitter of the falling glass,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12567 he tumbled into the flagged area below. Through the sound of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12568 shivering glass I could hear the "ting" of the gold, as some of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12569 sovereigns fell on the flagging.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12570
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12571 We ran over and saw him spring unhurt from the ground. He, rushing up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12572 the steps, crossed the flagged yard, and pushed open the stable door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12573 There he turned and spoke to us:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12574
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12575 "You think to baffle me, you--with your pale faces all in a row, like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12576 sheep in a butcher's. You shall be sorry yet, each one of you! You think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12577 you have left me without a place to rest; but I have more. My revenge is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12578 just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side. Your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12579 girls that you all love are mine already; and through them you and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12580 others shall yet be mine--my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12581 jackals when I want to feed. Bah!" With a contemptuous sneer, he passed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12582 quickly through the door, and we heard the rusty bolt creak as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12583 fastened it behind him. A door beyond opened and shut. The first of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12584 to speak was the Professor, as, realising the difficulty of following
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12585 him through the stable, we moved toward the hall.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12586
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12587 "We have learnt something--much! Notwithstanding his brave words, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12588 fears us; he fear time, he fear want! For if not, why he hurry so? His
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12589 very tone betray him, or my ears deceive. Why take that money? You
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12590 follow quick. You are hunters of wild beast, and understand it so. For
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12591 me, I make sure that nothing here may be of use to him, if so that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12592 return." As he spoke he put the money remaining into his pocket; took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12593 the title-deeds in the bundle as Harker had left them, and swept the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12594 remaining things into the open fireplace, where he set fire to them with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12595 a match.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12596
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12597 Godalming and Morris had rushed out into the yard, and Harker had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12598 lowered himself from the window to follow the Count. He had, however,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12599 bolted the stable door; and by the time they had forced it open there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12600 was no sign of him. Van Helsing and I tried to make inquiry at the back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12601 of the house; but the mews was deserted and no one had seen him depart.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12602
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12603 It was now late in the afternoon, and sunset was not far off. We had to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12604 recognise that our game was up; with heavy hearts we agreed with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12605 Professor when he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12606
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12607 "Let us go back to Madam Mina--poor, poor dear Madam Mina. All we can do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12608 just now is done; and we can there, at least, protect her. But we need
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12609 not despair. There is but one more earth-box, and we must try to find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12610 it; when that is done all may yet be well." I could see that he spoke as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12611 bravely as he could to comfort Harker. The poor fellow was quite broken
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12612 down; now and again he gave a low groan which he could not suppress--he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12613 was thinking of his wife.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12614
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12615 With sad hearts we came back to my house, where we found Mrs. Harker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12616 waiting us, with an appearance of cheerfulness which did honour to her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12617 bravery and unselfishness. When she saw our faces, her own became as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12618 pale as death: for a second or two her eyes were closed as if she were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12619 in secret prayer; and then she said cheerfully:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12620
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12621 "I can never thank you all enough. Oh, my poor darling!" As she spoke,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12622 she took her husband's grey head in her hands and kissed it--"Lay your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12623 poor head here and rest it. All will yet be well, dear! God will protect
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12624 us if He so will it in His good intent." The poor fellow groaned. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12625 was no place for words in his sublime misery.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12626
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12627 We had a sort of perfunctory supper together, and I think it cheered us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12628 all up somewhat. It was, perhaps, the mere animal heat of food to hungry
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12629 people--for none of us had eaten anything since breakfast--or the sense
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12630 of companionship may have helped us; but anyhow we were all less
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12631 miserable, and saw the morrow as not altogether without hope. True to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12632 our promise, we told Mrs. Harker everything which had passed; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12633 although she grew snowy white at times when danger had seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12634 threaten her husband, and red at others when his devotion to her was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12635 manifested, she listened bravely and with calmness. When we came to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12636 part where Harker had rushed at the Count so recklessly, she clung to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12637 her husband's arm, and held it tight as though her clinging could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12638 protect him from any harm that might come. She said nothing, however,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12639 till the narration was all done, and matters had been brought right up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12640 to the present time. Then without letting go her husband's hand she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12641 stood up amongst us and spoke. Oh, that I could give any idea of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12642 scene; of that sweet, sweet, good, good woman in all the radiant beauty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12643 of her youth and animation, with the red scar on her forehead, of which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12644 she was conscious, and which we saw with grinding of our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12645 teeth--remembering whence and how it came; her loving kindness against
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12646 our grim hate; her tender faith against all our fears and doubting; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12647 we, knowing that so far as symbols went, she with all her goodness and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12648 purity and faith, was outcast from God.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12649
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12650 "Jonathan," she said, and the word sounded like music on her lips it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12651 so full of love and tenderness, "Jonathan dear, and you all my true,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12652 true friends, I want you to bear something in mind through all this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12653 dreadful time. I know that you must fight--that you must destroy even as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12654 you destroyed the false Lucy so that the true Lucy might live hereafter;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12655 but it is not a work of hate. That poor soul who has wrought all this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12656 misery is the saddest case of all. Just think what will be his joy when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12657 he, too, is destroyed in his worser part that his better part may have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12658 spiritual immortality. You must be pitiful to him, too, though it may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12659 not hold your hands from his destruction."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12660
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12661 As she spoke I could see her husband's face darken and draw together, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12662 though the passion in him were shrivelling his being to its core.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12663 Instinctively the clasp on his wife's hand grew closer, till his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12664 knuckles looked white. She did not flinch from the pain which I knew she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12665 must have suffered, but looked at him with eyes that were more appealing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12666 than ever. As she stopped speaking he leaped to his feet, almost tearing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12667 his hand from hers as he spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12668
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12669 "May God give him into my hand just for long enough to destroy that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12670 earthly life of him which we are aiming at. If beyond it I could send
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12671 his soul for ever and ever to burning hell I would do it!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12672
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12673 "Oh, hush! oh, hush! in the name of the good God. Don't say such things,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12674 Jonathan, my husband; or you will crush me with fear and horror. Just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12675 think, my dear--I have been thinking all this long, long day of it--that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12676 ... perhaps ... some day ... I, too, may need such pity; and that some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12677 other like you--and with equal cause for anger--may deny it to me! Oh,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12678 my husband! my husband, indeed I would have spared you such a thought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12679 had there been another way; but I pray that God may not have treasured
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12680 your wild words, except as the heart-broken wail of a very loving and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12681 sorely stricken man. Oh, God, let these poor white hairs go in evidence
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12682 of what he has suffered, who all his life has done no wrong, and on whom
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12683 so many sorrows have come."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12684
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12685 We men were all in tears now. There was no resisting them, and we wept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12686 openly. She wept, too, to see that her sweeter counsels had prevailed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12687 Her husband flung himself on his knees beside her, and putting his arms
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12688 round her, hid his face in the folds of her dress. Van Helsing beckoned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12689 to us and we stole out of the room, leaving the two loving hearts alone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12690 with their God.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12691
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12692 Before they retired the Professor fixed up the room against any coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12693 of the Vampire, and assured Mrs. Harker that she might rest in peace.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12694 She tried to school herself to the belief, and, manifestly for her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12695 husband's sake, tried to seem content. It was a brave struggle; and was,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12696 I think and believe, not without its reward. Van Helsing had placed at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12697 hand a bell which either of them was to sound in case of any emergency.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12698 When they had retired, Quincey, Godalming, and I arranged that we should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12699 sit up, dividing the night between us, and watch over the safety of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12700 poor stricken lady. The first watch falls to Quincey, so the rest of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12701 shall be off to bed as soon as we can. Godalming has already turned in,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12702 for his is the second watch. Now that my work is done I, too, shall go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12703 to bed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12704
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12705
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12706 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12707
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12708 _3-4 October, close to midnight._--I thought yesterday would never end.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12709 There was over me a yearning for sleep, in some sort of blind belief
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12710 that to wake would be to find things changed, and that any change must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12711 now be for the better. Before we parted, we discussed what our next step
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12712 was to be, but we could arrive at no result. All we knew was that one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12713 earth-box remained, and that the Count alone knew where it was. If he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12714 chooses to lie hidden, he may baffle us for years; and in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12715 meantime!--the thought is too horrible, I dare not think of it even now.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12716 This I know: that if ever there was a woman who was all perfection, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12717 one is my poor wronged darling. I love her a thousand times more for her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12718 sweet pity of last night, a pity that made my own hate of the monster
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12719 seem despicable. Surely God will not permit the world to be the poorer
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12720 by the loss of such a creature. This is hope to me. We are all drifting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12721 reefwards now, and faith is our only anchor. Thank God! Mina is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12722 sleeping, and sleeping without dreams. I fear what her dreams might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12723 like, with such terrible memories to ground them in. She has not been so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12724 calm, within my seeing, since the sunset. Then, for a while, there came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12725 over her face a repose which was like spring after the blasts of March.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12726 I thought at the time that it was the softness of the red sunset on her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12727 face, but somehow now I think it has a deeper meaning. I am not sleepy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12728 myself, though I am weary--weary to death. However, I must try to sleep;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12729 for there is to-morrow to think of, and there is no rest for me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12730 until....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12731
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12732 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12733
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12734 _Later._--I must have fallen asleep, for I was awaked by Mina, who was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12735 sitting up in bed, with a startled look on her face. I could see easily,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12736 for we did not leave the room in darkness; she had placed a warning hand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12737 over my mouth, and now she whispered in my ear:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12738
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12739 "Hush! there is someone in the corridor!" I got up softly, and crossing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12740 the room, gently opened the door.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12741
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12742 Just outside, stretched on a mattress, lay Mr. Morris, wide awake. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12743 raised a warning hand for silence as he whispered to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12744
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12745 "Hush! go back to bed; it is all right. One of us will be here all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12746 night. We don't mean to take any chances!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12747
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12748 His look and gesture forbade discussion, so I came back and told Mina.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12749 She sighed and positively a shadow of a smile stole over her poor, pale
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12750 face as she put her arms round me and said softly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12751
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12752 "Oh, thank God for good brave men!" With a sigh she sank back again to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12753 sleep. I write this now as I am not sleepy, though I must try again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12754
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12755 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12756
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12757 _4 October, morning._--Once again during the night I was wakened by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12758 Mina. This time we had all had a good sleep, for the grey of the coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12759 dawn was making the windows into sharp oblongs, and the gas flame was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12760 like a speck rather than a disc of light. She said to me hurriedly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12761
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12762 "Go, call the Professor. I want to see him at once."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12763
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12764 "Why?" I asked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12765
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12766 "I have an idea. I suppose it must have come in the night, and matured
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12767 without my knowing it. He must hypnotise me before the dawn, and then I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12768 shall be able to speak. Go quick, dearest; the time is getting close." I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12769 went to the door. Dr. Seward was resting on the mattress, and, seeing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12770 me, he sprang to his feet.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12771
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12772 "Is anything wrong?" he asked, in alarm.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12773
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12774 "No," I replied; "but Mina wants to see Dr. Van Helsing at once."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12775
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12776 "I will go," he said, and hurried into the Professor's room.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12777
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12778 In two or three minutes later Van Helsing was in the room in his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12779 dressing-gown, and Mr. Morris and Lord Godalming were with Dr. Seward at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12780 the door asking questions. When the Professor saw Mina a smile--a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12781 positive smile ousted the anxiety of his face; he rubbed his hands as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12782 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12783
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12784 "Oh, my dear Madam Mina, this is indeed a change. See! friend Jonathan,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12785 we have got our dear Madam Mina, as of old, back to us to-day!" Then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12786 turning to her, he said, cheerfully: "And what am I do for you? For at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12787 this hour you do not want me for nothings."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12788
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12789 "I want you to hypnotise me!" she said. "Do it before the dawn, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12790 feel that then I can speak, and speak freely. Be quick, for the time is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12791 short!" Without a word he motioned her to sit up in bed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12792
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12793 Looking fixedly at her, he commenced to make passes in front of her,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12794 from over the top of her head downward, with each hand in turn. Mina
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12795 gazed at him fixedly for a few minutes, during which my own heart beat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12796 like a trip hammer, for I felt that some crisis was at hand. Gradually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12797 her eyes closed, and she sat, stock still; only by the gentle heaving of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12798 her bosom could one know that she was alive. The Professor made a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12799 more passes and then stopped, and I could see that his forehead was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12800 covered with great beads of perspiration. Mina opened her eyes; but she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12801 did not seem the same woman. There was a far-away look in her eyes, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12802 her voice had a sad dreaminess which was new to me. Raising his hand to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12803 impose silence, the Professor motioned to me to bring the others in.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12804 They came on tip-toe, closing the door behind them, and stood at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12805 foot of the bed, looking on. Mina appeared not to see them. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12806 stillness was broken by Van Helsing's voice speaking in a low level tone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12807 which would not break the current of her thoughts:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12808
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12809 "Where are you?" The answer came in a neutral way:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12810
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12811 "I do not know. Sleep has no place it can call its own." For several
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12812 minutes there was silence. Mina sat rigid, and the Professor stood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12813 staring at her fixedly; the rest of us hardly dared to breathe. The room
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12814 was growing lighter; without taking his eyes from Mina's face, Dr. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12815 Helsing motioned me to pull up the blind. I did so, and the day seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12816 just upon us. A red streak shot up, and a rosy light seemed to diffuse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12817 itself through the room. On the instant the Professor spoke again:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12818
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12819 "Where are you now?" The answer came dreamily, but with intention; it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12820 were as though she were interpreting something. I have heard her use the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12821 same tone when reading her shorthand notes.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12822
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12823 "I do not know. It is all strange to me!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12824
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12825 "What do you see?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12826
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12827 "I can see nothing; it is all dark."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12828
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12829 "What do you hear?" I could detect the strain in the Professor's patient
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12830 voice.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12831
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12832 "The lapping of water. It is gurgling by, and little waves leap. I can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12833 hear them on the outside."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12834
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12835 "Then you are on a ship?" We all looked at each other, trying to glean
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12836 something each from the other. We were afraid to think. The answer came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12837 quick:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12838
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12839 "Oh, yes!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12840
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12841 "What else do you hear?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12842
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12843 "The sound of men stamping overhead as they run about. There is the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12844 creaking of a chain, and the loud tinkle as the check of the capstan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12845 falls into the rachet."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12846
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12847 "What are you doing?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12849 "I am still--oh, so still. It is like death!" The voice faded away into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12850 a deep breath as of one sleeping, and the open eyes closed again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12851
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12852 By this time the sun had risen, and we were all in the full light of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12853 day. Dr. Van Helsing placed his hands on Mina's shoulders, and laid her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12854 head down softly on her pillow. She lay like a sleeping child for a few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12855 moments, and then, with a long sigh, awoke and stared in wonder to see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12856 us all around her. "Have I been talking in my sleep?" was all she said.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12857 She seemed, however, to know the situation without telling, though she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12858 was eager to know what she had told. The Professor repeated the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12859 conversation, and she said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12860
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12861 "Then there is not a moment to lose: it may not be yet too late!" Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12862 Morris and Lord Godalming started for the door but the Professor's calm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12863 voice called them back:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12864
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12865 "Stay, my friends. That ship, wherever it was, was weighing anchor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12866 whilst she spoke. There are many ships weighing anchor at the moment in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12867 your so great Port of London. Which of them is it that you seek? God be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12868 thanked that we have once again a clue, though whither it may lead us we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12869 know not. We have been blind somewhat; blind after the manner of men,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12870 since when we can look back we see what we might have seen looking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12871 forward if we had been able to see what we might have seen! Alas, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12872 that sentence is a puddle; is it not? We can know now what was in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12873 Count's mind, when he seize that money, though Jonathan's so fierce
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12874 knife put him in the danger that even he dread. He meant escape. Hear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12875 me, ESCAPE! He saw that with but one earth-box left, and a pack of men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12876 following like dogs after a fox, this London was no place for him. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12877 have take his last earth-box on board a ship, and he leave the land. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12878 think to escape, but no! we follow him. Tally Ho! as friend Arthur would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12879 say when he put on his red frock! Our old fox is wily; oh! so wily, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12880 we must follow with wile. I, too, am wily and I think his mind in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12881 little while. In meantime we may rest and in peace, for there are waters
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12882 between us which he do not want to pass, and which he could not if he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12883 would--unless the ship were to touch the land, and then only at full or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12884 slack tide. See, and the sun is just rose, and all day to sunset is to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12885 us. Let us take bath, and dress, and have breakfast which we all need,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12886 and which we can eat comfortably since he be not in the same land with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12887 us." Mina looked at him appealingly as she asked:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12888
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12889 "But why need we seek him further, when he is gone away from us?" He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12890 took her hand and patted it as he replied:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12891
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12892 "Ask me nothings as yet. When we have breakfast, then I answer all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12893 questions." He would say no more, and we separated to dress.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12894
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12895 After breakfast Mina repeated her question. He looked at her gravely for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12896 a minute and then said sorrowfully:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12897
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12898 "Because my dear, dear Madam Mina, now more than ever must we find him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12899 even if we have to follow him to the jaws of Hell!" She grew paler as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12900 she asked faintly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12901
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12902 "Why?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12903
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12904 "Because," he answered solemnly, "he can live for centuries, and you are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12905 but mortal woman. Time is now to be dreaded--since once he put that mark
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12906 upon your throat."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12907
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12908 I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12909
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12910
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12911
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12912
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12913 CHAPTER XXIV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12914
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12915 DR. SEWARD'S PHONOGRAPH DIARY, SPOKEN BY VAN HELSING
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12916
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12917
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12918 This to Jonathan Harker.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12919
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12920 You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina. We shall go to make our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12921 search--if I can call it so, for it is not search but knowing, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12922 seek confirmation only. But do you stay and take care of her to-day.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12923 This is your best and most holiest office. This day nothing can find him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12924 here. Let me tell you that so you will know what we four know already,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12925 for I have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone away; he have gone back
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12926 to his Castle in Transylvania. I know it so well, as if a great hand of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12927 fire wrote it on the wall. He have prepare for this in some way, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12928 that last earth-box was ready to ship somewheres. For this he took the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12929 money; for this he hurry at the last, lest we catch him before the sun
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12930 go down. It was his last hope, save that he might hide in the tomb that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12931 he think poor Miss Lucy, being as he thought like him, keep open to him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12932 But there was not of time. When that fail he make straight for his last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12933 resource--his last earth-work I might say did I wish _double entente_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12934 He is clever, oh, so clever! he know that his game here was finish; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12935 so he decide he go back home. He find ship going by the route he came,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12936 and he go in it. We go off now to find what ship, and whither bound;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12937 when we have discover that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12938 comfort you and poor dear Madam Mina with new hope. For it will be hope
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12939 when you think it over: that all is not lost. This very creature that we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12940 pursue, he take hundreds of years to get so far as London; and yet in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12941 one day, when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out. He is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12942 finite, though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12943 But we are strong, each in our purpose; and we are all more strong
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12944 together. Take heart afresh, dear husband of Madam Mina. This battle is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12945 but begun, and in the end we shall win--so sure as that God sits on high
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12946 to watch over His children. Therefore be of much comfort till we return.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12947
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12948 VAN HELSING.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12949
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12950
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12951 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12952
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12953 _4 October._--When I read to Mina, Van Helsing's message in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12954 phonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably. Already the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12955 certainty that the Count is out of the country has given her comfort;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12956 and comfort is strength to her. For my own part, now that his horrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12957 danger is not face to face with us, it seems almost impossible to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12958 believe in it. Even my own terrible experiences in Castle Dracula seem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12959 like a long-forgotten dream. Here in the crisp autumn air in the bright
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12960 sunlight----
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12961
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12962 Alas! how can I disbelieve! In the midst of my thought my eye fell on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12963 the red scar on my poor darling's white forehead. Whilst that lasts,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12964 there can be no disbelief. And afterwards the very memory of it will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12965 keep faith crystal clear. Mina and I fear to be idle, so we have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12966 over all the diaries again and again. Somehow, although the reality
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12967 seems greater each time, the pain and the fear seem less. There is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12968 something of a guiding purpose manifest throughout, which is comforting.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12969 Mina says that perhaps we are the instruments of ultimate good. It may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12970 be! I shall try to think as she does. We have never spoken to each other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12971 yet of the future. It is better to wait till we see the Professor and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12972 the others after their investigations.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12973
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12974 The day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day could run
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12975 for me again. It is now three o'clock.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12976
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12977
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12978 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12979
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12980 _5 October, 5 p. m._--Our meeting for report. Present: Professor Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12981 Helsing, Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, Mr. Quincey Morris, Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12982 Harker, Mina Harker.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12983
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12984 Dr. Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12985 discover on what boat and whither bound Count Dracula made his escape:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12986
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12987 "As I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania, I felt sure that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12988 he must go by the Danube mouth; or by somewhere in the Black Sea, since
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12989 by that way he come. It was a dreary blank that was before us. _Omne
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12990 ignotum pro magnifico_; and so with heavy hearts we start to find what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12991 ships leave for the Black Sea last night. He was in sailing ship, since
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12992 Madam Mina tell of sails being set. These not so important as to go in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12993 your list of the shipping in the _Times_, and so we go, by suggestion of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12994 Lord Godalming, to your Lloyd's, where are note of all ships that sail,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12995 however so small. There we find that only one Black-Sea-bound ship go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12996 out with the tide. She is the _Czarina Catherine_, and she sail from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12997 Doolittle's Wharf for Varna, and thence on to other parts and up the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12998 Danube. 'Soh!' said I, 'this is the ship whereon is the Count.' So off
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 12999 we go to Doolittle's Wharf, and there we find a man in an office of wood
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13000 so small that the man look bigger than the office. From him we inquire
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13001 of the goings of the _Czarina Catherine_. He swear much, and he red face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13002 and loud of voice, but he good fellow all the same; and when Quincey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13003 give him something from his pocket which crackle as he roll it up, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13004 put it in a so small bag which he have hid deep in his clothing, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13005 still better fellow and humble servant to us. He come with us, and ask
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13006 many men who are rough and hot; these be better fellows too when they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13007 have been no more thirsty. They say much of blood and bloom, and of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13008 others which I comprehend not, though I guess what they mean; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13009 nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13010
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13011 "They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about five
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13012 o'clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with high nose
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13013 and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning. That he be all in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13014 black, except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him or the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13015 time. That he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to what ship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13016 sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some took him to the office and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13017 then to the ship, where he will not go aboard but halt at shore end of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13018 gang-plank, and ask that the captain come to him. The captain come, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13019 told that he will be pay well; and though he swear much at the first he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13020 agree to term. Then the thin man go and some one tell him where horse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13021 and cart can be hired. He go there and soon he come again, himself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13022 driving cart on which a great box; this he himself lift down, though it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13023 take several to put it on truck for the ship. He give much talk to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13024 captain as to how and where his box is to be place; but the captain like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13025 it not and swear at him in many tongues, and tell him that if he like he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13026 can come and see where it shall be. But he say 'no'; that he come not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13027 yet, for that he have much to do. Whereupon the captain tell him that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13028 had better be quick--with blood--for that his ship will leave the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13029 place--of blood--before the turn of the tide--with blood. Then the thin
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13030 man smile and say that of course he must go when he think fit; but he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13031 will be surprise if he go quite so soon. The captain swear again,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13032 polyglot, and the thin man make him bow, and thank him, and say that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13033 will so far intrude on his kindness as to come aboard before the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13034 sailing. Final the captain, more red than ever, and in more tongues tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13035 him that he doesn't want no Frenchmen--with bloom upon them and also
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13036 with blood--in his ship--with blood on her also. And so, after asking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13037 where there might be close at hand a ship where he might purchase ship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13038 forms, he departed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13039
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13040 "No one knew where he went 'or bloomin' well cared,' as they said, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13041 they had something else to think of--well with blood again; for it soon
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13042 became apparent to all that the _Czarina Catherine_ would not sail as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13043 was expected. A thin mist began to creep up from the river, and it grew,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13044 and grew; till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all around her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13045 The captain swore polyglot--very polyglot--polyglot with bloom and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13046 blood; but he could do nothing. The water rose and rose; and he began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13047 fear that he would lose the tide altogether. He was in no friendly mood,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13048 when just at full tide, the thin man came up the gang-plank again and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13049 asked to see where his box had been stowed. Then the captain replied
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13050 that he wished that he and his box--old and with much bloom and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13051 blood--were in hell. But the thin man did not be offend, and went down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13052 with the mate and saw where it was place, and came up and stood awhile
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13053 on deck in fog. He must have come off by himself, for none notice him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13054 Indeed they thought not of him; for soon the fog begin to melt away, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13055 all was clear again. My friends of the thirst and the language that was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13056 of bloom and blood laughed, as they told how the captain's swears
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13057 exceeded even his usual polyglot, and was more than ever full of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13058 picturesque, when on questioning other mariners who were on movement up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13059 and down on the river that hour, he found that few of them had seen any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13060 of fog at all, except where it lay round the wharf. However, the ship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13061 went out on the ebb tide; and was doubtless by morning far down the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13062 river mouth. She was by then, when they told us, well out to sea.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13063
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13064 "And so, my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a time, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13065 our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on his way to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13066 Danube mouth. To sail a ship takes time, go she never so quick; and when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13067 we start we go on land more quick, and we meet him there. Our best hope
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13068 is to come on him when in the box between sunrise and sunset; for then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13069 he can make no struggle, and we may deal with him as we should. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13070 are days for us, in which we can make ready our plan. We know all about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13071 where he go; for we have seen the owner of the ship, who have shown us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13072 invoices and all papers that can be. The box we seek is to be landed in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13073 Varna, and to be given to an agent, one Ristics who will there present
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13074 his credentials; and so our merchant friend will have done his part.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13075 When he ask if there be any wrong, for that so, he can telegraph and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13076 have inquiry made at Varna, we say 'no'; for what is to be done is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13077 for police or of the customs. It must be done by us alone and in our own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13078 way."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13079
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13080 When Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were certain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13081 that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied: "We have the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13082 best proof of that: your own evidence, when in the hypnotic trance this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13083 morning." I asked him again if it were really necessary that they should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13084 pursue the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving me, and I know that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13085 he would surely go if the others went. He answered in growing passion,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13086 at first quietly. As he went on, however, he grew more angry and more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13087 forceful, till in the end we could not but see wherein was at least some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13088 of that personal dominance which made him so long a master amongst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13089 men:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13090
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13091 "Yes, it is necessary--necessary--necessary! For your sake in the first,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13092 and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done much harm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13093 already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and in the short
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13094 time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small measure in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13095 darkness and not knowing. All this have I told these others; you, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13096 dear Madam Mina, will learn it in the phonograph of my friend John, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13097 in that of your husband. I have told them how the measure of leaving his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13098 own barren land--barren of peoples--and coming to a new land where life
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13099 of man teems till they are like the multitude of standing corn, was the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13100 work of centuries. Were another of the Un-Dead, like him, to try to do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13101 what he has done, perhaps not all the centuries of the world that have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13102 been, or that will be, could aid him. With this one, all the forces of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13103 nature that are occult and deep and strong must have worked together in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13104 some wondrous way. The very place, where he have been alive, Un-Dead for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13105 all these centuries, is full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13106 world. There are deep caverns and fissures that reach none know whither.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13107 There have been volcanoes, some of whose openings still send out waters
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13108 of strange properties, and gases that kill or make to vivify. Doubtless,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13109 there is something magnetic or electric in some of these combinations of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13110 occult forces which work for physical life in strange way; and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13111 himself were from the first some great qualities. In a hard and warlike
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13112 time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve, more subtle brain,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13113 more braver heart, than any man. In him some vital principle have in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13114 strange way found their utmost; and as his body keep strong and grow and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13115 thrive, so his brain grow too. All this without that diabolic aid which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13116 is surely to him; for it have to yield to the powers that come from,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13117 and are, symbolic of good. And now this is what he is to us. He have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13118 infect you--oh, forgive me, my dear, that I must say such; but it is for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13119 good of you that I speak. He infect you in such wise, that even if he do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13120 no more, you have only to live--to live in your own old, sweet way; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13121 so in time, death, which is of man's common lot and with God's sanction,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13122 shall make you like to him. This must not be! We have sworn together
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13123 that it must not. Thus are we ministers of God's own wish: that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13124 world, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13125 whose very existence would defame Him. He have allowed us to redeem one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13126 soul already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13127 more. Like them we shall travel towards the sunrise; and like them, if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13128 we fall, we fall in good cause." He paused and I said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13129
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13130 "But will not the Count take his rebuff wisely? Since he has been driven
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13131 from England, will he not avoid it, as a tiger does the village from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13132 which he has been hunted?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13133
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13134 "Aha!" he said, "your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13135 adopt him. Your man-eater, as they of India call the tiger who has once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13136 tasted blood of the human, care no more for the other prey, but prowl
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13137 unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from our village is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13138 tiger, too, a man-eater, and he never cease to prowl. Nay, in himself he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13139 is not one to retire and stay afar. In his life, his living life, he go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13140 over the Turkey frontier and attack his enemy on his own ground; he be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13141 beaten back, but did he stay? No! He come again, and again, and again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13142 Look at his persistence and endurance. With the child-brain that was to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13143 him he have long since conceive the idea of coming to a great city. What
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13144 does he do? He find out the place of all the world most of promise for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13145 him. Then he deliberately set himself down to prepare for the task. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13146 find in patience just how is his strength, and what are his powers. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13147 study new tongues. He learn new social life; new environment of old
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13148 ways, the politic, the law, the finance, the science, the habit of a new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13149 land and a new people who have come to be since he was. His glimpse that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13150 he have had, whet his appetite only and enkeen his desire. Nay, it help
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13151 him to grow as to his brain; for it all prove to him how right he was at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13152 the first in his surmises. He have done this alone; all alone! from a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13153 ruin tomb in a forgotten land. What more may he not do when the greater
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13154 world of thought is open to him. He that can smile at death, as we know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13155 him; who can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill off whole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13156 peoples. Oh, if such an one was to come from God, and not the Devil,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13157 what a force for good might he not be in this old world of ours. But we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13158 are pledged to set the world free. Our toil must be in silence, and our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13159 efforts all in secret; for in this enlightened age, when men believe not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13160 even what they see, the doubting of wise men would be his greatest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13161 strength. It would be at once his sheath and his armour, and his weapons
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13162 to destroy us, his enemies, who are willing to peril even our own souls
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13163 for the safety of one we love--for the good of mankind, and for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13164 honour and glory of God."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13165
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13166 After a general discussion it was determined that for to-night nothing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13167 be definitely settled; that we should all sleep on the facts, and try to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13168 think out the proper conclusions. To-morrow, at breakfast, we are to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13169 meet again, and, after making our conclusions known to one another, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13170 shall decide on some definite cause of action.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13171
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13172 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13173
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13174 I feel a wonderful peace and rest to-night. It is as if some haunting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13175 presence were removed from me. Perhaps ...
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13176
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13177 My surmise was not finished, could not be; for I caught sight in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13178 mirror of the red mark upon my forehead; and I knew that I was still
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13179 unclean.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13180
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13181
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13182 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13183
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13184 _5 October._--We all rose early, and I think that sleep did much for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13185 each and all of us. When we met at early breakfast there was more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13186 general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13187 again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13188
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13189 It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13190 any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way--even by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13191 death--and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment. More
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13192 than once as we sat around the table, my eyes opened in wonder whether
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13193 the whole of the past days had not been a dream. It was only when I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13194 caught sight of the red blotch on Mrs. Harker's forehead that I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13195 brought back to reality. Even now, when I am gravely revolving the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13196 matter, it is almost impossible to realise that the cause of all our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13197 trouble is still existent. Even Mrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13198 trouble for whole spells; it is only now and again, when something
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13199 recalls it to her mind, that she thinks of her terrible scar. We are to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13200 meet here in my study in half an hour and decide on our course of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13201 action. I see only one immediate difficulty, I know it by instinct
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13202 rather than reason: we shall all have to speak frankly; and yet I fear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13203 that in some mysterious way poor Mrs. Harker's tongue is tied. I _know_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13204 that she forms conclusions of her own, and from all that has been I can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13205 guess how brilliant and how true they must be; but she will not, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13206 cannot, give them utterance. I have mentioned this to Van Helsing, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13207 he and I are to talk it over when we are alone. I suppose it is some of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13208 that horrid poison which has got into her veins beginning to work. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13209 Count had his own purposes when he gave her what Van Helsing called "the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13210 Vampire's baptism of blood." Well, there may be a poison that distils
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13211 itself out of good things; in an age when the existence of ptomaines is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13212 a mystery we should not wonder at anything! One thing I know: that if my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13213 instinct be true regarding poor Mrs. Harker's silences, then there is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13214 terrible difficulty--an unknown danger--in the work before us. The same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13215 power that compels her silence may compel her speech. I dare not think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13216 further; for so I should in my thoughts dishonour a noble woman!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13217
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13218 Van Helsing is coming to my study a little before the others. I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13219 try to open the subject with him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13220
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13221 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13222
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13223 _Later._--When the Professor came in, we talked over the state of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13224 things. I could see that he had something on his mind which he wanted to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13225 say, but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject. After beating
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13226 about the bush a little, he said suddenly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13227
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13228 "Friend John, there is something that you and I must talk of alone, just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13229 at the first at any rate. Later, we may have to take the others into our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13230 confidence"; then he stopped, so I waited; he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13231
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13232 "Madam Mina, our poor, dear Madam Mina is changing." A cold shiver ran
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13233 through me to find my worst fears thus endorsed. Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13234 continued:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13235
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13236 "With the sad experience of Miss Lucy, we must this time be warned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13237 before things go too far. Our task is now in reality more difficult than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13238 ever, and this new trouble makes every hour of the direst importance. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13239 can see the characteristics of the vampire coming in her face. It is now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13240 but very, very slight; but it is to be seen if we have eyes to notice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13241 without to prejudge. Her teeth are some sharper, and at times her eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13242 are more hard. But these are not all, there is to her the silence now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13243 often; as so it was with Miss Lucy. She did not speak, even when she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13244 wrote that which she wished to be known later. Now my fear is this. If
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13245 it be that she can, by our hypnotic trance, tell what the Count see and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13246 hear, is it not more true that he who have hypnotise her first, and who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13247 have drink of her very blood and make her drink of his, should, if he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13248 will, compel her mind to disclose to him that which she know?" I nodded
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13249 acquiescence; he went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13250
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13251 "Then, what we must do is to prevent this; we must keep her ignorant of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13252 our intent, and so she cannot tell what she know not. This is a painful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13253 task! Oh, so painful that it heart-break me to think of; but it must be.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13254 When to-day we meet, I must tell her that for reason which we will not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13255 to speak she must not more be of our council, but be simply guarded by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13256 us." He wiped his forehead, which had broken out in profuse perspiration
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13257 at the thought of the pain which he might have to inflict upon the poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13258 soul already so tortured. I knew that it would be some sort of comfort
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13259 to him if I told him that I also had come to the same conclusion; for at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13260 any rate it would take away the pain of doubt. I told him, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13261 effect was as I expected.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13262
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13263 It is now close to the time of our general gathering. Van Helsing has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13264 gone away to prepare for the meeting, and his painful part of it. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13265 really believe his purpose is to be able to pray alone.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13266
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13267 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13268
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13269 _Later._--At the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13270 experienced by both Van Helsing and myself. Mrs. Harker had sent a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13271 message by her husband to say that she would not join us at present, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13272 she thought it better that we should be free to discuss our movements
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13273 without her presence to embarrass us. The Professor and I looked at each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13274 other for an instant, and somehow we both seemed relieved. For my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13275 part, I thought that if Mrs. Harker realised the danger herself, it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13276 much pain as well as much danger averted. Under the circumstances we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13277 agreed, by a questioning look and answer, with finger on lip, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13278 preserve silence in our suspicions, until we should have been able to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13279 confer alone again. We went at once into our Plan of Campaign. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13280 Helsing roughly put the facts before us first:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13281
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13282 "The _Czarina Catherine_ left the Thames yesterday morning. It will take
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13283 her at the quickest speed she has ever made at least three weeks to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13284 reach Varna; but we can travel overland to the same place in three days.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13285 Now, if we allow for two days less for the ship's voyage, owing to such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13286 weather influences as we know that the Count can bring to bear; and if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13287 we allow a whole day and night for any delays which may occur to us,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13288 then we have a margin of nearly two weeks. Thus, in order to be quite
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13289 safe, we must leave here on 17th at latest. Then we shall at any rate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13290 be in Varna a day before the ship arrives, and able to make such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13291 preparations as may be necessary. Of course we shall all go armed--armed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13292 against evil things, spiritual as well as physical." Here Quincey Morris
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13293 added:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13294
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13295 "I understand that the Count comes from a wolf country, and it may be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13296 that he shall get there before us. I propose that we add Winchesters to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13297 our armament. I have a kind of belief in a Winchester when there is any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13298 trouble of that sort around. Do you remember, Art, when we had the pack
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13299 after us at Tobolsk? What wouldn't we have given then for a repeater
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13300 apiece!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13301
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13302 "Good!" said Van Helsing, "Winchesters it shall be. Quincey's head is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13303 level at all times, but most so when there is to hunt, metaphor be more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13304 dishonour to science than wolves be of danger to man. In the meantime we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13305 can do nothing here; and as I think that Varna is not familiar to any of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13306 us, why not go there more soon? It is as long to wait here as there.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13307 To-night and to-morrow we can get ready, and then, if all be well, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13308 four can set out on our journey."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13309
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13310 "We four?" said Harker interrogatively, looking from one to another of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13311 us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13312
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13313 "Of course!" answered the Professor quickly, "you must remain to take
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13314 care of your so sweet wife!" Harker was silent for awhile and then said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13315 in a hollow voice:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13316
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13317 "Let us talk of that part of it in the morning. I want to consult with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13318 Mina." I thought that now was the time for Van Helsing to warn him not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13319 to disclose our plans to her; but he took no notice. I looked at him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13320 significantly and coughed. For answer he put his finger on his lips and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13321 turned away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13322
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13323
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13324 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13325
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13326 _5 October, afternoon._--For some time after our meeting this morning I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13327 could not think. The new phases of things leave my mind in a state of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13328 wonder which allows no room for active thought. Mina's determination not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13329 to take any part in the discussion set me thinking; and as I could not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13330 argue the matter with her, I could only guess. I am as far as ever from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13331 a solution now. The way the others received it, too, puzzled me; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13332 last time we talked of the subject we agreed that there was to be no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13333 more concealment of anything amongst us. Mina is sleeping now, calmly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13334 and sweetly like a little child. Her lips are curved and her face beams
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13335 with happiness. Thank God, there are such moments still for her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13336
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13337 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13338
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13339 _Later._--How strange it all is. I sat watching Mina's happy sleep, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13340 came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever be. As the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13341 evening drew on, and the earth took its shadows from the sun sinking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13342 lower, the silence of the room grew more and more solemn to me. All at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13343 once Mina opened her eyes, and looking at me tenderly, said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13344
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13345 "Jonathan, I want you to promise me something on your word of honour. A
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13346 promise made to me, but made holily in God's hearing, and not to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13347 broken though I should go down on my knees and implore you with bitter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13348 tears. Quick, you must make it to me at once."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13349
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13350 "Mina," I said, "a promise like that, I cannot make at once. I may have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13351 no right to make it."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13352
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13353 "But, dear one," she said, with such spiritual intensity that her eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13354 were like pole stars, "it is I who wish it; and it is not for myself.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13355 You can ask Dr. Van Helsing if I am not right; if he disagrees you may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13356 do as you will. Nay, more, if you all agree, later, you are absolved
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13357 from the promise."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13358
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13359 "I promise!" I said, and for a moment she looked supremely happy; though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13360 to me all happiness for her was denied by the red scar on her forehead.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13361 She said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13362
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13363 "Promise me that you will not tell me anything of the plans formed for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13364 the campaign against the Count. Not by word, or inference, or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13365 implication; not at any time whilst this remains to me!" and she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13366 solemnly pointed to the scar. I saw that she was in earnest, and said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13367 solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13368
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13369 "I promise!" and as I said it I felt that from that instant a door had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13370 been shut between us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13371
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13372 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13373
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13374 _Later, midnight._--Mina has been bright and cheerful all the evening.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13375 So much so that all the rest seemed to take courage, as if infected
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13376 somewhat with her gaiety; as a result even I myself felt as if the pall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13377 of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted. We all retired
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13378 early. Mina is now sleeping like a little child; it is a wonderful thing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13379 that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the midst of her terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13380 trouble. Thank God for it, for then at least she can forget her care.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13381 Perhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety did to-night. I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13382 try it. Oh! for a dreamless sleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13383
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13384 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13385
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13386 _6 October, morning._--Another surprise. Mina woke me early, about the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13387 same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring Dr. Van Helsing. I thought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13388 that it was another occasion for hypnotism, and without question went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13389 for the Professor. He had evidently expected some such call, for I found
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13390 him dressed in his room. His door was ajar, so that he could hear the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13391 opening of the door of our room. He came at once; as he passed into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13392 room, he asked Mina if the others might come, too.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13393
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13394 "No," she said quite simply, "it will not be necessary. You can tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13395 them just as well. I must go with you on your journey."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13396
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13397 Dr. Van Helsing was as startled as I was. After a moment's pause he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13398 asked:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13399
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13400 "But why?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13401
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13402 "You must take me with you. I am safer with you, and you shall be safer,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13403 too."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13404
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13405 "But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our solemnest
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13406 duty. We go into danger, to which you are, or may be, more liable than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13407 any of us from--from circumstances--things that have been." He paused,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13408 embarrassed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13409
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13410 As she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her forehead:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13411
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13412 "I know. That is why I must go. I can tell you now, whilst the sun is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13413 coming up; I may not be able again. I know that when the Count wills me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13414 I must go. I know that if he tells me to come in secret, I must come by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13415 wile; by any device to hoodwink--even Jonathan." God saw the look that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13416 she turned on me as she spoke, and if there be indeed a Recording Angel
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13417 that look is noted to her everlasting honour. I could only clasp her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13418 hand. I could not speak; my emotion was too great for even the relief of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13419 tears. She went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13420
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13421 "You men are brave and strong. You are strong in your numbers, for you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13422 can defy that which would break down the human endurance of one who had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13423 to guard alone. Besides, I may be of service, since you can hypnotise me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13424 and so learn that which even I myself do not know." Dr. Van Helsing said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13425 very gravely:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13426
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13427 "Madam Mina, you are, as always, most wise. You shall with us come; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13428 together we shall do that which we go forth to achieve." When he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13429 spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her. She had fallen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13430 back on her pillow asleep; she did not even wake when I had pulled up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13431 the blind and let in the sunlight which flooded the room. Van Helsing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13432 motioned to me to come with him quietly. We went to his room, and within
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13433 a minute Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, and Mr. Morris were with us also.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13434 He told them what Mina had said, and went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13435
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13436 "In the morning we shall leave for Varna. We have now to deal with a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13437 new factor: Madam Mina. Oh, but her soul is true. It is to her an agony
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13438 to tell us so much as she has done; but it is most right, and we are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13439 warned in time. There must be no chance lost, and in Varna we must be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13440 ready to act the instant when that ship arrives."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13441
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13442 "What shall we do exactly?" asked Mr. Morris laconically. The Professor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13443 paused before replying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13444
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13445 "We shall at the first board that ship; then, when we have identified
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13446 the box, we shall place a branch of the wild rose on it. This we shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13447 fasten, for when it is there none can emerge; so at least says the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13448 superstition. And to superstition must we trust at the first; it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13449 man's faith in the early, and it have its root in faith still. Then,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13450 when we get the opportunity that we seek, when none are near to see, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13451 shall open the box, and--and all will be well."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13452
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13453 "I shall not wait for any opportunity," said Morris. "When I see the box
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13454 I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were a thousand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13455 men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the next moment!" I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13456 grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm as a piece of steel.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13457 I think he understood my look; I hope he did.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13458
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13459 "Good boy," said Dr. Van Helsing. "Brave boy. Quincey is all man. God
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13460 bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall lag behind or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13461 pause from any fear. I do but say what we may do--what we must do. But,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13462 indeed, indeed we cannot say what we shall do. There are so many things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13463 which may happen, and their ways and their ends are so various that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13464 until the moment we may not say. We shall all be armed, in all ways; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13465 when the time for the end has come, our effort shall not be lack. Now
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13466 let us to-day put all our affairs in order. Let all things which touch
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13467 on others dear to us, and who on us depend, be complete; for none of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13468 can tell what, or when, or how, the end may be. As for me, my own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13469 affairs are regulate; and as I have nothing else to do, I shall go make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13470 arrangements for the travel. I shall have all tickets and so forth for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13471 our journey."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13472
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13473 There was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now settle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13474 up all my affairs of earth, and be ready for whatever may come....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13475
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13476 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13477
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13478 _Later._--It is all done; my will is made, and all complete. Mina if she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13479 survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the others who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13480 have been so good to us shall have remainder.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13481
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13482 It is now drawing towards the sunset; Mina's uneasiness calls my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13483 attention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mind which the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13484 time of exact sunset will reveal. These occasions are becoming harrowing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13485 times for us all, for each sunrise and sunset opens up some new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13486 danger--some new pain, which, however, may in God's will be means to a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13487 good end. I write all these things in the diary since my darling must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13488 not hear them now; but if it may be that she can see them again, they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13489 shall be ready.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13490
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13491 She is calling to me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13492
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13493
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13494
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13495
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13496 CHAPTER XXV
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13497
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13498 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13499
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13500
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13501 _11 October, Evening._--Jonathan Harker has asked me to note this, as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13502 says he is hardly equal to the task, and he wants an exact record kept.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13503
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13504 I think that none of us were surprised when we were asked to see Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13505 Harker a little before the time of sunset. We have of late come to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13506 understand that sunrise and sunset are to her times of peculiar freedom;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13507 when her old self can be manifest without any controlling force subduing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13508 or restraining her, or inciting her to action. This mood or condition
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13509 begins some half hour or more before actual sunrise or sunset, and lasts
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13510 till either the sun is high, or whilst the clouds are still aglow with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13511 the rays streaming above the horizon. At first there is a sort of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13512 negative condition, as if some tie were loosened, and then the absolute
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13513 freedom quickly follows; when, however, the freedom ceases the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13514 change-back or relapse comes quickly, preceded only by a spell of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13515 warning silence.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13516
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13517 To-night, when we met, she was somewhat constrained, and bore all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13518 signs of an internal struggle. I put it down myself to her making a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13519 violent effort at the earliest instant she could do so. A very few
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13520 minutes, however, gave her complete control of herself; then, motioning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13521 her husband to sit beside her on the sofa where she was half reclining,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13522 she made the rest of us bring chairs up close. Taking her husband's hand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13523 in hers began:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13524
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13525 "We are all here together in freedom, for perhaps the last time! I know,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13526 dear; I know that you will always be with me to the end." This was to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13527 her husband whose hand had, as we could see, tightened upon hers. "In
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13528 the morning we go out upon our task, and God alone knows what may be in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13529 store for any of us. You are going to be so good to me as to take me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13530 with you. I know that all that brave earnest men can do for a poor weak
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13531 woman, whose soul perhaps is lost--no, no, not yet, but is at any rate
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13532 at stake--you will do. But you must remember that I am not as you are.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13533 There is a poison in my blood, in my soul, which may destroy me; which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13534 must destroy me, unless some relief comes to us. Oh, my friends, you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13535 know as well as I do, that my soul is at stake; and though I know there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13536 is one way out for me, you must not and I must not take it!" She looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13537 appealingly to us all in turn, beginning and ending with her husband.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13538
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13539 "What is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. "What is that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13540 way, which we must not--may not--take?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13541
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13542 "That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, before
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13543 the greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you know, that were I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13544 once dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit, even as you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13545 did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of death, the only thing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13546 that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here, now, amidst the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13547 friends who love me. But death is not all. I cannot believe that to die
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13548 in such a case, when there is hope before us and a bitter task to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13549 done, is God's will. Therefore, I, on my part, give up here the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13550 certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13551 blackest things that the world or the nether world holds!" We were all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13552 silent, for we knew instinctively that this was only a prelude. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13553 faces of the others were set and Harker's grew ashen grey; perhaps he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13554 guessed better than any of us what was coming. She continued:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13555
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13556 "This is what I can give into the hotch-pot." I could not but note the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13557 quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place, and with all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13558 seriousness. "What will each of you give? Your lives I know," she went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13559 on quickly, "that is easy for brave men. Your lives are God's, and you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13560 can give them back to Him; but what will you give to me?" She looked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13561 again questioningly, but this time avoided her husband's face. Quincey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13562 seemed to understand; he nodded, and her face lit up. "Then I shall tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13563 you plainly what I want, for there must be no doubtful matter in this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13564 connection between us now. You must promise me, one and all--even you,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13565 my beloved husband--that, should the time come, you will kill me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13566
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13567 "What is that time?" The voice was Quincey's, but it was low and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13568 strained.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13569
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13570 "When you shall be convinced that I am so changed that it is better that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13571 I die that I may live. When I am thus dead in the flesh, then you will,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13572 without a moment's delay, drive a stake through me and cut off my head;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13573 or do whatever else may be wanting to give me rest!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13574
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13575 Quincey was the first to rise after the pause. He knelt down before her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13576 and taking her hand in his said solemnly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13577
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13578 "I'm only a rough fellow, who hasn't, perhaps, lived as a man should to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13579 win such a distinction, but I swear to you by all that I hold sacred and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13580 dear that, should the time ever come, I shall not flinch from the duty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13581 that you have set us. And I promise you, too, that I shall make all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13582 certain, for if I am only doubtful I shall take it that the time has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13583 come!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13584
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13585 "My true friend!" was all she could say amid her fast-falling tears, as,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13586 bending over, she kissed his hand.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13587
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13588 "I swear the same, my dear Madam Mina!" said Van Helsing.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13589
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13590 "And I!" said Lord Godalming, each of them in turn kneeling to her to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13591 take the oath. I followed, myself. Then her husband turned to her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13592 wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which subdued the snowy whiteness of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13593 his hair, and asked:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13594
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13595 "And must I, too, make such a promise, oh, my wife?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13596
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13597 "You too, my dearest," she said, with infinite yearning of pity in her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13598 voice and eyes. "You must not shrink. You are nearest and dearest and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13599 all the world to me; our souls are knit into one, for all life and all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13600 time. Think, dear, that there have been times when brave men have killed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13601 their wives and their womenkind, to keep them from falling into the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13602 hands of the enemy. Their hands did not falter any the more because
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13603 those that they loved implored them to slay them. It is men's duty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13604 towards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And oh, my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13605 dear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it be at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13606 the hand of him that loves me best. Dr. Van Helsing, I have not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13607 forgotten your mercy in poor Lucy's case to him who loved"--she stopped
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13608 with a flying blush, and changed her phrase--"to him who had best right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13609 to give her peace. If that time shall come again, I look to you to make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13610 it a happy memory of my husband's life that it was his loving hand which
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13611 set me free from the awful thrall upon me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13612
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13613 "Again I swear!" came the Professor's resonant voice. Mrs. Harker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13614 smiled, positively smiled, as with a sigh of relief she leaned back and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13615 said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13616
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13617 "And now one word of warning, a warning which you must never forget:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13618 this time, if it ever come, may come quickly and unexpectedly, and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13619 such case you must lose no time in using your opportunity. At such a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13620 time I myself might be--nay! if the time ever comes, _shall be_--leagued
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13621 with your enemy against you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13622
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13623 "One more request;" she became very solemn as she said this, "it is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13624 vital and necessary like the other, but I want you to do one thing for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13625 me, if you will." We all acquiesced, but no one spoke; there was no need
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13626 to speak:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13627
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13628 "I want you to read the Burial Service." She was interrupted by a deep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13629 groan from her husband; taking his hand in hers, she held it over her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13630 heart, and continued: "You must read it over me some day. Whatever may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13631 be the issue of all this fearful state of things, it will be a sweet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13632 thought to all or some of us. You, my dearest, will I hope read it, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13633 then it will be in your voice in my memory for ever--come what may!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13634
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13635 "But oh, my dear one," he pleaded, "death is afar off from you."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13636
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13637 "Nay," she said, holding up a warning hand. "I am deeper in death at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13638 this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13639
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13640 "Oh, my wife, must I read it?" he said, before he began.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13641
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13642 "It would comfort me, my husband!" was all she said; and he began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13643 read when she had got the book ready.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13644
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13645 "How can I--how could any one--tell of that strange scene, its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13646 solemnity, its gloom, its sadness, its horror; and, withal, its
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13647 sweetness. Even a sceptic, who can see nothing but a travesty of bitter
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13648 truth in anything holy or emotional, would have been melted to the heart
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13649 had he seen that little group of loving and devoted friends kneeling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13650 round that stricken and sorrowing lady; or heard the tender passion of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13651 her husband's voice, as in tones so broken with emotion that often he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13652 had to pause, he read the simple and beautiful service from the Burial
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13653 of the Dead. I--I cannot go on--words--and--v-voice--f-fail m-me!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13654
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13655 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13656
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13657 She was right in her instinct. Strange as it all was, bizarre as it may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13658 hereafter seem even to us who felt its potent influence at the time, it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13659 comforted us much; and the silence, which showed Mrs. Harker's coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13660 relapse from her freedom of soul, did not seem so full of despair to any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13661 of us as we had dreaded.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13662
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13663
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13664 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13665
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13666 _15 October, Varna._--We left Charing Cross on the morning of the 12th,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13667 got to Paris the same night, and took the places secured for us in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13668 Orient Express. We travelled night and day, arriving here at about five
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13669 o'clock. Lord Godalming went to the Consulate to see if any telegram had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13670 arrived for him, whilst the rest of us came on to this hotel--"the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13671 Odessus." The journey may have had incidents; I was, however, too eager
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13672 to get on, to care for them. Until the _Czarina Catherine_ comes into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13673 port there will be no interest for me in anything in the wide world.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13674 Thank God! Mina is well, and looks to be getting stronger; her colour is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13675 coming back. She sleeps a great deal; throughout the journey she slept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13676 nearly all the time. Before sunrise and sunset, however, she is very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13677 wakeful and alert; and it has become a habit for Van Helsing to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13678 hypnotise her at such times. At first, some effort was needed, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13679 had to make many passes; but now, she seems to yield at once, as if by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13680 habit, and scarcely any action is needed. He seems to have power at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13681 these particular moments to simply will, and her thoughts obey him. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13682 always asks her what she can see and hear. She answers to the first:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13683
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13684 "Nothing; all is dark." And to the second:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13685
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13686 "I can hear the waves lapping against the ship, and the water rushing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13687 by. Canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards creak. The wind is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13688 high--I can hear it in the shrouds, and the bow throws back the foam."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13689 It is evident that the _Czarina Catherine_ is still at sea, hastening on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13690 her way to Varna. Lord Godalming has just returned. He had four
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13691 telegrams, one each day since we started, and all to the same effect:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13692 that the _Czarina Catherine_ had not been reported to Lloyd's from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13693 anywhere. He had arranged before leaving London that his agent should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13694 send him every day a telegram saying if the ship had been reported. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13695 was to have a message even if she were not reported, so that he might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13696 sure that there was a watch being kept at the other end of the wire.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13697
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13698 We had dinner and went to bed early. To-morrow we are to see the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13699 Vice-Consul, and to arrange, if we can, about getting on board the ship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13700 as soon as she arrives. Van Helsing says that our chance will be to get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13701 on the boat between sunrise and sunset. The Count, even if he takes the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13702 form of a bat, cannot cross the running water of his own volition, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13703 so cannot leave the ship. As he dare not change to man's form without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13704 suspicion--which he evidently wishes to avoid--he must remain in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13705 box. If, then, we can come on board after sunrise, he is at our mercy;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13706 for we can open the box and make sure of him, as we did of poor Lucy,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13707 before he wakes. What mercy he shall get from us will not count for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13708 much. We think that we shall not have much trouble with officials or the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13709 seamen. Thank God! this is the country where bribery can do anything,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13710 and we are well supplied with money. We have only to make sure that the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13711 ship cannot come into port between sunset and sunrise without our being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13712 warned, and we shall be safe. Judge Moneybag will settle this case, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13713 think!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13714
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13715 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13716
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13717 _16 October._--Mina's report still the same: lapping waves and rushing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13718 water, darkness and favouring winds. We are evidently in good time, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13719 when we hear of the _Czarina Catherine_ we shall be ready. As she must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13720 pass the Dardanelles we are sure to have some report.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13721
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13722 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13723
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13724 _17 October._--Everything is pretty well fixed now, I think, to welcome
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13725 the Count on his return from his tour. Godalming told the shippers that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13726 he fancied that the box sent aboard might contain something stolen from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13727 a friend of his, and got a half consent that he might open it at his own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13728 risk. The owner gave him a paper telling the Captain to give him every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13729 facility in doing whatever he chose on board the ship, and also a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13730 similar authorisation to his agent at Varna. We have seen the agent, who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13731 was much impressed with Godalming's kindly manner to him, and we are all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13732 satisfied that whatever he can do to aid our wishes will be done. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13733 have already arranged what to do in case we get the box open. If the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13734 Count is there, Van Helsing and Seward will cut off his head at once and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13735 drive a stake through his heart. Morris and Godalming and I shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13736 prevent interference, even if we have to use the arms which we shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13737 have ready. The Professor says that if we can so treat the Count's body,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13738 it will soon after fall into dust. In such case there would be no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13739 evidence against us, in case any suspicion of murder were aroused. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13740 even if it were not, we should stand or fall by our act, and perhaps
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13741 some day this very script may be evidence to come between some of us and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13742 a rope. For myself, I should take the chance only too thankfully if it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13743 were to come. We mean to leave no stone unturned to carry out our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13744 intent. We have arranged with certain officials that the instant the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13745 _Czarina Catherine_ is seen, we are to be informed by a special
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13746 messenger.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13747
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13748 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13749
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13750 _24 October._--A whole week of waiting. Daily telegrams to Godalming,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13751 but only the same story: "Not yet reported." Mina's morning and evening
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13752 hypnotic answer is unvaried: lapping waves, rushing water, and creaking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13753 masts.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13754
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13755 _Telegram, October 24th._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13756
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13757 _Rufus Smith, Lloyd's, London, to Lord Godalming, care of H. B. M.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13758 Vice-Consul, Varna._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13759
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13760 "_Czarina Catherine_ reported this morning from Dardanelles."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13761
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13762
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13763 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13764
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13765 _25 October._--How I miss my phonograph! To write diary with a pen is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13766 irksome to me; but Van Helsing says I must. We were all wild with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13767 excitement yesterday when Godalming got his telegram from Lloyd's. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13768 know now what men feel in battle when the call to action is heard. Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13769 Harker, alone of our party, did not show any signs of emotion. After
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13770 all, it is not strange that she did not; for we took special care not to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13771 let her know anything about it, and we all tried not to show any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13772 excitement when we were in her presence. In old days she would, I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13773 sure, have noticed, no matter how we might have tried to conceal it; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13774 in this way she is greatly changed during the past three weeks. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13775 lethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong and well, and is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13776 getting back some of her colour, Van Helsing and I are not satisfied. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13777 talk of her often; we have not, however, said a word to the others. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13778 would break poor Harker's heart--certainly his nerve--if he knew that we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13779 had even a suspicion on the subject. Van Helsing examines, he tells me,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13780 her teeth very carefully, whilst she is in the hypnotic condition, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13781 he says that so long as they do not begin to sharpen there is no active
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13782 danger of a change in her. If this change should come, it would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13783 necessary to take steps!... We both know what those steps would have to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13784 be, though we do not mention our thoughts to each other. We should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13785 neither of us shrink from the task--awful though it be to contemplate.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13786 "Euthanasia" is an excellent and a comforting word! I am grateful to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13787 whoever invented it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13788
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13789 It is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here, at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13790 rate the _Czarina Catherine_ has come from London. She should therefore
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13791 arrive some time in the morning; but as she cannot possibly get in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13792 before then, we are all about to retire early. We shall get up at one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13793 o'clock, so as to be ready.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13794
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13795 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13796
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13797 _25 October, Noon_.--No news yet of the ship's arrival. Mrs. Harker's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13798 hypnotic report this morning was the same as usual, so it is possible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13799 that we may get news at any moment. We men are all in a fever of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13800 excitement, except Harker, who is calm; his hands are cold as ice, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13801 an hour ago I found him whetting the edge of the great Ghoorka knife
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13802 which he now always carries with him. It will be a bad lookout for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13803 Count if the edge of that "Kukri" ever touches his throat, driven by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13804 that stern, ice-cold hand!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13805
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13806 Van Helsing and I were a little alarmed about Mrs. Harker to-day. About
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13807 noon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not like; although we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13808 kept silence to the others, we were neither of us happy about it. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13809 had been restless all the morning, so that we were at first glad to know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13810 that she was sleeping. When, however, her husband mentioned casually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13811 that she was sleeping so soundly that he could not wake her, we went to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13812 her room to see for ourselves. She was breathing naturally and looked so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13813 well and peaceful that we agreed that the sleep was better for her than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13814 anything else. Poor girl, she has so much to forget that it is no wonder
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13815 that sleep, if it brings oblivion to her, does her good.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13816
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13817 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13818
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13819 _Later._--Our opinion was justified, for when after a refreshing sleep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13820 of some hours she woke up, she seemed brighter and better than she had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13821 been for days. At sunset she made the usual hypnotic report. Wherever he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13822 may be in the Black Sea, the Count is hurrying to his destination. To
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13823 his doom, I trust!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13824
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13825 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13826
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13827 _26 October._--Another day and no tidings of the _Czarina Catherine_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13828 She ought to be here by now. That she is still journeying _somewhere_ is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13829 apparent, for Mrs. Harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13830 same. It is possible that the vessel may be lying by, at times, for fog;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13831 some of the steamers which came in last evening reported patches of fog
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13832 both to north and south of the port. We must continue our watching, as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13833 the ship may now be signalled any moment.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13834
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13835 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13836
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13837 _27 October, Noon._--Most strange; no news yet of the ship we wait for.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13838 Mrs. Harker reported last night and this morning as usual: "lapping
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13839 waves and rushing water," though she added that "the waves were very
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13840 faint." The telegrams from London have been the same: "no further
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13841 report." Van Helsing is terribly anxious, and told me just now that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13842 fears the Count is escaping us. He added significantly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13843
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13844 "I did not like that lethargy of Madam Mina's. Souls and memories can do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13845 strange things during trance." I was about to ask him more, but Harker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13846 just then came in, and he held up a warning hand. We must try to-night
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13847 at sunset to make her speak more fully when in her hypnotic state.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13848
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13849 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13850
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13851 _28 October._--Telegram. _Rufus Smith, London, to Lord Godalming,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13852 care H. B. M. Vice Consul, Varna._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13853
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13854 "_Czarina Catherine_ reported entering Galatz at one o'clock
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13855 to-day."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13856
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13857
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13858 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13859
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13860 _28 October._--When the telegram came announcing the arrival in Galatz I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13861 do not think it was such a shock to any of us as might have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13862 expected. True, we did not know whence, or how, or when, the bolt would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13863 come; but I think we all expected that something strange would happen.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13864 The delay of arrival at Varna made us individually satisfied that things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13865 would not be just as we had expected; we only waited to learn where the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13866 change would occur. None the less, however, was it a surprise. I suppose
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13867 that nature works on such a hopeful basis that we believe against
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13868 ourselves that things will be as they ought to be, not as we should know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13869 that they will be. Transcendentalism is a beacon to the angels, even if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13870 it be a will-o'-the-wisp to man. It was an odd experience and we all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13871 took it differently. Van Helsing raised his hand over his head for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13872 moment, as though in remonstrance with the Almighty; but he said not a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13873 word, and in a few seconds stood up with his face sternly set. Lord
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13874 Godalming grew very pale, and sat breathing heavily. I was myself half
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13875 stunned and looked in wonder at one after another. Quincey Morris
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13876 tightened his belt with that quick movement which I knew so well; in our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13877 old wandering days it meant "action." Mrs. Harker grew ghastly white, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13878 that the scar on her forehead seemed to burn, but she folded her hands
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13879 meekly and looked up in prayer. Harker smiled--actually smiled--the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13880 dark, bitter smile of one who is without hope; but at the same time his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13881 action belied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the hilt of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13882 the great Kukri knife and rested there. "When does the next train start
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13883 for Galatz?" said Van Helsing to us generally.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13884
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13885 "At 6:30 to-morrow morning!" We all started, for the answer came from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13886 Mrs. Harker.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13887
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13888 "How on earth do you know?" said Art.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13889
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13890 "You forget--or perhaps you do not know, though Jonathan does and so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13891 does Dr. Van Helsing--that I am the train fiend. At home in Exeter I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13892 always used to make up the time-tables, so as to be helpful to my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13893 husband. I found it so useful sometimes, that I always make a study of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13894 the time-tables now. I knew that if anything were to take us to Castle
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13895 Dracula we should go by Galatz, or at any rate through Bucharest, so I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13896 learned the times very carefully. Unhappily there are not many to learn,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13897 as the only train to-morrow leaves as I say."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13898
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13899 "Wonderful woman!" murmured the Professor.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13900
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13901 "Can't we get a special?" asked Lord Godalming. Van Helsing shook his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13902 head: "I fear not. This land is very different from yours or mine; even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13903 if we did have a special, it would probably not arrive as soon as our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13904 regular train. Moreover, we have something to prepare. We must think.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13905 Now let us organize. You, friend Arthur, go to the train and get the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13906 tickets and arrange that all be ready for us to go in the morning. Do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13907 you, friend Jonathan, go to the agent of the ship and get from him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13908 letters to the agent in Galatz, with authority to make search the ship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13909 just as it was here. Morris Quincey, you see the Vice-Consul, and get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13910 his aid with his fellow in Galatz and all he can do to make our way
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13911 smooth, so that no times be lost when over the Danube. John will stay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13912 with Madam Mina and me, and we shall consult. For so if time be long you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13913 may be delayed; and it will not matter when the sun set, since I am here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13914 with Madam to make report."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13915
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13916 "And I," said Mrs. Harker brightly, and more like her old self than she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13917 had been for many a long day, "shall try to be of use in all ways, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13918 shall think and write for you as I used to do. Something is shifting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13919 from me in some strange way, and I feel freer than I have been of late!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13920 The three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13921 realise the significance of her words; but Van Helsing and I, turning to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13922 each other, met each a grave and troubled glance. We said nothing at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13923 time, however.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13924
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13925 When the three men had gone out to their tasks Van Helsing asked Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13926 Harker to look up the copy of the diaries and find him the part of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13927 Harker's journal at the Castle. She went away to get it; when the door
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13928 was shut upon her he said to me:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13929
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13930 "We mean the same! speak out!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13931
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13932 "There is some change. It is a hope that makes me sick, for it may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13933 deceive us."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13934
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13935 "Quite so. Do you know why I asked her to get the manuscript?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13936
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13937 "No!" said I, "unless it was to get an opportunity of seeing me alone."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13938
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13939 "You are in part right, friend John, but only in part. I want to tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13940 you something. And oh, my friend, I am taking a great--a terrible--risk;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13941 but I believe it is right. In the moment when Madam Mina said those
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13942 words that arrest both our understanding, an inspiration came to me. In
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13943 the trance of three days ago the Count sent her his spirit to read her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13944 mind; or more like he took her to see him in his earth-box in the ship
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13945 with water rushing, just as it go free at rise and set of sun. He learn
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13946 then that we are here; for she have more to tell in her open life with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13947 eyes to see and ears to hear than he, shut, as he is, in his coffin-box.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13948 Now he make his most effort to escape us. At present he want her not.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13949
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13950 "He is sure with his so great knowledge that she will come at his call;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13951 but he cut her off--take her, as he can do, out of his own power, that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13952 so she come not to him. Ah! there I have hope that our man-brains that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13953 have been of man so long and that have not lost the grace of God, will
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13954 come higher than his child-brain that lie in his tomb for centuries,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13955 that grow not yet to our stature, and that do only work selfish and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13956 therefore small. Here comes Madam Mina; not a word to her of her trance!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13957 She know it not; and it would overwhelm her and make despair just when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13958 we want all her hope, all her courage; when most we want all her great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13959 brain which is trained like man's brain, but is of sweet woman and have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13960 a special power which the Count give her, and which he may not take away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13961 altogether--though he think not so. Hush! let me speak, and you shall
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13962 learn. Oh, John, my friend, we are in awful straits. I fear, as I never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13963 feared before. We can only trust the good God. Silence! here she comes!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13964
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13965 I thought that the Professor was going to break down and have hysterics,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13966 just as he had when Lucy died, but with a great effort he controlled
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13967 himself and was at perfect nervous poise when Mrs. Harker tripped into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13968 the room, bright and happy-looking and, in the doing of work, seemingly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13969 forgetful of her misery. As she came in, she handed a number of sheets
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13970 of typewriting to Van Helsing. He looked over them gravely, his face
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13971 brightening up as he read. Then holding the pages between his finger and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13972 thumb he said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13973
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13974 "Friend John, to you with so much of experience already--and you, too,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13975 dear Madam Mina, that are young--here is a lesson: do not fear ever to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13976 think. A half-thought has been buzzing often in my brain, but I fear to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13977 let him loose his wings. Here now, with more knowledge, I go back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13978 where that half-thought come from and I find that he be no half-thought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13979 at all; that be a whole thought, though so young that he is not yet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13980 strong to use his little wings. Nay, like the "Ugly Duck" of my friend
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13981 Hans Andersen, he be no duck-thought at all, but a big swan-thought that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13982 sail nobly on big wings, when the time come for him to try them. See I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13983 read here what Jonathan have written:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13984
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13985 "That other of his race who, in a later age, again and again, brought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13986 his forces over The Great River into Turkey Land; who, when he was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13987 beaten back, came again, and again, and again, though he had to come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13988 alone from the bloody field where his troops were being slaughtered,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13989 since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13990
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13991 "What does this tell us? Not much? no! The Count's child-thought see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13992 nothing; therefore he speak so free. Your man-thought see nothing; my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13993 man-thought see nothing, till just now. No! But there comes another word
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13994 from some one who speak without thought because she, too, know not what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13995 it mean--what it _might_ mean. Just as there are elements which rest,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13996 yet when in nature's course they move on their way and they touch--then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13997 pouf! and there comes a flash of light, heaven wide, that blind and kill
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13998 and destroy some; but that show up all earth below for leagues and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 13999 leagues. Is it not so? Well, I shall explain. To begin, have you ever
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14000 study the philosophy of crime? 'Yes' and 'No.' You, John, yes; for it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14001 a study of insanity. You, no, Madam Mina; for crime touch you not--not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14002 but once. Still, your mind works true, and argues not _a particulari ad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14003 universale_. There is this peculiarity in criminals. It is so constant,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14004 in all countries and at all times, that even police, who know not much
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14005 from philosophy, come to know it empirically, that _it is_. That is to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14006 be empiric. The criminal always work at one crime--that is the true
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14007 criminal who seems predestinate to crime, and who will of none other.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14008 This criminal has not full man-brain. He is clever and cunning and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14009 resourceful; but he be not of man-stature as to brain. He be of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14010 child-brain in much. Now this criminal of ours is predestinate to crime
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14011 also; he, too, have child-brain, and it is of the child to do what he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14012 have done. The little bird, the little fish, the little animal learn not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14013 by principle, but empirically; and when he learn to do, then there is to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14014 him the ground to start from to do more. '_Dos pou sto_,' said
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14015 Archimedes. 'Give me a fulcrum, and I shall move the world!' To do once,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14016 is the fulcrum whereby child-brain become man-brain; and until he have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14017 the purpose to do more, he continue to do the same again every time,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14018 just as he have done before! Oh, my dear, I see that your eyes are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14019 opened, and that to you the lightning flash show all the leagues," for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14020 Mrs. Harker began to clap her hands and her eyes sparkled. He went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14022 "Now you shall speak. Tell us two dry men of science what you see with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14023 those so bright eyes." He took her hand and held it whilst she spoke.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14024 His finger and thumb closed on her pulse, as I thought instinctively and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14025 unconsciously, as she spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14026
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14027 "The Count is a criminal and of criminal type. Nordau and Lombroso would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14028 so classify him, and _quâ_ criminal he is of imperfectly formed mind.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14029 Thus, in a difficulty he has to seek resource in habit. His past is a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14030 clue, and the one page of it that we know--and that from his own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14031 lips--tells that once before, when in what Mr. Morris would call a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14032 'tight place,' he went back to his own country from the land he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14033 tried to invade, and thence, without losing purpose, prepared himself
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14034 for a new effort. He came again better equipped for his work; and won.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14035 So he came to London to invade a new land. He was beaten, and when all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14036 hope of success was lost, and his existence in danger, he fled back over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14037 the sea to his home; just as formerly he had fled back over the Danube
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14038 from Turkey Land."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14039
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14040 "Good, good! oh, you so clever lady!" said Van Helsing,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14041 enthusiastically, as he stooped and kissed her hand. A moment later he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14042 said to me, as calmly as though we had been having a sick-room
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14043 consultation:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14044
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14045 "Seventy-two only; and in all this excitement. I have hope." Turning to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14046 her again, he said with keen expectation:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14047
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14048 "But go on. Go on! there is more to tell if you will. Be not afraid;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14049 John and I know. I do in any case, and shall tell you if you are right.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14050 Speak, without fear!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14051
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14052 "I will try to; but you will forgive me if I seem egotistical."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14053
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14054 "Nay! fear not, you must be egotist, for it is of you that we think."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14055
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14056 "Then, as he is criminal he is selfish; and as his intellect is small
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14057 and his action is based on selfishness, he confines himself to one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14058 purpose. That purpose is remorseless. As he fled back over the Danube,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14059 leaving his forces to be cut to pieces, so now he is intent on being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14060 safe, careless of all. So his own selfishness frees my soul somewhat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14061 from the terrible power which he acquired over me on that dreadful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14062 night. I felt it! Oh, I felt it! Thank God, for His great mercy! My soul
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14063 is freer than it has been since that awful hour; and all that haunts me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14064 is a fear lest in some trance or dream he may have used my knowledge for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14065 his ends." The Professor stood up:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14066
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14067 "He has so used your mind; and by it he has left us here in Varna,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14068 whilst the ship that carried him rushed through enveloping fog up to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14069 Galatz, where, doubtless, he had made preparation for escaping from us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14070 But his child-mind only saw so far; and it may be that, as ever is in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14071 God's Providence, the very thing that the evil-doer most reckoned on for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14072 his selfish good, turns out to be his chiefest harm. The hunter is taken
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14073 in his own snare, as the great Psalmist says. For now that he think he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14074 is free from every trace of us all, and that he has escaped us with so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14075 many hours to him, then his selfish child-brain will whisper him to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14076 sleep. He think, too, that as he cut himself off from knowing your mind,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14077 there can be no knowledge of him to you; there is where he fail! That
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14078 terrible baptism of blood which he give you makes you free to go to him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14079 in spirit, as you have as yet done in your times of freedom, when the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14080 sun rise and set. At such times you go by my volition and not by his;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14081 and this power to good of you and others, as you have won from your
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14082 suffering at his hands. This is now all the more precious that he know
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14083 it not, and to guard himself have even cut himself off from his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14084 knowledge of our where. We, however, are not selfish, and we believe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14085 that God is with us through all this blackness, and these many dark
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14086 hours. We shall follow him; and we shall not flinch; even if we peril
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14087 ourselves that we become like him. Friend John, this has been a great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14088 hour; and it have done much to advance us on our way. You must be scribe
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14089 and write him all down, so that when the others return from their work
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14090 you can give it to them; then they shall know as we do."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14091
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14092 And so I have written it whilst we wait their return, and Mrs. Harker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14093 has written with her typewriter all since she brought the MS. to us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14094
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14095
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14096
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14097
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14098 CHAPTER XXVI
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14099
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14100 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14101
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14102
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14103 _29 October._--This is written in the train from Varna to Galatz. Last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14104 night we all assembled a little before the time of sunset. Each of us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14105 had done his work as well as he could; so far as thought, and endeavour,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14106 and opportunity go, we are prepared for the whole of our journey, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14107 for our work when we get to Galatz. When the usual time came round Mrs.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14108 Harker prepared herself for her hypnotic effort; and after a longer and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14109 more serious effort on the part of Van Helsing than has been usually
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14110 necessary, she sank into the trance. Usually she speaks on a hint; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14111 this time the Professor had to ask her questions, and to ask them pretty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14112 resolutely, before we could learn anything; at last her answer came:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14113
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14114 "I can see nothing; we are still; there are no waves lapping, but only a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14115 steady swirl of water softly running against the hawser. I can hear
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14116 men's voices calling, near and far, and the roll and creak of oars in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14117 the rowlocks. A gun is fired somewhere; the echo of it seems far away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14118 There is tramping of feet overhead, and ropes and chains are dragged
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14119 along. What is this? There is a gleam of light; I can feel the air
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14120 blowing upon me."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14121
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14122 Here she stopped. She had risen, as if impulsively, from where she lay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14123 on the sofa, and raised both her hands, palms upwards, as if lifting a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14124 weight. Van Helsing and I looked at each other with understanding.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14125 Quincey raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her intently, whilst
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14126 Harker's hand instinctively closed round the hilt of his Kukri. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14127 was a long pause. We all knew that the time when she could speak was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14128 passing; but we felt that it was useless to say anything. Suddenly she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14129 sat up, and, as she opened her eyes, said sweetly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14130
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14131 "Would none of you like a cup of tea? You must all be so tired!" We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14132 could only make her happy, and so acquiesced. She bustled off to get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14133 tea; when she had gone Van Helsing said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14134
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14135 "You see, my friends. _He_ is close to land: he has left his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14136 earth-chest. But he has yet to get on shore. In the night he may lie
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14137 hidden somewhere; but if he be not carried on shore, or if the ship do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14138 not touch it, he cannot achieve the land. In such case he can, if it be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14139 in the night, change his form and can jump or fly on shore, as he did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14140 at Whitby. But if the day come before he get on shore, then, unless he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14141 be carried he cannot escape. And if he be carried, then the customs men
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14142 may discover what the box contain. Thus, in fine, if he escape not on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14143 shore to-night, or before dawn, there will be the whole day lost to him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14144 We may then arrive in time; for if he escape not at night we shall come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14145 on him in daytime, boxed up and at our mercy; for he dare not be his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14146 true self, awake and visible, lest he be discovered."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14147
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14148 There was no more to be said, so we waited in patience until the dawn;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14149 at which time we might learn more from Mrs. Harker.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14150
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14151 Early this morning we listened, with breathless anxiety, for her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14152 response in her trance. The hypnotic stage was even longer in coming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14153 than before; and when it came the time remaining until full sunrise was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14154 so short that we began to despair. Van Helsing seemed to throw his whole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14155 soul into the effort; at last, in obedience to his will she made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14156 reply:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14157
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14158 "All is dark. I hear lapping water, level with me, and some creaking as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14159 of wood on wood." She paused, and the red sun shot up. We must wait till
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14160 to-night.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14161
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14162 And so it is that we are travelling towards Galatz in an agony of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14163 expectation. We are due to arrive between two and three in the morning;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14164 but already, at Bucharest, we are three hours late, so we cannot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14165 possibly get in till well after sun-up. Thus we shall have two more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14166 hypnotic messages from Mrs. Harker; either or both may possibly throw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14167 more light on what is happening.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14168
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14169 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14170
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14171 _Later._--Sunset has come and gone. Fortunately it came at a time when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14172 there was no distraction; for had it occurred whilst we were at a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14173 station, we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14174 Mrs. Harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14175 this morning. I am in fear that her power of reading the Count's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14176 sensations may die away, just when we want it most. It seems to me that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14177 her imagination is beginning to work. Whilst she has been in the trance
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14178 hitherto she has confined herself to the simplest of facts. If this goes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14179 on it may ultimately mislead us. If I thought that the Count's power
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14180 over her would die away equally with her power of knowledge it would be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14181 a happy thought; but I am afraid that it may not be so. When she did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14182 speak, her words were enigmatical:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14183
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14184 "Something is going out; I can feel it pass me like a cold wind. I can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14185 hear, far off, confused sounds--as of men talking in strange tongues,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14186 fierce-falling water, and the howling of wolves." She stopped and a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14187 shudder ran through her, increasing in intensity for a few seconds,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14188 till, at the end, she shook as though in a palsy. She said no more, even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14189 in answer to the Professor's imperative questioning. When she woke from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14190 the trance, she was cold, and exhausted, and languid; but her mind was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14191 all alert. She could not remember anything, but asked what she had said;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14192 when she was told, she pondered over it deeply for a long time and in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14193 silence.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14194
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14195 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14196
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14197 _30 October, 7 a. m._--We are near Galatz now, and I may not have time
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14198 to write later. Sunrise this morning was anxiously looked for by us all.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14199 Knowing of the increasing difficulty of procuring the hypnotic trance,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14200 Van Helsing began his passes earlier than usual. They produced no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14201 effect, however, until the regular time, when she yielded with a still
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14202 greater difficulty, only a minute before the sun rose. The Professor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14203 lost no time in his questioning; her answer came with equal quickness:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14204
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14205 "All is dark. I hear water swirling by, level with my ears, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14206 creaking of wood on wood. Cattle low far off. There is another sound, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14207 queer one like----" She stopped and grew white, and whiter still.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14208
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14209 "Go on; go on! Speak, I command you!" said Van Helsing in an agonised
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14210 voice. At the same time there was despair in his eyes, for the risen sun
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14211 was reddening even Mrs. Harker's pale face. She opened her eyes, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14212 all started as she said, sweetly and seemingly with the utmost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14213 unconcern:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14214
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14215 "Oh, Professor, why ask me to do what you know I can't? I don't remember
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14216 anything." Then, seeing the look of amazement on our faces, she said,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14217 turning from one to the other with a troubled look:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14218
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14219 "What have I said? What have I done? I know nothing, only that I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14220 lying here, half asleep, and heard you say go on! speak, I command you!'
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14221 It seemed so funny to hear you order me about, as if I were a bad
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14222 child!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14223
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14224 "Oh, Madam Mina," he said, sadly, "it is proof, if proof be needed, of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14225 how I love and honour you, when a word for your good, spoken more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14226 earnest than ever, can seem so strange because it is to order her whom I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14227 am proud to obey!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14228
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14229 The whistles are sounding; we are nearing Galatz. We are on fire with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14230 anxiety and eagerness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14231
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14232
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14233 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14234
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14235 _30 October._--Mr. Morris took me to the hotel where our rooms had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14236 ordered by telegraph, he being the one who could best be spared, since
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14237 he does not speak any foreign language. The forces were distributed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14238 much as they had been at Varna, except that Lord Godalming went to the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14239 Vice-Consul, as his rank might serve as an immediate guarantee of some
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14240 sort to the official, we being in extreme hurry. Jonathan and the two
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14241 doctors went to the shipping agent to learn particulars of the arrival
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14242 of the _Czarina Catherine_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14243
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14244 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14245
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14246 _Later._--Lord Godalming has returned. The Consul is away, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14247 Vice-Consul sick; so the routine work has been attended to by a clerk.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14248 He was very obliging, and offered to do anything in his power.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14249
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14250
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14251 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14252
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14253 _30 October._--At nine o'clock Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and I called
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14254 on Messrs. Mackenzie & Steinkoff, the agents of the London firm of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14255 Hapgood. They had received a wire from London, in answer to Lord
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14256 Godalming's telegraphed request, asking us to show them any civility in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14257 their power. They were more than kind and courteous, and took us at once
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14258 on board the _Czarina Catherine_, which lay at anchor out in the river
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14259 harbour. There we saw the Captain, Donelson by name, who told us of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14260 voyage. He said that in all his life he had never had so favourable a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14261 run.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14262
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14263 "Man!" he said, "but it made us afeard, for we expeckit that we should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14264 have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill luck, so as to keep up the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14265 average. It's no canny to run frae London to the Black Sea wi' a wind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14266 ahint ye, as though the Deil himself were blawin' on yer sail for his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14267 ain purpose. An' a' the time we could no speer a thing. Gin we were nigh
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14268 a ship, or a port, or a headland, a fog fell on us and travelled wi' us,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14269 till when after it had lifted and we looked out, the deil a thing could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14270 we see. We ran by Gibraltar wi'oot bein' able to signal; an' till we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14271 came to the Dardanelles and had to wait to get our permit to pass, we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14272 never were within hail o' aught. At first I inclined to slack off sail
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14273 and beat about till the fog was lifted; but whiles, I thocht that if the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14274 Deil was minded to get us into the Black Sea quick, he was like to do it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14275 whether we would or no. If we had a quick voyage it would be no to our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14276 miscredit wi' the owners, or no hurt to our traffic; an' the Old Mon who
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14277 had served his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14278 hinderin' him." This mixture of simplicity and cunning, of superstition
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14279 and commercial reasoning, aroused Van Helsing, who said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14280
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14281 "Mine friend, that Devil is more clever than he is thought by some; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14282 he know when he meet his match!" The skipper was not displeased with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14283 compliment, and went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14284
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14285 "When we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumble; some o' them,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14286 the Roumanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14287 been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just before we had started
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14288 frae London. I had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out their twa
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14289 fingers when they saw him, to guard against the evil eye. Man! but the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14290 supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly rideeculous! I sent them aboot
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14291 their business pretty quick; but as just after a fog closed in on us I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14292 felt a wee bit as they did anent something, though I wouldn't say it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14293 agin the big box. Well, on we went, and as the fog didn't let up for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14294 five days I joost let the wind carry us; for if the Deil wanted to get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14295 somewheres--well, he would fetch it up a'reet. An' if he didn't, well,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14296 we'd keep a sharp lookout anyhow. Sure eneuch, we had a fair way and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14297 deep water all the time; and two days ago, when the mornin' sun came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14298 through the fog, we found ourselves just in the river opposite Galatz.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14299 The Roumanians were wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14300 box and fling it in the river. I had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14301 handspike; an' when the last o' them rose off the deck wi' his head in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14302 his hand, I had convinced them that, evil eye or no evil eye, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14303 property and the trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14304 river Danube. They had, mind ye, taken the box on the deck ready to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14305 fling in, and as it was marked Galatz _via_ Varna, I thocht I'd let it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14306 lie till we discharged in the port an' get rid o't althegither. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14307 didn't do much clearin' that day, an' had to remain the nicht at anchor;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14308 but in the mornin', braw an' airly, an hour before sun-up, a man came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14309 aboard wi' an order, written to him from England, to receive a box
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14310 marked for one Count Dracula. Sure eneuch the matter was one ready to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14311 his hand. He had his papers a' reet, an' glad I was to be rid o' the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14312 dam' thing, for I was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at it. If the Deil
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14313 did have any luggage aboord the ship, I'm thinkin' it was nane ither
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14314 than that same!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14315
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14316 "What was the name of the man who took it?" asked Dr. Van Helsing with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14317 restrained eagerness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14318
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14319 "I'll be tellin' ye quick!" he answered, and, stepping down to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14320 cabin, produced a receipt signed "Immanuel Hildesheim." Burgen-strasse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14321 16 was the address. We found out that this was all the Captain knew; so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14322 with thanks we came away.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14323
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14324 We found Hildesheim in his office, a Hebrew of rather the Adelphi
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14325 Theatre type, with a nose like a sheep, and a fez. His arguments were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14326 pointed with specie--we doing the punctuation--and with a little
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14327 bargaining he told us what he knew. This turned out to be simple but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14328 important. He had received a letter from Mr. de Ville of London, telling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14329 him to receive, if possible before sunrise so as to avoid customs, a box
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14330 which would arrive at Galatz in the _Czarina Catherine_. This he was to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14331 give in charge to a certain Petrof Skinsky, who dealt with the Slovaks
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14332 who traded down the river to the port. He had been paid for his work by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14333 an English bank note, which had been duly cashed for gold at the Danube
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14334 International Bank. When Skinsky had come to him, he had taken him to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14335 the ship and handed over the box, so as to save porterage. That was all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14336 he knew.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14337
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14338 We then sought for Skinsky, but were unable to find him. One of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14339 neighbours, who did not seem to bear him any affection, said that he had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14340 gone away two days before, no one knew whither. This was corroborated by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14341 his landlord, who had received by messenger the key of the house
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14342 together with the rent due, in English money. This had been between ten
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14343 and eleven o'clock last night. We were at a standstill again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14344
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14345 Whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped out that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14346 the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the churchyard of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14347 St. Peter, and that the throat had been torn open as if by some wild
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14348 animal. Those we had been speaking with ran off to see the horror, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14349 women crying out "This is the work of a Slovak!" We hurried away lest we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14350 should have been in some way drawn into the affair, and so detained.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14351
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14352 As we came home we could arrive at no definite conclusion. We were all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14353 convinced that the box was on its way, by water, to somewhere; but where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14354 that might be we would have to discover. With heavy hearts we came home
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14355 to the hotel to Mina.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14356
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14357 When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to taking Mina
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14358 again into our confidence. Things are getting desperate, and it is at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14359 least a chance, though a hazardous one. As a preliminary step, I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14360 released from my promise to her.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14361
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14362
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14363 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14364
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14365 _30 October, evening._--They were so tired and worn out and dispirited
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14366 that there was nothing to be done till they had some rest; so I asked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14367 them all to lie down for half an hour whilst I should enter everything
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14368 up to the moment. I feel so grateful to the man who invented the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14369 "Traveller's" typewriter, and to Mr. Morris for getting this one for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14370 me. I should have felt quite; astray doing the work if I had to write
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14371 with a pen....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14372
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14373 It is all done; poor dear, dear Jonathan, what he must have suffered,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14374 what must he be suffering now. He lies on the sofa hardly seeming to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14375 breathe, and his whole body appears in collapse. His brows are knit; his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14376 face is drawn with pain. Poor fellow, maybe he is thinking, and I can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14377 see his face all wrinkled up with the concentration of his thoughts. Oh!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14378 if I could only help at all.... I shall do what I can.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14379
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14380 I have asked Dr. Van Helsing, and he has got me all the papers that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14381 have not yet seen.... Whilst they are resting, I shall go over all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14382 carefully, and perhaps I may arrive at some conclusion. I shall try to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14383 follow the Professor's example, and think without prejudice on the facts
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14384 before me....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14385
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14386 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14387
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14388 I do believe that under God's providence I have made a discovery. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14389 shall get the maps and look over them....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14390
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14391 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14392
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14393 I am more than ever sure that I am right. My new conclusion is ready, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14394 I shall get our party together and read it. They can judge it; it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14395 well to be accurate, and every minute is precious.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14396
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14397
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14398 _Mina Harker's Memorandum._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14399
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14400 (Entered in her Journal.)
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14401
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14402 _Ground of inquiry._--Count Dracula's problem is to get back to his own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14403 place.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14404
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14405 (_a_) He must be _brought back_ by some one. This is evident; for had he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14406 power to move himself as he wished he could go either as man, or wolf,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14407 or bat, or in some other way. He evidently fears discovery or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14408 interference, in the state of helplessness in which he must be--confined
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14409 as he is between dawn and sunset in his wooden box.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14410
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14411 (_b_) _How is he to be taken?_--Here a process of exclusions may help
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14412 us. By road, by rail, by water?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14413
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14414 1. _By Road._--There are endless difficulties, especially in leaving the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14415 city.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14416
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14417 (_x_) There are people; and people are curious, and investigate. A hint,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14418 a surmise, a doubt as to what might be in the box, would destroy him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14419
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14420 (_y_) There are, or there may be, customs and octroi officers to pass.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14421
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14422 (_z_) His pursuers might follow. This is his highest fear; and in order
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14423 to prevent his being betrayed he has repelled, so far as he can, even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14424 his victim--me!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14425
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14426 2. _By Rail._--There is no one in charge of the box. It would have to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14427 take its chance of being delayed; and delay would be fatal, with enemies
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14428 on the track. True, he might escape at night; but what would he be, if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14429 left in a strange place with no refuge that he could fly to? This is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14430 what he intends; and he does not mean to risk it.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14431
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14432 3. _By Water._--Here is the safest way, in one respect, but with most
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14433 danger in another. On the water he is powerless except at night; even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14434 then he can only summon fog and storm and snow and his wolves. But were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14435 he wrecked, the living water would engulf him, helpless; and he would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14436 indeed be lost. He could have the vessel drive to land; but if it were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14437 unfriendly land, wherein he was not free to move, his position would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14438 still be desperate.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14439
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14440 We know from the record that he was on the water; so what we have to do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14441 is to ascertain _what_ water.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14442
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14443 The first thing is to realise exactly what he has done as yet; we may,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14444 then, get a light on what his later task is to be.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14445
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14446 _Firstly._--We must differentiate between what he did in London as part
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14447 of his general plan of action, when he was pressed for moments and had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14448 to arrange as best he could.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14449
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14450 _Secondly_ we must see, as well as we can surmise it from the facts we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14451 know of, what he has done here.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14452
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14453 As to the first, he evidently intended to arrive at Galatz, and sent
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14454 invoice to Varna to deceive us lest we should ascertain his means of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14455 exit from England; his immediate and sole purpose then was to escape.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14456 The proof of this, is the letter of instructions sent to Immanuel
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14457 Hildesheim to clear and take away the box _before sunrise_. There is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14458 also the instruction to Petrof Skinsky. These we must only guess at; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14459 there must have been some letter or message, since Skinsky came to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14460 Hildesheim.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14461
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14462 That, so far, his plans were successful we know. The _Czarina Catherine_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14463 made a phenomenally quick journey--so much so that Captain Donelson's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14464 suspicions were aroused; but his superstition united with his canniness
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14465 played the Count's game for him, and he ran with his favouring wind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14466 through fogs and all till he brought up blindfold at Galatz. That the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14467 Count's arrangements were well made, has been proved. Hildesheim cleared
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14468 the box, took it off, and gave it to Skinsky. Skinsky took it--and here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14469 we lose the trail. We only know that the box is somewhere on the water,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14470 moving along. The customs and the octroi, if there be any, have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14471 avoided.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14472
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14473 Now we come to what the Count must have done after his arrival--_on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14474 land_, at Galatz.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14475
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14476 The box was given to Skinsky before sunrise. At sunrise the Count could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14477 appear in his own form. Here, we ask why Skinsky was chosen at all to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14478 aid in the work? In my husband's diary, Skinsky is mentioned as dealing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14479 with the Slovaks who trade down the river to the port; and the man's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14480 remark, that the murder was the work of a Slovak, showed the general
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14481 feeling against his class. The Count wanted isolation.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14482
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14483 My surmise is, this: that in London the Count decided to get back to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14484 castle by water, as the most safe and secret way. He was brought from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14485 the castle by Szgany, and probably they delivered their cargo to Slovaks
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14486 who took the boxes to Varna, for there they were shipped for London.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14487 Thus the Count had knowledge of the persons who could arrange this
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14488 service. When the box was on land, before sunrise or after sunset, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14489 came out from his box, met Skinsky and instructed him what to do as to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14490 arranging the carriage of the box up some river. When this was done, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14491 he knew that all was in train, he blotted out his traces, as he thought,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14492 by murdering his agent.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14493
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14494 I have examined the map and find that the river most suitable for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14495 Slovaks to have ascended is either the Pruth or the Sereth. I read in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14496 the typescript that in my trance I heard cows low and water swirling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14497 level with my ears and the creaking of wood. The Count in his box, then,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14498 was on a river in an open boat--propelled probably either by oars or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14499 poles, for the banks are near and it is working against stream. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14500 would be no such sound if floating down stream.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14501
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14502 Of course it may not be either the Sereth or the Pruth, but we may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14503 possibly investigate further. Now of these two, the Pruth is the more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14504 easily navigated, but the Sereth is, at Fundu, joined by the Bistritza
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14505 which runs up round the Borgo Pass. The loop it makes is manifestly as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14506 close to Dracula's castle as can be got by water.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14507
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14508
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14509 _Mina Harker's Journal--continued._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14510
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14511 When I had done reading, Jonathan took me in his arms and kissed me. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14512 others kept shaking me by both hands, and Dr. Van Helsing said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14513
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14514 "Our dear Madam Mina is once more our teacher. Her eyes have been where
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14515 we were blinded. Now we are on the track once again, and this time we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14516 may succeed. Our enemy is at his most helpless; and if we can come on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14517 him by day, on the water, our task will be over. He has a start, but he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14518 is powerless to hasten, as he may not leave his box lest those who carry
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14519 him may suspect; for them to suspect would be to prompt them to throw
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14520 him in the stream where he perish. This he knows, and will not. Now men,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14521 to our Council of War; for, here and now, we must plan what each and all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14522 shall do."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14523
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14524 "I shall get a steam launch and follow him," said Lord Godalming.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14525
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14526 "And I, horses to follow on the bank lest by chance he land," said Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14527 Morris.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14528
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14529 "Good!" said the Professor, "both good. But neither must go alone. There
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14530 must be force to overcome force if need be; the Slovak is strong and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14531 rough, and he carries rude arms." All the men smiled, for amongst them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14532 they carried a small arsenal. Said Mr. Morris:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14533
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14534 "I have brought some Winchesters; they are pretty handy in a crowd, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14535 there may be wolves. The Count, if you remember, took some other
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14536 precautions; he made some requisitions on others that Mrs. Harker could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14537 not quite hear or understand. We must be ready at all points." Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14538 Seward said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14539
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14540 "I think I had better go with Quincey. We have been accustomed to hunt
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14541 together, and we two, well armed, will be a match for whatever may come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14542 along. You must not be alone, Art. It may be necessary to fight the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14543 Slovaks, and a chance thrust--for I don't suppose these fellows carry
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14544 guns--would undo all our plans. There must be no chances, this time; we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14545 shall, not rest until the Count's head and body have been separated, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14546 we are sure that he cannot re-incarnate." He looked at Jonathan as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14547 spoke, and Jonathan looked at me. I could see that the poor dear was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14548 torn about in his mind. Of course he wanted to be with me; but then the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14549 boat service would, most likely, be the one which would destroy the ...
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14550 the ... the ... Vampire. (Why did I hesitate to write the word?) He was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14551 silent awhile, and during his silence Dr. Van Helsing spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14552
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14553 "Friend Jonathan, this is to you for twice reasons. First, because you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14554 are young and brave and can fight, and all energies may be needed at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14555 last; and again that it is your right to destroy him--that--which has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14556 wrought such woe to you and yours. Be not afraid for Madam Mina; she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14557 will be my care, if I may. I am old. My legs are not so quick to run as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14558 once; and I am not used to ride so long or to pursue as need be, or to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14559 fight with lethal weapons. But I can be of other service; I can fight in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14560 other way. And I can die, if need be, as well as younger men. Now let
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14561 me say that what I would is this: while you, my Lord Godalming and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14562 friend Jonathan go in your so swift little steamboat up the river, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14563 whilst John and Quincey guard the bank where perchance he might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14564 landed, I will take Madam Mina right into the heart of the enemy's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14565 country. Whilst the old fox is tied in his box, floating on the running
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14566 stream whence he cannot escape to land--where he dares not raise the lid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14567 of his coffin-box lest his Slovak carriers should in fear leave him to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14568 perish--we shall go in the track where Jonathan went,--from Bistritz
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14569 over the Borgo, and find our way to the Castle of Dracula. Here, Madam
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14570 Mina's hypnotic power will surely help, and we shall find our way--all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14571 dark and unknown otherwise--after the first sunrise when we are near
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14572 that fateful place. There is much to be done, and other places to be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14573 made sanctify, so that that nest of vipers be obliterated." Here
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14574 Jonathan interrupted him hotly:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14575
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14576 "Do you mean to say, Professor Van Helsing, that you would bring Mina,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14577 in her sad case and tainted as she is with that devil's illness, right
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14578 into the jaws of his death-trap? Not for the world! Not for Heaven or
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14579 Hell!" He became almost speechless for a minute, and then went on:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14580
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14581 "Do you know what the place is? Have you seen that awful den of hellish
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14582 infamy--with the very moonlight alive with grisly shapes, and every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14583 speck of dust that whirls in the wind a devouring monster in embryo?
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14584 Have you felt the Vampire's lips upon your throat?" Here he turned to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14585 me, and as his eyes lit on my forehead he threw up his arms with a cry:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14586 "Oh, my God, what have we done to have this terror upon us!" and he sank
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14587 down on the sofa in a collapse of misery. The Professor's voice, as he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14588 spoke in clear, sweet tones, which seemed to vibrate in the air, calmed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14589 us all:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14590
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14591 "Oh, my friend, it is because I would save Madam Mina from that awful
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14592 place that I would go. God forbid that I should take her into that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14593 place. There is work--wild work--to be done there, that her eyes may not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14594 see. We men here, all save Jonathan, have seen with their own eyes what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14595 is to be done before that place can be purify. Remember that we are in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14596 terrible straits. If the Count escape us this time--and he is strong and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14597 subtle and cunning--he may choose to sleep him for a century, and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14598 in time our dear one"--he took my hand--"would come to him to keep him
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14599 company, and would be as those others that you, Jonathan, saw. You have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14600 told us of their gloating lips; you heard their ribald laugh as they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14601 clutched the moving bag that the Count threw to them. You shudder; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14602 well may it be. Forgive me that I make you so much pain, but it is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14603 necessary. My friend, is it not a dire need for the which I am giving,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14604 possibly my life? If it were that any one went into that place to stay,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14605 it is I who would have to go to keep them company."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14606
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14607 "Do as you will," said Jonathan, with a sob that shook him all over, "we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14608 are in the hands of God!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14609
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14610 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14611
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14612 _Later._--Oh, it did me good to see the way that these brave men worked.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14613 How can women help loving men when they are so earnest, and so true, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14614 so brave! And, too, it made me think of the wonderful power of money!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14615 What can it not do when it is properly applied; and what might it do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14616 when basely used. I felt so thankful that Lord Godalming is rich, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14617 that both he and Mr. Morris, who also has plenty of money, are willing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14618 to spend it so freely. For if they did not, our little expedition could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14619 not start, either so promptly or so well equipped, as it will within
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14620 another hour. It is not three hours since it was arranged what part each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14621 of us was to do; and now Lord Godalming and Jonathan have a lovely steam
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14622 launch, with steam up ready to start at a moment's notice. Dr. Seward
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14623 and Mr. Morris have half a dozen good horses, well appointed. We have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14624 all the maps and appliances of various kinds that can be had. Professor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14625 Van Helsing and I are to leave by the 11:40 train to-night for Veresti,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14626 where we are to get a carriage to drive to the Borgo Pass. We are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14627 bringing a good deal of ready money, as we are to buy a carriage and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14628 horses. We shall drive ourselves, for we have no one whom we can trust
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14629 in the matter. The Professor knows something of a great many languages,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14630 so we shall get on all right. We have all got arms, even for me a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14631 large-bore revolver; Jonathan would not be happy unless I was armed like
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14632 the rest. Alas! I cannot carry one arm that the rest do; the scar on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14633 forehead forbids that. Dear Dr. Van Helsing comforts me by telling me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14634 that I am fully armed as there may be wolves; the weather is getting
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14635 colder every hour, and there are snow-flurries which come and go as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14636 warnings.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14637
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14638 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14639
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14640 _Later._--It took all my courage to say good-bye to my darling. We may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14641 never meet again. Courage, Mina! the Professor is looking at you keenly;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14642 his look is a warning. There must be no tears now--unless it may be that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14643 God will let them fall in gladness.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14644
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14645
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14646 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14647
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14648 _October 30. Night._--I am writing this in the light from the furnace
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14649 door of the steam launch: Lord Godalming is firing up. He is an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14650 experienced hand at the work, as he has had for years a launch of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14651 own on the Thames, and another on the Norfolk Broads. Regarding our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14652 plans, we finally decided that Mina's guess was correct, and that if any
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14653 waterway was chosen for the Count's escape back to his Castle, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14654 Sereth and then the Bistritza at its junction, would be the one. We took
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14655 it, that somewhere about the 47th degree, north latitude, would be the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14656 place chosen for the crossing the country between the river and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14657 Carpathians. We have no fear in running at good speed up the river at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14658 night; there is plenty of water, and the banks are wide enough apart to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14659 make steaming, even in the dark, easy enough. Lord Godalming tells me to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14660 sleep for a while, as it is enough for the present for one to be on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14661 watch. But I cannot sleep--how can I with the terrible danger hanging
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14662 over my darling, and her going out into that awful place.... My only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14663 comfort is that we are in the hands of God. Only for that faith it would
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14664 be easier to die than to live, and so be quit of all the trouble. Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14665 Morris and Dr. Seward were off on their long ride before we started;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14666 they are to keep up the right bank, far enough off to get on higher
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14667 lands where they can see a good stretch of river and avoid the following
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14668 of its curves. They have, for the first stages, two men to ride and lead
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14669 their spare horses--four in all, so as not to excite curiosity. When
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14670 they dismiss the men, which shall be shortly, they shall themselves look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14671 after the horses. It may be necessary for us to join forces; if so they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14672 can mount our whole party. One of the saddles has a movable horn, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14673 can be easily adapted for Mina, if required.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14674
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14675 It is a wild adventure we are on. Here, as we are rushing along through
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14676 the darkness, with the cold from the river seeming to rise up and strike
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14677 us; with all the mysterious voices of the night around us, it all comes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14678 home. We seem to be drifting into unknown places and unknown ways; into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14679 a whole world of dark and dreadful things. Godalming is shutting the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14680 furnace door....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14681
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14682 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14683
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14684 _31 October._--Still hurrying along. The day has come, and Godalming is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14685 sleeping. I am on watch. The morning is bitterly cold; the furnace heat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14686 is grateful, though we have heavy fur coats. As yet we have passed only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14687 a few open boats, but none of them had on board any box or package of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14688 anything like the size of the one we seek. The men were scared every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14689 time we turned our electric lamp on them, and fell on their knees and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14690 prayed.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14691
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14692 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14693
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14694 _1 November, evening._--No news all day; we have found nothing of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14695 kind we seek. We have now passed into the Bistritza; and if we are wrong
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14696 in our surmise our chance is gone. We have over-hauled every boat, big
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14697 and little. Early this morning, one crew took us for a Government boat,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14698 and treated us accordingly. We saw in this a way of smoothing matters,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14699 so at Fundu, where the Bistritza runs into the Sereth, we got a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14700 Roumanian flag which we now fly conspicuously. With every boat which we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14701 have over-hauled since then this trick has succeeded; we have had every
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14702 deference shown to us, and not once any objection to whatever we chose
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14703 to ask or do. Some of the Slovaks tell us that a big boat passed them,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14704 going at more than usual speed as she had a double crew on board. This
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14705 was before they came to Fundu, so they could not tell us whether the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14706 boat turned into the Bistritza or continued on up the Sereth. At Fundu
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14707 we could not hear of any such boat, so she must have passed there in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14708 night. I am feeling very sleepy; the cold is perhaps beginning to tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14709 upon me, and nature must have rest some time. Godalming insists that he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14710 shall keep the first watch. God bless him for all his goodness to poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14711 dear Mina and me.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14712
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14713 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14714
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14715 _2 November, morning._--It is broad daylight. That good fellow would not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14716 wake me. He says it would have been a sin to, for I slept peacefully and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14717 was forgetting my trouble. It seems brutally selfish to me to have slept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14718 so long, and let him watch all night; but he was quite right. I am a new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14719 man this morning; and, as I sit here and watch him sleeping, I can do
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14720 all that is necessary both as to minding the engine, steering, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14721 keeping watch. I can feel that my strength and energy are coming back to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14722 me. I wonder where Mina is now, and Van Helsing. They should have got to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14723 Veresti about noon on Wednesday. It would take them some time to get the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14724 carriage and horses; so if they had started and travelled hard, they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14725 would be about now at the Borgo Pass. God guide and help them! I am
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14726 afraid to think what may happen. If we could only go faster! but we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14727 cannot; the engines are throbbing and doing their utmost. I wonder how
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14728 Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris are getting on. There seem to be endless
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14729 streams running down the mountains into this river, but as none of them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14730 are very large--at present, at all events, though they are terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14731 doubtless in winter and when the snow melts--the horsemen may not have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14732 met much obstruction. I hope that before we get to Strasba we may see
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14733 them; for if by that time we have not overtaken the Count, it may be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14734 necessary to take counsel together what to do next.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14735
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14736
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14737 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14738
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14739 _2 November._--Three days on the road. No news, and no time to write it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14740 if there had been, for every moment is precious. We have had only the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14741 rest needful for the horses; but we are both bearing it wonderfully.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14742 Those adventurous days of ours are turning up useful. We must push on;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14743 we shall never feel happy till we get the launch in sight again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14744
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14745 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14746
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14747 _3 November._--We heard at Fundu that the launch had gone up the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14748 Bistritza. I wish it wasn't so cold. There are signs of snow coming; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14749 if it falls heavy it will stop us. In such case we must get a sledge and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14750 go on, Russian fashion.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14751
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14752 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14753
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14754 _4 November._--To-day we heard of the launch having been detained by an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14755 accident when trying to force a way up the rapids. The Slovak boats get
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14756 up all right, by aid of a rope and steering with knowledge. Some went up
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14757 only a few hours before. Godalming is an amateur fitter himself, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14758 evidently it was he who put the launch in trim again. Finally, they got
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14759 up the rapids all right, with local help, and are off on the chase
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14760 afresh. I fear that the boat is not any better for the accident; the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14761 peasantry tell us that after she got upon smooth water again, she kept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14762 stopping every now and again so long as she was in sight. We must push
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14763 on harder than ever; our help may be wanted soon.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14764
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14765
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14766 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14767
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14768 _31 October._--Arrived at Veresti at noon. The Professor tells me that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14769 this morning at dawn he could hardly hypnotise me at all, and that all I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14770 could say was: "dark and quiet." He is off now buying a carriage and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14771 horses. He says that he will later on try to buy additional horses, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14772 that we may be able to change them on the way. We have something more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14773 than 70 miles before us. The country is lovely, and most interesting; if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14774 only we were under different conditions, how delightful it would be to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14775 see it all. If Jonathan and I were driving through it alone what a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14776 pleasure it would be. To stop and see people, and learn something of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14777 their life, and to fill our minds and memories with all the colour and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14778 picturesqueness of the whole wild, beautiful country and the quaint
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14779 people! But, alas!--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14780
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14781 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14782
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14783 _Later._--Dr. Van Helsing has returned. He has got the carriage and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14784 horses; we are to have some dinner, and to start in an hour. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14785 landlady is putting us up a huge basket of provisions; it seems enough
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14786 for a company of soldiers. The Professor encourages her, and whispers to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14787 me that it may be a week before we can get any good food again. He has
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14788 been shopping too, and has sent home such a wonderful lot of fur coats
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14789 and wraps, and all sorts of warm things. There will not be any chance of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14790 our being cold.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14791
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14792 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14793
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14794 We shall soon be off. I am afraid to think what may happen to us. We are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14795 truly in the hands of God. He alone knows what may be, and I pray Him,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14796 with all the strength of my sad and humble soul, that He will watch over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14797 my beloved husband; that whatever may happen, Jonathan may know that I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14798 loved him and honoured him more than I can say, and that my latest and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14799 truest thought will be always for him.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14800
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14801
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14802
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14803
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14804 CHAPTER XXVII
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14805
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14806 MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14807
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14808
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14809 _1 November._--All day long we have travelled, and at a good speed. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14810 horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated, for they go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14811 willingly their full stage at best speed. We have now had so many
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14812 changes and find the same thing so constantly that we are encouraged to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14813 think that the journey will be an easy one. Dr. Van Helsing is laconic;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14814 he tells the farmers that he is hurrying to Bistritz, and pays them well
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14815 to make the exchange of horses. We get hot soup, or coffee, or tea; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14816 off we go. It is a lovely country; full of beauties of all imaginable
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14817 kinds, and the people are brave, and strong, and simple, and seem full
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14818 of nice qualities. They are _very, very_ superstitious. In the first
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14819 house where we stopped, when the woman who served us saw the scar on my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14820 forehead, she crossed herself and put out two fingers towards me, to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14821 keep off the evil eye. I believe they went to the trouble of putting an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14822 extra amount of garlic into our food; and I can't abide garlic. Ever
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14823 since then I have taken care not to take off my hat or veil, and so have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14824 escaped their suspicions. We are travelling fast, and as we have no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14825 driver with us to carry tales, we go ahead of scandal; but I daresay
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14826 that fear of the evil eye will follow hard behind us all the way. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14827 Professor seems tireless; all day he would not take any rest, though he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14828 made me sleep for a long spell. At sunset time he hypnotised me, and he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14829 says that I answered as usual "darkness, lapping water and creaking
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14830 wood"; so our enemy is still on the river. I am afraid to think of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14831 Jonathan, but somehow I have now no fear for him, or for myself. I write
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14832 this whilst we wait in a farmhouse for the horses to be got ready. Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14833 Van Helsing is sleeping, Poor dear, he looks very tired and old and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14834 grey, but his mouth is set as firmly as a conqueror's; even in his sleep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14835 he is instinct with resolution. When we have well started I must make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14836 him rest whilst I drive. I shall tell him that we have days before us,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14837 and we must not break down when most of all his strength will be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14838 needed.... All is ready; we are off shortly.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14839
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14840 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14841
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14842 _2 November, morning._--I was successful, and we took turns driving all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14843 night; now the day is on us, bright though cold. There is a strange
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14844 heaviness in the air--I say heaviness for want of a better word; I mean
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14845 that it oppresses us both. It is very cold, and only our warm furs keep
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14846 us comfortable. At dawn Van Helsing hypnotised me; he says I answered
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14847 "darkness, creaking wood and roaring water," so the river is changing as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14848 they ascend. I do hope that my darling will not run any chance of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14849 danger--more than need be; but we are in God's hands.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14850
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14851 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14852
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14853 _2 November, night._--All day long driving. The country gets wilder as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14854 we go, and the great spurs of the Carpathians, which at Veresti seemed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14855 so far from us and so low on the horizon, now seem to gather round us
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14856 and tower in front. We both seem in good spirits; I think we make an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14857 effort each to cheer the other; in the doing so we cheer ourselves. Dr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14858 Van Helsing says that by morning we shall reach the Borgo Pass. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14859 houses are very few here now, and the Professor says that the last horse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14860 we got will have to go on with us, as we may not be able to change. He
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14861 got two in addition to the two we changed, so that now we have a rude
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14862 four-in-hand. The dear horses are patient and good, and they give us no
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14863 trouble. We are not worried with other travellers, and so even I can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14864 drive. We shall get to the Pass in daylight; we do not want to arrive
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14865 before. So we take it easy, and have each a long rest in turn. Oh, what
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14866 will to-morrow bring to us? We go to seek the place where my poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14867 darling suffered so much. God grant that we may be guided aright, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14868 that He will deign to watch over my husband and those dear to us both,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14869 and who are in such deadly peril. As for me, I am not worthy in His
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14870 sight. Alas! I am unclean to His eyes, and shall be until He may deign
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14871 to let me stand forth in His sight as one of those who have not incurred
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14872 His wrath.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14873
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14874
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14875 _Memorandum by Abraham Van Helsing._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14876
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14877 _4 November._--This to my old and true friend John Seward, M.D., of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14878 Purfleet, London, in case I may not see him. It may explain. It is
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14879 morning, and I write by a fire which all the night I have kept
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14880 alive--Madam Mina aiding me. It is cold, cold; so cold that the grey
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14881 heavy sky is full of snow, which when it falls will settle for all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14882 winter as the ground is hardening to receive it. It seems to have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14883 affected Madam Mina; she has been so heavy of head all day that she was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14884 not like herself. She sleeps, and sleeps, and sleeps! She who is usual
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14885 so alert, have done literally nothing all the day; she even have lost
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14886 her appetite. She make no entry into her little diary, she who write so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14887 faithful at every pause. Something whisper to me that all is not well.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14888 However, to-night she is more _vif_. Her long sleep all day have refresh
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14889 and restore her, for now she is all sweet and bright as ever. At sunset
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14890 I try to hypnotise her, but alas! with no effect; the power has grown
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14891 less and less with each day, and to-night it fail me altogether. Well,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14892 God's will be done--whatever it may be, and whithersoever it may lead!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14893
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14894 Now to the historical, for as Madam Mina write not in her stenography, I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14895 must, in my cumbrous old fashion, that so each day of us may not go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14896 unrecorded.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14897
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14898 We got to the Borgo Pass just after sunrise yesterday morning. When I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14899 saw the signs of the dawn I got ready for the hypnotism. We stopped our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14900 carriage, and got down so that there might be no disturbance. I made a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14901 couch with furs, and Madam Mina, lying down, yield herself as usual, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14902 more slow and more short time than ever, to the hypnotic sleep. As
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14903 before, came the answer: "darkness and the swirling of water." Then she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14904 woke, bright and radiant and we go on our way and soon reach the Pass.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14905 At this time and place, she become all on fire with zeal; some new
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14906 guiding power be in her manifested, for she point to a road and say:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14907
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14908 "This is the way."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14909
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14910 "How know you it?" I ask.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14911
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14912 "Of course I know it," she answer, and with a pause, add: "Have not my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14913 Jonathan travelled it and wrote of his travel?"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14914
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14915 At first I think somewhat strange, but soon I see that there be only one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14916 such by-road. It is used but little, and very different from the coach
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14917 road from the Bukovina to Bistritz, which is more wide and hard, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14918 more of use.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14919
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14920 So we came down this road; when we meet other ways--not always were we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14921 sure that they were roads at all, for they be neglect and light snow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14922 have fallen--the horses know and they only. I give rein to them, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14923 they go on so patient. By-and-by we find all the things which Jonathan
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14924 have note in that wonderful diary of him. Then we go on for long, long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14925 hours and hours. At the first, I tell Madam Mina to sleep; she try, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14926 she succeed. She sleep all the time; till at the last, I feel myself to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14927 suspicious grow, and attempt to wake her. But she sleep on, and I may
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14928 not wake her though I try. I do not wish to try too hard lest I harm
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14929 her; for I know that she have suffer much, and sleep at times be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14930 all-in-all to her. I think I drowse myself, for all of sudden I feel
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14931 guilt, as though I have done something; I find myself bolt up, with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14932 reins in my hand, and the good horses go along jog, jog, just as ever. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14933 look down and find Madam Mina still sleep. It is now not far off sunset
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14934 time, and over the snow the light of the sun flow in big yellow flood,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14935 so that we throw great long shadow on where the mountain rise so steep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14936 For we are going up, and up; and all is oh! so wild and rocky, as though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14937 it were the end of the world.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14938
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14939 Then I arouse Madam Mina. This time she wake with not much trouble, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14940 then I try to put her to hypnotic sleep. But she sleep not, being as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14941 though I were not. Still I try and try, till all at once I find her and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14942 myself in dark; so I look round, and find that the sun have gone down.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14943 Madam Mina laugh, and I turn and look at her. She is now quite awake,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14944 and look so well as I never saw her since that night at Carfax when we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14945 first enter the Count's house. I am amaze, and not at ease then; but she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14946 is so bright and tender and thoughtful for me that I forget all fear. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14947 light a fire, for we have brought supply of wood with us, and she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14948 prepare food while I undo the horses and set them, tethered in shelter,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14949 to feed. Then when I return to the fire she have my supper ready. I go
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14950 to help her; but she smile, and tell me that she have eat already--that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14951 she was so hungry that she would not wait. I like it not, and I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14952 grave doubts; but I fear to affright her, and so I am silent of it. She
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14953 help me and I eat alone; and then we wrap in fur and lie beside the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14954 fire, and I tell her to sleep while I watch. But presently I forget all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14955 of watching; and when I sudden remember that I watch, I find her lying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14956 quiet, but awake, and looking at me with so bright eyes. Once, twice
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14957 more the same occur, and I get much sleep till before morning. When I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14958 wake I try to hypnotise her; but alas! though she shut her eyes
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14959 obedient, she may not sleep. The sun rise up, and up, and up; and then
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14960 sleep come to her too late, but so heavy that she will not wake. I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14961 to lift her up, and place her sleeping in the carriage when I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14962 harnessed the horses and made all ready. Madam still sleep, and she look
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14963 in her sleep more healthy and more redder than before. And I like it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14964 not. And I am afraid, afraid, afraid!--I am afraid of all things--even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14965 to think but I must go on my way. The stake we play for is life and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14966 death, or more than these, and we must not flinch.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14967
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14968 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14969
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14970 _5 November, morning._--Let me be accurate in everything, for though you
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14971 and I have seen some strange things together, you may at the first think
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14972 that I, Van Helsing, am mad--that the many horrors and the so long
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14973 strain on nerves has at the last turn my brain.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14974
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14975 All yesterday we travel, ever getting closer to the mountains, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14976 moving into a more and more wild and desert land. There are great,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14977 frowning precipices and much falling water, and Nature seem to have held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14978 sometime her carnival. Madam Mina still sleep and sleep; and though I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14979 did have hunger and appeased it, I could not waken her--even for food. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14980 began to fear that the fatal spell of the place was upon her, tainted as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14981 she is with that Vampire baptism. "Well," said I to myself, "if it be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14982 that she sleep all the day, it shall also be that I do not sleep at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14983 night." As we travel on the rough road, for a road of an ancient and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14984 imperfect kind there was, I held down my head and slept. Again I waked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14985 with a sense of guilt and of time passed, and found Madam Mina still
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14986 sleeping, and the sun low down. But all was indeed changed; the frowning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14987 mountains seemed further away, and we were near the top of a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14988 steep-rising hill, on summit of which was such a castle as Jonathan tell
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14989 of in his diary. At once I exulted and feared; for now, for good or ill,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14990 the end was near.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14991
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14992 I woke Madam Mina, and again tried to hypnotise her; but alas!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14993 unavailing till too late. Then, ere the great dark came upon us--for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14994 even after down-sun the heavens reflected the gone sun on the snow, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14995 all was for a time in a great twilight--I took out the horses and fed
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14996 them in what shelter I could. Then I make a fire; and near it I make
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14997 Madam Mina, now awake and more charming than ever, sit comfortable amid
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14998 her rugs. I got ready food: but she would not eat, simply saying that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 14999 she had not hunger. I did not press her, knowing her unavailingness. But
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15000 I myself eat, for I must needs now be strong for all. Then, with the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15001 fear on me of what might be, I drew a ring so big for her comfort, round
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15002 where Madam Mina sat; and over the ring I passed some of the wafer, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15003 I broke it fine so that all was well guarded. She sat still all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15004 time--so still as one dead; and she grew whiter and ever whiter till the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15005 snow was not more pale; and no word she said. But when I drew near, she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15006 clung to me, and I could know that the poor soul shook her from head to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15007 feet with a tremor that was pain to feel. I said to her presently, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15008 she had grown more quiet:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15009
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15010 "Will you not come over to the fire?" for I wished to make a test of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15011 what she could. She rose obedient, but when she have made a step she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15012 stopped, and stood as one stricken.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15013
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15014 "Why not go on?" I asked. She shook her head, and, coming back, sat
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15015 down in her place. Then, looking at me with open eyes, as of one waked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15016 from sleep, she said simply:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15017
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15018 "I cannot!" and remained silent. I rejoiced, for I knew that what she
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15019 could not, none of those that we dreaded could. Though there might be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15020 danger to her body, yet her soul was safe!
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15021
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15022 Presently the horses began to scream, and tore at their tethers till I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15023 came to them and quieted them. When they did feel my hands on them, they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15024 whinnied low as in joy, and licked at my hands and were quiet for a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15025 time. Many times through the night did I come to them, till it arrive to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15026 the cold hour when all nature is at lowest; and every time my coming was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15027 with quiet of them. In the cold hour the fire began to die, and I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15028 about stepping forth to replenish it, for now the snow came in flying
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15029 sweeps and with it a chill mist. Even in the dark there was a light of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15030 some kind, as there ever is over snow; and it seemed as though the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15031 snow-flurries and the wreaths of mist took shape as of women with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15032 trailing garments. All was in dead, grim silence only that the horses
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15033 whinnied and cowered, as if in terror of the worst. I began to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15034 fear--horrible fears; but then came to me the sense of safety in that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15035 ring wherein I stood. I began, too, to think that my imaginings were of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15036 the night, and the gloom, and the unrest that I have gone through, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15037 all the terrible anxiety. It was as though my memories of all Jonathan's
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15038 horrid experience were befooling me; for the snow flakes and the mist
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15039 began to wheel and circle round, till I could get as though a shadowy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15040 glimpse of those women that would have kissed him. And then the horses
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15041 cowered lower and lower, and moaned in terror as men do in pain. Even
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15042 the madness of fright was not to them, so that they could break away. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15043 feared for my dear Madam Mina when these weird figures drew near and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15044 circled round. I looked at her, but she sat calm, and smiled at me; when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15045 I would have stepped to the fire to replenish it, she caught me and held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15046 me back, and whispered, like a voice that one hears in a dream, so low
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15047 it was:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15048
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15049 "No! No! Do not go without. Here you are safe!" I turned to her, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15050 looking in her eyes, said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15051
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15052 "But you? It is for you that I fear!" whereat she laughed--a laugh, low
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15053 and unreal, and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15054
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15055 "Fear for _me_! Why fear for me? None safer in all the world from them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15056 than I am," and as I wondered at the meaning of her words, a puff of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15057 wind made the flame leap up, and I see the red scar on her forehead.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15058 Then, alas! I knew. Did I not, I would soon have learned, for the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15059 wheeling figures of mist and snow came closer, but keeping ever without
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15060 the Holy circle. Then they began to materialise till--if God have not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15061 take away my reason, for I saw it through my eyes--there were before me
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15062 in actual flesh the same three women that Jonathan saw in the room, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15063 they would have kissed his throat. I knew the swaying round forms, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15064 bright hard eyes, the white teeth, the ruddy colour, the voluptuous
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15065 lips. They smiled ever at poor dear Madam Mina; and as their laugh came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15066 through the silence of the night, they twined their arms and pointed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15067 her, and said in those so sweet tingling tones that Jonathan said were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15068 of the intolerable sweetness of the water-glasses:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15069
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15070 "Come, sister. Come to us. Come! Come!" In fear I turned to my poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15071 Madam Mina, and my heart with gladness leapt like flame; for oh! the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15072 terror in her sweet eyes, the repulsion, the horror, told a story to my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15073 heart that was all of hope. God be thanked she was not, yet, of them. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15074 seized some of the firewood which was by me, and holding out some of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15075 Wafer, advanced on them towards the fire. They drew back before me, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15076 laughed their low horrid laugh. I fed the fire, and feared them not; for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15077 I knew that we were safe within our protections. They could not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15078 approach, me, whilst so armed, nor Madam Mina whilst she remained within
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15079 the ring, which she could not leave no more than they could enter. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15080 horses had ceased to moan, and lay still on the ground; the snow fell on
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15081 them softly, and they grew whiter. I knew that there was for the poor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15082 beasts no more of terror.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15083
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15084 And so we remained till the red of the dawn to fall through the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15085 snow-gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terror; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15086 when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15087 At the first coming of the dawn the horrid figures melted in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15088 whirling mist and snow; the wreaths of transparent gloom moved away
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15089 towards the castle, and were lost.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15090
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15091 Instinctively, with the dawn coming, I turned to Madam Mina, intending
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15092 to hypnotise her; but she lay in a deep and sudden sleep, from which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15093 could not wake her. I tried to hypnotise through her sleep, but she made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15094 no response, none at all; and the day broke. I fear yet to stir. I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15095 made my fire and have seen the horses, they are all dead. To-day I have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15096 much to do here, and I keep waiting till the sun is up high; for there
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15097 may be places where I must go, where that sunlight, though snow and mist
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15098 obscure it, will be to me a safety.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15099
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15100 I will strengthen me with breakfast, and then I will to my terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15101 work. Madam Mina still sleeps; and, God be thanked! she is calm in her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15102 sleep....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15103
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15104
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15105 _Jonathan Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15106
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15107 _4 November, evening._--The accident to the launch has been a terrible
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15108 thing for us. Only for it we should have overtaken the boat long ago;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15109 and by now my dear Mina would have been free. I fear to think of her,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15110 off on the wolds near that horrid place. We have got horses, and we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15111 follow on the track. I note this whilst Godalming is getting ready. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15112 have our arms. The Szgany must look out if they mean fight. Oh, if only
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15113 Morris and Seward were with us. We must only hope! If I write no more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15114 Good-bye, Mina! God bless and keep you.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15115
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15116
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15117 _Dr. Seward's Diary._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15118
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15119 _5 November._--With the dawn we saw the body of Szgany before us dashing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15120 away from the river with their leiter-wagon. They surrounded it in a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15121 cluster, and hurried along as though beset. The snow is falling lightly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15122 and there is a strange excitement in the air. It may be our own
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15123 feelings, but the depression is strange. Far off I hear the howling of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15124 wolves; the snow brings them down from the mountains, and there are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15125 dangers to all of us, and from all sides. The horses are nearly ready,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15126 and we are soon off. We ride to death of some one. God alone knows who,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15127 or where, or what, or when, or how it may be....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15128
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15129
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15130 _Dr. Van Helsing's Memorandum._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15131
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15132 _5 November, afternoon._--I am at least sane. Thank God for that mercy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15133 at all events, though the proving it has been dreadful. When I left
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15134 Madam Mina sleeping within the Holy circle, I took my way to the castle.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15135 The blacksmith hammer which I took in the carriage from Veresti was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15136 useful; though the doors were all open I broke them off the rusty
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15137 hinges, lest some ill-intent or ill-chance should close them, so that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15138 being entered I might not get out. Jonathan's bitter experience served
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15139 me here. By memory of his diary I found my way to the old chapel, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15140 knew that here my work lay. The air was oppressive; it seemed as if
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15141 there was some sulphurous fume, which at times made me dizzy. Either
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15142 there was a roaring in my ears or I heard afar off the howl of wolves.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15143 Then I bethought me of my dear Madam Mina, and I was in terrible plight.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15144 The dilemma had me between his horns.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15145
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15146 Her, I had not dare to take into this place, but left safe from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15147 Vampire in that Holy circle; and yet even there would be the wolf! I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15148 resolve me that my work lay here, and that as to the wolves we must
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15149 submit, if it were God's will. At any rate it was only death and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15150 freedom beyond. So did I choose for her. Had it but been for myself the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15151 choice had been easy, the maw of the wolf were better to rest in than
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15152 the grave of the Vampire! So I make my choice to go on with my work.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15153
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15154 I knew that there were at least three graves to find--graves that are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15155 inhabit; so I search, and search, and I find one of them. She lay in her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15156 Vampire sleep, so full of life and voluptuous beauty that I shudder as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15157 though I have come to do murder. Ah, I doubt not that in old time, when
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15158 such things were, many a man who set forth to do such a task as mine,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15159 found at the last his heart fail him, and then his nerve. So he delay,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15160 and delay, and delay, till the mere beauty and the fascination of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15161 wanton Un-Dead have hypnotise him; and he remain on and on, till sunset
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15162 come, and the Vampire sleep be over. Then the beautiful eyes of the fair
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15163 woman open and look love, and the voluptuous mouth present to a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15164 kiss--and man is weak. And there remain one more victim in the Vampire
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15165 fold; one more to swell the grim and grisly ranks of the Un-Dead!...
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15166
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15167 There is some fascination, surely, when I am moved by the mere presence
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15168 of such an one, even lying as she lay in a tomb fretted with age and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15169 heavy with the dust of centuries, though there be that horrid odour such
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15170 as the lairs of the Count have had. Yes, I was moved--I, Van Helsing,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15171 with all my purpose and with my motive for hate--I was moved to a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15172 yearning for delay which seemed to paralyse my faculties and to clog my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15173 very soul. It may have been that the need of natural sleep, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15174 strange oppression of the air were beginning to overcome me. Certain it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15175 was that I was lapsing into sleep, the open-eyed sleep of one who yields
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15176 to a sweet fascination, when there came through the snow-stilled air a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15177 long, low wail, so full of woe and pity that it woke me like the sound
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15178 of a clarion. For it was the voice of my dear Madam Mina that I heard.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15179
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15180 Then I braced myself again to my horrid task, and found by wrenching
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15181 away tomb-tops one other of the sisters, the other dark one. I dared not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15182 pause to look on her as I had on her sister, lest once more I should
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15183 begin to be enthrall; but I go on searching until, presently, I find in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15184 a high great tomb as if made to one much beloved that other fair sister
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15185 which, like Jonathan I had seen to gather herself out of the atoms of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15186 the mist. She was so fair to look on, so radiantly beautiful, so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15187 exquisitely voluptuous, that the very instinct of man in me, which calls
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15188 some of my sex to love and to protect one of hers, made my head whirl
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15189 with new emotion. But God be thanked, that soul-wail of my dear Madam
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15190 Mina had not died out of my ears; and, before the spell could be wrought
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15191 further upon me, I had nerved myself to my wild work. By this time I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15192 searched all the tombs in the chapel, so far as I could tell; and as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15193 there had been only three of these Un-Dead phantoms around us in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15194 night, I took it that there were no more of active Un-Dead existent.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15195 There was one great tomb more lordly than all the rest; huge it was, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15196 nobly proportioned. On it was but one word
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15197
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15198 DRACULA.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15199
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15200 This then was the Un-Dead home of the King-Vampire, to whom so many more
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15201 were due. Its emptiness spoke eloquent to make certain what I knew.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15202 Before I began to restore these women to their dead selves through my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15203 awful work, I laid in Dracula's tomb some of the Wafer, and so banished
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15204 him from it, Un-Dead, for ever.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15205
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15206 Then began my terrible task, and I dreaded it. Had it been but one, it
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15207 had been easy, comparative. But three! To begin twice more after I had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15208 been through a deed of horror; for if it was terrible with the sweet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15209 Miss Lucy, what would it not be with these strange ones who had survived
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15210 through centuries, and who had been strengthened by the passing of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15211 years; who would, if they could, have fought for their foul lives....
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15212
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15213 Oh, my friend John, but it was butcher work; had I not been nerved by
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15214 thoughts of other dead, and of the living over whom hung such a pall of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15215 fear, I could not have gone on. I tremble and tremble even yet, though
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15216 till all was over, God be thanked, my nerve did stand. Had I not seen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15217 the repose in the first place, and the gladness that stole over it just
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15218 ere the final dissolution came, as realisation that the soul had been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15219 won, I could not have gone further with my butchery. I could not have
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15220 endured the horrid screeching as the stake drove home; the plunging of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15221 writhing form, and lips of bloody foam. I should have fled in terror and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15222 left my work undone. But it is over! And the poor souls, I can pity them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15223 now and weep, as I think of them placid each in her full sleep of death
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15224 for a short moment ere fading. For, friend John, hardly had my knife
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15225 severed the head of each, before the whole body began to melt away and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15226 crumble in to its native dust, as though the death that should have come
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15227 centuries agone had at last assert himself and say at once and loud "I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15228 am here!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15229
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15230 Before I left the castle I so fixed its entrances that never more can
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15231 the Count enter there Un-Dead.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15232
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15233 When I stepped into the circle where Madam Mina slept, she woke from her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15234 sleep, and, seeing, me, cried out in pain that I had endured too much.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15235
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15236 "Come!" she said, "come away from this awful place! Let us go to meet my
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15237 husband who is, I know, coming towards us." She was looking thin and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15238 pale and weak; but her eyes were pure and glowed with fervour. I was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15239 glad to see her paleness and her illness, for my mind was full of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15240 fresh horror of that ruddy vampire sleep.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15241
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15242 And so with trust and hope, and yet full of fear, we go eastward to meet
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15243 our friends--and _him_--whom Madam Mina tell me that she _know_ are
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15244 coming to meet us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15245
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15246
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15247 _Mina Harker's Journal._
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15248
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15249 _6 November._--It was late in the afternoon when the Professor and I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15250 took our way towards the east whence I knew Jonathan was coming. We did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15251 not go fast, though the way was steeply downhill, for we had to take
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15252 heavy rugs and wraps with us; we dared not face the possibility of being
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15253 left without warmth in the cold and the snow. We had to take some of our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15254 provisions, too, for we were in a perfect desolation, and, so far as we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15255 could see through the snowfall, there was not even the sign of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15256 habitation. When we had gone about a mile, I was tired with the heavy
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15257 walking and sat down to rest. Then we looked back and saw where the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15258 clear line of Dracula's castle cut the sky; for we were so deep under
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15259 the hill whereon it was set that the angle of perspective of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15260 Carpathian mountains was far below it. We saw it in all its grandeur,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15261 perched a thousand feet on the summit of a sheer precipice, and with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15262 seemingly a great gap between it and the steep of the adjacent mountain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15263 on any side. There was something wild and uncanny about the place. We
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15264 could hear the distant howling of wolves. They were far off, but the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15265 sound, even though coming muffled through the deadening snowfall, was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15266 full of terror. I knew from the way Dr. Van Helsing was searching about
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15267 that he was trying to seek some strategic point, where we would be less
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15268 exposed in case of attack. The rough roadway still led downwards; we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15269 could trace it through the drifted snow.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15270
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15271 In a little while the Professor signalled to me, so I got up and joined
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15272 him. He had found a wonderful spot, a sort of natural hollow in a rock,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15273 with an entrance like a doorway between two boulders. He took me by the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15274 hand and drew me in: "See!" he said, "here you will be in shelter; and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15275 if the wolves do come I can meet them one by one." He brought in our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15276 furs, and made a snug nest for me, and got out some provisions and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15277 forced them upon me. But I could not eat; to even try to do so was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15278 repulsive to me, and, much as I would have liked to please him, I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15279 not bring myself to the attempt. He looked very sad, but did not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15280 reproach me. Taking his field-glasses from the case, he stood on the top
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15281 of the rock, and began to search the horizon. Suddenly he called out:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15282
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15283 "Look! Madam Mina, look! look!" I sprang up and stood beside him on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15284 rock; he handed me his glasses and pointed. The snow was now falling
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15285 more heavily, and swirled about fiercely, for a high wind was beginning
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15286 to blow. However, there were times when there were pauses between the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15287 snow flurries and I could see a long way round. From the height where we
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15288 were it was possible to see a great distance; and far off, beyond the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15289 white waste of snow, I could see the river lying like a black ribbon in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15290 kinks and curls as it wound its way. Straight in front of us and not far
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15291 off--in fact, so near that I wondered we had not noticed before--came a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15292 group of mounted men hurrying along. In the midst of them was a cart, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15293 long leiter-wagon which swept from side to side, like a dog's tail
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15294 wagging, with each stern inequality of the road. Outlined against the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15295 snow as they were, I could see from the men's clothes that they were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15296 peasants or gypsies of some kind.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15297
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15298 On the cart was a great square chest. My heart leaped as I saw it, for I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15299 felt that the end was coming. The evening was now drawing close, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15300 well I knew that at sunset the Thing, which was till then imprisoned
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15301 there, would take new freedom and could in any of many forms elude all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15302 pursuit. In fear I turned to the Professor; to my consternation,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15303 however, he was not there. An instant later, I saw him below me. Round
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15304 the rock he had drawn a circle, such as we had found shelter in last
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15305 night. When he had completed it he stood beside me again, saying:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15306
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15307 "At least you shall be safe here from _him_!" He took the glasses from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15308 me, and at the next lull of the snow swept the whole space below us.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15309 "See," he said, "they come quickly; they are flogging the horses, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15310 galloping as hard as they can." He paused and went on in a hollow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15311 voice:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15312
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15313 "They are racing for the sunset. We may be too late. God's will be
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15314 done!" Down came another blinding rush of driving snow, and the whole
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15315 landscape was blotted out. It soon passed, however, and once more his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15316 glasses were fixed on the plain. Then came a sudden cry:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15317
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15318 "Look! Look! Look! See, two horsemen follow fast, coming up from the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15319 south. It must be Quincey and John. Take the glass. Look before the snow
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15320 blots it all out!" I took it and looked. The two men might be Dr. Seward
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15321 and Mr. Morris. I knew at all events that neither of them was Jonathan.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15322 At the same time I _knew_ that Jonathan was not far off; looking around
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15323 I saw on the north side of the coming party two other men, riding at
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15324 break-neck speed. One of them I knew was Jonathan, and the other I took,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15325 of course, to be Lord Godalming. They, too, were pursuing the party with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15326 the cart. When I told the Professor he shouted in glee like a schoolboy,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15327 and, after looking intently till a snow fall made sight impossible, he
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15328 laid his Winchester rifle ready for use against the boulder at the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15329 opening of our shelter. "They are all converging," he said. "When the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15330 time comes we shall have gypsies on all sides." I got out my revolver
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15331 ready to hand, for whilst we were speaking the howling of wolves came
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15332 louder and closer. When the snow storm abated a moment we looked again.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15333 It was strange to see the snow falling in such heavy flakes close to us,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15334 and beyond, the sun shining more and more brightly as it sank down
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15335 towards the far mountain tops. Sweeping the glass all around us I could
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15336 see here and there dots moving singly and in twos and threes and larger
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15337 numbers--the wolves were gathering for their prey.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15338
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15339 Every instant seemed an age whilst we waited. The wind came now in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15340 fierce bursts, and the snow was driven with fury as it swept upon us in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15341 circling eddies. At times we could not see an arm's length before us;
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15342 but at others, as the hollow-sounding wind swept by us, it seemed to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15343 clear the air-space around us so that we could see afar off. We had of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15344 late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset, that we knew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15345 with fair accuracy when it would be; and we knew that before long the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15346 sun would set. It was hard to believe that by our watches it was less
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15347 than an hour that we waited in that rocky shelter before the various
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15348 bodies began to converge close upon us. The wind came now with fiercer
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15349 and more bitter sweeps, and more steadily from the north. It seemingly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15350 had driven the snow clouds from us, for, with only occasional bursts,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15351 the snow fell. We could distinguish clearly the individuals of each
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15352 party, the pursued and the pursuers. Strangely enough those pursued did
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15353 not seem to realise, or at least to care, that they were pursued; they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15354 seemed, however, to hasten with redoubled speed as the sun dropped lower
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15355 and lower on the mountain tops.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15356
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15357 Closer and closer they drew. The Professor and I crouched down behind
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15358 our rock, and held our weapons ready; I could see that he was determined
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15359 that they should not pass. One and all were quite unaware of our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15360 presence.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15361
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15362 All at once two voices shouted out to: "Halt!" One was my Jonathan's,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15363 raised in a high key of passion; the other Mr. Morris' strong resolute
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15364 tone of quiet command. The gypsies may not have known the language, but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15365 there was no mistaking the tone, in whatever tongue the words were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15366 spoken. Instinctively they reined in, and at the instant Lord Godalming
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15367 and Jonathan dashed up at one side and Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris on the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15368 other. The leader of the gypsies, a splendid-looking fellow who sat his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15369 horse like a centaur, waved them back, and in a fierce voice gave to his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15370 companions some word to proceed. They lashed the horses which sprang
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15371 forward; but the four men raised their Winchester rifles, and in an
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15372 unmistakable way commanded them to stop. At the same moment Dr. Van
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15373 Helsing and I rose behind the rock and pointed our weapons at them.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15374 Seeing that they were surrounded the men tightened their reins and drew
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15375 up. The leader turned to them and gave a word at which every man of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15376 gypsy party drew what weapon he carried, knife or pistol, and held
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15377 himself in readiness to attack. Issue was joined in an instant.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15378
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15379 The leader, with a quick movement of his rein, threw his horse out in
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15380 front, and pointing first to the sun--now close down on the hill
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15381 tops--and then to the castle, said something which I did not understand.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15382 For answer, all four men of our party threw themselves from their horses
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15383 and dashed towards the cart. I should have felt terrible fear at seeing
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15384 Jonathan in such danger, but that the ardour of battle must have been
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15385 upon me as well as the rest of them; I felt no fear, but only a wild,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15386 surging desire to do something. Seeing the quick movement of our
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15387 parties, the leader of the gypsies gave a command; his men instantly
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15388 formed round the cart in a sort of undisciplined endeavour, each one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15389 shouldering and pushing the other in his eagerness to carry out the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15390 order.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15391
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15392 In the midst of this I could see that Jonathan on one side of the ring
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15393 of men, and Quincey on the other, were forcing a way to the cart; it was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15394 evident that they were bent on finishing their task before the sun
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15395 should set. Nothing seemed to stop or even to hinder them. Neither the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15396 levelled weapons nor the flashing knives of the gypsies in front, nor
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15397 the howling of the wolves behind, appeared to even attract their
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15398 attention. Jonathan's impetuosity, and the manifest singleness of his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15399 purpose, seemed to overawe those in front of him; instinctively they
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15400 cowered, aside and let him pass. In an instant he had jumped upon the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15401 cart, and, with a strength which seemed incredible, raised the great
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15402 box, and flung it over the wheel to the ground. In the meantime, Mr.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15403 Morris had had to use force to pass through his side of the ring of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15404 Szgany. All the time I had been breathlessly watching Jonathan I had,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15405 with the tail of my eye, seen him pressing desperately forward, and had
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15406 seen the knives of the gypsies flash as he won a way through them, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15407 they cut at him. He had parried with his great bowie knife, and at first
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15408 I thought that he too had come through in safety; but as he sprang
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15409 beside Jonathan, who had by now jumped from the cart, I could see that
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15410 with his left hand he was clutching at his side, and that the blood was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15411 spurting through his fingers. He did not delay notwithstanding this, for
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15412 as Jonathan, with desperate energy, attacked one end of the chest,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15413 attempting to prize off the lid with his great Kukri knife, he attacked
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15414 the other frantically with his bowie. Under the efforts of both men the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15415 lid began to yield; the nails drew with a quick screeching sound, and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15416 the top of the box was thrown back.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15417
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15418 By this time the gypsies, seeing themselves covered by the Winchesters,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15419 and at the mercy of Lord Godalming and Dr. Seward, had given in and made
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15420 no resistance. The sun was almost down on the mountain tops, and the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15421 shadows of the whole group fell long upon the snow. I saw the Count
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15422 lying within the box upon the earth, some of which the rude falling from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15423 the cart had scattered over him. He was deathly pale, just like a waxen
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15424 image, and the red eyes glared with the horrible vindictive look which I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15425 knew too well.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15426
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15427 As I looked, the eyes saw the sinking sun, and the look of hate in them
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15428 turned to triumph.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15429
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15430 But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great knife.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15431 I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat; whilst at the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15432 moment Mr. Morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15433
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15434 It was like a miracle; but before our very eyes, and almost in the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15435 drawing of a breath, the whole body crumble into dust and passed from
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15436 our sight.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15437
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15438 I shall be glad as long as I live that even in that moment of final
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15439 dissolution, there was in the face a look of peace, such as I never
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15440 could have imagined might have rested there.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15441
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15442 The Castle of Dracula now stood out against the red sky, and every stone
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15443 of its broken battlements was articulated against the light of the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15444 setting sun.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15445
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15446 The gypsies, taking us as in some way the cause of the extraordinary
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15447 disappearance of the dead man, turned, without a word, and rode away as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15448 if for their lives. Those who were unmounted jumped upon the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15449 leiter-wagon and shouted to the horsemen not to desert them. The wolves,
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15450 which had withdrawn to a safe distance, followed in their wake, leaving
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15451 us alone.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15452
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15453 Mr. Morris, who had sunk to the ground, leaned on his elbow, holding his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15454 hand pressed to his side; the blood still gushed through his fingers. I
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15455 flew to him, for the Holy circle did not now keep me back; so did the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15456 two doctors. Jonathan knelt behind him and the wounded man laid back his
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15457 head on his shoulder. With a sigh he took, with a feeble effort, my hand
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15458 in that of his own which was unstained. He must have seen the anguish of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15459 my heart in my face, for he smiled at me and said:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15460
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15461 "I am only too happy to have been of any service! Oh, God!" he cried
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15462 suddenly, struggling up to a sitting posture and pointing to me, "It was
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15463 worth for this to die! Look! look!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15464
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15465 The sun was now right down upon the mountain top, and the red gleams
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15466 fell upon my face, so that it was bathed in rosy light. With one impulse
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15467 the men sank on their knees and a deep and earnest "Amen" broke from all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15468 as their eyes followed the pointing of his finger. The dying man
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15469 spoke:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15470
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15471 "Now God be thanked that all has not been in vain! See! the snow is not
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15472 more stainless than her forehead! The curse has passed away!"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15473
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15474 And, to our bitter grief, with a smile and in silence, he died, a
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15475 gallant gentleman.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15476
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15477
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15478
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15479
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15480 NOTE
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15481
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15482
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15483 Seven years ago we all went through the flames; and the happiness of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15484 some of us since then is, we think, well worth the pain we endured. It
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15485 is an added joy to Mina and to me that our boy's birthday is the same
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15486 day as that on which Quincey Morris died. His mother holds, I know, the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15487 secret belief that some of our brave friend's spirit has passed into
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15488 him. His bundle of names links all our little band of men together; but
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15489 we call him Quincey.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15490
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15491 In the summer of this year we made a journey to Transylvania, and went
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15492 over the old ground which was, and is, to us so full of vivid and
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15493 terrible memories. It was almost impossible to believe that the things
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15494 which we had seen with our own eyes and heard with our own ears were
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15495 living truths. Every trace of all that had been was blotted out. The
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15496 castle stood as before, reared high above a waste of desolation.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15497
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15498 When we got home we were talking of the old time--which we could all
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15499 look back on without despair, for Godalming and Seward are both happily
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15500 married. I took the papers from the safe where they had been ever since
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15501 our return so long ago. We were struck with the fact, that in all the
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15502 mass of material of which the record is composed, there is hardly one
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15503 authentic document; nothing but a mass of typewriting, except the later
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15504 note-books of Mina and Seward and myself, and Van Helsing's memorandum.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15505 We could hardly ask any one, even did we wish to, to accept these as
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15506 proofs of so wild a story. Van Helsing summed it all up as he said, with
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15507 our boy on his knee:--
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15508
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15509 "We want no proofs; we ask none to believe us! This boy will some day
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15510 know what a brave and gallant woman his mother is. Already he knows her
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15511 sweetness and loving care; later on he will understand how some men so
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15512 loved her, that they did dare much for her sake."
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15513
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15514 JONATHAN HARKER.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15515
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15516 THE END
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15517
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15518 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15519
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15520 _There's More to Follow!_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15521
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15522 More stories of the sort you like; more, probably, by the author of
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15523 this one; more than 500 titles all told by writers of world-wide
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15524 reputation, in the Authors' Alphabetical List which you will find
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15525 on the _reverse side_ of the wrapper of this book. Look it over
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15526 before you lay it aside. There are books here you are sure to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15527 want--some, possibly, that you have _always_ wanted.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15528
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15529 It is a _selected_ list; every book in it has achieved a certain
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15530 measure of _success_.
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15531
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15532 The Grosset & Dunlap list is not only the greatest Index of Good
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15533 Fiction available, it represents in addition a generally accepted
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15534 Standard of Value. It will pay you to
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15535
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15536 _Look on the Other Side of the Wrapper!_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15537
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15538 _In case the wrapper is lost write to the publishers for a complete
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15539 catalog_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15540
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15541 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15542
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15543 DETECTIVE STORIES BY J. S. FLETCHER
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15544
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15545 May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15546
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15547
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15548 THE SECRET OF THE BARBICAN
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15549
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15550 THE ANNEXATION SOCIETY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15551
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15552 THE WOLVES AND THE LAMB
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15553
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15554 GREEN INK
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15555
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15556 THE KING versus WARGRAVE
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15557
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15558 THE LOST MR. LINTHWAITE
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15559
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15560 THE MILL OF MANY WINDOWS
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15561
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15562 THE HEAVEN-KISSED HILL
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15563
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15564 THE MIDDLE TEMPLE MURDER
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15565
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15566 RAVENSDENE COURT
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15567
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15568 THE RAYNER-SLADE AMALGAMATION
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15569
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15570 THE SAFETY PIN
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15571
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15572 THE SECRET WAY
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15573
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15574 THE VALLEY OF HEADSTRONG MEN
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15575
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15576 _Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction_
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15577
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15578 GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15579
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15580 * * * * *
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15581
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15582 Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15583
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15584 in a very simply way=> in a very simple way {pg 68}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15585
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15586 "The Westminister Gazette," 25 September.=> "The Westminster Gazette,"
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15587 25 September. {pg 165}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15588
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15589 It have told him=> She must have told him {pg 169}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15590
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15591 from md sight=> from my sight {pg}184
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15592
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15593 Goldaming=> Godalming {pg 226}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15594
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15595 I I did not want to hinder him=> I did not want to hinder him {pg 267}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15596
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15597 They lay in a sort of or-orderly=> They lay in a sort of orderly {pg
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15598 279}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15599
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15600 Translyvania=> Transylvania {pg 294}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15601
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15602 this mrrning from Dardanelles=> this morning from Dardanelles {pg 313}
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15603
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15604
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15605
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15606
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15607
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15608
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15609
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15610 End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dracula, by Bram Stoker
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15611
leothedragon 0:8f0bb79ddd48 15612 *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRACULA ***
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