From 145f92b466a431660e2c3277c4f93b476557f512 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Sean Copenhaver Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2013 23:24:14 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] some performance tests with a 'huge' file --- Makefile | 3 + README.md | 5 +- test/fixtures/dracula.txt | 16638 ++++++++++++++++++++++ test/{perf_test.exs => performance.exs} | 83 +- 4 files changed, 16703 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-) create mode 100644 test/fixtures/dracula.txt rename test/{perf_test.exs => performance.exs} (58%) diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile index 60fcede..726c83d 100644 --- a/Makefile +++ b/Makefile @@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ all: tags test check docs test: mix test +perf: + elixir -pa ebin test/performance.exs + tags: ctags -R . diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index c53636b..0077ec0 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -3,4 +3,7 @@ Implementing the rope data structure to play around with Elixir some... and to do something kind of computer sciencey again. -It will attempt to provide an API similar to the Elixir String module. +Currently, concat is constant time but about twice the overhead of plain binary strings. +While slice is WAY more efficient then plain binary strings. About 3 times faster in small files (tested with 2kb) and up to 50 times faster in huge files (tested with 880kb). + +Find is just horrible right now, which limits some of the rope's use. diff --git a/test/fixtures/dracula.txt b/test/fixtures/dracula.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9eac20c --- /dev/null +++ b/test/fixtures/dracula.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16638 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dracula, by Bram Stoker + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net + + +Title: Dracula + +Author: Bram Stoker + +Release Date: May 9, 2008 [EBook #345] +[Last updated: September 3, 2012] + +Language: English + + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRACULA *** + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +DRACULA + +A Mystery Story + +by + +Bram Stoker + + +1897 edition + + + +How these papers have been placed in sequence will be made manifest in the +reading of them. All needless matters have been eliminated, so that a history +almost at variance with the possibilities of latter-day belief may stand forth +as simple fact. There is throughout no statement of past things wherein +memory may err, for all the records chosen are exactly contemporary, given +from the standpoints and within the range of knowledge of those who made them. + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + 1 Jonathan Harker's Journal + 2 Jonathan Harker's Journal + 3 Jonathan Harker's Journal + 4 Jonathan Harker's Journal + 5 Letter From Miss Mina Murray To Miss Lucy Westenra + 6 Mina Murray's Journal + 7 Cutting From "The Dailygraph", 8 August + 8 Mina Murray's Journal + 9 Letter, Mina Harker To Lucy Westenra + 10 Letter, Dr. Seward To Hon. Arthur Holmwood + 11 Lucy Westenra's Diary + 12 Dr. Seward's Diary + 13 Dr. Seward's Diary + 14 Mina Harker's Journal + 15 Dr. Seward's Diary + 16 Dr. Seward's Diary + 17 Dr. Seward's Diary + 18 Dr. Seward's Diary + 19 Jonathan Harker's Journal + 20 Jonathan Harker's Journal + 21 Dr. Seward's Diary + 22 Jonathan Harker's Journal + 23 Dr. Seward's Diary + 24 Dr. Seward's Phonograph Diary + 25 Dr. Seward's Diary + 26 Dr. Seward's Diary + 27 Mina Harker's Journal + + + + +CHAPTER 1 + + +Jonathan Harker's Journal + +(Kept in shorthand) + +3 May. Bistritz.--Left Munich at 8:35 P.M., on 1st May, arriving at +Vienna early next morning; should have arrived at 6:46, but train was +an hour late. Buda-Pesth seems a wonderful place, from the glimpse +which I got of it from the train and the little I could walk through +the streets. I feared to go very far from the station, as we had +arrived late and would start as near the correct time as possible. + +The impression I had was that we were leaving the West and entering the +East; the most western of splendid bridges over the Danube, which is +here of noble width and depth, took us among the traditions of Turkish +rule. + +We left in pretty good time, and came after nightfall to Klausenburgh. +Here I stopped for the night at the Hotel Royale. I had for dinner, +or rather supper, a chicken done up some way with red pepper, which +was very good but thirsty. (Mem. get recipe for Mina.) I asked the +waiter, and he said it was called "paprika hendl," and that, as it was +a national dish, I should be able to get it anywhere along the +Carpathians. + +I found my smattering of German very useful here, indeed, I don't know +how I should be able to get on without it. + +Having had some time at my disposal when in London, I had visited the +British Museum, and made search among the books and maps in the +library regarding Transylvania; it had struck me that some +foreknowledge of the country could hardly fail to have some importance +in dealing with a nobleman of that country. + + +I find that the district he named is in the extreme east of the +country, just on the borders of three states, Transylvania, Moldavia, +and Bukovina, in the midst of the Carpathian mountains; one of the +wildest and least known portions of Europe. + +I was not able to light on any map or work giving the exact locality +of the Castle Dracula, as there are no maps of this country as yet to +compare with our own Ordnance Survey Maps; but I found that Bistritz, +the post town named by Count Dracula, is a fairly well-known place. I +shall enter here some of my notes, as they may refresh my memory when +I talk over my travels with Mina. + +In the population of Transylvania there are four distinct +nationalities: Saxons in the South, and mixed with them the Wallachs, +who are the descendants of the Dacians; Magyars in the West, and +Szekelys in the East and North. I am going among the latter, who +claim to be descended from Attila and the Huns. This may be so, for +when the Magyars conquered the country in the eleventh century they +found the Huns settled in it. + +I read that every known superstition in the world is gathered into the +horseshoe of the Carpathians, as if it were the centre of some sort of +imaginative whirlpool; if so my stay may be very interesting. (Mem., +I must ask the Count all about them.) + +I did not sleep well, though my bed was comfortable enough, for I had +all sorts of queer dreams. There was a dog howling all night under my +window, which may have had something to do with it; or it may have +been the paprika, for I had to drink up all the water in my carafe, +and was still thirsty. Towards morning I slept and was wakened by the +continuous knocking at my door, so I guess I must have been sleeping +soundly then. + +I had for breakfast more paprika, and a sort of porridge of maize +flour which they said was "mamaliga", and egg-plant stuffed with +forcemeat, a very excellent dish, which they call "impletata". (Mem., +get recipe for this also.) + +I had to hurry breakfast, for the train started a little before eight, +or rather it ought to have done so, for after rushing to the station +at 7:30 I had to sit in the carriage for more than an hour before we +began to move. + +It seems to me that the further east you go the more unpunctual are +the trains. What ought they to be in China? + +All day long we seemed to dawdle through a country which was full of +beauty of every kind. Sometimes we saw little towns or castles on the +top of steep hills such as we see in old missals; sometimes we ran by +rivers and streams which seemed from the wide stony margin on each +side of them to be subject to great floods. It takes a lot of water, +and running strong, to sweep the outside edge of a river clear. + +At every station there were groups of people, sometimes crowds, and in +all sorts of attire. Some of them were just like the peasants at home +or those I saw coming through France and Germany, with short jackets, +and round hats, and home-made trousers; but others were very +picturesque. + +The women looked pretty, except when you got near them, but they were +very clumsy about the waist. They had all full white sleeves of some +kind or other, and most of them had big belts with a lot of strips of +something fluttering from them like the dresses in a ballet, but of +course there were petticoats under them. + +The strangest figures we saw were the Slovaks, who were more barbarian +than the rest, with their big cow-boy hats, great baggy dirty-white +trousers, white linen shirts, and enormous heavy leather belts, nearly +a foot wide, all studded over with brass nails. They wore high boots, +with their trousers tucked into them, and had long black hair and +heavy black moustaches. They are very picturesque, but do not look +prepossessing. On the stage they would be set down at once as some +old Oriental band of brigands. They are, however, I am told, very +harmless and rather wanting in natural self-assertion. + +It was on the dark side of twilight when we got to Bistritz, which is +a very interesting old place. Being practically on the frontier--for +the Borgo Pass leads from it into Bukovina--it has had a very stormy +existence, and it certainly shows marks of it. Fifty years ago a +series of great fires took place, which made terrible havoc on five +separate occasions. At the very beginning of the seventeenth century +it underwent a siege of three weeks and lost 13,000 people, the +casualties of war proper being assisted by famine and disease. + +Count Dracula had directed me to go to the Golden Krone Hotel, which I +found, to my great delight, to be thoroughly old-fashioned, for of +course I wanted to see all I could of the ways of the country. + +I was evidently expected, for when I got near the door I faced a +cheery-looking elderly woman in the usual peasant dress--white +undergarment with a long double apron, front, and back, of coloured +stuff fitting almost too tight for modesty. When I came close she +bowed and said, "The Herr Englishman?" + +"Yes," I said, "Jonathan Harker." + +She smiled, and gave some message to an elderly man in white +shirtsleeves, who had followed her to the door. + +He went, but immediately returned with a letter: + +"My friend.--Welcome to the Carpathians. I am anxiously expecting +you. Sleep well tonight. At three tomorrow the diligence will +start for Bukovina; a place on it is kept for you. At the Borgo +Pass my carriage will await you and will bring you to me. I trust +that your journey from London has been a happy one, and that you +will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land.--Your friend, Dracula." + + +4 May--I found that my landlord had got a letter from the Count, +directing him to secure the best place on the coach for me; but on +making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent, and +pretended that he could not understand my German. + +This could not be true, because up to then he had understood it +perfectly; at least, he answered my questions exactly as if he did. + +He and his wife, the old lady who had received me, looked at each +other in a frightened sort of way. He mumbled out that the money had +been sent in a letter, and that was all he knew. When I asked him if +he knew Count Dracula, and could tell me anything of his castle, both +he and his wife crossed themselves, and, saying that they knew nothing +at all, simply refused to speak further. It was so near the time of +starting that I had no time to ask anyone else, for it was all very +mysterious and not by any means comforting. + +Just before I was leaving, the old lady came up to my room and said in +a hysterical way: "Must you go? Oh! Young Herr, must you go?" She +was in such an excited state that she seemed to have lost her grip of +what German she knew, and mixed it all up with some other language +which I did not know at all. I was just able to follow her by asking +many questions. When I told her that I must go at once, and that I +was engaged on important business, she asked again: + +"Do you know what day it is?" I answered that it was the fourth of +May. She shook her head as she said again: + +"Oh, yes! I know that! I know that, but do you know what day it is?" + +On my saying that I did not understand, she went on: + +"It is the eve of St. George's Day. Do you not know that tonight, +when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will +have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are +going to?" She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort +her, but without effect. Finally, she went down on her knees and +implored me not to go; at least to wait a day or two before starting. + +It was all very ridiculous but I did not feel comfortable. However, +there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere +with it. + +I tried to raise her up, and said, as gravely as I could, that I +thanked her, but my duty was imperative, and that I must go. + +She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck +offered it to me. + +I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been +taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it +seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such +a state of mind. + +She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the rosary round +my neck and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out of the room. + +I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting for the +coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still round my +neck. + +Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of +this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not +feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual. + +If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my +goodbye. Here comes the coach! + + +5 May. The Castle.--The gray of the morning has passed, and the sun +is high over the distant horizon, which seems jagged, whether with +trees or hills I know not, for it is so far off that big things and +little are mixed. + +I am not sleepy, and, as I am not to be called till I awake, naturally +I write till sleep comes. + +There are many odd things to put down, and, lest who reads them may +fancy that I dined too well before I left Bistritz, let me put down my +dinner exactly. + +I dined on what they called "robber steak"--bits of bacon, onion, and +beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks, and roasted over +the fire, in the simple style of the London cat's meat! + +The wine was Golden Mediasch, which produces a queer sting on the +tongue, which is, however, not disagreeable. + +I had only a couple of glasses of this, and nothing else. + +When I got on the coach, the driver had not taken his seat, and I saw +him talking to the landlady. + +They were evidently talking of me, for every now and then they looked +at me, and some of the people who were sitting on the bench outside +the door--came and listened, and then looked at me, most of them +pityingly. I could hear a lot of words often repeated, queer words, +for there were many nationalities in the crowd, so I quietly got my +polyglot dictionary from my bag and looked them out. + +I must say they were not cheering to me, for amongst them were +"Ordog"--Satan, "Pokol"--hell, "stregoica"--witch, "vrolok" and +"vlkoslak"--both mean the same thing, one being Slovak and the other +Servian for something that is either werewolf or vampire. (Mem., I +must ask the Count about these superstitions.) + +When we started, the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time +swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and +pointed two fingers towards me. + +With some difficulty, I got a fellow passenger to tell me what they +meant. He would not answer at first, but on learning that I was +English, he explained that it was a charm or guard against the evil +eye. + +This was not very pleasant for me, just starting for an unknown place +to meet an unknown man. But everyone seemed so kind-hearted, and so +sorrowful, and so sympathetic that I could not but be touched. + +I shall never forget the last glimpse which I had of the inn yard and +its crowd of picturesque figures, all crossing themselves, as they +stood round the wide archway, with its background of rich foliage of +oleander and orange trees in green tubs clustered in the centre of the +yard. + +Then our driver, whose wide linen drawers covered the whole front of +the boxseat,--"gotza" they call them--cracked his big whip over his +four small horses, which ran abreast, and we set off on our journey. + +I soon lost sight and recollection of ghostly fears in the beauty of +the scene as we drove along, although had I known the language, or +rather languages, which my fellow-passengers were speaking, I might +not have been able to throw them off so easily. Before us lay a green +sloping land full of forests and woods, with here and there steep +hills, crowned with clumps of trees or with farmhouses, the blank +gable end to the road. There was everywhere a bewildering mass of +fruit blossom--apple, plum, pear, cherry. And as we drove by I could +see the green grass under the trees spangled with the fallen petals. +In and out amongst these green hills of what they call here the +"Mittel Land" ran the road, losing itself as it swept round the grassy +curve, or was shut out by the straggling ends of pine woods, which +here and there ran down the hillsides like tongues of flame. The road +was rugged, but still we seemed to fly over it with a feverish haste. +I could not understand then what the haste meant, but the driver was +evidently bent on losing no time in reaching Borgo Prund. I was told +that this road is in summertime excellent, but that it had not yet +been put in order after the winter snows. In this respect it is +different from the general run of roads in the Carpathians, for it is +an old tradition that they are not to be kept in too good order. Of +old the Hospadars would not repair them, lest the Turk should think +that they were preparing to bring in foreign troops, and so hasten the +war which was always really at loading point. + +Beyond the green swelling hills of the Mittel Land rose mighty slopes +of forest up to the lofty steeps of the Carpathians themselves. Right +and left of us they towered, with the afternoon sun falling full upon +them and bringing out all the glorious colours of this beautiful +range, deep blue and purple in the shadows of the peaks, green and +brown where grass and rock mingled, and an endless perspective of +jagged rock and pointed crags, till these were themselves lost in the +distance, where the snowy peaks rose grandly. Here and there seemed +mighty rifts in the mountains, through which, as the sun began to +sink, we saw now and again the white gleam of falling water. One of +my companions touched my arm as we swept round the base of a hill and +opened up the lofty, snow-covered peak of a mountain, which seemed, as +we wound on our serpentine way, to be right before us. + +"Look! Isten szek!"--"God's seat!"--and he crossed himself reverently. + +As we wound on our endless way, and the sun sank lower and lower +behind us, the shadows of the evening began to creep round us. This +was emphasized by the fact that the snowy mountain-top still held the +sunset, and seemed to glow out with a delicate cool pink. Here and +there we passed Cszeks and Slovaks, all in picturesque attire, but I +noticed that goitre was painfully prevalent. By the roadside were +many crosses, and as we swept by, my companions all crossed +themselves. Here and there was a peasant man or woman kneeling before +a shrine, who did not even turn round as we approached, but seemed in +the self-surrender of devotion to have neither eyes nor ears for the +outer world. There were many things new to me. For instance, +hay-ricks in the trees, and here and there very beautiful masses of +weeping birch, their white stems shining like silver through the +delicate green of the leaves. + +Now and again we passed a leiter-wagon--the ordinary peasants's +cart--with its long, snakelike vertebra, calculated to suit the +inequalities of the road. On this were sure to be seated quite a +group of homecoming peasants, the Cszeks with their white, and the +Slovaks with their coloured sheepskins, the latter carrying +lance-fashion their long staves, with axe at end. As the evening fell +it began to get very cold, and the growing twilight seemed to merge +into one dark mistiness the gloom of the trees, oak, beech, and pine, +though in the valleys which ran deep between the spurs of the hills, +as we ascended through the Pass, the dark firs stood out here and +there against the background of late-lying snow. Sometimes, as the +road was cut through the pine woods that seemed in the darkness to be +closing down upon us, great masses of greyness which here and there +bestrewed the trees, produced a peculiarly weird and solemn effect, +which carried on the thoughts and grim fancies engendered earlier in +the evening, when the falling sunset threw into strange relief the +ghost-like clouds which amongst the Carpathians seem to wind +ceaselessly through the valleys. Sometimes the hills were so steep +that, despite our driver's haste, the horses could only go slowly. I +wished to get down and walk up them, as we do at home, but the driver +would not hear of it. "No, no," he said. "You must not walk here. +The dogs are too fierce." And then he added, with what he evidently +meant for grim pleasantry--for he looked round to catch the approving +smile of the rest--"And you may have enough of such matters before you +go to sleep." The only stop he would make was a moment's pause to +light his lamps. + +When it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement amongst the +passengers, and they kept speaking to him, one after the other, as +though urging him to further speed. He lashed the horses unmercifully +with his long whip, and with wild cries of encouragement urged them on +to further exertions. Then through the darkness I could see a sort of +patch of grey light ahead of us, as though there were a cleft in the +hills. The excitement of the passengers grew greater. The crazy +coach rocked on its great leather springs, and swayed like a boat +tossed on a stormy sea. I had to hold on. The road grew more level, +and we appeared to fly along. Then the mountains seemed to come +nearer to us on each side and to frown down upon us. We were entering +on the Borgo Pass. One by one several of the passengers offered me +gifts, which they pressed upon me with an earnestness which would take +no denial. These were certainly of an odd and varied kind, but each +was given in simple good faith, with a kindly word, and a blessing, +and that same strange mixture of fear-meaning movements which I had +seen outside the hotel at Bistritz--the sign of the cross and the +guard against the evil eye. Then, as we flew along, the driver leaned +forward, and on each side the passengers, craning over the edge of the +coach, peered eagerly into the darkness. It was evident that +something very exciting was either happening or expected, but though I +asked each passenger, no one would give me the slightest explanation. +This state of excitement kept on for some little time. And at last we +saw before us the Pass opening out on the eastern side. There were +dark, rolling clouds overhead, and in the air the heavy, oppressive +sense of thunder. It seemed as though the mountain range had +separated two atmospheres, and that now we had got into the thunderous +one. I was now myself looking out for the conveyance which was to +take me to the Count. Each moment I expected to see the glare of +lamps through the blackness, but all was dark. The only light was the +flickering rays of our own lamps, in which the steam from our +hard-driven horses rose in a white cloud. We could see now the sandy +road lying white before us, but there was on it no sign of a vehicle. +The passengers drew back with a sigh of gladness, which seemed to mock +my own disappointment. I was already thinking what I had best do, +when the driver, looking at his watch, said to the others something +which I could hardly hear, it was spoken so quietly and in so low a +tone, I thought it was "An hour less than the time." Then turning to +me, he spoke in German worse than my own. + +"There is no carriage here. The Herr is not expected after all. He +will now come on to Bukovina, and return tomorrow or the next day, +better the next day." Whilst he was speaking the horses began to +neigh and snort and plunge wildly, so that the driver had to hold them +up. Then, amongst a chorus of screams from the peasants and a +universal crossing of themselves, a caleche, with four horses, drove +up behind us, overtook us, and drew up beside the coach. I could see +from the flash of our lamps as the rays fell on them, that the horses +were coal-black and splendid animals. They were driven by a tall man, +with a long brown beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide +his face from us. I could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright +eyes, which seemed red in the lamplight, as he turned to us. + +He said to the driver, "You are early tonight, my friend." + +The man stammered in reply, "The English Herr was in a hurry." + +To which the stranger replied, "That is why, I suppose, you wished him +to go on to Bukovina. You cannot deceive me, my friend. I know too +much, and my horses are swift." + +As he spoke he smiled, and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth, +with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory. One of +my companions whispered to another the line from Burger's "Lenore". + +"Denn die Todten reiten Schnell." ("For the dead travel fast.") + +The strange driver evidently heard the words, for he looked up with a +gleaming smile. The passenger turned his face away, at the same time +putting out his two fingers and crossing himself. "Give me the Herr's +luggage," said the driver, and with exceeding alacrity my bags were +handed out and put in the caleche. Then I descended from the side of +the coach, as the caleche was close alongside, the driver helping me +with a hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel. His strength must +have been prodigious. + +Without a word he shook his reins, the horses turned, and we swept +into the darkness of the pass. As I looked back I saw the steam from +the horses of the coach by the light of the lamps, and projected +against it the figures of my late companions crossing themselves. +Then the driver cracked his whip and called to his horses, and off +they swept on their way to Bukovina. As they sank into the darkness I +felt a strange chill, and a lonely feeling come over me. But a cloak +was thrown over my shoulders, and a rug across my knees, and the +driver said in excellent German--"The night is chill, mein Herr, and +my master the Count bade me take all care of you. There is a flask of +slivovitz (the plum brandy of the country) underneath the seat, if you +should require it." + +I did not take any, but it was a comfort to know it was there all the +same. I felt a little strangely, and not a little frightened. I +think had there been any alternative I should have taken it, instead +of prosecuting that unknown night journey. The carriage went at a +hard pace straight along, then we made a complete turn and went along +another straight road. It seemed to me that we were simply going over +and over the same ground again, and so I took note of some salient +point, and found that this was so. I would have liked to have asked +the driver what this all meant, but I really feared to do so, for I +thought that, placed as I was, any protest would have had no effect in +case there had been an intention to delay. + +By-and-by, however, as I was curious to know how time was passing, I +struck a match, and by its flame looked at my watch. It was within a +few minutes of midnight. This gave me a sort of shock, for I suppose +the general superstition about midnight was increased by my recent +experiences. I waited with a sick feeling of suspense. + +Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road, a +long, agonized wailing, as if from fear. The sound was taken up by +another dog, and then another and another, till, borne on the wind +which now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling began, which +seemed to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination +could grasp it through the gloom of the night. + +At the first howl the horses began to strain and rear, but the driver +spoke to them soothingly, and they quieted down, but shivered and +sweated as though after a runaway from sudden fright. Then, far off +in the distance, from the mountains on each side of us began a louder +and a sharper howling, that of wolves, which affected both the horses +and myself in the same way. For I was minded to jump from the caleche +and run, whilst they reared again and plunged madly, so that the +driver had to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting. +In a few minutes, however, my own ears got accustomed to the sound, +and the horses so far became quiet that the driver was able to descend +and to stand before them. + +He petted and soothed them, and whispered something in their ears, as +I have heard of horse-tamers doing, and with extraordinary effect, for +under his caresses they became quite manageable again, though they +still trembled. The driver again took his seat, and shaking his +reins, started off at a great pace. This time, after going to the far +side of the Pass, he suddenly turned down a narrow roadway which ran +sharply to the right. + +Soon we were hemmed in with trees, which in places arched right over +the roadway till we passed as through a tunnel. And again great +frowning rocks guarded us boldly on either side. Though we were in +shelter, we could hear the rising wind, for it moaned and whistled +through the rocks, and the branches of the trees crashed together as +we swept along. It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery +snow began to fall, so that soon we and all around us were covered +with a white blanket. The keen wind still carried the howling of the +dogs, though this grew fainter as we went on our way. The baying of +the wolves sounded nearer and nearer, as though they were closing +round on us from every side. I grew dreadfully afraid, and the horses +shared my fear. The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed. +He kept turning his head to left and right, but I could not see +anything through the darkness. + +Suddenly, away on our left I saw a faint flickering blue flame. The +driver saw it at the same moment. He at once checked the horses, and, +jumping to the ground, disappeared into the darkness. I did not know +what to do, the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer. But +while I wondered, the driver suddenly appeared again, and without a +word took his seat, and we resumed our journey. I think I must have +fallen asleep and kept dreaming of the incident, for it seemed to be +repeated endlessly, and now looking back, it is like a sort of awful +nightmare. Once the flame appeared so near the road, that even in the +darkness around us I could watch the driver's motions. He went +rapidly to where the blue flame arose, it must have been very faint, +for it did not seem to illumine the place around it at all, and +gathering a few stones, formed them into some device. + +Once there appeared a strange optical effect. When he stood between +me and the flame he did not obstruct it, for I could see its ghostly +flicker all the same. This startled me, but as the effect was only +momentary, I took it that my eyes deceived me straining through the +darkness. Then for a time there were no blue flames, and we sped +onwards through the gloom, with the howling of the wolves around us, +as though they were following in a moving circle. + +At last there came a time when the driver went further afield than he +had yet gone, and during his absence, the horses began to tremble +worse than ever and to snort and scream with fright. I could not see +any cause for it, for the howling of the wolves had ceased altogether. +But just then the moon, sailing through the black clouds, appeared +behind the jagged crest of a beetling, pine-clad rock, and by its +light I saw around us a ring of wolves, with white teeth and lolling +red tongues, with long, sinewy limbs and shaggy hair. They were a +hundred times more terrible in the grim silence which held them than +even when they howled. For myself, I felt a sort of paralysis of +fear. It is only when a man feels himself face to face with such +horrors that he can understand their true import. + +All at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had had +some peculiar effect on them. The horses jumped about and reared, and +looked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful to +see. But the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side, +and they had perforce to remain within it. I called to the coachman +to come, for it seemed to me that our only chance was to try to break +out through the ring and to aid his approach, I shouted and beat the +side of the caleche, hoping by the noise to scare the wolves from the +side, so as to give him a chance of reaching the trap. How he came +there, I know not, but I heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious +command, and looking towards the sound, saw him stand in the roadway. +As he swept his long arms, as though brushing aside some impalpable +obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still. Just then a +heavy cloud passed across the face of the moon, so that we were again +in darkness. + +When I could see again the driver was climbing into the caleche, and +the wolves disappeared. This was all so strange and uncanny that a +dreadful fear came upon me, and I was afraid to speak or move. The +time seemed interminable as we swept on our way, now in almost +complete darkness, for the rolling clouds obscured the moon. + +We kept on ascending, with occasional periods of quick descent, but in +the main always ascending. Suddenly, I became conscious of the fact +that the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the +courtyard of a vast ruined castle, from whose tall black windows came +no ray of light, and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line +against the sky. + + + + +CHAPTER 2 + + +Jonathan Harker's Journal Continued + +5 May.--I must have been asleep, for certainly if I had been fully +awake I must have noticed the approach of such a remarkable place. In +the gloom the courtyard looked of considerable size, and as several +dark ways led from it under great round arches, it perhaps seemed +bigger than it really is. I have not yet been able to see it by +daylight. + +When the caleche stopped, the driver jumped down and held out his hand +to assist me to alight. Again I could not but notice his prodigious +strength. His hand actually seemed like a steel vice that could have +crushed mine if he had chosen. Then he took my traps, and placed them +on the ground beside me as I stood close to a great door, old and +studded with large iron nails, and set in a projecting doorway of +massive stone. I could see even in the dim light that the stone was +massively carved, but that the carving had been much worn by time and +weather. As I stood, the driver jumped again into his seat and shook +the reins. The horses started forward, and trap and all disappeared +down one of the dark openings. + +I stood in silence where I was, for I did not know what to do. Of +bell or knocker there was no sign. Through these frowning walls and +dark window openings it was not likely that my voice could penetrate. +The time I waited seemed endless, and I felt doubts and fears crowding +upon me. What sort of place had I come to, and among what kind of +people? What sort of grim adventure was it on which I had embarked? +Was this a customary incident in the life of a solicitor's clerk sent +out to explain the purchase of a London estate to a foreigner? +Solicitor's clerk! Mina would not like that. Solicitor, for just +before leaving London I got word that my examination was successful, +and I am now a full-blown solicitor! I began to rub my eyes and pinch +myself to see if I were awake. It all seemed like a horrible +nightmare to me, and I expected that I should suddenly awake, and find +myself at home, with the dawn struggling in through the windows, as I +had now and again felt in the morning after a day of overwork. But my +flesh answered the pinching test, and my eyes were not to be +deceived. I was indeed awake and among the Carpathians. All I could +do now was to be patient, and to wait the coming of morning. + +Just as I had come to this conclusion I heard a heavy step approaching +behind the great door, and saw through the chinks the gleam of a +coming light. Then there was the sound of rattling chains and the +clanking of massive bolts drawn back. A key was turned with the loud +grating noise of long disuse, and the great door swung back. + +Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white +moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck +of colour about him anywhere. He held in his hand an antique silver +lamp, in which the flame burned without a chimney or globe of any +kind, throwing long quivering shadows as it flickered in the draught +of the open door. The old man motioned me in with his right hand with +a courtly gesture, saying in excellent English, but with a strange +intonation. + +"Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own free will!" He +made no motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as +though his gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone. The instant, +however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively +forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which +made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it +seemed cold as ice, more like the hand of a dead than a living man. +Again he said, + +"Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something +of the happiness you bring!" The strength of the handshake was so +much akin to that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had +not seen, that for a moment I doubted if it were not the same person +to whom I was speaking. So to make sure, I said interrogatively, +"Count Dracula?" + +He bowed in a courtly way as he replied, "I am Dracula, and I bid you +welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in, the night air is chill, +and you must need to eat and rest." As he was speaking, he put the lamp +on a bracket on the wall, and stepping out, took my luggage. He had +carried it in before I could forestall him. I protested, but he +insisted. + +"Nay, sir, you are my guest. It is late, and my people are not +available. Let me see to your comfort myself." He insisted on carrying +my traps along the passage, and then up a great winding stair, and +along another great passage, on whose stone floor our steps rang +heavily. At the end of this he threw open a heavy door, and I +rejoiced to see within a well-lit room in which a table was spread for +supper, and on whose mighty hearth a great fire of logs, freshly +replenished, flamed and flared. + +The Count halted, putting down my bags, closed the door, and crossing +the room, opened another door, which led into a small octagonal room +lit by a single lamp, and seemingly without a window of any sort. +Passing through this, he opened another door, and motioned me to +enter. It was a welcome sight. For here was a great bedroom well +lighted and warmed with another log fire, also added to but lately, +for the top logs were fresh, which sent a hollow roar up the wide +chimney. The Count himself left my luggage inside and withdrew, +saying, before he closed the door. + +"You will need, after your journey, to refresh yourself by making your +toilet. I trust you will find all you wish. When you are ready, come +into the other room, where you will find your supper prepared." + +The light and warmth and the Count's courteous welcome seemed to have +dissipated all my doubts and fears. Having then reached my normal +state, I discovered that I was half famished with hunger. So making a +hasty toilet, I went into the other room. + +I found supper already laid out. My host, who stood on one side of +the great fireplace, leaning against the stonework, made a graceful +wave of his hand to the table, and said, + +"I pray you, be seated and sup how you please. You will I trust, +excuse me that I do not join you, but I have dined already, and I do +not sup." + +I handed to him the sealed letter which Mr. Hawkins had entrusted to +me. He opened it and read it gravely. Then, with a charming smile, +he handed it to me to read. One passage of it, at least, gave me a +thrill of pleasure. + +"I must regret that an attack of gout, from which malady I am a +constant sufferer, forbids absolutely any travelling on my part for +some time to come. But I am happy to say I can send a sufficient +substitute, one in whom I have every possible confidence. He is a +young man, full of energy and talent in his own way, and of a very +faithful disposition. He is discreet and silent, and has grown into +manhood in my service. He shall be ready to attend on you when you +will during his stay, and shall take your instructions in all +matters." + +The count himself came forward and took off the cover of a dish, and I +fell to at once on an excellent roast chicken. This, with some cheese +and a salad and a bottle of old tokay, of which I had two glasses, was +my supper. During the time I was eating it the Count asked me many +questions as to my journey, and I told him by degrees all I had +experienced. + +By this time I had finished my supper, and by my host's desire had +drawn up a chair by the fire and begun to smoke a cigar which he +offered me, at the same time excusing himself that he did not smoke. +I had now an opportunity of observing him, and found him of a very +marked physiognomy. + +His face was a strong, a very strong, aquiline, with high bridge of +the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils, with lofty domed +forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely +elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the +nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. +The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was +fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth. +These protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed +astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears +were pale, and at the tops extremely pointed. The chin was broad and +strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was one +of extraordinary pallor. + +Hitherto I had noticed the backs of his hands as they lay on his knees +in the firelight, and they had seemed rather white and fine. But +seeing them now close to me, I could not but notice that they were +rather coarse, broad, with squat fingers. Strange to say, there were +hairs in the centre of the palm. The nails were long and fine, and +cut to a sharp point. As the Count leaned over me and his hands +touched me, I could not repress a shudder. It may have been that his +breath was rank, but a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, +do what I would, I could not conceal. + +The Count, evidently noticing it, drew back. And with a grim sort of +smile, which showed more than he had yet done his protuberant teeth, +sat himself down again on his own side of the fireplace. We were both +silent for a while, and as I looked towards the window I saw the first +dim streak of the coming dawn. There seemed a strange stillness over +everything. But as I listened, I heard as if from down below in the +valley the howling of many wolves. The Count's eyes gleamed, and he +said. + +"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" +Seeing, I suppose, some expression in my face strange to him, he +added, "Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city cannot enter into the +feelings of the hunter." Then he rose and said. + +"But you must be tired. Your bedroom is all ready, and tomorrow you +shall sleep as late as you will. I have to be away till the +afternoon, so sleep well and dream well!" With a courteous bow, he +opened for me himself the door to the octagonal room, and I entered my +bedroom. + +I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt. I fear. I think strange +things, which I dare not confess to my own soul. God keep me, if only +for the sake of those dear to me! + + +7 May.--It is again early morning, but I have rested and enjoyed the +last twenty-four hours. I slept till late in the day, and awoke of my +own accord. When I had dressed myself I went into the room where we +had supped, and found a cold breakfast laid out, with coffee kept hot +by the pot being placed on the hearth. There was a card on the table, +on which was written--"I have to be absent for a while. Do not wait +for me. D." I set to and enjoyed a hearty meal. When I had done, I +looked for a bell, so that I might let the servants know I had +finished, but I could not find one. There are certainly odd +deficiencies in the house, considering the extraordinary evidences of +wealth which are round me. The table service is of gold, and so +beautifully wrought that it must be of immense value. The curtains +and upholstery of the chairs and sofas and the hangings of my bed are +of the costliest and most beautiful fabrics, and must have been of +fabulous value when they were made, for they are centuries old, though +in excellent order. I saw something like them in Hampton Court, but +they were worn and frayed and moth-eaten. But still in none of the +rooms is there a mirror. There is not even a toilet glass on my +table, and I had to get the little shaving glass from my bag before I +could either shave or brush my hair. I have not yet seen a servant +anywhere, or heard a sound near the castle except the howling of +wolves. Some time after I had finished my meal, I do not know whether +to call it breakfast or dinner, for it was between five and six +o'clock when I had it, I looked about for something to read, for I did +not like to go about the castle until I had asked the Count's +permission. There was absolutely nothing in the room, book, +newspaper, or even writing materials, so I opened another door in the +room and found a sort of library. The door opposite mine I tried, but +found locked. + +In the library I found, to my great delight, a vast number of English +books, whole shelves full of them, and bound volumes of magazines and +newspapers. A table in the centre was littered with English magazines +and newspapers, though none of them were of very recent date. The +books were of the most varied kind, history, geography, politics, +political economy, botany, geology, law, all relating to England and +English life and customs and manners. There were even such books of +reference as the London Directory, the "Red" and "Blue" books, +Whitaker's Almanac, the Army and Navy Lists, and it somehow gladdened +my heart to see it, the Law List. + +Whilst I was looking at the books, the door opened, and the Count +entered. He saluted me in a hearty way, and hoped that I had had a +good night's rest. Then he went on. + +"I am glad you found your way in here, for I am sure there is much +that will interest you. These companions," and he laid his hand on +some of the books, "have been good friends to me, and for some years +past, ever since I had the idea of going to London, have given me +many, many hours of pleasure. Through them I have come to know your +great England, and to know her is to love her. I long to go through +the crowded streets of your mighty London, to be in the midst of the +whirl and rush of humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, +and all that makes it what it is. But alas! As yet I only know your +tongue through books. To you, my friend, I look that I know it to +speak." + +"But, Count," I said, "You know and speak English thoroughly!" He +bowed gravely. + +"I thank you, my friend, for your all too-flattering estimate, but yet +I fear that I am but a little way on the road I would travel. True, I +know the grammar and the words, but yet I know not how to speak them." + +"Indeed," I said, "You speak excellently." + +"Not so," he answered. "Well, I know that, did I move and speak in +your London, none there are who would not know me for a stranger. That +is not enough for me. Here I am noble. I am a Boyar. The common +people know me, and I am master. But a stranger in a strange land, he +is no one. Men know him not, and to know not is to care not for. I +am content if I am like the rest, so that no man stops if he sees me, +or pauses in his speaking if he hears my words, 'Ha, ha! A stranger!' +I have been so long master that I would be master still, or at least +that none other should be master of me. You come to me not alone as +agent of my friend Peter Hawkins, of Exeter, to tell me all about my +new estate in London. You shall, I trust, rest here with me a while, +so that by our talking I may learn the English intonation. And I +would that you tell me when I make error, even of the smallest, in my +speaking. I am sorry that I had to be away so long today, but you +will, I know forgive one who has so many important affairs in hand." + +Of course I said all I could about being willing, and asked if I might +come into that room when I chose. He answered, "Yes, certainly," and +added. + +"You may go anywhere you wish in the castle, except where the doors +are locked, where of course you will not wish to go. There is reason +that all things are as they are, and did you see with my eyes and know +with my knowledge, you would perhaps better understand." I said I was +sure of this, and then he went on. + +"We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways +are not your ways, and there shall be to you many strange things. Nay, +from what you have told me of your experiences already, you know +something of what strange things there may be." + +This led to much conversation, and as it was evident that he wanted to +talk, if only for talking's sake, I asked him many questions regarding +things that had already happened to me or come within my notice. +Sometimes he sheered off the subject, or turned the conversation by +pretending not to understand, but generally he answered all I asked +most frankly. Then as time went on, and I had got somewhat bolder, I +asked him of some of the strange things of the preceding night, as for +instance, why the coachman went to the places where he had seen the +blue flames. He then explained to me that it was commonly believed +that on a certain night of the year, last night, in fact, when all +evil spirits are supposed to have unchecked sway, a blue flame is seen +over any place where treasure has been concealed. + +"That treasure has been hidden," he went on, "in the region through +which you came last night, there can be but little doubt. For it was +the ground fought over for centuries by the Wallachian, the Saxon, and +the Turk. Why, there is hardly a foot of soil in all this region that +has not been enriched by the blood of men, patriots or invaders. In +the old days there were stirring times, when the Austrian and the +Hungarian came up in hordes, and the patriots went out to meet them, +men and women, the aged and the children too, and waited their coming +on the rocks above the passes, that they might sweep destruction on +them with their artificial avalanches. When the invader was +triumphant he found but little, for whatever there was had been +sheltered in the friendly soil." + +"But how," said I, "can it have remained so long undiscovered, when +there is a sure index to it if men will but take the trouble to look?" +The Count smiled, and as his lips ran back over his gums, the long, +sharp, canine teeth showed out strangely. He answered: + +"Because your peasant is at heart a coward and a fool! Those flames +only appear on one night, and on that night no man of this land will, +if he can help it, stir without his doors. And, dear sir, even if he +did he would not know what to do. Why, even the peasant that you tell +me of who marked the place of the flame would not know where to look +in daylight even for his own work. Even you would not, I dare be +sworn, be able to find these places again?" + +"There you are right," I said. "I know no more than the dead where +even to look for them." Then we drifted into other matters. + +"Come," he said at last, "tell me of London and of the house which you +have procured for me." With an apology for my remissness, I went into +my own room to get the papers from my bag. Whilst I was placing them +in order I heard a rattling of china and silver in the next room, and +as I passed through, noticed that the table had been cleared and the +lamp lit, for it was by this time deep into the dark. The lamps were +also lit in the study or library, and I found the Count lying on the +sofa, reading, of all things in the world, an English Bradshaw's +Guide. When I came in he cleared the books and papers from the table, +and with him I went into plans and deeds and figures of all sorts. He +was interested in everything, and asked me a myriad questions about +the place and its surroundings. He clearly had studied beforehand all +he could get on the subject of the neighbourhood, for he evidently at +the end knew very much more than I did. When I remarked this, he +answered. + +"Well, but, my friend, is it not needful that I should? When I go +there I shall be all alone, and my friend Harker Jonathan, nay, pardon +me. I fall into my country's habit of putting your patronymic first, +my friend Jonathan Harker will not be by my side to correct and aid +me. He will be in Exeter, miles away, probably working at papers of +the law with my other friend, Peter Hawkins. So!" + +We went thoroughly into the business of the purchase of the estate at +Purfleet. When I had told him the facts and got his signature to the +necessary papers, and had written a letter with them ready to post to +Mr. Hawkins, he began to ask me how I had come across so suitable a +place. I read to him the notes which I had made at the time, and +which I inscribe here. + +"At Purfleet, on a byroad, I came across just such a place as seemed +to be required, and where was displayed a dilapidated notice that the +place was for sale. It was surrounded by a high wall, of ancient +structure, built of heavy stones, and has not been repaired for a +large number of years. The closed gates are of heavy old oak and +iron, all eaten with rust. + +"The estate is called Carfax, no doubt a corruption of the old Quatre +Face, as the house is four sided, agreeing with the cardinal points of +the compass. It contains in all some twenty acres, quite surrounded +by the solid stone wall above mentioned. There are many trees on it, +which make it in places gloomy, and there is a deep, dark-looking pond +or small lake, evidently fed by some springs, as the water is clear +and flows away in a fair-sized stream. The house is very large and of +all periods back, I should say, to mediaeval times, for one part is of +stone immensely thick, with only a few windows high up and heavily +barred with iron. It looks like part of a keep, and is close to an +old chapel or church. I could not enter it, as I had not the key of +the door leading to it from the house, but I have taken with my Kodak +views of it from various points. The house had been added to, but in +a very straggling way, and I can only guess at the amount of ground it +covers, which must be very great. There are but few houses close at +hand, one being a very large house only recently added to and formed +into a private lunatic asylum. It is not, however, visible from the +grounds." + +When I had finished, he said, "I am glad that it is old and big. I +myself am of an old family, and to live in a new house would kill me. +A house cannot be made habitable in a day, and after all, how few days +go to make up a century. I rejoice also that there is a chapel of old +times. We Transylvanian nobles love not to think that our bones may +lie amongst the common dead. I seek not gaiety nor mirth, not the +bright voluptuousness of much sunshine and sparkling waters which +please the young and gay. I am no longer young, and my heart, through +weary years of mourning over the dead, is not attuned to mirth. Moreover, +the walls of my castle are broken. The shadows are many, and the wind +breathes cold through the broken battlements and casements. I love +the shade and the shadow, and would be alone with my thoughts when I +may." Somehow his words and his look did not seem to accord, or else +it was that his cast of face made his smile look malignant and +saturnine. + +Presently, with an excuse, he left me, asking me to pull my papers +together. He was some little time away, and I began to look at some +of the books around me. One was an atlas, which I found opened +naturally to England, as if that map had been much used. On looking +at it I found in certain places little rings marked, and on examining +these I noticed that one was near London on the east side, manifestly +where his new estate was situated. The other two were Exeter, and +Whitby on the Yorkshire coast. + +It was the better part of an hour when the Count returned. "Aha!" he +said. "Still at your books? Good! But you must not work always. +Come! I am informed that your supper is ready." He took my arm, and +we went into the next room, where I found an excellent supper ready on +the table. The Count again excused himself, as he had dined out on +his being away from home. But he sat as on the previous night, and +chatted whilst I ate. After supper I smoked, as on the last evening, +and the Count stayed with me, chatting and asking questions on every +conceivable subject, hour after hour. I felt that it was getting very +late indeed, but I did not say anything, for I felt under obligation +to meet my host's wishes in every way. I was not sleepy, as the long +sleep yesterday had fortified me, but I could not help experiencing +that chill which comes over one at the coming of the dawn, which is +like, in its way, the turn of the tide. They say that people who are +near death die generally at the change to dawn or at the turn of the +tide. Anyone who has when tired, and tied as it were to his post, +experienced this change in the atmosphere can well believe it. All at +once we heard the crow of the cock coming up with preternatural +shrillness through the clear morning air. + +Count Dracula, jumping to his feet, said, "Why there is the morning +again! How remiss I am to let you stay up so long. You must make +your conversation regarding my dear new country of England less +interesting, so that I may not forget how time flies by us," and with +a courtly bow, he quickly left me. + +I went into my room and drew the curtains, but there was little to +notice. My window opened into the courtyard, all I could see was the +warm grey of quickening sky. So I pulled the curtains again, and have +written of this day. + + +8 May.--I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting too +diffuse. But now I am glad that I went into detail from the first, +for there is something so strange about this place and all in it that +I cannot but feel uneasy. I wish I were safe out of it, or that I had +never come. It may be that this strange night existence is telling on +me, but would that that were all! If there were any one to talk to I +could bear it, but there is no one. I have only the Count to speak +with, and he--I fear I am myself the only living soul within the +place. Let me be prosaic so far as facts can be. It will help me to +bear up, and imagination must not run riot with me. If it does I am +lost. Let me say at once how I stand, or seem to. + +I only slept a few hours when I went to bed, and feeling that I could +not sleep any more, got up. I had hung my shaving glass by the +window, and was just beginning to shave. Suddenly I felt a hand on my +shoulder, and heard the Count's voice saying to me, "Good morning." I +started, for it amazed me that I had not seen him, since the +reflection of the glass covered the whole room behind me. In starting +I had cut myself slightly, but did not notice it at the moment. Having +answered the Count's salutation, I turned to the glass again to see +how I had been mistaken. This time there could be no error, for the +man was close to me, and I could see him over my shoulder. But there +was no reflection of him in the mirror! The whole room behind me was +displayed, but there was no sign of a man in it, except myself. + +This was startling, and coming on the top of so many strange things, +was beginning to increase that vague feeling of uneasiness which I +always have when the Count is near. But at the instant I saw that the +cut had bled a little, and the blood was trickling over my chin. I +laid down the razor, turning as I did so half round to look for some +sticking plaster. When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a +sort of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I +drew away and his hand touched the string of beads which held the +crucifix. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed so +quickly that I could hardly believe that it was ever there. + +"Take care," he said, "take care how you cut yourself. It is more +dangerous that you think in this country." Then seizing the shaving +glass, he went on, "And this is the wretched thing that has done the +mischief. It is a foul bauble of man's vanity. Away with it!" And +opening the window with one wrench of his terrible hand, he flung out +the glass, which was shattered into a thousand pieces on the stones of +the courtyard far below. Then he withdrew without a word. It is very +annoying, for I do not see how I am to shave, unless in my watch-case +or the bottom of the shaving pot, which is fortunately of metal. + +When I went into the dining room, breakfast was prepared, but I could +not find the Count anywhere. So I breakfasted alone. It is strange +that as yet I have not seen the Count eat or drink. He must be a very +peculiar man! After breakfast I did a little exploring in the +castle. I went out on the stairs, and found a room looking towards +the South. + +The view was magnificent, and from where I stood there was every +opportunity of seeing it. The castle is on the very edge of a +terrific precipice. A stone falling from the window would fall a +thousand feet without touching anything! As far as the eye can reach +is a sea of green tree tops, with occasionally a deep rift where there +is a chasm. Here and there are silver threads where the rivers wind +in deep gorges through the forests. + +But I am not in heart to describe beauty, for when I had seen the view +I explored further. Doors, doors, doors everywhere, and all locked +and bolted. In no place save from the windows in the castle walls is +there an available exit. The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a +prisoner! + + + + +CHAPTER 3 + + +Jonathan Harker's Journal Continued + +When I found that I was a prisoner a sort of wild feeling came over +me. I rushed up and down the stairs, trying every door and peering +out of every window I could find, but after a little the conviction of +my helplessness overpowered all other feelings. When I look back +after a few hours I think I must have been mad for the time, for I +behaved much as a rat does in a trap. When, however, the conviction +had come to me that I was helpless I sat down quietly, as quietly as I +have ever done anything in my life, and began to think over what was +best to be done. I am thinking still, and as yet have come to no +definite conclusion. Of one thing only am I certain. That it is no +use making my ideas known to the Count. He knows well that I am +imprisoned, and as he has done it himself, and has doubtless his own +motives for it, he would only deceive me if I trusted him fully with +the facts. So far as I can see, my only plan will be to keep my +knowledge and my fears to myself, and my eyes open. I am, I know, +either being deceived, like a baby, by my own fears, or else I am in +desperate straits, and if the latter be so, I need, and shall need, +all my brains to get through. + +I had hardly come to this conclusion when I heard the great door below +shut, and knew that the Count had returned. He did not come at once +into the library, so I went cautiously to my own room and found him +making the bed. This was odd, but only confirmed what I had all along +thought, that there are no servants in the house. When later I saw +him through the chink of the hinges of the door laying the table in +the dining room, I was assured of it. For if he does himself all +these menial offices, surely it is proof that there is no one else in +the castle, it must have been the Count himself who was the driver of +the coach that brought me here. This is a terrible thought, for if +so, what does it mean that he could control the wolves, as he did, by +only holding up his hand for silence? How was it that all the people +at Bistritz and on the coach had some terrible fear for me? What +meant the giving of the crucifix, of the garlic, of the wild rose, of +the mountain ash? + +Bless that good, good woman who hung the crucifix round my neck! For +it is a comfort and a strength to me whenever I touch it. It is odd +that a thing which I have been taught to regard with disfavour and as +idolatrous should in a time of loneliness and trouble be of help. Is +it that there is something in the essence of the thing itself, or that +it is a medium, a tangible help, in conveying memories of sympathy and +comfort? Some time, if it may be, I must examine this matter and try +to make up my mind about it. In the meantime I must find out all I +can about Count Dracula, as it may help me to understand. Tonight he +may talk of himself, if I turn the conversation that way. I must be +very careful, however, not to awake his suspicion. + + +Midnight.--I have had a long talk with the Count. I asked him a few +questions on Transylvania history, and he warmed up to the subject +wonderfully. In his speaking of things and people, and especially of +battles, he spoke as if he had been present at them all. This he +afterwards explained by saying that to a Boyar the pride of his house +and name is his own pride, that their glory is his glory, that their +fate is his fate. Whenever he spoke of his house he always said "we", +and spoke almost in the plural, like a king speaking. I wish I could +put down all he said exactly as he said it, for to me it was most +fascinating. It seemed to have in it a whole history of the country. +He grew excited as he spoke, and walked about the room pulling his +great white moustache and grasping anything on which he laid his hands +as though he would crush it by main strength. One thing he said which +I shall put down as nearly as I can, for it tells in its way the story +of his race. + +"We Szekelys have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the +blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights, for lordship. +Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down +from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Wodin gave them, which +their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of +Europe, aye, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that +the werewolves themselves had come. Here, too, when they came, they +found the Huns, whose warlike fury had swept the earth like a living +flame, till the dying peoples held that in their veins ran the blood +of those old witches, who, expelled from Scythia had mated with the +devils in the desert. Fools, fools! What devil or what witch was +ever so great as Attila, whose blood is in these veins?" He held up +his arms. "Is it a wonder that we were a conquering race, that we +were proud, that when the Magyar, the Lombard, the Avar, the Bulgar, +or the Turk poured his thousands on our frontiers, we drove them back? +Is it strange that when Arpad and his legions swept through the +Hungarian fatherland he found us here when he reached the frontier, +that the Honfoglalas was completed there? And when the Hungarian +flood swept eastward, the Szekelys were claimed as kindred by the +victorious Magyars, and to us for centuries was trusted the guarding +of the frontier of Turkeyland. Aye, and more than that, endless duty +of the frontier guard, for as the Turks say, 'water sleeps, and the +enemy is sleepless.' Who more gladly than we throughout the Four +Nations received the 'bloody sword,' or at its warlike call flocked +quicker to the standard of the King? When was redeemed that great +shame of my nation, the shame of Cassova, when the flags of the +Wallach and the Magyar went down beneath the Crescent? Who was it but +one of my own race who as Voivode crossed the Danube and beat the Turk +on his own ground? This was a Dracula indeed! Woe was it that his +own unworthy brother, when he had fallen, sold his people to the Turk +and brought the shame of slavery on them! Was it not this Dracula, +indeed, who inspired that other of his race who in a later age again +and again brought his forces over the great river into Turkeyland, +who, when he was beaten back, came again, and again, though he had to +come alone from the bloody field where his troops were being +slaughtered, since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph! +They said that he thought only of himself. Bah! What good are +peasants without a leader? Where ends the war without a brain and +heart to conduct it? Again, when, after the battle of Mohacs, we +threw off the Hungarian yoke, we of the Dracula blood were amongst +their leaders, for our spirit would not brook that we were not free. +Ah, young sir, the Szekelys, and the Dracula as their heart's blood, +their brains, and their swords, can boast a record that mushroom +growths like the Hapsburgs and the Romanoffs can never reach. The +warlike days are over. Blood is too precious a thing in these days of +dishonourable peace, and the glories of the great races are as a tale +that is told." + +It was by this time close on morning, and we went to bed. (Mem., this +diary seems horribly like the beginning of the "Arabian Nights," for +everything has to break off at cockcrow, or like the ghost of Hamlet's +father.) + + +12 May.--Let me begin with facts, bare, meager facts, verified by +books and figures, and of which there can be no doubt. I must not +confuse them with experiences which will have to rest on my own +observation, or my memory of them. Last evening when the Count came +from his room he began by asking me questions on legal matters and on +the doing of certain kinds of business. I had spent the day wearily +over books, and, simply to keep my mind occupied, went over some of +the matters I had been examined in at Lincoln's Inn. There was a +certain method in the Count's inquiries, so I shall try to put them +down in sequence. The knowledge may somehow or some time be useful to +me. + +First, he asked if a man in England might have two solicitors or more. +I told him he might have a dozen if he wished, but that it would not +be wise to have more than one solicitor engaged in one transaction, as +only one could act at a time, and that to change would be certain to +militate against his interest. He seemed thoroughly to understand, +and went on to ask if there would be any practical difficulty in having +one man to attend, say, to banking, and another to look after +shipping, in case local help were needed in a place far from the home +of the banking solicitor. I asked to explain more fully, so that I +might not by any chance mislead him, so he said, + +"I shall illustrate. Your friend and mine, Mr. Peter Hawkins, from +under the shadow of your beautiful cathedral at Exeter, which is far +from London, buys for me through your good self my place at London. +Good! Now here let me say frankly, lest you should think it strange +that I have sought the services of one so far off from London instead +of some one resident there, that my motive was that no local interest +might be served save my wish only, and as one of London residence +might, perhaps, have some purpose of himself or friend to serve, I +went thus afield to seek my agent, whose labours should be only to my +interest. Now, suppose I, who have much of affairs, wish to ship +goods, say, to Newcastle, or Durham, or Harwich, or Dover, might it +not be that it could with more ease be done by consigning to one in +these ports?" + +I answered that certainly it would be most easy, but that we +solicitors had a system of agency one for the other, so that local +work could be done locally on instruction from any solicitor, so that +the client, simply placing himself in the hands of one man, could have +his wishes carried out by him without further trouble. + +"But," said he, "I could be at liberty to direct myself. Is it not +so?" + +"Of course," I replied, and "Such is often done by men of business, +who do not like the whole of their affairs to be known by any one +person." + +"Good!" he said, and then went on to ask about the means of making +consignments and the forms to be gone through, and of all sorts of +difficulties which might arise, but by forethought could be guarded +against. I explained all these things to him to the best of my +ability, and he certainly left me under the impression that he would +have made a wonderful solicitor, for there was nothing that he did not +think of or foresee. For a man who was never in the country, and who +did not evidently do much in the way of business, his knowledge and +acumen were wonderful. When he had satisfied himself on these points +of which he had spoken, and I had verified all as well as I could by +the books available, he suddenly stood up and said, "Have you written +since your first letter to our friend Mr. Peter Hawkins, or to any +other?" + +It was with some bitterness in my heart that I answered that I had +not, that as yet I had not seen any opportunity of sending letters to +anybody. + +"Then write now, my young friend," he said, laying a heavy hand on my +shoulder, "write to our friend and to any other, and say, if it will +please you, that you shall stay with me until a month from now." + +"Do you wish me to stay so long?" I asked, for my heart grew cold at +the thought. + +"I desire it much, nay I will take no refusal. When your master, +employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his +behalf, it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted. I +have not stinted. Is it not so?" + +What could I do but bow acceptance? It was Mr. Hawkins' interest, not +mine, and I had to think of him, not myself, and besides, while Count +Dracula was speaking, there was that in his eyes and in his bearing +which made me remember that I was a prisoner, and that if I wished it +I could have no choice. The Count saw his victory in my bow, and his +mastery in the trouble of my face, for he began at once to use them, +but in his own smooth, resistless way. + +"I pray you, my good young friend, that you will not discourse of +things other than business in your letters. It will doubtless please +your friends to know that you are well, and that you look forward to +getting home to them. Is it not so?" As he spoke he handed me three +sheets of note paper and three envelopes. They were all of the +thinnest foreign post, and looking at them, then at him, and noticing +his quiet smile, with the sharp, canine teeth lying over the red +underlip, I understood as well as if he had spoken that I should be +more careful what I wrote, for he would be able to read it. So I +determined to write only formal notes now, but to write fully to Mr. +Hawkins in secret, and also to Mina, for to her I could write +shorthand, which would puzzle the Count, if he did see it. When I had +written my two letters I sat quiet, reading a book whilst the Count +wrote several notes, referring as he wrote them to some books on his +table. Then he took up my two and placed them with his own, and put +by his writing materials, after which, the instant the door had closed +behind him, I leaned over and looked at the letters, which were face +down on the table. I felt no compunction in doing so for under the +circumstances I felt that I should protect myself in every way I +could. + +One of the letters was directed to Samuel F. Billington, No. 7, The +Crescent, Whitby, another to Herr Leutner, Varna. The third was to +Coutts & Co., London, and the fourth to Herren Klopstock & Billreuth, +bankers, Buda Pesth. The second and fourth were unsealed. I was just +about to look at them when I saw the door handle move. I sank back in +my seat, having just had time to resume my book before the Count, +holding still another letter in his hand, entered the room. He took +up the letters on the table and stamped them carefully, and then +turning to me, said, + +"I trust you will forgive me, but I have much work to do in private +this evening. You will, I hope, find all things as you wish." At the +door he turned, and after a moment's pause said, "Let me advise you, +my dear young friend. Nay, let me warn you with all seriousness, that +should you leave these rooms you will not by any chance go to sleep in +any other part of the castle. It is old, and has many memories, and +there are bad dreams for those who sleep unwisely. Be warned! Should +sleep now or ever overcome you, or be like to do, then haste to your +own chamber or to these rooms, for your rest will then be safe. But +if you be not careful in this respect, then," He finished his speech +in a gruesome way, for he motioned with his hands as if he were washing +them. I quite understood. My only doubt was as to whether any dream +could be more terrible than the unnatural, horrible net of gloom and +mystery which seemed closing around me. + + +Later.--I endorse the last words written, but this time there is no +doubt in question. I shall not fear to sleep in any place where he is +not. I have placed the crucifix over the head of my bed, I imagine +that my rest is thus freer from dreams, and there it shall remain. + +When he left me I went to my room. After a little while, not hearing +any sound, I came out and went up the stone stair to where I could +look out towards the South. There was some sense of freedom in the +vast expanse, inaccessible though it was to me, as compared with the +narrow darkness of the courtyard. Looking out on this, I felt that I +was indeed in prison, and I seemed to want a breath of fresh air, +though it were of the night. I am beginning to feel this nocturnal +existence tell on me. It is destroying my nerve. I start at my own +shadow, and am full of all sorts of horrible imaginings. God knows +that there is ground for my terrible fear in this accursed place! I +looked out over the beautiful expanse, bathed in soft yellow moonlight +till it was almost as light as day. In the soft light the distant +hills became melted, and the shadows in the valleys and gorges of +velvety blackness. The mere beauty seemed to cheer me. There was +peace and comfort in every breath I drew. As I leaned from the window +my eye was caught by something moving a storey below me, and somewhat +to my left, where I imagined, from the order of the rooms, that the +windows of the Count's own room would look out. The window at which I +stood was tall and deep, stone-mullioned, and though weatherworn, was +still complete. But it was evidently many a day since the case had +been there. I drew back behind the stonework, and looked carefully +out. + +What I saw was the Count's head coming out from the window. I did not +see the face, but I knew the man by the neck and the movement of his +back and arms. In any case I could not mistake the hands which I had +had some many opportunities of studying. I was at first interested +and somewhat amused, for it is wonderful how small a matter will +interest and amuse a man when he is a prisoner. But my very feelings +changed to repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge +from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over the +dreadful abyss, face down with his cloak spreading out around him like +great wings. At first I could not believe my eyes. I thought it was +some trick of the moonlight, some weird effect of shadow, but I kept +looking, and it could be no delusion. I saw the fingers and toes +grasp the corners of the stones, worn clear of the mortar by the +stress of years, and by thus using every projection and inequality +move downwards with considerable speed, just as a lizard moves along a +wall. + +What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature, is it in the +semblance of man? I feel the dread of this horrible place +overpowering me. I am in fear, in awful fear, and there is no escape +for me. I am encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of. + + +15 May.--Once more I have seen the count go out in his lizard fashion. +He moved downwards in a sidelong way, some hundred feet down, and a +good deal to the left. He vanished into some hole or window. When +his head had disappeared, I leaned out to try and see more, but +without avail. The distance was too great to allow a proper angle of +sight. I knew he had left the castle now, and thought to use the +opportunity to explore more than I had dared to do as yet. I went +back to the room, and taking a lamp, tried all the doors. They were +all locked, as I had expected, and the locks were comparatively new. +But I went down the stone stairs to the hall where I had entered +originally. I found I could pull back the bolts easily enough and +unhook the great chains. But the door was locked, and the key was +gone! That key must be in the Count's room. I must watch should his +door be unlocked, so that I may get it and escape. I went on to make +a thorough examination of the various stairs and passages, and to try +the doors that opened from them. One or two small rooms near the hall +were open, but there was nothing to see in them except old furniture, +dusty with age and moth-eaten. At last, however, I found one door at +the top of the stairway which, though it seemed locked, gave a little +under pressure. I tried it harder, and found that it was not really +locked, but that the resistance came from the fact that the hinges had +fallen somewhat, and the heavy door rested on the floor. Here was an +opportunity which I might not have again, so I exerted myself, and +with many efforts forced it back so that I could enter. I was now in +a wing of the castle further to the right than the rooms I knew and a +storey lower down. From the windows I could see that the suite of +rooms lay along to the south of the castle, the windows of the end +room looking out both west and south. On the latter side, as well as +to the former, there was a great precipice. The castle was built on +the corner of a great rock, so that on three sides it was quite +impregnable, and great windows were placed here where sling, or bow, +or culverin could not reach, and consequently light and comfort, +impossible to a position which had to be guarded, were secured. To +the west was a great valley, and then, rising far away, great jagged +mountain fastnesses, rising peak on peak, the sheer rock studded with +mountain ash and thorn, whose roots clung in cracks and crevices and +crannies of the stone. This was evidently the portion of the castle +occupied by the ladies in bygone days, for the furniture had more an +air of comfort than any I had seen. + +The windows were curtainless, and the yellow moonlight, flooding in +through the diamond panes, enabled one to see even colours, whilst it +softened the wealth of dust which lay over all and disguised in some +measure the ravages of time and moth. My lamp seemed to be of little +effect in the brilliant moonlight, but I was glad to have it with me, +for there was a dread loneliness in the place which chilled my heart +and made my nerves tremble. Still, it was better than living alone in +the rooms which I had come to hate from the presence of the Count, and +after trying a little to school my nerves, I found a soft quietude +come over me. Here I am, sitting at a little oak table where in old +times possibly some fair lady sat to pen, with much thought and many +blushes, her ill-spelt love letter, and writing in my diary in +shorthand all that has happened since I closed it last. It is the +nineteenth century up-to-date with a vengeance. And yet, unless my +senses deceive me, the old centuries had, and have, powers of their +own which mere "modernity" cannot kill. + + +Later: The morning of 16 May.--God preserve my sanity, for to this I +am reduced. Safety and the assurance of safety are things of the +past. Whilst I live on here there is but one thing to hope for, that +I may not go mad, if, indeed, I be not mad already. If I be sane, +then surely it is maddening to think that of all the foul things that +lurk in this hateful place the Count is the least dreadful to me, that +to him alone I can look for safety, even though this be only whilst I +can serve his purpose. Great God! Merciful God, let me be calm, for +out of that way lies madness indeed. I begin to get new lights on +certain things which have puzzled me. Up to now I never quite knew +what Shakespeare meant when he made Hamlet say, "My tablets! Quick, +my tablets! 'tis meet that I put it down," etc., For now, feeling as +though my own brain were unhinged or as if the shock had come which +must end in its undoing, I turn to my diary for repose. The habit of +entering accurately must help to soothe me. + +The Count's mysterious warning frightened me at the time. It frightens +me more now when I think of it, for in the future he has a fearful +hold upon me. I shall fear to doubt what he may say! + +When I had written in my diary and had fortunately replaced the book +and pen in my pocket I felt sleepy. The Count's warning came into my +mind, but I took pleasure in disobeying it. The sense of sleep was +upon me, and with it the obstinacy which sleep brings as outrider. The +soft moonlight soothed, and the wide expanse without gave a sense of +freedom which refreshed me. I determined not to return tonight to the +gloom-haunted rooms, but to sleep here, where, of old, ladies had sat +and sung and lived sweet lives whilst their gentle breasts were sad +for their menfolk away in the midst of remorseless wars. I drew a +great couch out of its place near the corner, so that as I lay, I +could look at the lovely view to east and south, and unthinking of and +uncaring for the dust, composed myself for sleep. I suppose I must +have fallen asleep. I hope so, but I fear, for all that followed was +startlingly real, so real that now sitting here in the broad, full +sunlight of the morning, I cannot in the least believe that it was all +sleep. + +I was not alone. The room was the same, unchanged in any way since I +came into it. I could see along the floor, in the brilliant +moonlight, my own footsteps marked where I had disturbed the long +accumulation of dust. In the moonlight opposite me were three young +women, ladies by their dress and manner. I thought at the time that I +must be dreaming when I saw them, they threw no shadow on the floor. +They came close to me, and looked at me for some time, and then +whispered together. Two were dark, and had high aquiline noses, like +the Count, and great dark, piercing eyes, that seemed to be almost red +when contrasted with the pale yellow moon. The other was fair, as +fair as can be, with great masses of golden hair and eyes like pale +sapphires. I seemed somehow to know her face, and to know it in +connection with some dreamy fear, but I could not recollect at the +moment how or where. All three had brilliant white teeth that shone +like pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips. There was +something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same +time some deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked, burning desire +that they would kiss me with those red lips. It is not good to note +this down, lest some day it should meet Mina's eyes and cause her +pain, but it is the truth. They whispered together, and then they all +three laughed, such a silvery, musical laugh, but as hard as though +the sound never could have come through the softness of human lips. +It was like the intolerable, tingling sweetness of water-glasses when +played on by a cunning hand. The fair girl shook her head +coquettishly, and the other two urged her on. + +One said, "Go on! You are first, and we shall follow. Yours is the +right to begin." + +The other added, "He is young and strong. There are kisses for us +all." + +I lay quiet, looking out from under my eyelashes in an agony of +delightful anticipation. The fair girl advanced and bent over me till +I could feel the movement of her breath upon me. Sweet it was in one +sense, honey-sweet, and sent the same tingling through the nerves as +her voice, but with a bitter underlying the sweet, a bitter +offensiveness, as one smells in blood. + +I was afraid to raise my eyelids, but looked out and saw perfectly +under the lashes. The girl went on her knees, and bent over me, +simply gloating. There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both +thrilling and repulsive, and as she arched her neck she actually +licked her lips like an animal, till I could see in the moonlight the +moisture shining on the scarlet lips and on the red tongue as it +lapped the white sharp teeth. Lower and lower went her head as the +lips went below the range of my mouth and chin and seemed to fasten on +my throat. Then she paused, and I could hear the churning sound of +her tongue as it licked her teeth and lips, and I could feel the hot +breath on my neck. Then the skin of my throat began to tingle as +one's flesh does when the hand that is to tickle it approaches nearer, +nearer. I could feel the soft, shivering touch of the lips on the +super-sensitive skin of my throat, and the hard dents of two sharp +teeth, just touching and pausing there. I closed my eyes in +languorous ecstasy and waited, waited with beating heart. + +But at that instant, another sensation swept through me as quick as +lightning. I was conscious of the presence of the Count, and of his +being as if lapped in a storm of fury. As my eyes opened +involuntarily I saw his strong hand grasp the slender neck of the fair +woman and with giant's power draw it back, the blue eyes transformed +with fury, the white teeth champing with rage, and the fair cheeks +blazing red with passion. But the Count! Never did I imagine such +wrath and fury, even to the demons of the pit. His eyes were +positively blazing. The red light in them was lurid, as if the flames +of hell fire blazed behind them. His face was deathly pale, and the +lines of it were hard like drawn wires. The thick eyebrows that met +over the nose now seemed like a heaving bar of white-hot metal. With +a fierce sweep of his arm, he hurled the woman from him, and then +motioned to the others, as though he were beating them back. It was +the same imperious gesture that I had seen used to the wolves. In a +voice which, though low and almost in a whisper seemed to cut through +the air and then ring in the room he said, + +"How dare you touch him, any of you? How dare you cast eyes on him +when I had forbidden it? Back, I tell you all! This man belongs to +me! Beware how you meddle with him, or you'll have to deal with me." + +The fair girl, with a laugh of ribald coquetry, turned to answer him. +"You yourself never loved. You never love!" On this the other women +joined, and such a mirthless, hard, soulless laughter rang through the +room that it almost made me faint to hear. It seemed like the +pleasure of fiends. + +Then the Count turned, after looking at my face attentively, and said +in a soft whisper, "Yes, I too can love. You yourselves can tell it +from the past. Is it not so? Well, now I promise you that when I am +done with him you shall kiss him at your will. Now go! Go! I must +awaken him, for there is work to be done." + +"Are we to have nothing tonight?" said one of them, with a low laugh, +as she pointed to the bag which he had thrown upon the floor, and +which moved as though there were some living thing within it. For +answer he nodded his head. One of the women jumped forward and opened +it. If my ears did not deceive me there was a gasp and a low wail, as +of a half smothered child. The women closed round, whilst I was +aghast with horror. But as I looked, they disappeared, and with them +the dreadful bag. There was no door near them, and they could not +have passed me without my noticing. They simply seemed to fade into +the rays of the moonlight and pass out through the window, for I could +see outside the dim, shadowy forms for a moment before they entirely +faded away. + +Then the horror overcame me, and I sank down unconscious. + + + + +CHAPTER 4 + + +Jonathan Harker's Journal Continued + +I awoke in my own bed. If it be that I had not dreamt, the Count must +have carried me here. I tried to satisfy myself on the subject, but +could not arrive at any unquestionable result. To be sure, there were +certain small evidences, such as that my clothes were folded and laid +by in a manner which was not my habit. My watch was still unwound, +and I am rigorously accustomed to wind it the last thing before going +to bed, and many such details. But these things are no proof, for +they may have been evidences that my mind was not as usual, and, for +some cause or another, I had certainly been much upset. I must watch +for proof. Of one thing I am glad. If it was that the Count carried +me here and undressed me, he must have been hurried in his task, for +my pockets are intact. I am sure this diary would have been a mystery +to him which he would not have brooked. He would have taken or +destroyed it. As I look round this room, although it has been to me +so full of fear, it is now a sort of sanctuary, for nothing can be +more dreadful than those awful women, who were, who are, waiting to +suck my blood. + + +18 May.--I have been down to look at that room again in daylight, for +I must know the truth. When I got to the doorway at the top of the +stairs I found it closed. It had been so forcibly driven against the +jamb that part of the woodwork was splintered. I could see that the +bolt of the lock had not been shot, but the door is fastened from the +inside. I fear it was no dream, and must act on this surmise. + + +19 May.--I am surely in the toils. Last night the Count asked me in +the suavest tones to write three letters, one saying that my work here +was nearly done, and that I should start for home within a few days, +another that I was starting on the next morning from the time of the +letter, and the third that I had left the castle and arrived at +Bistritz. I would fain have rebelled, but felt that in the present +state of things it would be madness to quarrel openly with the Count +whilst I am so absolutely in his power. And to refuse would be to +excite his suspicion and to arouse his anger. He knows that I know +too much, and that I must not live, lest I be dangerous to him. My +only chance is to prolong my opportunities. Something may occur which +will give me a chance to escape. I saw in his eyes something of that +gathering wrath which was manifest when he hurled that fair woman from +him. He explained to me that posts were few and uncertain, and that +my writing now would ensure ease of mind to my friends. And he +assured me with so much impressiveness that he would countermand the +later letters, which would be held over at Bistritz until due time in +case chance would admit of my prolonging my stay, that to oppose him +would have been to create new suspicion. I therefore pretended to +fall in with his views, and asked him what dates I should put on the +letters. + +He calculated a minute, and then said, "The first should be June 12, +the second June 19, and the third June 29." + +I know now the span of my life. God help me! + + +28 May.--There is a chance of escape, or at any rate of being able to +send word home. A band of Szgany have come to the castle, and are +encamped in the courtyard. These are gipsies. I have notes of them +in my book. They are peculiar to this part of the world, though +allied to the ordinary gipsies all the world over. There are +thousands of them in Hungary and Transylvania, who are almost outside +all law. They attach themselves as a rule to some great noble or +boyar, and call themselves by his name. They are fearless and without +religion, save superstition, and they talk only their own varieties of +the Romany tongue. + +I shall write some letters home, and shall try to get them to have +them posted. I have already spoken to them through my window to begin +acquaintanceship. They took their hats off and made obeisance and +many signs, which however, I could not understand any more than I +could their spoken language . . . + +I have written the letters. Mina's is in shorthand, and I simply ask +Mr. Hawkins to communicate with her. To her I have explained my +situation, but without the horrors which I may only surmise. It would +shock and frighten her to death were I to expose my heart to her. +Should the letters not carry, then the Count shall not yet know my +secret or the extent of my knowledge. . . . + + +I have given the letters. I threw them through the bars of my window +with a gold piece, and made what signs I could to have them posted. +The man who took them pressed them to his heart and bowed, and then +put them in his cap. I could do no more. I stole back to the study, +and began to read. As the Count did not come in, I have written +here . . . + + +The Count has come. He sat down beside me, and said in his smoothest +voice as he opened two letters, "The Szgany has given me these, of +which, though I know not whence they come, I shall, of course, take +care. See!"--He must have looked at it.--"One is from you, and to my +friend Peter Hawkins. The other,"--here he caught sight of the +strange symbols as he opened the envelope, and the dark look came into +his face, and his eyes blazed wickedly,--"The other is a vile thing, +an outrage upon friendship and hospitality! It is not signed. Well! +So it cannot matter to us." And he calmly held letter and envelope in +the flame of the lamp till they were consumed. + +Then he went on, "The letter to Hawkins, that I shall, of course send +on, since it is yours. Your letters are sacred to me. Your pardon, +my friend, that unknowingly I did break the seal. Will you not cover +it again?" He held out the letter to me, and with a courteous bow +handed me a clean envelope. + +I could only redirect it and hand it to him in silence. When he went +out of the room I could hear the key turn softly. A minute later I +went over and tried it, and the door was locked. + +When, an hour or two after, the Count came quietly into the room, his +coming awakened me, for I had gone to sleep on the sofa. He was very +courteous and very cheery in his manner, and seeing that I had been +sleeping, he said, "So, my friend, you are tired? Get to bed. There +is the surest rest. I may not have the pleasure of talk tonight, +since there are many labours to me, but you will sleep, I pray." + +I passed to my room and went to bed, and, strange to say, slept +without dreaming. Despair has its own calms. + +31 May.--This morning when I woke I thought I would provide myself +with some papers and envelopes from my bag and keep them in my pocket, +so that I might write in case I should get an opportunity, but again a +surprise, again a shock! + +Every scrap of paper was gone, and with it all my notes, my memoranda, +relating to railways and travel, my letter of credit, in fact all that +might be useful to me were I once outside the castle. I sat and +pondered awhile, and then some thought occurred to me, and I made +search of my portmanteau and in the wardrobe where I had placed my +clothes. + +The suit in which I had travelled was gone, and also my overcoat and +rug. I could find no trace of them anywhere. This looked like some +new scheme of villainy . . . + + +17 June.--This morning, as I was sitting on the edge of my bed +cudgelling my brains, I heard without a crackling of whips and +pounding and scraping of horses' feet up the rocky path beyond the +courtyard. With joy I hurried to the window, and saw drive into the +yard two great leiter-wagons, each drawn by eight sturdy horses, and +at the head of each pair a Slovak, with his wide hat, great +nail-studded belt, dirty sheepskin, and high boots. They had also +their long staves in hand. I ran to the door, intending to descend +and try and join them through the main hall, as I thought that way +might be opened for them. Again a shock, my door was fastened on the +outside. + +Then I ran to the window and cried to them. They looked up at me +stupidly and pointed, but just then the "hetman" of the Szgany came +out, and seeing them pointing to my window, said something, at which +they laughed. + +Henceforth no effort of mine, no piteous cry or agonized entreaty, +would make them even look at me. They resolutely turned away. The +leiter-wagons contained great, square boxes, with handles of thick +rope. These were evidently empty by the ease with which the Slovaks +handled them, and by their resonance as they were roughly moved. + +When they were all unloaded and packed in a great heap in one corner +of the yard, the Slovaks were given some money by the Szgany, and +spitting on it for luck, lazily went each to his horse's head. +Shortly afterwards, I heard the cracking of their whips die away in +the distance. + + +24 June.--Last night the Count left me early, and locked himself into +his own room. As soon as I dared I ran up the winding stair, and +looked out of the window, which opened South. I thought I would watch +for the Count, for there is something going on. The Szgany are +quartered somewhere in the castle and are doing work of some kind. I +know it, for now and then, I hear a far-away muffled sound as of +mattock and spade, and, whatever it is, it must be the end of some +ruthless villainy. + +I had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour, when I saw +something coming out of the Count's window. I drew back and watched +carefully, and saw the whole man emerge. It was a new shock to me to +find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst +travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I +had seen the women take away. There could be no doubt as to his +quest, and in my garb, too! This, then, is his new scheme of evil, +that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may +both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages +posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall +by the local people be attributed to me. + +It makes me rage to think that this can go on, and whilst I am shut up +here, a veritable prisoner, but without that protection of the law +which is even a criminal's right and consolation. + +I thought I would watch for the Count's return, and for a long time +sat doggedly at the window. Then I began to notice that there were +some quaint little specks floating in the rays of the moonlight. They +were like the tiniest grains of dust, and they whirled round and +gathered in clusters in a nebulous sort of way. I watched them with a +sense of soothing, and a sort of calm stole over me. I leaned back in +the embrasure in a more comfortable position, so that I could enjoy +more fully the aerial gambolling. + +Something made me start up, a low, piteous howling of dogs somewhere +far below in the valley, which was hidden from my sight. Louder it +seemed to ring in my ears, and the floating moats of dust to take new +shapes to the sound as they danced in the moonlight. I felt myself +struggling to awake to some call of my instincts. Nay, my very soul +was struggling, and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to +answer the call. I was becoming hypnotised! + +Quicker and quicker danced the dust. The moonbeams seemed to quiver +as they went by me into the mass of gloom beyond. More and more they +gathered till they seemed to take dim phantom shapes. And then I +started, broad awake and in full possession of my senses, and ran +screaming from the place. + +The phantom shapes, which were becoming gradually materialised from +the moonbeams, were those three ghostly women to whom I was doomed. + +I fled, and felt somewhat safer in my own room, where there was no +moonlight, and where the lamp was burning brightly. + +When a couple of hours had passed I heard something stirring in the +Count's room, something like a sharp wail quickly suppressed. And +then there was silence, deep, awful silence, which chilled me. With a +beating heart, I tried the door, but I was locked in my prison, and +could do nothing. I sat down and simply cried. + +As I sat I heard a sound in the courtyard without, the agonised cry of +a woman. I rushed to the window, and throwing it up, peered between +the bars. + +There, indeed, was a woman with dishevelled hair, holding her hands +over her heart as one distressed with running. She was leaning +against the corner of the gateway. When she saw my face at the window +she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace, +"Monster, give me my child!" + +She threw herself on her knees, and raising up her hands, cried the +same words in tones which wrung my heart. Then she tore her hair and +beat her breast, and abandoned herself to all the violences of +extravagant emotion. Finally, she threw herself forward, and though I +could not see her, I could hear the beating of her naked hands against +the door. + +Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of +the Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to +be answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves. Before many +minutes had passed a pack of them poured, like a pent-up dam when +liberated, through the wide entrance into the courtyard. + +There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but +short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips. + +I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and +she was better dead. + +What shall I do? What can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful +thing of night, gloom, and fear? + + +25 June.--No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet +and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be. When the sun grew +so high this morning that it struck the top of the great gateway +opposite my window, the high spot which it touched seemed to me as if +the dove from the ark had lighted there. My fear fell from me as if +it had been a vaporous garment which dissolved in the warmth. + +I must take action of some sort whilst the courage of the day is upon +me. Last night one of my post-dated letters went to post, the first +of that fatal series which is to blot out the very traces of my +existence from the earth. + +Let me not think of it. Action! + +It has always been at night-time that I have been molested or +threatened, or in some way in danger or in fear. I have not yet seen +the Count in the daylight. Can it be that he sleeps when others wake, +that he may be awake whilst they sleep? If I could only get into his +room! But there is no possible way. The door is always locked, no +way for me. + +Yes, there is a way, if one dares to take it. Where his body has gone +why may not another body go? I have seen him myself crawl from his +window. Why should not I imitate him, and go in by his window? The +chances are desperate, but my need is more desperate still. I shall +risk it. At the worst it can only be death, and a man's death is not +a calf's, and the dreaded Hereafter may still be open to me. God help +me in my task! Goodbye, Mina, if I fail. Goodbye, my faithful friend +and second father. Goodbye, all, and last of all Mina! + + +Same day, later.--I have made the effort, and God helping me, have +come safely back to this room. I must put down every detail in order. +I went whilst my courage was fresh straight to the window on the south +side, and at once got outside on this side. The stones are big and +roughly cut, and the mortar has by process of time been washed away +between them. I took off my boots, and ventured out on the desperate +way. I looked down once, so as to make sure that a sudden glimpse of +the awful depth would not overcome me, but after that kept my eyes +away from it. I know pretty well the direction and distance of the +Count's window, and made for it as well as I could, having regard to +the opportunities available. I did not feel dizzy, I suppose I was +too excited, and the time seemed ridiculously short till I found +myself standing on the window sill and trying to raise up the sash. I +was filled with agitation, however, when I bent down and slid feet +foremost in through the window. Then I looked around for the Count, +but with surprise and gladness, made a discovery. The room was +empty! It was barely furnished with odd things, which seemed to have +never been used. + +The furniture was something the same style as that in the south rooms, +and was covered with dust. I looked for the key, but it was not in +the lock, and I could not find it anywhere. The only thing I found +was a great heap of gold in one corner, gold of all kinds, Roman, and +British, and Austrian, and Hungarian, and Greek and Turkish money, +covered with a film of dust, as though it had lain long in the ground. +None of it that I noticed was less than three hundred years old. +There were also chains and ornaments, some jewelled, but all of them +old and stained. + +At one corner of the room was a heavy door. I tried it, for, since I +could not find the key of the room or the key of the outer door, which +was the main object of my search, I must make further examination, or +all my efforts would be in vain. It was open, and led through a stone +passage to a circular stairway, which went steeply down. + +I descended, minding carefully where I went for the stairs were dark, +being only lit by loopholes in the heavy masonry. At the bottom there +was a dark, tunnel-like passage, through which came a deathly, sickly +odour, the odour of old earth newly turned. As I went through the +passage the smell grew closer and heavier. At last I pulled open a +heavy door which stood ajar, and found myself in an old ruined chapel, +which had evidently been used as a graveyard. The roof was broken, +and in two places were steps leading to vaults, but the ground had +recently been dug over, and the earth placed in great wooden boxes, +manifestly those which had been brought by the Slovaks. + +There was nobody about, and I made a search over every inch of the +ground, so as not to lose a chance. I went down even into the vaults, +where the dim light struggled, although to do so was a dread to my +very soul. Into two of these I went, but saw nothing except fragments +of old coffins and piles of dust. In the third, however, I made a +discovery. + +There, in one of the great boxes, of which there were fifty in all, on +a pile of newly dug earth, lay the Count! He was either dead or +asleep. I could not say which, for eyes were open and stony, but +without the glassiness of death, and the cheeks had the warmth of life +through all their pallor. The lips were as red as ever. But there +was no sign of movement, no pulse, no breath, no beating of the heart. + +I bent over him, and tried to find any sign of life, but in vain. He +could not have lain there long, for the earthy smell would have passed +away in a few hours. By the side of the box was its cover, pierced +with holes here and there. I thought he might have the keys on him, +but when I went to search I saw the dead eyes, and in them dead though +they were, such a look of hate, though unconscious of me or my +presence, that I fled from the place, and leaving the Count's room by +the window, crawled again up the castle wall. Regaining my room, I +threw myself panting upon the bed and tried to think. + + +29 June.--Today is the date of my last letter, and the Count has taken +steps to prove that it was genuine, for again I saw him leave the +castle by the same window, and in my clothes. As he went down the +wall, lizard fashion, I wished I had a gun or some lethal weapon, that +I might destroy him. But I fear that no weapon wrought along by man's +hand would have any effect on him. I dared not wait to see him +return, for I feared to see those weird sisters. I came back to the +library, and read there till I fell asleep. + +I was awakened by the Count, who looked at me as grimly as a man could +look as he said, "Tomorrow, my friend, we must part. You return to +your beautiful England, I to some work which may have such an end that +we may never meet. Your letter home has been despatched. Tomorrow I +shall not be here, but all shall be ready for your journey. In the +morning come the Szgany, who have some labours of their own here, and +also come some Slovaks. When they have gone, my carriage shall come +for you, and shall bear you to the Borgo Pass to meet the diligence +from Bukovina to Bistritz. But I am in hopes that I shall see more of +you at Castle Dracula." + +I suspected him, and determined to test his sincerity. Sincerity! It +seems like a profanation of the word to write it in connection with +such a monster, so I asked him point-blank, "Why may I not go +tonight?" + +"Because, dear sir, my coachman and horses are away on a mission." + +"But I would walk with pleasure. I want to get away at once." + +He smiled, such a soft, smooth, diabolical smile that I knew there was +some trick behind his smoothness. He said, "And your baggage?" + +"I do not care about it. I can send for it some other time." + +The Count stood up, and said, with a sweet courtesy which made me rub +my eyes, it seemed so real, "You English have a saying which is close +to my heart, for its spirit is that which rules our boyars, 'Welcome +the coming, speed the parting guest.' Come with me, my dear young +friend. Not an hour shall you wait in my house against your will, +though sad am I at your going, and that you so suddenly desire it. +Come!" With a stately gravity, he, with the lamp, preceded me down +the stairs and along the hall. Suddenly he stopped. "Hark!" + +Close at hand came the howling of many wolves. It was almost as if +the sound sprang up at the rising of his hand, just as the music of a +great orchestra seems to leap under the baton of the conductor. After +a pause of a moment, he proceeded, in his stately way, to the door, +drew back the ponderous bolts, unhooked the heavy chains, and began to +draw it open. + +To my intense astonishment I saw that it was unlocked. Suspiciously, +I looked all round, but could see no key of any kind. + +As the door began to open, the howling of the wolves without grew +louder and angrier. Their red jaws, with champing teeth, and their +blunt-clawed feet as they leaped, came in through the opening door. I +knew than that to struggle at the moment against the Count was +useless. With such allies as these at his command, I could do +nothing. + +But still the door continued slowly to open, and only the Count's body +stood in the gap. Suddenly it struck me that this might be the moment +and means of my doom. I was to be given to the wolves, and at my own +instigation. There was a diabolical wickedness in the idea great +enough for the Count, and as the last chance I cried out, "Shut the +door! I shall wait till morning." And I covered my face with my +hands to hide my tears of bitter disappointment. + +With one sweep of his powerful arm, the Count threw the door shut, and +the great bolts clanged and echoed through the hall as they shot back +into their places. + +In silence we returned to the library, and after a minute or two I went +to my own room. The last I saw of Count Dracula was his kissing his +hand to me, with a red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile +that Judas in hell might be proud of. + +When I was in my room and about to lie down, I thought I heard a +whispering at my door. I went to it softly and listened. Unless my +ears deceived me, I heard the voice of the Count. + +"Back! Back to your own place! Your time is not yet come. Wait! +Have patience! Tonight is mine. Tomorrow night is yours!" + +There was a low, sweet ripple of laughter, and in a rage I threw open +the door, and saw without the three terrible women licking their lips. +As I appeared, they all joined in a horrible laugh, and ran away. + +I came back to my room and threw myself on my knees. It is then so +near the end? Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Lord, help me, and those to whom +I am dear! + + +30 June.--These may be the last words I ever write in this diary. I +slept till just before the dawn, and when I woke threw myself on my +knees, for I determined that if Death came he should find me ready. + +At last I felt that subtle change in the air, and knew that the +morning had come. Then came the welcome cockcrow, and I felt that I +was safe. With a glad heart, I opened the door and ran down the hall. +I had seen that the door was unlocked, and now escape was before me. +With hands that trembled with eagerness, I unhooked the chains and +threw back the massive bolts. + +But the door would not move. Despair seized me. I pulled and pulled +at the door, and shook it till, massive as it was, it rattled in its +casement. I could see the bolt shot. It had been locked after I left +the Count. + +Then a wild desire took me to obtain the key at any risk, and I +determined then and there to scale the wall again, and gain the +Count's room. He might kill me, but death now seemed the happier +choice of evils. Without a pause I rushed up to the east window, and +scrambled down the wall, as before, into the Count's room. It was +empty, but that was as I expected. I could not see a key anywhere, +but the heap of gold remained. I went through the door in the corner +and down the winding stair and along the dark passage to the old +chapel. I knew now well enough where to find the monster I sought. + +The great box was in the same place, close against the wall, but the +lid was laid on it, not fastened down, but with the nails ready in +their places to be hammered home. + +I knew I must reach the body for the key, so I raised the lid, and +laid it back against the wall. And then I saw something which filled +my very soul with horror. There lay the Count, but looking as if his +youth had been half restored. For the white hair and moustache were +changed to dark iron-grey. The cheeks were fuller, and the white skin +seemed ruby-red underneath. The mouth was redder than ever, for on +the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the corners of +the mouth and ran down over the chin and neck. Even the deep, burning +eyes seemed set amongst swollen flesh, for the lids and pouches +underneath were bloated. It seemed as if the whole awful creature +were simply gorged with blood. He lay like a filthy leech, exhausted +with his repletion. + +I shuddered as I bent over to touch him, and every sense in me +revolted at the contact, but I had to search, or I was lost. The +coming night might see my own body a banquet in a similar war to those +horrid three. I felt all over the body, but no sign could I find of +the key. Then I stopped and looked at the Count. There was a mocking +smile on the bloated face which seemed to drive me mad. This was the +being I was helping to transfer to London, where, perhaps, for +centuries to come he might, amongst its teeming millions, satiate his +lust for blood, and create a new and ever-widening circle of +semi-demons to batten on the helpless. + +The very thought drove me mad. A terrible desire came upon me to rid +the world of such a monster. There was no lethal weapon at hand, but +I seized a shovel which the workmen had been using to fill the cases, +and lifting it high, struck, with the edge downward, at the hateful +face. But as I did so the head turned, and the eyes fell upon me, +with all their blaze of basilisk horror. The sight seemed to paralyze +me, and the shovel turned in my hand and glanced from the face, merely +making a deep gash above the forehead. The shovel fell from my hand +across the box, and as I pulled it away the flange of the blade caught +the edge of the lid which fell over again, and hid the horrid thing +from my sight. The last glimpse I had was of the bloated face, +blood-stained and fixed with a grin of malice which would have held +its own in the nethermost hell. + +I thought and thought what should be my next move, but my brain seemed +on fire, and I waited with a despairing feeling growing over me. As I +waited I heard in the distance a gipsy song sung by merry voices +coming closer, and through their song the rolling of heavy wheels and +the cracking of whips. The Szgany and the Slovaks of whom the Count +had spoken were coming. With a last look around and at the box which +contained the vile body, I ran from the place and gained the Count's +room, determined to rush out at the moment the door should be opened. +With strained ears, I listened, and heard downstairs the grinding of +the key in the great lock and the falling back of the heavy door. +There must have been some other means of entry, or some one had a key +for one of the locked doors. + +Then there came the sound of many feet tramping and dying away in some +passage which sent up a clanging echo. I turned to run down again +towards the vault, where I might find the new entrance, but at the +moment there seemed to come a violent puff of wind, and the door to +the winding stair blew to with a shock that set the dust from the +lintels flying. When I ran to push it open, I found that it was +hopelessly fast. I was again a prisoner, and the net of doom was +closing round me more closely. + +As I write there is in the passage below a sound of many tramping feet +and the crash of weights being set down heavily, doubtless the boxes, +with their freight of earth. There was a sound of hammering. It is +the box being nailed down. Now I can hear the heavy feet tramping +again along the hall, with many other idle feet coming behind them. + +The door is shut, the chains rattle. There is a grinding of the key +in the lock. I can hear the key withdrawn, then another door opens +and shuts. I hear the creaking of lock and bolt. + +Hark! In the courtyard and down the rocky way the roll of heavy +wheels, the crack of whips, and the chorus of the Szgany as they pass +into the distance. + +I am alone in the castle with those horrible women. Faugh! Mina is a +woman, and there is nought in common. They are devils of the Pit! + +I shall not remain alone with them. I shall try to scale the castle +wall farther than I have yet attempted. I shall take some of the gold +with me, lest I want it later. I may find a way from this dreadful +place. + +And then away for home! Away to the quickest and nearest train! Away +from the cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and his +children still walk with earthly feet! + +At least God's mercy is better than that of those monsters, and the +precipice is steep and high. At its foot a man may sleep, as a man. +Goodbye, all. Mina! + + + + +CHAPTER 5 + + +LETTER FROM MISS MINA MURRAY TO MISS LUCY WESTENRA + +9 May. + +My dearest Lucy, + +Forgive my long delay in writing, but I have been simply overwhelmed +with work. The life of an assistant schoolmistress is sometimes +trying. I am longing to be with you, and by the sea, where we can +talk together freely and build our castles in the air. I have been +working very hard lately, because I want to keep up with Jonathan's +studies, and I have been practicing shorthand very assiduously. +When we are married I shall be able to be useful to Jonathan, and if +I can stenograph well enough I can take down what he wants to say in +this way and write it out for him on the typewriter, at which also I +am practicing very hard. + +He and I sometimes write letters in shorthand, and he is +keeping a stenographic journal of his travels abroad. When +I am with you I shall keep a diary in the same way. I don't +mean one of those two-pages-to-the-week-with-Sunday-squeezed- +in-a-corner diaries, but a sort of journal which I can write +in whenever I feel inclined. + +I do not suppose there will be much of interest to other people, but +it is not intended for them. I may show it to Jonathan some day if +there is in it anything worth sharing, but it is really an exercise +book. I shall try to do what I see lady journalists do, +interviewing and writing descriptions and trying to remember +conversations. I am told that, with a little practice, one can +remember all that goes on or that one hears said during a day. + +However, we shall see. I will tell you of my little plans when we +meet. I have just had a few hurried lines from Jonathan from +Transylvania. He is well, and will be returning in about a week. I +am longing to hear all his news. It must be nice to see strange +countries. I wonder if we, I mean Jonathan and I, shall ever see +them together. There is the ten o'clock bell ringing. Goodbye. + +Your loving + +Mina + + +Tell me all the news when you write. You have not told me +anything for a long time. I hear rumours, and especially +of a tall, handsome, curly-haired man??? + + + +LETTER, LUCY WESTENRA TO MINA MURRAY + + +17, Chatham Street + +Wednesday + +My dearest Mina, + + +I must say you tax me very unfairly with being a bad correspondent. +I wrote you twice since we parted, and your last letter was only +your second. Besides, I have nothing to tell you. There is really +nothing to interest you. + +Town is very pleasant just now, and we go a great deal to +picture-galleries and for walks and rides in the park. As +to the tall, curly-haired man, I suppose it was the one who +was with me at the last Pop. Someone has evidently been +telling tales. + +That was Mr. Holmwood. He often comes to see us, and he and +Mamma get on very well together, they have so many things +to talk about in common. + +We met some time ago a man that would just do for you, if you were +not already engaged to Jonathan. He is an excellent _parti_, being +handsome, well off, and of good birth. He is a doctor and really +clever. Just fancy! He is only nine-and-twenty, and he has an +immense lunatic asylum all under his own care. Mr. Holmwood +introduced him to me, and he called here to see us, and often comes +now. I think he is one of the most resolute men I ever saw, and yet +the most calm. He seems absolutely imperturbable. I can fancy what +a wonderful power he must have over his patients. He has a curious +habit of looking one straight in the face, as if trying to read +one's thoughts. He tries this on very much with me, but I flatter +myself he has got a tough nut to crack. I know that from my glass. + +Do you ever try to read your own face? I do, and I can +tell you it is not a bad study, and gives you more trouble +than you can well fancy if you have never tried it. + +He says that I afford him a curious psychological study, and +I humbly think I do. I do not, as you know, take sufficient +interest in dress to be able to describe the new fashions. +Dress is a bore. That is slang again, but never mind. Arthur +says that every day. + +There, it is all out, Mina, we have told all our secrets to +each other since we were children. We have slept together +and eaten together, and laughed and cried together, and +now, though I have spoken, I would like to speak more. Oh, +Mina, couldn't you guess? I love him. I am blushing as I +write, for although I think he loves me, he has not told me +so in words. But, oh, Mina, I love him. I love him! There, +that does me good. + +I wish I were with you, dear, sitting by the fire undressing, as we +used to sit, and I would try to tell you what I feel. I do not know +how I am writing this even to you. I am afraid to stop, or I should +tear up the letter, and I don't want to stop, for I do so want to +tell you all. Let me hear from you at once, and tell me all that you +think about it. Mina, pray for my happiness. + +Lucy + + +P.S.--I need not tell you this is a secret. +Goodnight again. L. + + + + +LETTER, LUCY WESTENRA TO MINA MURRAY + +24 May + +My dearest Mina, + +Thanks, and thanks, and thanks again for your sweet letter. It +was so nice to be able to tell you and to have your sympathy. + +My dear, it never rains but it pours. How true the old proverbs +are. Here am I, who shall be twenty in September, and yet I never +had a proposal till today, not a real proposal, and today I had +three. Just fancy! Three proposals in one day! Isn't it awful! I +feel sorry, really and truly sorry, for two of the poor fellows. +Oh, Mina, I am so happy that I don't know what to do with myself. +And three proposals! But, for goodness' sake, don't tell any of the +girls, or they would be getting all sorts of extravagant ideas, and +imagining themselves injured and slighted if in their very first day +at home they did not get six at least. Some girls are so vain! You +and I, Mina dear, who are engaged and are going to settle down soon +soberly into old married women, can despise vanity. Well, I must +tell you about the three, but you must keep it a secret, dear, from +every one except, of course, Jonathan. You will tell him, because I +would, if I were in your place, certainly tell Arthur. A woman +ought to tell her husband everything. Don't you think so, dear? And +I must be fair. Men like women, certainly their wives, to be quite +as fair as they are. And women, I am afraid, are not always quite +as fair as they should be. + +Well, my dear, number One came just before lunch. I told you of +him, Dr. John Seward, the lunatic asylum man, with the strong jaw +and the good forehead. He was very cool outwardly, but was nervous +all the same. He had evidently been schooling himself as to all +sorts of little things, and remembered them, but he almost managed +to sit down on his silk hat, which men don't generally do when they +are cool, and then when he wanted to appear at ease he kept playing +with a lancet in a way that made me nearly scream. He spoke to me, +Mina, very straightforwardly. He told me how dear I was to him, +though he had known me so little, and what his life would be with me +to help and cheer him. He was going to tell me how unhappy he would +be if I did not care for him, but when he saw me cry he said he was +a brute and would not add to my present trouble. Then he broke off +and asked if I could love him in time, and when I shook my head his +hands trembled, and then with some hesitation he asked me if I cared +already for any one else. He put it very nicely, saying that he did +not want to wring my confidence from me, but only to know, because +if a woman's heart was free a man might have hope. And then, Mina, +I felt a sort of duty to tell him that there was some one. I only +told him that much, and then he stood up, and he looked very strong +and very grave as he took both my hands in his and said he hoped I +would be happy, and that If I ever wanted a friend I must count him +one of my best. + +Oh, Mina dear, I can't help crying, and you must excuse this letter +being all blotted. Being proposed to is all very nice and all that +sort of thing, but it isn't at all a happy thing when you have to +see a poor fellow, whom you know loves you honestly, going away and +looking all broken hearted, and to know that, no matter what he may +say at the moment, you are passing out of his life. My dear, I must +stop here at present, I feel so miserable, though I am so happy. + +Evening. + +Arthur has just gone, and I feel in better spirits than when I +left off, so I can go on telling you about the day. + +Well, my dear, number Two came after lunch. He is such a nice +fellow, an American from Texas, and he looks so young and so fresh +that it seems almost impossible that he has been to so many places +and has such adventures. I sympathize with poor Desdemona when she +had such a stream poured in her ear, even by a black man. I suppose +that we women are such cowards that we think a man will save us from +fears, and we marry him. I know now what I would do if I were a man +and wanted to make a girl love me. No, I don't, for there was Mr. +Morris telling us his stories, and Arthur never told any, and +yet . . . + +My dear, I am somewhat previous. Mr. Quincy P. Morris found me +alone. It seems that a man always does find a girl alone. No, he +doesn't, for Arthur tried twice to make a chance, and I helping him +all I could, I am not ashamed to say it now. I must tell you +beforehand that Mr. Morris doesn't always speak slang--that is to +say, he never does so to strangers or before them, for he is really +well educated and has exquisite manners--but he found out that it +amused me to hear him talk American slang, and whenever I was +present, and there was no one to be shocked, he said such funny +things. I am afraid, my dear, he has to invent it all, for it fits +exactly into whatever else he has to say. But this is a way slang +has. I do not know myself if I shall ever speak slang. I do not +know if Arthur likes it, as I have never heard him use any as yet. + +Well, Mr. Morris sat down beside me and looked as happy and jolly as +he could, but I could see all the same that he was very nervous. He +took my hand in his, and said ever so sweetly . . . + +"Miss Lucy, I know I ain't good enough to regulate the fixin's of +your little shoes, but I guess if you wait till you find a man that +is you will go join them seven young women with the lamps when you +quit. Won't you just hitch up alongside of me and let us go down +the long road together, driving in double harness?" + +Well, he did look so good humoured and so jolly that it didn't seem +half so hard to refuse him as it did poor Dr. Seward. So I said, as +lightly as I could, that I did not know anything of hitching, and +that I wasn't broken to harness at all yet. Then he said that he +had spoken in a light manner, and he hoped that if he had made a +mistake in doing so on so grave, so momentous, an occasion for him, +I would forgive him. He really did look serious when he was saying +it, and I couldn't help feeling a bit serious too--I know, Mina, you +will think me a horrid flirt--though I couldn't help feeling a +sort of exultation that he was number Two in one day. And then, +my dear, before I could say a word he began pouring out a perfect +torrent of love-making, laying his very heart and soul at my feet. +He looked so earnest over it that I shall never again think that +a man must be playful always, and never earnest, because he is +merry at times. I suppose he saw something in my face which checked +him, for he suddenly stopped, and said with a sort of manly fervour +that I could have loved him for if I had been free . . . + +"Lucy, you are an honest hearted girl, I know. I should not be here +speaking to you as I am now if I did not believe you clean grit, +right through to the very depths of your soul. Tell me, like one +good fellow to another, is there any one else that you care for? +And if there is I'll never trouble you a hair's breadth again, but +will be, if you will let me, a very faithful friend." + +My dear Mina, why are men so noble when we women are so little +worthy of them? Here was I almost making fun of this great-hearted, +true gentleman. I burst into tears--I am afraid, my dear, you will +think this a very sloppy letter in more ways than one--and I really +felt very badly. + +Why can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as +want her, and save all this trouble? But this is heresy, +and I must not say it. I am glad to say that, though I was +crying, I was able to look into Mr. Morris' brave eyes, and +I told him out straight . . . + +"Yes, there is some one I love, though he has not told me +yet that he even loves me." I was right to speak to him so +frankly, for quite a light came into his face, and he put +out both his hands and took mine, I think I put them into +his--and said in a hearty way . . . + +"That's my brave girl. It's better worth being late for a chance of +winning you than being in time for any other girl in the world. +Don't cry, my dear. If it's for me, I'm a hard nut to crack, and I +take it standing up. If that other fellow doesn't know his +happiness, well, he'd better look for it soon, or he'll have to deal +with me. Little girl, your honesty and pluck have made me a friend, +and that's rarer than a lover; it's more selfish anyhow. My dear, +I'm going to have a pretty lonely walk between this and Kingdom +Come. Won't you give me one kiss? It'll be something to keep off +the darkness now and then. You can, you know, if you like, for +that other good fellow--he must be a good fellow, my dear, and a +fine fellow, or you could not love him--hasn't spoken yet." + +That quite won me, Mina, for it was brave and sweet of him, +and noble too, to a rival--wasn't it?--and he so sad, so I +leant over and kissed him. + +He stood up with my two hands in his, and as he looked down into my +face--I am afraid I was blushing very much, he said, "Little girl, I +hold your hand, and you've kissed me, and if these things don't make +us friends nothing ever will. Thank you for your sweet honesty to +me, and goodbye." + +He wrung my hand, and taking up his hat, went straight out of the +room without looking back, without a tear or a quiver or a pause, +and I am crying like a baby. + +Oh, why must a man like that be made unhappy when there are lots of +girls about who would worship the very ground he trod on? I know I +would if I were free, only I don't want to be free. My dear, this +quite upset me, and I feel I cannot write of happiness just at once, +after telling you of it, and I don't wish to tell of the number +Three until it can be all happy. Ever your loving . . . + +Lucy + + +P.S.--Oh, about number Three, I needn't tell you of number +Three, need I? Besides, it was all so confused. It seemed +only a moment from his coming into the room till both his +arms were round me, and he was kissing me. I am very, very +happy, and I don't know what I have done to deserve it. I +must only try in the future to show that I am not ungrateful +to God for all His goodness to me in sending to me such a +lover, such a husband, and such a friend. + +Goodbye. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY (Kept in phonograph) + +25 May.--Ebb tide in appetite today. Cannot eat, cannot rest, so +diary instead. Since my rebuff of yesterday I have a sort of empty +feeling. Nothing in the world seems of sufficient importance to be +worth the doing. As I knew that the only cure for this sort of thing +was work, I went amongst the patients. I picked out one who has +afforded me a study of much interest. He is so quaint that I am +determined to understand him as well as I can. Today I seemed to get +nearer than ever before to the heart of his mystery. + +I questioned him more fully than I had ever done, with a view to +making myself master of the facts of his hallucination. In my manner +of doing it there was, I now see, something of cruelty. I seemed to +wish to keep him to the point of his madness, a thing which I avoid +with the patients as I would the mouth of hell. + +(Mem., Under what circumstances would I not avoid the pit of hell?) +Omnia Romae venalia sunt. Hell has its price! If there be anything +behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards +accurately, so I had better commence to do so, therefore . . . + +R. M, Renfield, age 59. Sanguine temperament, great physical +strength, morbidly excitable, periods of gloom, ending in some fixed +idea which I cannot make out. I presume that the sanguine temperament +itself and the disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished +finish, a possibly dangerous man, probably dangerous if unselfish. In +selfish men caution is as secure an armour for their foes as for +themselves. What I think of on this point is, when self is the fixed +point the centripetal force is balanced with the centrifugal. When +duty, a cause, etc., is the fixed point, the latter force is +paramount, and only accident or a series of accidents can balance it. + + + +LETTER, QUINCEY P. MORRIS TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMOOD + +25 May. + +My dear Art, + +We've told yarns by the campfire in the prairies, and dressed one +another's wounds after trying a landing at the Marquesas, and drunk +healths on the shore of Titicaca. There are more yarns to be told, +and other wounds to be healed, and another health to be drunk. +Won't you let this be at my campfire tomorrow night? I have no +hesitation in asking you, as I know a certain lady is engaged to a +certain dinner party, and that you are free. There will only be one +other, our old pal at the Korea, Jack Seward. He's coming, too, and +we both want to mingle our weeps over the wine cup, and to drink a +health with all our hearts to the happiest man in all the wide +world, who has won the noblest heart that God has made and best +worth winning. We promise you a hearty welcome, and a loving +greeting, and a health as true as your own right hand. We shall +both swear to leave you at home if you drink too deep to a certain +pair of eyes. Come! + +Yours, as ever and always, + +Quincey P. Morris + + + + + +TELEGRAM FROM ARTHUR HOLMWOOD TO QUINCEY P. MORRIS + +26 May + + +Count me in every time. I bear messages which will make both +your ears tingle. + +Art + + + + +CHAPTER 6 + + +MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL + +24 July. Whitby.--Lucy met me at the station, looking sweeter and +lovelier than ever, and we drove up to the house at the Crescent in +which they have rooms. This is a lovely place. The little river, the +Esk, runs through a deep valley, which broadens out as it comes near +the harbour. A great viaduct runs across, with high piers, through +which the view seems somehow further away than it really is. The +valley is beautifully green, and it is so steep that when you are on +the high land on either side you look right across it, unless you are +near enough to see down. The houses of the old town--the side away +from us, are all red-roofed, and seem piled up one over the other +anyhow, like the pictures we see of Nuremberg. Right over the town is +the ruin of Whitby Abbey, which was sacked by the Danes, and which is +the scene of part of "Marmion," where the girl was built up in the +wall. It is a most noble ruin, of immense size, and full of beautiful +and romantic bits. There is a legend that a white lady is seen in one +of the windows. Between it and the town there is another church, the +parish one, round which is a big graveyard, all full of tombstones. +This is to my mind the nicest spot in Whitby, for it lies right over +the town, and has a full view of the harbour and all up the bay to +where the headland called Kettleness stretches out into the sea. It +descends so steeply over the harbour that part of the bank has fallen +away, and some of the graves have been destroyed. + +In one place part of the stonework of the graves stretches out over +the sandy pathway far below. There are walks, with seats beside them, +through the churchyard, and people go and sit there all day long +looking at the beautiful view and enjoying the breeze. + +I shall come and sit here often myself and work. Indeed, I am writing +now, with my book on my knee, and listening to the talk of three old +men who are sitting beside me. They seem to do nothing all day but +sit here and talk. + +The harbour lies below me, with, on the far side, one long granite +wall stretching out into the sea, with a curve outwards at the end of +it, in the middle of which is a lighthouse. A heavy seawall runs +along outside of it. On the near side, the seawall makes an elbow +crooked inversely, and its end too has a lighthouse. Between the two +piers there is a narrow opening into the harbour, which then suddenly +widens. + +It is nice at high water, but when the tide is out it shoals away to +nothing, and there is merely the stream of the Esk, running between +banks of sand, with rocks here and there. Outside the harbour on this +side there rises for about half a mile a great reef, the sharp of +which runs straight out from behind the south lighthouse. At the end +of it is a buoy with a bell, which swings in bad weather, and sends in +a mournful sound on the wind. + +They have a legend here that when a ship is lost bells are heard out at +sea. I must ask the old man about this. He is coming this way . . . + +He is a funny old man. He must be awfully old, for his face is +gnarled and twisted like the bark of a tree. He tells me that he is +nearly a hundred, and that he was a sailor in the Greenland fishing +fleet when Waterloo was fought. He is, I am afraid, a very sceptical +person, for when I asked him about the bells at sea and the White Lady +at the abbey he said very brusquely, + +"I wouldn't fash masel' about them, miss. Them things be all wore +out. Mind, I don't say that they never was, but I do say that they +wasn't in my time. They be all very well for comers and trippers, an' +the like, but not for a nice young lady like you. Them feet-folks +from York and Leeds that be always eatin' cured herrin's and drinkin' +tea an' lookin' out to buy cheap jet would creed aught. I wonder +masel' who'd be bothered tellin' lies to them, even the newspapers, +which is full of fool-talk." + +I thought he would be a good person to learn interesting things from, +so I asked him if he would mind telling me something about the whale +fishing in the old days. He was just settling himself to begin when +the clock struck six, whereupon he laboured to get up, and said, + +"I must gang ageeanwards home now, miss. My grand-daughter doesn't +like to be kept waitin' when the tea is ready, for it takes me time to +crammle aboon the grees, for there be a many of 'em, and miss, I lack +belly-timber sairly by the clock." + +He hobbled away, and I could see him hurrying, as well as he could, +down the steps. The steps are a great feature on the place. They +lead from the town to the church, there are hundreds of them, I do not +know how many, and they wind up in a delicate curve. The slope is so +gentle that a horse could easily walk up and down them. + +I think they must originally have had something to do with the abbey. +I shall go home too. Lucy went out, visiting with her mother, and as +they were only duty calls, I did not go. + + +1 August.--I came up here an hour ago with Lucy, and we had a most +interesting talk with my old friend and the two others who always come +and join him. He is evidently the Sir Oracle of them, and I should +think must have been in his time a most dictatorial person. + +He will not admit anything, and down faces everybody. If he can't +out-argue them he bullies them, and then takes their silence for +agreement with his views. + +Lucy was looking sweetly pretty in her white lawn frock. She has got +a beautiful colour since she has been here. + +I noticed that the old men did not lose any time in coming and sitting +near her when we sat down. She is so sweet with old people, I think +they all fell in love with her on the spot. Even my old man succumbed +and did not contradict her, but gave me double share instead. I got +him on the subject of the legends, and he went off at once into a sort +of sermon. I must try to remember it and put it down. + +"It be all fool-talk, lock, stock, and barrel, that's what it be and +nowt else. These bans an' wafts an' boh-ghosts an' bar-guests an' +bogles an' all anent them is only fit to set bairns an' dizzy women +a'belderin'. They be nowt but air-blebs. They, an' all grims an' signs +an' warnin's, be all invented by parsons an' illsome berk-bodies an' +railway touters to skeer an' scunner hafflin's, an' to get folks to do +somethin' that they don't other incline to. It makes me ireful to +think o' them. Why, it's them that, not content with printin' lies on +paper an' preachin' them out of pulpits, does want to be cuttin' them +on the tombstones. Look here all around you in what airt ye will. All +them steans, holdin' up their heads as well as they can out of their +pride, is acant, simply tumblin' down with the weight o' the lies +wrote on them, 'Here lies the body' or 'Sacred to the memory' wrote on +all of them, an' yet in nigh half of them there bean't no bodies at +all, an' the memories of them bean't cared a pinch of snuff about, +much less sacred. Lies all of them, nothin' but lies of one kind or +another! My gog, but it'll be a quare scowderment at the Day of +Judgment when they come tumblin' up in their death-sarks, all jouped +together an' trying' to drag their tombsteans with them to prove how +good they was, some of them trimmlin' an' dithering, with their hands +that dozzened an' slippery from lyin' in the sea that they can't even +keep their gurp o' them." + +I could see from the old fellow's self-satisfied air and the way in +which he looked round for the approval of his cronies that he was +"showing off," so I put in a word to keep him going. + +"Oh, Mr. Swales, you can't be serious. Surely these tombstones are +not all wrong?" + +"Yabblins! There may be a poorish few not wrong, savin' where they +make out the people too good, for there be folk that do think a +balm-bowl be like the sea, if only it be their own. The whole thing +be only lies. Now look you here. You come here a stranger, an' you +see this kirkgarth." + +I nodded, for I thought it better to assent, though I did not quite +understand his dialect. I knew it had something to do with the +church. + +He went on, "And you consate that all these steans be aboon folk that +be haped here, snod an' snog?" I assented again. "Then that be just +where the lie comes in. Why, there be scores of these laybeds that be +toom as old Dun's 'baccabox on Friday night." + +He nudged one of his companions, and they all laughed. "And, my gog! +How could they be otherwise? Look at that one, the aftest abaft the +bier-bank, read it!" + +I went over and read, "Edward Spencelagh, master mariner, murdered by +pirates off the coast of Andres, April, 1854, age 30." When I came +back Mr. Swales went on, + +"Who brought him home, I wonder, to hap him here? Murdered off the +coast of Andres! An' you consated his body lay under! Why, I could +name ye a dozen whose bones lie in the Greenland seas above," he +pointed northwards, "or where the currants may have drifted them. +There be the steans around ye. Ye can, with your young eyes, read the +small print of the lies from here. This Braithwaite Lowery, I knew +his father, lost in the Lively off Greenland in '20, or Andrew +Woodhouse, drowned in the same seas in 1777, or John Paxton, drowned +off Cape Farewell a year later, or old John Rawlings, whose +grandfather sailed with me, drowned in the Gulf of Finland in '50. Do +ye think that all these men will have to make a rush to Whitby when +the trumpet sounds? I have me antherums aboot it! I tell ye that +when they got here they'd be jommlin' and jostlin' one another that +way that it 'ud be like a fight up on the ice in the old days, when +we'd be at one another from daylight to dark, an' tryin' to tie up our +cuts by the aurora borealis." This was evidently local pleasantry, for +the old man cackled over it, and his cronies joined in with gusto. + +"But," I said, "surely you are not quite correct, for you start on the +assumption that all the poor people, or their spirits, will have to +take their tombstones with them on the Day of Judgment. Do you think +that will be really necessary?" + +"Well, what else be they tombstones for? Answer me that, miss!" + +"To please their relatives, I suppose." + +"To please their relatives, you suppose!" This he said with intense +scorn. "How will it pleasure their relatives to know that lies is +wrote over them, and that everybody in the place knows that they be +lies?" + +He pointed to a stone at our feet which had been laid down as a slab, +on which the seat was rested, close to the edge of the cliff. "Read +the lies on that thruff-stone," he said. + +The letters were upside down to me from where I sat, but Lucy was more +opposite to them, so she leant over and read, "Sacred to the memory of +George Canon, who died, in the hope of a glorious resurrection, on +July 29, 1873, falling from the rocks at Kettleness. This tomb was +erected by his sorrowing mother to her dearly beloved son. 'He was the +only son of his mother, and she was a widow.' Really, Mr. Swales, I +don't see anything very funny in that!" She spoke her comment very +gravely and somewhat severely. + +"Ye don't see aught funny! Ha-ha! But that's because ye don't gawm +the sorrowin' mother was a hell-cat that hated him because he was +acrewk'd, a regular lamiter he was, an' he hated her so that he +committed suicide in order that she mightn't get an insurance she put +on his life. He blew nigh the top of his head off with an old musket +that they had for scarin' crows with. 'Twarn't for crows then, for it +brought the clegs and the dowps to him. That's the way he fell off +the rocks. And, as to hopes of a glorious resurrection, I've often +heard him say masel' that he hoped he'd go to hell, for his mother was +so pious that she'd be sure to go to heaven, an' he didn't want to +addle where she was. Now isn't that stean at any rate," he hammered +it with his stick as he spoke, "a pack of lies? And won't it make +Gabriel keckle when Geordie comes pantin' ut the grees with the +tompstean balanced on his hump, and asks to be took as evidence!" + +I did not know what to say, but Lucy turned the conversation as she +said, rising up, "Oh, why did you tell us of this? It is my favourite +seat, and I cannot leave it, and now I find I must go on sitting over +the grave of a suicide." + +"That won't harm ye, my pretty, an' it may make poor Geordie gladsome +to have so trim a lass sittin' on his lap. That won't hurt ye. Why, +I've sat here off an' on for nigh twenty years past, an' it hasn't +done me no harm. Don't ye fash about them as lies under ye, or that +doesn' lie there either! It'll be time for ye to be getting scart +when ye see the tombsteans all run away with, and the place as bare as +a stubble-field. There's the clock, and I must gang. My service to +ye, ladies!" And off he hobbled. + +Lucy and I sat awhile, and it was all so beautiful before us that we +took hands as we sat, and she told me all over again about Arthur and +their coming marriage. That made me just a little heart-sick, for I +haven't heard from Jonathan for a whole month. + + +The same day. I came up here alone, for I am very sad. There was no +letter for me. I hope there cannot be anything the matter with +Jonathan. The clock has just struck nine. I see the lights scattered +all over the town, sometimes in rows where the streets are, and +sometimes singly. They run right up the Esk and die away in the curve +of the valley. To my left the view is cut off by a black line of roof +of the old house next to the abbey. The sheep and lambs are bleating +in the fields away behind me, and there is a clatter of donkeys' hoofs +up the paved road below. The band on the pier is playing a harsh +waltz in good time, and further along the quay there is a Salvation +Army meeting in a back street. Neither of the bands hears the other, +but up here I hear and see them both. I wonder where Jonathan is and +if he is thinking of me! I wish he were here. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +5 June.--The case of Renfield grows more interesting the more I get to +understand the man. He has certain qualities very largely developed; +selfishness, secrecy, and purpose. + +I wish I could get at what is the object of the latter. He seems to +have some settled scheme of his own, but what it is I do not know. +His redeeming quality is a love of animals, though, indeed, he has +such curious turns in it that I sometimes imagine he is only +abnormally cruel. His pets are of odd sorts. + +Just now his hobby is catching flies. He has at present such a +quantity that I have had myself to expostulate. To my astonishment, +he did not break out into a fury, as I expected, but took the matter +in simple seriousness. He thought for a moment, and then said, "May I +have three days? I shall clear them away." Of course, I said that +would do. I must watch him. + + +18 June.--He has turned his mind now to spiders, and has got several +very big fellows in a box. He keeps feeding them his flies, and the +number of the latter is becoming sensibly diminished, although he has +used half his food in attracting more flies from outside to his room. + + +1 July.--His spiders are now becoming as great a nuisance as his +flies, and today I told him that he must get rid of them. + +He looked very sad at this, so I said that he must some of them, at +all events. He cheerfully acquiesced in this, and I gave him the same +time as before for reduction. + +He disgusted me much while with him, for when a horrid blowfly, +bloated with some carrion food, buzzed into the room, he caught it, +held it exultantly for a few moments between his finger and thumb, and +before I knew what he was going to do, put it in his mouth and ate it. + +I scolded him for it, but he argued quietly that it was very good and +very wholesome, that it was life, strong life, and gave life to him. +This gave me an idea, or the rudiment of one. I must watch how he +gets rid of his spiders. + +He has evidently some deep problem in his mind, for he keeps a little +notebook in which he is always jotting down something. Whole pages of +it are filled with masses of figures, generally single numbers added +up in batches, and then the totals added in batches again, as though +he were focussing some account, as the auditors put it. + + +8 July.--There is a method in his madness, and the rudimentary idea in +my mind is growing. It will be a whole idea soon, and then, oh, +unconscious cerebration, you will have to give the wall to your +conscious brother. + +I kept away from my friend for a few days, so that I might notice if +there were any change. Things remain as they were except that he has +parted with some of his pets and got a new one. + +He has managed to get a sparrow, and has already partially tamed it. +His means of taming is simple, for already the spiders have +diminished. Those that do remain, however, are well fed, for he still +brings in the flies by tempting them with his food. + +19 July--We are progressing. My friend has now a whole colony of +sparrows, and his flies and spiders are almost obliterated. When I +came in he ran to me and said he wanted to ask me a great favour, a +very, very great favour. And as he spoke, he fawned on me like a dog. + +I asked him what it was, and he said, with a sort of rapture in his +voice and bearing, "A kitten, a nice, little, sleek playful kitten, +that I can play with, and teach, and feed, and feed, and feed!" + +I was not unprepared for this request, for I had noticed how his pets +went on increasing in size and vivacity, but I did not care that his +pretty family of tame sparrows should be wiped out in the same manner +as the flies and spiders. So I said I would see about it, and asked +him if he would not rather have a cat than a kitten. + +His eagerness betrayed him as he answered, "Oh, yes, I would like a +cat! I only asked for a kitten lest you should refuse me a cat. No +one would refuse me a kitten, would they?" + +I shook my head, and said that at present I feared it would not be +possible, but that I would see about it. His face fell, and I could +see a warning of danger in it, for there was a sudden fierce, sidelong +look which meant killing. The man is an undeveloped homicidal +maniac. I shall test him with his present craving and see how it will +work out, then I shall know more. + + +10 pm.--I have visited him again and found him sitting in a corner +brooding. When I came in he threw himself on his knees before me and +implored me to let him have a cat, that his salvation depended upon +it. + +I was firm, however, and told him that he could not have it, whereupon +he went without a word, and sat down, gnawing his fingers, in the +corner where I had found him. I shall see him in the morning early. + + +20 July.--Visited Renfield very early, before attendant went his +rounds. Found him up and humming a tune. He was spreading out his +sugar, which he had saved, in the window, and was manifestly beginning +his fly catching again, and beginning it cheerfully and with a good +grace. + +I looked around for his birds, and not seeing them, asked him where +they were. He replied, without turning round, that they had all flown +away. There were a few feathers about the room and on his pillow a +drop of blood. I said nothing, but went and told the keeper to report +to me if there were anything odd about him during the day. + + +11 am.--The attendant has just been to see me to say that Renfield has +been very sick and has disgorged a whole lot of feathers. "My belief +is, doctor," he said, "that he has eaten his birds, and that he just +took and ate them raw!" + + +11 pm.--I gave Renfield a strong opiate tonight, enough to make even +him sleep, and took away his pocketbook to look at it. The thought +that has been buzzing about my brain lately is complete, and the +theory proved. + +My homicidal maniac is of a peculiar kind. I shall have to invent a +new classification for him, and call him a zoophagous (life-eating) +maniac. What he desires is to absorb as many lives as he can, and he +has laid himself out to achieve it in a cumulative way. He gave many +flies to one spider and many spiders to one bird, and then wanted a +cat to eat the many birds. What would have been his later steps? + +It would almost be worth while to complete the experiment. It might +be done if there were only a sufficient cause. Men sneered at +vivisection, and yet look at its results today! Why not advance +science in its most difficult and vital aspect, the knowledge of the +brain? + +Had I even the secret of one such mind, did I hold the key to the +fancy of even one lunatic, I might advance my own branch of science to +a pitch compared with which Burdon-Sanderson's physiology or Ferrier's +brain knowledge would be as nothing. If only there were a sufficient +cause! I must not think too much of this, or I may be tempted. A +good cause might turn the scale with me, for may not I too be of an +exceptional brain, congenitally? + +How well the man reasoned. Lunatics always do within their own scope. +I wonder at how many lives he values a man, or if at only one. He has +closed the account most accurately, and today begun a new record. How +many of us begin a new record with each day of our lives? + +To me it seems only yesterday that my whole life ended with my new +hope, and that truly I began a new record. So it shall be until the +Great Recorder sums me up and closes my ledger account with a balance +to profit or loss. + +Oh, Lucy, Lucy, I cannot be angry with you, nor can I be angry with my +friend whose happiness is yours, but I must only wait on hopeless and +work. Work! Work! + +If I could have as strong a cause as my poor mad friend there, a good, +unselfish cause to make me work, that would be indeed happiness. + + + +MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL + +26 July.--I am anxious, and it soothes me to express myself here. It +is like whispering to one's self and listening at the same time. And +there is also something about the shorthand symbols that makes it +different from writing. I am unhappy about Lucy and about Jonathan. +I had not heard from Jonathan for some time, and was very concerned, +but yesterday dear Mr. Hawkins, who is always so kind, sent me a +letter from him. I had written asking him if he had heard, and he +said the enclosed had just been received. It is only a line dated +from Castle Dracula, and says that he is just starting for home. That +is not like Jonathan. I do not understand it, and it makes me uneasy. + +Then, too, Lucy, although she is so well, has lately taken to her old +habit of walking in her sleep. Her mother has spoken to me about it, +and we have decided that I am to lock the door of our room every +night. + +Mrs. Westenra has got an idea that sleep-walkers always go out on +roofs of houses and along the edges of cliffs and then get suddenly +wakened and fall over with a despairing cry that echoes all over the +place. + +Poor dear, she is naturally anxious about Lucy, and she tells me that +her husband, Lucy's father, had the same habit, that he would get up +in the night and dress himself and go out, if he were not stopped. + +Lucy is to be married in the autumn, and she is already planning out +her dresses and how her house is to be arranged. I sympathise with +her, for I do the same, only Jonathan and I will start in life in a +very simple way, and shall have to try to make both ends meet. + +Mr. Holmwood, he is the Hon. Arthur Holmwood, only son of Lord +Godalming, is coming up here very shortly, as soon as he can leave +town, for his father is not very well, and I think dear Lucy is +counting the moments till he comes. + +She wants to take him up in the seat on the churchyard cliff and show +him the beauty of Whitby. I daresay it is the waiting which disturbs +her. She will be all right when he arrives. + + +27 July.--No news from Jonathan. I am getting quite uneasy about him, +though why I should I do not know, but I do wish that he would write, +if it were only a single line. + +Lucy walks more than ever, and each night I am awakened by her moving +about the room. Fortunately, the weather is so hot that she cannot +get cold. But still, the anxiety and the perpetually being awakened +is beginning to tell on me, and I am getting nervous and wakeful +myself. Thank God, Lucy's health keeps up. Mr. Holmwood has been +suddenly called to Ring to see his father, who has been taken +seriously ill. Lucy frets at the postponement of seeing him, but it +does not touch her looks. She is a trifle stouter, and her cheeks are +a lovely rose-pink. She has lost the anemic look which she had. I +pray it will all last. + + +3 August.--Another week gone by, and no news from Jonathan, not even +to Mr. Hawkins, from whom I have heard. Oh, I do hope he is not ill. +He surely would have written. I look at that last letter of his, but +somehow it does not satisfy me. It does not read like him, and yet it +is his writing. There is no mistake of that. + +Lucy has not walked much in her sleep the last week, but there is an +odd concentration about her which I do not understand, even in her +sleep she seems to be watching me. She tries the door, and finding it +locked, goes about the room searching for the key. + + +6 August.--Another three days, and no news. This suspense is getting +dreadful. If I only knew where to write to or where to go to, I +should feel easier. But no one has heard a word of Jonathan since +that last letter. I must only pray to God for patience. + +Lucy is more excitable than ever, but is otherwise well. Last night +was very threatening, and the fishermen say that we are in for a +storm. I must try to watch it and learn the weather signs. + +Today is a gray day, and the sun as I write is hidden in thick clouds, +high over Kettleness. Everything is gray except the green grass, +which seems like emerald amongst it, gray earthy rock, gray clouds, +tinged with the sunburst at the far edge, hang over the gray sea, into +which the sandpoints stretch like gray figures. The sea is tumbling +in over the shallows and the sandy flats with a roar, muffled in the +sea-mists drifting inland. The horizon is lost in a gray mist. All +vastness, the clouds are piled up like giant rocks, and there is a +'brool' over the sea that sounds like some passage of doom. Dark +figures are on the beach here and there, sometimes half shrouded in +the mist, and seem 'men like trees walking'. The fishing boats are +racing for home, and rise and dip in the ground swell as they sweep +into the harbour, bending to the scuppers. Here comes old Mr. Swales. +He is making straight for me, and I can see, by the way he lifts his +hat, that he wants to talk. + +I have been quite touched by the change in the poor old man. When he +sat down beside me, he said in a very gentle way, "I want to say +something to you, miss." + +I could see he was not at ease, so I took his poor old wrinkled hand in +mine and asked him to speak fully. + +So he said, leaving his hand in mine, "I'm afraid, my deary, that I +must have shocked you by all the wicked things I've been sayin' about +the dead, and such like, for weeks past, but I didn't mean them, and I +want ye to remember that when I'm gone. We aud folks that be daffled, +and with one foot abaft the krok-hooal, don't altogether like to think +of it, and we don't want to feel scart of it, and that's why I've took +to makin' light of it, so that I'd cheer up my own heart a bit. But, +Lord love ye, miss, I ain't afraid of dyin', not a bit, only I don't +want to die if I can help it. My time must be nigh at hand now, for I +be aud, and a hundred years is too much for any man to expect. And +I'm so nigh it that the Aud Man is already whettin' his scythe. Ye +see, I can't get out o' the habit of caffin' about it all at once. +The chafts will wag as they be used to. Some day soon the Angel of +Death will sound his trumpet for me. But don't ye dooal an' greet, my +deary!"--for he saw that I was crying--"if he should come this very +night I'd not refuse to answer his call. For life be, after all, only +a waitin' for somethin' else than what we're doin', and death be all +that we can rightly depend on. But I'm content, for it's comin' to +me, my deary, and comin' quick. It may be comin' while we be lookin' +and wonderin'. Maybe it's in that wind out over the sea that's +bringin' with it loss and wreck, and sore distress, and sad hearts. +Look! Look!" he cried suddenly. "There's something in that wind and +in the hoast beyont that sounds, and looks, and tastes, and smells +like death. It's in the air. I feel it comin'. Lord, make me answer +cheerful, when my call comes!" He held up his arms devoutly, and +raised his hat. His mouth moved as though he were praying. After a +few minutes' silence, he got up, shook hands with me, and blessed me, +and said goodbye, and hobbled off. It all touched me, and upset me +very much. + +I was glad when the coastguard came along, with his spyglass under his +arm. He stopped to talk with me, as he always does, but all the time +kept looking at a strange ship. + +"I can't make her out," he said. "She's a Russian, by the look of +her. But she's knocking about in the queerest way. She doesn't know +her mind a bit. She seems to see the storm coming, but can't decide +whether to run up north in the open, or to put in here. Look there +again! She is steered mighty strangely, for she doesn't mind the hand +on the wheel, changes about with every puff of wind. We'll hear more +of her before this time tomorrow." + + + + +CHAPTER 7 + + +CUTTING FROM "THE DAILYGRAPH", 8 AUGUST + + +(PASTED IN MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL) + + +From a correspondent. + +Whitby. + +One of the greatest and suddenest storms on record has just been +experienced here, with results both strange and unique. The weather +had been somewhat sultry, but not to any degree uncommon in the +month of August. Saturday evening was as fine as was ever known, +and the great body of holiday-makers laid out yesterday for visits +to Mulgrave Woods, Robin Hood's Bay, Rig Mill, Runswick, Staithes, +and the various trips in the neighborhood of Whitby. The steamers +Emma and Scarborough made trips up and down the coast, and there was +an unusual amount of 'tripping' both to and from Whitby. The day +was unusually fine till the afternoon, when some of the gossips who +frequent the East Cliff churchyard, and from the commanding eminence +watch the wide sweep of sea visible to the north and east, called +attention to a sudden show of 'mares tails' high in the sky to the +northwest. The wind was then blowing from the south-west in the +mild degree which in barometrical language is ranked 'No. 2, light +breeze.' + +The coastguard on duty at once made report, and one old fisherman, +who for more than half a century has kept watch on weather signs +from the East Cliff, foretold in an emphatic manner the coming of a +sudden storm. The approach of sunset was so very beautiful, so +grand in its masses of splendidly coloured clouds, that there was +quite an assemblage on the walk along the cliff in the old +churchyard to enjoy the beauty. Before the sun dipped below the +black mass of Kettleness, standing boldly athwart the western sky, +its downward way was marked by myriad clouds of every sunset colour, +flame, purple, pink, green, violet, and all the tints of gold, with +here and there masses not large, but of seemingly absolute +blackness, in all sorts of shapes, as well outlined as colossal +silhouettes. The experience was not lost on the painters, and +doubtless some of the sketches of the 'Prelude to the Great Storm' +will grace the R. A and R. I. walls in May next. + +More than one captain made up his mind then and there that his +'cobble' or his 'mule', as they term the different classes of boats, +would remain in the harbour till the storm had passed. The wind +fell away entirely during the evening, and at midnight there was a +dead calm, a sultry heat, and that prevailing intensity which, on +the approach of thunder, affects persons of a sensitive nature. + +There were but few lights in sight at sea, for even the coasting +steamers, which usually hug the shore so closely, kept well to +seaward, and but few fishing boats were in sight. The only sail +noticeable was a foreign schooner with all sails set, which was +seemingly going westwards. The foolhardiness or ignorance of her +officers was a prolific theme for comment whilst she remained in +sight, and efforts were made to signal her to reduce sail in the +face of her danger. Before the night shut down she was seen with +sails idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating swell of +the sea. + +"As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean." + +Shortly before ten o'clock the stillness of the air grew quite +oppressive, and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a +sheep inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly +heard, and the band on the pier, with its lively French air, was +like a dischord in the great harmony of nature's silence. A little +after midnight came a strange sound from over the sea, and high +overhead the air began to carry a strange, faint, hollow booming. + +Then without warning the tempest broke. With a rapidity which, at +the time, seemed incredible, and even afterwards is impossible to +realize, the whole aspect of nature at once became convulsed. The +waves rose in growing fury, each over-topping its fellow, till in a +very few minutes the lately glassy sea was like a roaring and +devouring monster. White-crested waves beat madly on the level +sands and rushed up the shelving cliffs. Others broke over the +piers, and with their spume swept the lanthorns of the lighthouses +which rise from the end of either pier of Whitby Harbour. + +The wind roared like thunder, and blew with such force that it was +with difficulty that even strong men kept their feet, or clung with +grim clasp to the iron stanchions. It was found necessary to clear +the entire pier from the mass of onlookers, or else the fatalities +of the night would have increased manifold. To add to the +difficulties and dangers of the time, masses of sea-fog came +drifting inland. White, wet clouds, which swept by in ghostly +fashion, so dank and damp and cold that it needed but little effort +of imagination to think that the spirits of those lost at sea were +touching their living brethren with the clammy hands of death, and +many a one shuddered as the wreaths of sea-mist swept by. + +At times the mist cleared, and the sea for some distance could be +seen in the glare of the lightning, which came thick and fast, +followed by such peals of thunder that the whole sky overhead seemed +trembling under the shock of the footsteps of the storm. + +Some of the scenes thus revealed were of immeasurable grandeur and +of absorbing interest. The sea, running mountains high, threw +skywards with each wave mighty masses of white foam, which the +tempest seemed to snatch at and whirl away into space. Here and +there a fishing boat, with a rag of sail, running madly for shelter +before the blast, now and again the white wings of a storm-tossed +seabird. On the summit of the East Cliff the new searchlight was +ready for experiment, but had not yet been tried. The officers in +charge of it got it into working order, and in the pauses of +onrushing mist swept with it the surface of the sea. Once or twice +its service was most effective, as when a fishing boat, with gunwale +under water, rushed into the harbour, able, by the guidance of the +sheltering light, to avoid the danger of dashing against the piers. +As each boat achieved the safety of the port there was a shout of +joy from the mass of people on the shore, a shout which for a moment +seemed to cleave the gale and was then swept away in its rush. + +Before long the searchlight discovered some distance away a schooner +with all sails set, apparently the same vessel which had been +noticed earlier in the evening. The wind had by this time backed to +the east, and there was a shudder amongst the watchers on the cliff +as they realized the terrible danger in which she now was. + +Between her and the port lay the great flat reef on which so many +good ships have from time to time suffered, and, with the wind +blowing from its present quarter, it would be quite impossible that +she should fetch the entrance of the harbour. + +It was now nearly the hour of high tide, but the waves were so great +that in their troughs the shallows of the shore were almost visible, +and the schooner, with all sails set, was rushing with such speed +that, in the words of one old salt, "she must fetch up somewhere, if +it was only in hell". Then came another rush of sea-fog, greater +than any hitherto, a mass of dank mist, which seemed to close on all +things like a gray pall, and left available to men only the organ of +hearing, for the roar of the tempest, and the crash of the thunder, +and the booming of the mighty billows came through the damp oblivion +even louder than before. The rays of the searchlight were kept fixed +on the harbour mouth across the East Pier, where the shock was +expected, and men waited breathless. + +The wind suddenly shifted to the northeast, and the remnant of the +sea fog melted in the blast. And then, mirabile dictu, between the +piers, leaping from wave to wave as it rushed at headlong speed, +swept the strange schooner before the blast, with all sail set, and +gained the safety of the harbour. The searchlight followed her, and +a shudder ran through all who saw her, for lashed to the helm was a +corpse, with drooping head, which swung horribly to and fro at each +motion of the ship. No other form could be seen on the deck at all. + +A great awe came on all as they realised that the ship, as if by a +miracle, had found the harbour, unsteered save by the hand of a dead +man! However, all took place more quickly than it takes to write +these words. The schooner paused not, but rushing across the +harbour, pitched herself on that accumulation of sand and gravel +washed by many tides and many storms into the southeast corner of +the pier jutting under the East Cliff, known locally as Tate Hill +Pier. + +There was of course a considerable concussion as the vessel drove up +on the sand heap. Every spar, rope, and stay was strained, and some +of the 'top-hammer' came crashing down. But, strangest of all, the +very instant the shore was touched, an immense dog sprang up on deck +from below, as if shot up by the concussion, and running forward, +jumped from the bow on the sand. + +Making straight for the steep cliff, where the churchyard hangs over +the laneway to the East Pier so steeply that some of the flat +tombstones, thruffsteans or through-stones, as they call them in +Whitby vernacular, actually project over where the sustaining cliff +has fallen away, it disappeared in the darkness, which seemed +intensified just beyond the focus of the searchlight. + +It so happened that there was no one at the moment on Tate Hill +Pier, as all those whose houses are in close proximity were either +in bed or were out on the heights above. Thus the coastguard on +duty on the eastern side of the harbour, who at once ran down to the +little pier, was the first to climb aboard. The men working the +searchlight, after scouring the entrance of the harbour without +seeing anything, then turned the light on the derelict and kept it +there. The coastguard ran aft, and when he came beside the wheel, +bent over to examine it, and recoiled at once as though under some +sudden emotion. This seemed to pique general curiosity, and quite a +number of people began to run. + +It is a good way round from the West Cliff by the Draw-bridge to +Tate Hill Pier, but your correspondent is a fairly good runner, and +came well ahead of the crowd. When I arrived, however, I found +already assembled on the pier a crowd, whom the coastguard and +police refused to allow to come on board. By the courtesy of the +chief boatman, I was, as your correspondent, permitted to climb on +deck, and was one of a small group who saw the dead seaman whilst +actually lashed to the wheel. + +It was no wonder that the coastguard was surprised, or even awed, +for not often can such a sight have been seen. The man was simply +fastened by his hands, tied one over the other, to a spoke of the +wheel. Between the inner hand and the wood was a crucifix, the set +of beads on which it was fastened being around both wrists and +wheel, and all kept fast by the binding cords. The poor fellow may +have been seated at one time, but the flapping and buffeting of the +sails had worked through the rudder of the wheel and had dragged him +to and fro, so that the cords with which he was tied had cut the +flesh to the bone. + +Accurate note was made of the state of things, and a doctor, Surgeon +J. M. Caffyn, of 33, East Elliot Place, who came immediately after +me, declared, after making examination, that the man must have been +dead for quite two days. + +In his pocket was a bottle, carefully corked, empty save for +a little roll of paper, which proved to be the addendum to +the log. + +The coastguard said the man must have tied up his own hands, +fastening the knots with his teeth. The fact that a coastguard was +the first on board may save some complications later on, in the +Admiralty Court, for coastguards cannot claim the salvage which is +the right of the first civilian entering on a derelict. Already, +however, the legal tongues are wagging, and one young law student is +loudly asserting that the rights of the owner are already completely +sacrificed, his property being held in contravention of the statues +of mortmain, since the tiller, as emblemship, if not proof, of +delegated possession, is held in a dead hand. + +It is needless to say that the dead steersman has been reverently +removed from the place where he held his honourable watch and ward +till death, a steadfastness as noble as that of the young +Casabianca, and placed in the mortuary to await inquest. + +Already the sudden storm is passing, and its fierceness is +abating. Crowds are scattering backward, and the sky is +beginning to redden over the Yorkshire wolds. + +I shall send, in time for your next issue, further details +of the derelict ship which found her way so miraculously +into harbour in the storm. + + +9 August.--The sequel to the strange arrival of the derelict in the +storm last night is almost more startling than the thing itself. It +turns out that the schooner is Russian from Varna, and is called the +Demeter. She is almost entirely in ballast of silver sand, with +only a small amount of cargo, a number of great wooden boxes filled +with mould. + +This cargo was consigned to a Whitby solicitor, Mr. S.F. Billington, +of 7, The Crescent, who this morning went aboard and took formal +possession of the goods consigned to him. + +The Russian consul, too, acting for the charter-party, took formal +possession of the ship, and paid all harbour dues, etc. + +Nothing is talked about here today except the strange coincidence. +The officials of the Board of Trade have been most exacting in +seeing that every compliance has been made with existing +regulations. As the matter is to be a 'nine days wonder', they are +evidently determined that there shall be no cause of other +complaint. + +A good deal of interest was abroad concerning the dog which landed +when the ship struck, and more than a few of the members of the +S.P.C.A., which is very strong in Whitby, have tried to befriend the +animal. To the general disappointment, however, it was not to be +found. It seems to have disappeared entirely from the town. It may +be that it was frightened and made its way on to the moors, where it +is still hiding in terror. + +There are some who look with dread on such a possibility, lest later +on it should in itself become a danger, for it is evidently a fierce +brute. Early this morning a large dog, a half-bred mastiff +belonging to a coal merchant close to Tate Hill Pier, was found dead +in the roadway opposite its master's yard. It had been fighting, +and manifestly had had a savage opponent, for its throat was torn +away, and its belly was slit open as if with a savage claw. + +Later.--By the kindness of the Board of Trade inspector, I have been +permitted to look over the log book of the Demeter, which was in +order up to within three days, but contained nothing of special +interest except as to facts of missing men. The greatest interest, +however, is with regard to the paper found in the bottle, which was +today produced at the inquest. And a more strange narrative than +the two between them unfold it has not been my lot to come across. + +As there is no motive for concealment, I am permitted to use them, +and accordingly send you a transcript, simply omitting technical +details of seamanship and supercargo. It almost seems as though the +captain had been seized with some kind of mania before he had got +well into blue water, and that this had developed persistently +throughout the voyage. Of course my statement must be taken cum +grano, since I am writing from the dictation of a clerk of the +Russian consul, who kindly translated for me, time being short. + + + + LOG OF THE "DEMETER" Varna to Whitby + + + Written 18 July, things so strange happening, that I shall + keep accurate note henceforth till we land. + + + On 6 July we finished taking in cargo, silver sand and boxes + of earth. At noon set sail. East wind, fresh. Crew, five + hands . . . two mates, cook, and myself, (captain). + + + On 11 July at dawn entered Bosphorus. Boarded by Turkish + Customs officers. Backsheesh. All correct. Under way at + 4 p.m. + + + On 12 July through Dardanelles. More Customs officers and + flagboat of guarding squadron. Backsheesh again. Work of + officers thorough, but quick. Want us off soon. At dark + passed into Archipelago. + + + On 13 July passed Cape Matapan. Crew dissatisfied about + something. Seemed scared, but would not speak out. + + + On 14 July was somewhat anxious about crew. Men all steady + fellows, who sailed with me before. Mate could not make out what + was wrong. They only told him there was SOMETHING, and crossed + themselves. Mate lost temper with one of them that day and struck + him. Expected fierce quarrel, but all was quiet. + + + On 16 July mate reported in the morning that one of the + crew, Petrofsky, was missing. Could not account for it. + Took larboard watch eight bells last night, was relieved by + Amramoff, but did not go to bunk. Men more downcast than + ever. All said they expected something of the kind, but + would not say more than there was SOMETHING aboard. Mate + getting very impatient with them. Feared some trouble + ahead. + + + On 17 July, yesterday, one of the men, Olgaren, came to my cabin, + and in an awestruck way confided to me that he thought there was a + strange man aboard the ship. He said that in his watch he had + been sheltering behind the deckhouse, as there was a rain storm, + when he saw a tall, thin man, who was not like any of the crew, + come up the companionway, and go along the deck forward and + disappear. He followed cautiously, but when he got to bows found + no one, and the hatchways were all closed. He was in a panic of + superstitious fear, and I am afraid the panic may spread. To + allay it, I shall today search the entire ship carefully from stem + to stern. + + + Later in the day I got together the whole crew, and told them, as + they evidently thought there was some one in the ship, we would + search from stem to stern. First mate angry, said it was folly, + and to yield to such foolish ideas would demoralise the men, said + he would engage to keep them out of trouble with the handspike. I + let him take the helm, while the rest began a thorough search, all + keeping abreast, with lanterns. We left no corner unsearched. As + there were only the big wooden boxes, there were no odd corners + where a man could hide. Men much relieved when search over, and + went back to work cheerfully. First mate scowled, but said + nothing. + + + 22 July.--Rough weather last three days, and all hands busy + with sails, no time to be frightened. Men seem to have + forgotten their dread. Mate cheerful again, and all on + good terms. Praised men for work in bad weather. Passed + Gibraltar and out through Straits. All well. + + + 24 July.--There seems some doom over this ship. Already a hand + short, and entering the Bay of Biscay with wild weather ahead, and + yet last night another man lost, disappeared. Like the first, he + came off his watch and was not seen again. Men all in a panic of + fear, sent a round robin, asking to have double watch, as they + fear to be alone. Mate angry. Fear there will be some trouble, + as either he or the men will do some violence. + + + 28 July.--Four days in hell, knocking about in a sort of + maelstrom, and the wind a tempest. No sleep for any one. + Men all worn out. Hardly know how to set a watch, since no + one fit to go on. Second mate volunteered to steer and + watch, and let men snatch a few hours sleep. Wind abating, + seas still terrific, but feel them less, as ship is + steadier. + + + 29 July.--Another tragedy. Had single watch tonight, as crew too + tired to double. When morning watch came on deck could find no + one except steersman. Raised outcry, and all came on deck. + Thorough search, but no one found. Are now without second mate, + and crew in a panic. Mate and I agreed to go armed henceforth and + wait for any sign of cause. + + + 30 July.--Last night. Rejoiced we are nearing England. Weather + fine, all sails set. Retired worn out, slept soundly, awakened by + mate telling me that both man of watch and steersman missing. + Only self and mate and two hands left to work ship. + + 1 August.--Two days of fog, and not a sail sighted. Had hoped + when in the English Channel to be able to signal for help or get + in somewhere. Not having power to work sails, have to run before + wind. Dare not lower, as could not raise them again. We seem to + be drifting to some terrible doom. Mate now more demoralised than + either of men. His stronger nature seems to have worked inwardly + against himself. Men are beyond fear, working stolidly and + patiently, with minds made up to worst. They are Russian, he + Roumanian. + + 2 August, midnight.--Woke up from few minutes sleep by hearing a + cry, seemingly outside my port. Could see nothing in fog. Rushed + on deck, and ran against mate. Tells me he heard cry and ran, but + no sign of man on watch. One more gone. Lord, help us! Mate + says we must be past Straits of Dover, as in a moment of fog + lifting he saw North Foreland, just as he heard the man cry out. + If so we are now off in the North Sea, and only God can guide us + in the fog, which seems to move with us, and God seems to have + deserted us. + + + 3 August.--At midnight I went to relieve the man at the + wheel and when I got to it found no one there. The wind + was steady, and as we ran before it there was no yawing. I + dared not leave it, so shouted for the mate. After a few + seconds, he rushed up on deck in his flannels. He looked + wild-eyed and haggard, and I greatly fear his reason has + given way. He came close to me and whispered hoarsely, + with his mouth to my ear, as though fearing the very air + might hear. "It is here. I know it now. On the watch + last night I saw It, like a man, tall and thin, and ghastly + pale. It was in the bows, and looking out. I crept behind + It, and gave it my knife, but the knife went through It, + empty as the air." And as he spoke he took the knife and + drove it savagely into space. Then he went on, "But It is + here, and I'll find It. It is in the hold, perhaps in one + of those boxes. I'll unscrew them one by one and see. You + work the helm." And with a warning look and his finger on + his lip, he went below. There was springing up a choppy + wind, and I could not leave the helm. I saw him come out + on deck again with a tool chest and lantern, and go down + the forward hatchway. He is mad, stark, raving mad, and + it's no use my trying to stop him. He can't hurt those big + boxes, they are invoiced as clay, and to pull them about is + as harmless a thing as he can do. So here I stay and mind + the helm, and write these notes. I can only trust in God + and wait till the fog clears. Then, if I can't steer to + any harbour with the wind that is, I shall cut down sails, + and lie by, and signal for help . . . + + It is nearly all over now. Just as I was beginning to hope + that the mate would come out calmer, for I heard him + knocking away at something in the hold, and work is good + for him, there came up the hatchway a sudden, startled + scream, which made my blood run cold, and up on the deck he + came as if shot from a gun, a raging madman, with his eyes + rolling and his face convulsed with fear. "Save me! Save + me!" he cried, and then looked round on the blanket of fog. + His horror turned to despair, and in a steady voice he + said, "You had better come too, captain, before it is too + late. He is there! I know the secret now. The sea will + save me from Him, and it is all that is left!" Before I + could say a word, or move forward to seize him, he sprang + on the bulwark and deliberately threw himself into the sea. + I suppose I know the secret too, now. It was this madman + who had got rid of the men one by one, and now he has + followed them himself. God help me! How am I to account + for all these horrors when I get to port? When I get to + port! Will that ever be? + + + 4 August.--Still fog, which the sunrise cannot pierce, I + know there is sunrise because I am a sailor, why else I + know not. I dared not go below, I dared not leave the + helm, so here all night I stayed, and in the dimness of the + night I saw it, Him! God, forgive me, but the mate was + right to jump overboard. It was better to die like a man. + To die like a sailor in blue water, no man can object. But + I am captain, and I must not leave my ship. But I shall + baffle this fiend or monster, for I shall tie my hands to + the wheel when my strength begins to fail, and along with + them I shall tie that which He, It, dare not touch. And + then, come good wind or foul, I shall save my soul, and my + honour as a captain. I am growing weaker, and the night is + coming on. If He can look me in the face again, I may not + have time to act. . . If we are wrecked, mayhap this bottle + may be found, and those who find it may understand. If + not . . . well, then all men shall know that I have been + true to my trust. God and the Blessed Virgin and the + Saints help a poor ignorant soul trying to do his duty . . . + + +Of course the verdict was an open one. There is no evidence +to adduce, and whether or not the man himself committed the +murders there is now none to say. The folk here hold almost +universally that the captain is simply a hero, and he is to be +given a public funeral. Already it is arranged that his body +is to be taken with a train of boats up the Esk for a piece +and then brought back to Tate Hill Pier and up the abbey steps, +for he is to be buried in the churchyard on the cliff. The +owners of more than a hundred boats have already given in their +names as wishing to follow him to the grave. + +No trace has ever been found of the great dog, at which there is +much mourning, for, with public opinion in its present state, he +would, I believe, be adopted by the town. Tomorrow will see the +funeral, and so will end this one more 'mystery of the sea'. + + + +MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL + +8 August.--Lucy was very restless all night, and I too, could not +sleep. The storm was fearful, and as it boomed loudly among the +chimney pots, it made me shudder. When a sharp puff came it seemed to +be like a distant gun. Strangely enough, Lucy did not wake, but she +got up twice and dressed herself. Fortunately, each time I awoke in +time and managed to undress her without waking her, and got her back to +bed. It is a very strange thing, this sleep-walking, for as soon as +her will is thwarted in any physical way, her intention, if there be +any, disappears, and she yields herself almost exactly to the routine +of her life. + +Early in the morning we both got up and went down to the harbour to see +if anything had happened in the night. There were very few people +about, and though the sun was bright, and the air clear and fresh, the +big, grim-looking waves, that seemed dark themselves because the foam +that topped them was like snow, forced themselves in through the mouth +of the harbour, like a bullying man going through a crowd. Somehow I +felt glad that Jonathan was not on the sea last night, but on land. +But, oh, is he on land or sea? Where is he, and how? I am getting +fearfully anxious about him. If I only knew what to do, and could do +anything! + + +10 August.--The funeral of the poor sea captain today was most +touching. Every boat in the harbour seemed to be there, and the coffin +was carried by captains all the way from Tate Hill Pier up to the +churchyard. Lucy came with me, and we went early to our old seat, +whilst the cortege of boats went up the river to the Viaduct and came +down again. We had a lovely view, and saw the procession nearly all +the way. The poor fellow was laid to rest near our seat so that we +stood on it, when the time came and saw everything. + +Poor Lucy seemed much upset. She was restless and uneasy all the time, +and I cannot but think that her dreaming at night is telling on her. +She is quite odd in one thing. She will not admit to me that there is +any cause for restlessness, or if there be, she does not understand it +herself. + +There is an additional cause in that poor Mr. Swales was found dead +this morning on our seat, his neck being broken. He had evidently, as +the doctor said, fallen back in the seat in some sort of fright, for +there was a look of fear and horror on his face that the men said made +them shudder. Poor dear old man! + +Lucy is so sweet and sensitive that she feels influences more acutely +than other people do. Just now she was quite upset by a little thing +which I did not much heed, though I am myself very fond of animals. + +One of the men who came up here often to look for the boats was +followed by his dog. The dog is always with him. They are both quiet +persons, and I never saw the man angry, nor heard the dog bark. During +the service the dog would not come to its master, who was on the seat +with us, but kept a few yards off, barking and howling. Its master +spoke to it gently, and then harshly, and then angrily. But it would +neither come nor cease to make a noise. It was in a fury, with its +eyes savage, and all its hair bristling out like a cat's tail when puss +is on the war path. + +Finally the man too got angry, and jumped down and kicked the dog, and +then took it by the scruff of the neck and half dragged and half threw +it on the tombstone on which the seat is fixed. The moment it touched +the stone the poor thing began to tremble. It did not try to get away, +but crouched down, quivering and cowering, and was in such a pitiable +state of terror that I tried, though without effect, to comfort it. + +Lucy was full of pity, too, but she did not attempt to touch the dog, +but looked at it in an agonised sort of way. I greatly fear that she +is of too super-sensitive a nature to go through the world without +trouble. She will be dreaming of this tonight, I am sure. The whole +agglomeration of things, the ship steered into port by a dead man, his +attitude, tied to the wheel with a crucifix and beads, the touching +funeral, the dog, now furious and now in terror, will all afford +material for her dreams. + +I think it will be best for her to go to bed tired out physically, so I +shall take her for a long walk by the cliffs to Robin Hood's Bay and +back. She ought not to have much inclination for sleep-walking then. + + + + +CHAPTER 8 + + +MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL + +Same day, 11 o'clock P.M.--Oh, but I am tired! If it were not that I +had made my diary a duty I should not open it tonight. We had a lovely +walk. Lucy, after a while, was in gay spirits, owing, I think, to some +dear cows who came nosing towards us in a field close to the +lighthouse, and frightened the wits out of us. I believe we forgot +everything, except of course, personal fear, and it seemed to wipe the +slate clean and give us a fresh start. We had a capital 'severe tea' +at Robin Hood's Bay in a sweet little old-fashioned inn, with a bow +window right over the seaweed-covered rocks of the strand. I believe +we should have shocked the 'New Woman' with our appetites. Men are +more tolerant, bless them! Then we walked home with some, or rather +many, stoppages to rest, and with our hearts full of a constant dread +of wild bulls. + +Lucy was really tired, and we intended to creep off to bed as soon as +we could. The young curate came in, however, and Mrs. Westenra asked +him to stay for supper. Lucy and I had both a fight for it with the +dusty miller. I know it was a hard fight on my part, and I am quite +heroic. I think that some day the bishops must get together and see +about breeding up a new class of curates, who don't take supper, no +matter how hard they may be pressed to, and who will know when girls +are tired. + +Lucy is asleep and breathing softly. She has more colour in her cheeks +than usual, and looks, oh so sweet. If Mr. Holmwood fell in love with +her seeing her only in the drawing room, I wonder what he would say if +he saw her now. Some of the 'New Women' writers will some day start an +idea that men and women should be allowed to see each other asleep +before proposing or accepting. But I suppose the 'New Woman' won't +condescend in future to accept. She will do the proposing herself. And +a nice job she will make of it too! There's some consolation in that. +I am so happy tonight, because dear Lucy seems better. I really +believe she has turned the corner, and that we are over her troubles +with dreaming. I should be quite happy if I only knew if Jonathan . . . +God bless and keep him. + + +11 August.--Diary again. No sleep now, so I may as well write. I am +too agitated to sleep. We have had such an adventure, such an +agonizing experience. I fell asleep as soon as I had closed my diary. +. . . Suddenly I became broad awake, and sat up, with a horrible sense +of fear upon me, and of some feeling of emptiness around me. The room +was dark, so I could not see Lucy's bed. I stole across and felt for +her. The bed was empty. I lit a match and found that she was not in +the room. The door was shut, but not locked, as I had left it. I feared +to wake her mother, who has been more than usually ill lately, so threw +on some clothes and got ready to look for her. As I was leaving the +room it struck me that the clothes she wore might give me some clue to +her dreaming intention. Dressing-gown would mean house, dress outside. +Dressing-gown and dress were both in their places. "Thank God," I said +to myself, "she cannot be far, as she is only in her nightdress." + +I ran downstairs and looked in the sitting room. Not there! Then I +looked in all the other rooms of the house, with an ever-growing fear +chilling my heart. Finally, I came to the hall door and found it open. +It was not wide open, but the catch of the lock had not caught. The +people of the house are careful to lock the door every night, so I +feared that Lucy must have gone out as she was. There was no time to +think of what might happen. A vague over-mastering fear obscured all +details. + +I took a big, heavy shawl and ran out. The clock was striking one as I +was in the Crescent, and there was not a soul in sight. I ran along +the North Terrace, but could see no sign of the white figure which I +expected. At the edge of the West Cliff above the pier I looked across +the harbour to the East Cliff, in the hope or fear, I don't know which, +of seeing Lucy in our favourite seat. + +There was a bright full moon, with heavy black, driving clouds, which +threw the whole scene into a fleeting diorama of light and shade as +they sailed across. For a moment or two I could see nothing, as the +shadow of a cloud obscured St. Mary's Church and all around it. Then +as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the abbey coming into +view, and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword-cut +moved along, the church and churchyard became gradually visible. +Whatever my expectation was, it was not disappointed, for there, on our +favourite seat, the silver light of the moon struck a half-reclining +figure, snowy white. The coming of the cloud was too quick for me to +see much, for shadow shut down on light almost immediately, but it +seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the +white figure shone, and bent over it. What it was, whether man or +beast, I could not tell. + +I did not wait to catch another glance, but flew down the steep steps +to the pier and along by the fish-market to the bridge, which was the +only way to reach the East Cliff. The town seemed as dead, for not a +soul did I see. I rejoiced that it was so, for I wanted no witness of +poor Lucy's condition. The time and distance seemed endless, and my +knees trembled and my breath came laboured as I toiled up the endless +steps to the abbey. I must have gone fast, and yet it seemed to me as +if my feet were weighted with lead, and as though every joint in my +body were rusty. + +When I got almost to the top I could see the seat and the white figure, +for I was now close enough to distinguish it even through the spells of +shadow. There was undoubtedly something, long and black, bending over +the half-reclining white figure. I called in fright, "Lucy! Lucy!" +and something raised a head, and from where I was I could see a white +face and red, gleaming eyes. + +Lucy did not answer, and I ran on to the entrance of the churchyard. +As I entered, the church was between me and the seat, and for a minute +or so I lost sight of her. When I came in view again the cloud had +passed, and the moonlight struck so brilliantly that I could see Lucy +half reclining with her head lying over the back of the seat. She was +quite alone, and there was not a sign of any living thing about. + +When I bent over her I could see that she was still asleep. Her lips +were parted, and she was breathing, not softly as usual with her, but +in long, heavy gasps, as though striving to get her lungs full at every +breath. As I came close, she put up her hand in her sleep and pulled +the collar of her nightdress close around her, as though she felt the +cold. I flung the warm shawl over her, and drew the edges tight around +her neck, for I dreaded lest she should get some deadly chill from the +night air, unclad as she was. I feared to wake her all at once, so, in +order to have my hands free to help her, I fastened the shawl at her +throat with a big safety pin. But I must have been clumsy in my +anxiety and pinched or pricked her with it, for by-and-by, when her +breathing became quieter, she put her hand to her throat again and +moaned. When I had her carefully wrapped up I put my shoes on her +feet, and then began very gently to wake her. + +At first she did not respond, but gradually she became more and more +uneasy in her sleep, moaning and sighing occasionally. At last, as +time was passing fast, and for many other reasons, I wished to get her +home at once, I shook her forcibly, till finally she opened her eyes +and awoke. She did not seem surprised to see me, as, of course, she +did not realize all at once where she was. + +Lucy always wakes prettily, and even at such a time, when her body must +have been chilled with cold, and her mind somewhat appalled at waking +unclad in a churchyard at night, she did not lose her grace. She +trembled a little, and clung to me. When I told her to come at once +with me home, she rose without a word, with the obedience of a child. +As we passed along, the gravel hurt my feet, and Lucy noticed me wince. +She stopped and wanted to insist upon my taking my shoes, but I would +not. However, when we got to the pathway outside the churchyard, where +there was a puddle of water, remaining from the storm, I daubed my feet +with mud, using each foot in turn on the other, so that as we went +home, no one, in case we should meet any one, should notice my bare +feet. + +Fortune favoured us, and we got home without meeting a soul. Once we +saw a man, who seemed not quite sober, passing along a street in front +of us. But we hid in a door till he had disappeared up an opening such +as there are here, steep little closes, or 'wynds', as they call them +in Scotland. My heart beat so loud all the time sometimes I thought I +should faint. I was filled with anxiety about Lucy, not only for her +health, lest she should suffer from the exposure, but for her +reputation in case the story should get wind. When we got in, and had +washed our feet, and had said a prayer of thankfulness together, I +tucked her into bed. Before falling asleep she asked, even implored, +me not to say a word to any one, even her mother, about her +sleep-walking adventure. + +I hesitated at first, to promise, but on thinking of the state of her +mother's health, and how the knowledge of such a thing would fret her, +and think too, of how such a story might become distorted, nay, +infallibly would, in case it should leak out, I thought it wiser to do +so. I hope I did right. I have locked the door, and the key is tied +to my wrist, so perhaps I shall not be again disturbed. Lucy is +sleeping soundly. The reflex of the dawn is high and far over the +sea . . . + + +Same day, noon.--All goes well. Lucy slept till I woke her and seemed +not to have even changed her side. The adventure of the night does not +seem to have harmed her, on the contrary, it has benefited her, for she +looks better this morning than she has done for weeks. I was sorry to +notice that my clumsiness with the safety-pin hurt her. Indeed, it +might have been serious, for the skin of her throat was pierced. I +must have pinched up a piece of loose skin and have transfixed it, for +there are two little red points like pin-pricks, and on the band of her +nightdress was a drop of blood. When I apologised and was concerned +about it, she laughed and petted me, and said she did not even feel it. +Fortunately it cannot leave a scar, as it is so tiny. + + +Same day, night.--We passed a happy day. The air was clear, and the +sun bright, and there was a cool breeze. We took our lunch to Mulgrave +Woods, Mrs. Westenra driving by the road and Lucy and I walking by the +cliff-path and joining her at the gate. I felt a little sad myself, +for I could not but feel how absolutely happy it would have been had +Jonathan been with me. But there! I must only be patient. In the +evening we strolled in the Casino Terrace, and heard some good music by +Spohr and Mackenzie, and went to bed early. Lucy seems more restful +than she has been for some time, and fell asleep at once. I shall lock +the door and secure the key the same as before, though I do not expect +any trouble tonight. + + +12 August.--My expectations were wrong, for twice during the night I +was wakened by Lucy trying to get out. She seemed, even in her sleep, +to be a little impatient at finding the door shut, and went back to bed +under a sort of protest. I woke with the dawn, and heard the birds +chirping outside of the window. Lucy woke, too, and I was glad to see, +was even better than on the previous morning. All her old gaiety of +manner seemed to have come back, and she came and snuggled in beside me +and told me all about Arthur. I told her how anxious I was about +Jonathan, and then she tried to comfort me. Well, she succeeded +somewhat, for, though sympathy can't alter facts, it can make them more +bearable. + + +13 August.--Another quiet day, and to bed with the key on my wrist as +before. Again I awoke in the night, and found Lucy sitting up in bed, +still asleep, pointing to the window. I got up quietly, and pulling +aside the blind, looked out. It was brilliant moonlight, and the soft +effect of the light over the sea and sky, merged together in one great +silent mystery, was beautiful beyond words. Between me and the +moonlight flitted a great bat, coming and going in great whirling +circles. Once or twice it came quite close, but was, I suppose, +frightened at seeing me, and flitted away across the harbour towards +the abbey. When I came back from the window Lucy had lain down again, +and was sleeping peacefully. She did not stir again all night. + + +14 August.--On the East Cliff, reading and writing all day. Lucy seems +to have become as much in love with the spot as I am, and it is hard to +get her away from it when it is time to come home for lunch or tea or +dinner. This afternoon she made a funny remark. We were coming home +for dinner, and had come to the top of the steps up from the West Pier +and stopped to look at the view, as we generally do. The setting sun, +low down in the sky, was just dropping behind Kettleness. The red +light was thrown over on the East Cliff and the old abbey, and seemed +to bathe everything in a beautiful rosy glow. We were silent for a +while, and suddenly Lucy murmured as if to herself . . . + +"His red eyes again! They are just the same." It was such an odd +expression, coming apropos of nothing, that it quite startled me. I +slewed round a little, so as to see Lucy well without seeming to stare +at her, and saw that she was in a half dreamy state, with an odd look +on her face that I could not quite make out, so I said nothing, but +followed her eyes. She appeared to be looking over at our own seat, +whereon was a dark figure seated alone. I was quite a little startled +myself, for it seemed for an instant as if the stranger had great eyes +like burning flames, but a second look dispelled the illusion. The red +sunlight was shining on the windows of St. Mary's Church behind our +seat, and as the sun dipped there was just sufficient change in the +refraction and reflection to make it appear as if the light moved. I +called Lucy's attention to the peculiar effect, and she became herself +with a start, but she looked sad all the same. It may have been that +she was thinking of that terrible night up there. We never refer to +it, so I said nothing, and we went home to dinner. Lucy had a headache +and went early to bed. I saw her asleep, and went out for a little +stroll myself. + +I walked along the cliffs to the westward, and was full of sweet +sadness, for I was thinking of Jonathan. When coming home, it was then +bright moonlight, so bright that, though the front of our part of the +Crescent was in shadow, everything could be well seen, I threw a glance +up at our window, and saw Lucy's head leaning out. I opened my +handkerchief and waved it. She did not notice or make any movement +whatever. Just then, the moonlight crept round an angle of the +building, and the light fell on the window. There distinctly was Lucy +with her head lying up against the side of the window sill and her eyes +shut. She was fast asleep, and by her, seated on the window sill, was +something that looked like a good-sized bird. I was afraid she might +get a chill, so I ran upstairs, but as I came into the room she was +moving back to her bed, fast asleep, and breathing heavily. She was +holding her hand to her throat, as though to protect if from the cold. + +I did not wake her, but tucked her up warmly. I have taken care that +the door is locked and the window securely fastened. + +She looks so sweet as she sleeps, but she is paler than is her wont, +and there is a drawn, haggard look under her eyes which I do not like. +I fear she is fretting about something. I wish I could find out what it +is. + + +15 August.--Rose later than usual. Lucy was languid and tired, and +slept on after we had been called. We had a happy surprise at +breakfast. Arthur's father is better, and wants the marriage to come +off soon. Lucy is full of quiet joy, and her mother is glad and sorry +at once. Later on in the day she told me the cause. She is grieved to +lose Lucy as her very own, but she is rejoiced that she is soon to have +some one to protect her. Poor dear, sweet lady! She confided to me +that she has got her death warrant. She has not told Lucy, and made me +promise secrecy. Her doctor told her that within a few months, at +most, she must die, for her heart is weakening. At any time, even now, +a sudden shock would be almost sure to kill her. Ah, we were wise to +keep from her the affair of the dreadful night of Lucy's sleep-walking. + + +17 August.--No diary for two whole days. I have not had the heart to +write. Some sort of shadowy pall seems to be coming over our +happiness. No news from Jonathan, and Lucy seems to be growing weaker, +whilst her mother's hours are numbering to a close. I do not +understand Lucy's fading away as she is doing. She eats well and +sleeps well, and enjoys the fresh air, but all the time the roses in +her cheeks are fading, and she gets weaker and more languid day by day. +At night I hear her gasping as if for air. + +I keep the key of our door always fastened to my wrist at night, but +she gets up and walks about the room, and sits at the open window. +Last night I found her leaning out when I woke up, and when I tried to +wake her I could not. + +She was in a faint. When I managed to restore her, she was weak as +water, and cried silently between long, painful struggles for breath. +When I asked her how she came to be at the window she shook her head +and turned away. + +I trust her feeling ill may not be from that unlucky prick of the +safety-pin. I looked at her throat just now as she lay asleep, and the +tiny wounds seem not to have healed. They are still open, and, if +anything, larger than before, and the edges of them are faintly white. +They are like little white dots with red centres. Unless they heal +within a day or two, I shall insist on the doctor seeing about them. + + + +LETTER, SAMUEL F. BILLINGTON & SON, SOLICITORS WHITBY, +TO MESSRS. CARTER, PATERSON & CO., LONDON. + +17 August + +"Dear Sirs,--Herewith please receive invoice of goods sent by Great +Northern Railway. Same are to be delivered at Carfax, near +Purfleet, immediately on receipt at goods station King's Cross. The +house is at present empty, but enclosed please find keys, all of +which are labelled. + +"You will please deposit the boxes, fifty in number, which form the +consignment, in the partially ruined building forming part of the +house and marked 'A' on rough diagrams enclosed. Your agent will +easily recognize the locality, as it is the ancient chapel of the +mansion. The goods leave by the train at 9:30 tonight, and will be +due at King's Cross at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon. As our client +wishes the delivery made as soon as possible, we shall be obliged by +your having teams ready at King's Cross at the time named and +forthwith conveying the goods to destination. In order to obviate +any delays possible through any routine requirements as to payment +in your departments, we enclose cheque herewith for ten pounds, +receipt of which please acknowledge. Should the charge be less than +this amount, you can return balance, if greater, we shall at once +send cheque for difference on hearing from you. You are to leave +the keys on coming away in the main hall of the house, where the +proprietor may get them on his entering the house by means of his +duplicate key. + +"Pray do not take us as exceeding the bounds of business courtesy +in pressing you in all ways to use the utmost expedition. + +"We are, dear Sirs, +Faithfully yours, +SAMUEL F. BILLINGTON & SON" + + + +LETTER, MESSRS. CARTER, PATERSON & CO., LONDON, +TO MESSRS. BILLINGTON & SON, WHITBY. + +21 August. + +"Dear Sirs,--We beg to acknowledge 10 pounds received and to return +cheque of 1 pound, 17s, 9d, amount of overplus, as shown in +receipted account herewith. Goods are delivered in exact accordance +with instructions, and keys left in parcel in main hall, as +directed. + +"We are, dear Sirs, +Yours respectfully, +Pro CARTER, PATERSON & CO." + + + +MINA MURRAY'S JOURNAL. + +18 August.--I am happy today, and write sitting on the seat in the +churchyard. Lucy is ever so much better. Last night she slept well +all night, and did not disturb me once. + +The roses seem coming back already to her cheeks, though she is still +sadly pale and wan-looking. If she were in any way anemic I could +understand it, but she is not. She is in gay spirits and full of life +and cheerfulness. All the morbid reticence seems to have passed from +her, and she has just reminded me, as if I needed any reminding, of +that night, and that it was here, on this very seat, I found her +asleep. + +As she told me she tapped playfully with the heel of her boot on the +stone slab and said, + +"My poor little feet didn't make much noise then! I daresay poor old +Mr. Swales would have told me that it was because I didn't want to wake +up Geordie." + +As she was in such a communicative humour, I asked her if she had +dreamed at all that night. + +Before she answered, that sweet, puckered look came into her forehead, +which Arthur, I call him Arthur from her habit, says he loves, and +indeed, I don't wonder that he does. Then she went on in a +half-dreaming kind of way, as if trying to recall it to herself. + +"I didn't quite dream, but it all seemed to be real. I only wanted to +be here in this spot. I don't know why, for I was afraid of something, +I don't know what. I remember, though I suppose I was asleep, passing +through the streets and over the bridge. A fish leaped as I went by, +and I leaned over to look at it, and I heard a lot of dogs howling. The +whole town seemed as if it must be full of dogs all howling at once, as +I went up the steps. Then I had a vague memory of something long and +dark with red eyes, just as we saw in the sunset, and something very +sweet and very bitter all around me at once. And then I seemed sinking +into deep green water, and there was a singing in my ears, as I have +heard there is to drowning men, and then everything seemed passing away +from me. My soul seemed to go out from my body and float about the +air. I seem to remember that once the West Lighthouse was right under +me, and then there was a sort of agonizing feeling, as if I were in an +earthquake, and I came back and found you shaking my body. I saw you +do it before I felt you." + +Then she began to laugh. It seemed a little uncanny to me, and I +listened to her breathlessly. I did not quite like it, and thought it +better not to keep her mind on the subject, so we drifted on to another +subject, and Lucy was like her old self again. When we got home the +fresh breeze had braced her up, and her pale cheeks were really more +rosy. Her mother rejoiced when she saw her, and we all spent a very +happy evening together. + + +19 August.--Joy, joy, joy! Although not all joy. At last, news of +Jonathan. The dear fellow has been ill, that is why he did not write. +I am not afraid to think it or to say it, now that I know. Mr. Hawkins +sent me on the letter, and wrote himself, oh so kindly. I am to leave +in the morning and go over to Jonathan, and to help to nurse him if +necessary, and to bring him home. Mr. Hawkins says it would not be a +bad thing if we were to be married out there. I have cried over the +good Sister's letter till I can feel it wet against my bosom, where it +lies. It is of Jonathan, and must be near my heart, for he is in my +heart. My journey is all mapped out, and my luggage ready. I am only +taking one change of dress. Lucy will bring my trunk to London and +keep it till I send for it, for it may be that . . . I must write no +more. I must keep it to say to Jonathan, my husband. The letter that +he has seen and touched must comfort me till we meet. + + + +LETTER, SISTER AGATHA, HOSPITAL OF ST. JOSEPH AND +STE. MARY BUDA-PESTH, TO MISS WILLHELMINA MURRAY + +12 August, + +"Dear Madam. + +"I write by desire of Mr. Jonathan Harker, who is himself not strong +enough to write, though progressing well, thanks to God and St. +Joseph and Ste. Mary. He has been under our care for nearly six +weeks, suffering from a violent brain fever. He wishes me to convey +his love, and to say that by this post I write for him to Mr. Peter +Hawkins, Exeter, to say, with his dutiful respects, that he is sorry +for his delay, and that all of his work is completed. He will +require some few weeks' rest in our sanatorium in the hills, but +will then return. He wishes me to say that he has not sufficient +money with him, and that he would like to pay for his staying here, +so that others who need shall not be wanting for help. + +"Believe me, + +"Yours, with sympathy +and all blessings. +Sister Agatha + +"P.S.--My patient being asleep, I open this to let you know +something more. He has told me all about you, and that you are +shortly to be his wife. All blessings to you both! He has had some +fearful shock, so says our doctor, and in his delirium his ravings +have been dreadful, of wolves and poison and blood, of ghosts and +demons, and I fear to say of what. Be careful of him always that +there may be nothing to excite him of this kind for a long time to +come. The traces of such an illness as his do not lightly die away. +We should have written long ago, but we knew nothing of his friends, +and there was nothing on him, nothing that anyone could understand. +He came in the train from Klausenburg, and the guard was told by the +station master there that he rushed into the station shouting for a +ticket for home. Seeing from his violent demeanour that he was +English, they gave him a ticket for the furthest station on the way +thither that the train reached. + +"Be assured that he is well cared for. He has won all hearts by his +sweetness and gentleness. He is truly getting on well, and I have +no doubt will in a few weeks be all himself. But be careful of him +for safety's sake. There are, I pray God and St. Joseph and Ste. +Mary, many, many, happy years for you both." + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +19 August.--Strange and sudden change in Renfield last night. About +eight o'clock he began to get excited and sniff about as a dog does +when setting. The attendant was struck by his manner, and knowing my +interest in him, encouraged him to talk. He is usually respectful to +the attendant and at times servile, but tonight, the man tells me, he +was quite haughty. Would not condescend to talk with him at all. + +All he would say was, "I don't want to talk to you. You don't count +now. The master is at hand." + +The attendant thinks it is some sudden form of religious mania which +has seized him. If so, we must look out for squalls, for a strong man +with homicidal and religious mania at once might be dangerous. The +combination is a dreadful one. + +At nine o'clock I visited him myself. His attitude to me was the same +as that to the attendant. In his sublime self-feeling the difference +between myself and the attendant seemed to him as nothing. It looks +like religious mania, and he will soon think that he himself is God. + +These infinitesimal distinctions between man and man are too paltry for +an Omnipotent Being. How these madmen give themselves away! The real +God taketh heed lest a sparrow fall. But the God created from human +vanity sees no difference between an eagle and a sparrow. Oh, if men +only knew! + +For half an hour or more Renfield kept getting excited in greater and +greater degree. I did not pretend to be watching him, but I kept +strict observation all the same. All at once that shifty look came +into his eyes which we always see when a madman has seized an idea, and +with it the shifty movement of the head and back which asylum +attendants come to know so well. He became quite quiet, and went and +sat on the edge of his bed resignedly, and looked into space with +lack-luster eyes. + +I thought I would find out if his apathy were real or only assumed, and +tried to lead him to talk of his pets, a theme which had never failed +to excite his attention. + +At first he made no reply, but at length said testily, "Bother them +all! I don't care a pin about them." + +"What?" I said. "You don't mean to tell me you don't care about +spiders?" (Spiders at present are his hobby and the notebook is filling +up with columns of small figures.) + +To this he answered enigmatically, "The bride-maidens rejoice the eyes +that wait the coming of the bride. But when the bride draweth nigh, +then the maidens shine not to the eyes that are filled." + +He would not explain himself, but remained obstinately seated on his +bed all the time I remained with him. + +I am weary tonight and low in spirits. I cannot but think of Lucy, and +how different things might have been. If I don't sleep at once, +chloral, the modern Morpheus! I must be careful not to let it grow +into a habit. No, I shall take none tonight! I have thought of Lucy, +and I shall not dishonour her by mixing the two. If need be, tonight +shall be sleepless. + + +Later.--Glad I made the resolution, gladder that I kept to it. I had +lain tossing about, and had heard the clock strike only twice, when the +night watchman came to me, sent up from the ward, to say that Renfield +had escaped. I threw on my clothes and ran down at once. My patient +is too dangerous a person to be roaming about. Those ideas of his +might work out dangerously with strangers. + +The attendant was waiting for me. He said he had seen him not ten +minutes before, seemingly asleep in his bed, when he had looked through +the observation trap in the door. His attention was called by the +sound of the window being wrenched out. He ran back and saw his feet +disappear through the window, and had at once sent up for me. He was +only in his night gear, and cannot be far off. + +The attendant thought it would be more useful to watch where he should +go than to follow him, as he might lose sight of him whilst getting out +of the building by the door. He is a bulky man, and couldn't get +through the window. + +I am thin, so, with his aid, I got out, but feet foremost, and as we +were only a few feet above ground landed unhurt. + +The attendant told me the patient had gone to the left, and had taken a +straight line, so I ran as quickly as I could. As I got through the +belt of trees I saw a white figure scale the high wall which separates +our grounds from those of the deserted house. + +I ran back at once, told the watchman to get three or four men +immediately and follow me into the grounds of Carfax, in case our +friend might be dangerous. I got a ladder myself, and crossing the +wall, dropped down on the other side. I could see Renfield's figure +just disappearing behind the angle of the house, so I ran after him. On +the far side of the house I found him pressed close against the old +iron-bound oak door of the chapel. + +He was talking, apparently to some one, but I was afraid to go near +enough to hear what he was saying, lest I might frighten him, and he +should run off. + +Chasing an errant swarm of bees is nothing to following a naked +lunatic, when the fit of escaping is upon him! After a few minutes, +however, I could see that he did not take note of anything around him, +and so ventured to draw nearer to him, the more so as my men had now +crossed the wall and were closing him in. I heard him say . . . + +"I am here to do your bidding, Master. I am your slave, and you will +reward me, for I shall be faithful. I have worshipped you long and afar +off. Now that you are near, I await your commands, and you will not +pass me by, will you, dear Master, in your distribution of good +things?" + +He is a selfish old beggar anyhow. He thinks of the loaves and fishes +even when he believes he is in a real Presence. His manias make a +startling combination. When we closed in on him he fought like a +tiger. He is immensely strong, for he was more like a wild beast than +a man. + +I never saw a lunatic in such a paroxysm of rage before, and I hope I +shall not again. It is a mercy that we have found out his strength and +his danger in good time. With strength and determination like his, he +might have done wild work before he was caged. + +He is safe now, at any rate. Jack Sheppard himself couldn't get free +from the strait waistcoat that keeps him restrained, and he's chained +to the wall in the padded room. + +His cries are at times awful, but the silences that follow are more +deadly still, for he means murder in every turn and movement. + +Just now he spoke coherent words for the first time. "I shall be +patient, Master. It is coming, coming, coming!" + +So I took the hint, and came too. I was too excited to sleep, but this +diary has quieted me, and I feel I shall get some sleep tonight. + + + + +CHAPTER 9 + + +LETTER, MINA HARKER TO LUCY WESTENRA + + +Buda-Pesth, 24 August. + +"My dearest Lucy, + +"I know you will be anxious to hear all that has happened +since we parted at the railway station at Whitby. + +"Well, my dear, I got to Hull all right, and caught the boat to +Hamburg, and then the train on here. I feel that I can hardly +recall anything of the journey, except that I knew I was coming to +Jonathan, and that as I should have to do some nursing, I had better +get all the sleep I could. I found my dear one, oh, so thin and +pale and weak-looking. All the resolution has gone out of his dear +eyes, and that quiet dignity which I told you was in his face has +vanished. He is only a wreck of himself, and he does not remember +anything that has happened to him for a long time past. At least, +he wants me to believe so, and I shall never ask. + +"He has had some terrible shock, and I fear it might tax his poor +brain if he were to try to recall it. Sister Agatha, who is a good +creature and a born nurse, tells me that he wanted her to tell me +what they were, but she would only cross herself, and say she would +never tell; that the ravings of the sick were the secrets of God, +and that if a nurse through her vocation should hear them, she +should respect her trust. + +"She is a sweet, good soul, and the next day, when she saw I was +troubled, she opened up the subject again, and after saying that she +could never mention what my poor dear raved about, added: 'I can tell +you this much, my dear: that it was not about anything which he has +done wrong himself; and you, as his wife to be, have no cause to be +concerned. He has not forgotten you or what he owes to +you. His fear was of great and terrible things, which no mortal can +treat of.' + +"I do believe the dear soul thought I might be jealous lest my poor +dear should have fallen in love with any other girl. The idea of my +being jealous about Jonathan! And yet, my dear, let me whisper, I +felt a thrill of joy through me when I knew that no other woman was +a cause for trouble. I am now sitting by his bedside, where I can +see his face while he sleeps. He is waking! + +"When he woke he asked me for his coat, as he wanted to get +something from the pocket. I asked Sister Agatha, and she brought +all his things. I saw amongst them was his notebook, and was +going to ask him to let me look at it, for I knew that I might find +some clue to his trouble, but I suppose he must have seen my wish in +my eyes, for he sent me over to the window, saying he wanted to be +quite alone for a moment. + +"Then he called me back, and he said to me very solemnly, +'Wilhelmina', I knew then that he was in deadly earnest, for he has +never called me by that name since he asked me to marry him, 'You +know, dear, my ideas of the trust between husband and wife. There +should be no secret, no concealment. I have had a great shock, and +when I try to think of what it is I feel my head spin round, and I +do not know if it was real of the dreaming of a madman. You know I +had brain fever, and that is to be mad. The secret is here, and I +do not want to know it. I want to take up my life here, with our +marriage.' For, my dear, we had decided to be married as soon as +the formalities are complete. 'Are you willing, Wilhelmina, to +share my ignorance? Here is the book. Take it and keep it, read it +if you will, but never let me know unless, indeed, some solemn duty +should come upon me to go back to the bitter hours, asleep or awake, +sane or mad, recorded here.' He fell back exhausted, and I put the +book under his pillow, and kissed him. I have asked Sister Agatha +to beg the Superior to let our wedding be this afternoon, and am +waiting her reply . . ." + + +"She has come and told me that the Chaplain of the English mission +church has been sent for. We are to be married in an hour, or as +soon after as Jonathan awakes." + +"Lucy, the time has come and gone. I feel very solemn, but very, +very happy. Jonathan woke a little after the hour, and all was +ready, and he sat up in bed, propped up with pillows. He answered +his 'I will' firmly and strong. I could hardly speak. My heart was +so full that even those words seemed to choke me. + +"The dear sisters were so kind. Please, God, I shall never, never +forget them, nor the grave and sweet responsibilities I have taken +upon me. I must tell you of my wedding present. When the chaplain +and the sisters had left me alone with my husband--oh, Lucy, it is +the first time I have written the words 'my husband'--left me alone +with my husband, I took the book from under his pillow, and wrapped +it up in white paper, and tied it with a little bit of pale blue +ribbon which was round my neck, and sealed it over the knot with +sealing wax, and for my seal I used my wedding ring. Then I kissed +it and showed it to my husband, and told him that I would keep it +so, and then it would be an outward and visible sign for us all our +lives that we trusted each other, that I would never open it unless +it were for his own dear sake or for the sake of some stern duty. +Then he took my hand in his, and oh, Lucy, it was the first time he +took his wife's hand, and said that it was the dearest thing in all +the wide world, and that he would go through all the past again to +win it, if need be. The poor dear meant to have said a part of the +past, but he cannot think of time yet, and I shall not wonder if at +first he mixes up not only the month, but the year. + +"Well, my dear, what could I say? I could only tell him that I was +the happiest woman in all the wide world, and that I had nothing to +give him except myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these +went my love and duty for all the days of my life. And, my dear, +when he kissed me, and drew me to him with his poor weak hands, it +was like a solemn pledge between us. + +"Lucy dear, do you know why I tell you all this? It is not only +because it is all sweet to me, but because you have been, and are, +very dear to me. It was my privilege to be your friend and guide +when you came from the schoolroom to prepare for the world of life. +I want you to see now, and with the eyes of a very happy wife, +whither duty has led me, so that in your own married life you too +may be all happy, as I am. My dear, please Almighty God, your life +may be all it promises, a long day of sunshine, with no harsh wind, +no forgetting duty, no distrust. I must not wish you no pain, for +that can never be, but I do hope you will be always as happy as I am +now. Goodbye, my dear. I shall post this at once, and perhaps, +write you very soon again. I must stop, for Jonathan is waking. I +must attend my husband! + +"Your ever-loving +Mina Harker." + + + +LETTER, LUCY WESTENRA TO MINA HARKER. + +Whitby, 30 August. + +"My dearest Mina, + +"Oceans of love and millions of kisses, and may you soon be in your +own home with your husband. I wish you were coming home soon enough +to stay with us here. The strong air would soon restore Jonathan. +It has quite restored me. I have an appetite like a cormorant, am +full of life, and sleep well. You will be glad to know that I have +quite given up walking in my sleep. I think I have not stirred out +of my bed for a week, that is when I once got into it at night. +Arthur says I am getting fat. By the way, I forgot to tell you that +Arthur is here. We have such walks and drives, and rides, and +rowing, and tennis, and fishing together, and I love him more than +ever. He tells me that he loves me more, but I doubt that, for at +first he told me that he couldn't love me more than he did then. +But this is nonsense. There he is, calling to me. So no more just +at present from your loving, + +"Lucy. + +"P.S.--Mother sends her love. She seems better, poor dear. + +"P.P.S.--We are to be married on 28 September." + + + +DR. SEWARDS DIARY + +20 August.--The case of Renfield grows even more interesting. He has +now so far quieted that there are spells of cessation from his +passion. For the first week after his attack he was perpetually +violent. Then one night, just as the moon rose, he grew quiet, and +kept murmuring to himself. "Now I can wait. Now I can wait." + +The attendant came to tell me, so I ran down at once to have a look at +him. He was still in the strait waistcoat and in the padded room, but +the suffused look had gone from his face, and his eyes had something +of their old pleading. I might almost say, "cringing", softness. I was +satisfied with his present condition, and directed him to be relieved. +The attendants hesitated, but finally carried out my wishes without +protest. + +It was a strange thing that the patient had humour enough to see their +distrust, for, coming close to me, he said in a whisper, all the while +looking furtively at them, "They think I could hurt you! Fancy me +hurting you! The fools!" + +It was soothing, somehow, to the feelings to find myself disassociated +even in the mind of this poor madman from the others, but all the same +I do not follow his thought. Am I to take it that I have anything in +common with him, so that we are, as it were, to stand together. Or +has he to gain from me some good so stupendous that my well being is +needful to him? I must find out later on. Tonight he will not speak. +Even the offer of a kitten or even a full-grown cat will not tempt +him. + +He will only say, "I don't take any stock in cats. I have more to +think of now, and I can wait. I can wait." + +After a while I left him. The attendant tells me that he was quiet +until just before dawn, and that then he began to get uneasy, and at +length violent, until at last he fell into a paroxysm which exhausted +him so that he swooned into a sort of coma. + + +. . . Three nights has the same thing happened, violent all day then +quiet from moonrise to sunrise. I wish I could get some clue to the +cause. It would almost seem as if there was some influence which came +and went. Happy thought! We shall tonight play sane wits against mad +ones. He escaped before without our help. Tonight he shall escape +with it. We shall give him a chance, and have the men ready to follow +in case they are required. + + +23 August.--"The expected always happens." How well Disraeli knew +life. Our bird when he found the cage open would not fly, so all our +subtle arrangements were for nought. At any rate, we have proved one +thing, that the spells of quietness last a reasonable time. We shall +in future be able to ease his bonds for a few hours each day. I have +given orders to the night attendant merely to shut him in the padded +room, when once he is quiet, until the hour before sunrise. The poor +soul's body will enjoy the relief even if his mind cannot appreciate +it. Hark! The unexpected again! I am called. The patient has once +more escaped. + + +Later.--Another night adventure. Renfield artfully waited until the +attendant was entering the room to inspect. Then he dashed out past +him and flew down the passage. I sent word for the attendants to +follow. Again he went into the grounds of the deserted house, and we +found him in the same place, pressed against the old chapel door. +When he saw me he became furious, and had not the attendants seized +him in time, he would have tried to kill me. As we were holding him a +strange thing happened. He suddenly redoubled his efforts, and then +as suddenly grew calm. I looked round instinctively, but could see +nothing. Then I caught the patient's eye and followed it, but could +trace nothing as it looked into the moonlight sky, except a big bat, +which was flapping its silent and ghostly way to the west. Bats +usually wheel about, but this one seemed to go straight on, as if it +knew where it was bound for or had some intention of its own. + +The patient grew calmer every instant, and presently said, "You +needn't tie me. I shall go quietly!" Without trouble, we came back +to the house. I feel there is something ominous in his calm, and +shall not forget this night. + + + +LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY + +Hillingham, 24 August.--I must imitate Mina, and keep writing things +down. Then we can have long talks when we do meet. I wonder when it +will be. I wish she were with me again, for I feel so unhappy. Last +night I seemed to be dreaming again just as I was at Whitby. Perhaps +it is the change of air, or getting home again. It is all dark and +horrid to me, for I can remember nothing. But I am full of vague +fear, and I feel so weak and worn out. When Arthur came to lunch he +looked quite grieved when he saw me, and I hadn't the spirit to try to +be cheerful. I wonder if I could sleep in mother's room tonight. I +shall make an excuse to try. + + +25 August.--Another bad night. Mother did not seem to take to my +proposal. She seems not too well herself, and doubtless she fears to +worry me. I tried to keep awake, and succeeded for a while, but when +the clock struck twelve it waked me from a doze, so I must have been +falling asleep. There was a sort of scratching or flapping at the +window, but I did not mind it, and as I remember no more, I suppose I +must have fallen asleep. More bad dreams. I wish I could remember +them. This morning I am horribly weak. My face is ghastly pale, and +my throat pains me. It must be something wrong with my lungs, for I +don't seem to be getting air enough. I shall try to cheer up when +Arthur comes, or else I know he will be miserable to see me so. + + + +LETTER, ARTHUR TO DR. SEWARD + +"Albemarle Hotel, 31 August + +"My dear Jack, + +"I want you to do me a favour. Lucy is ill, that is she has no +special disease, but she looks awful, and is getting worse every +day. I have asked her if there is any cause, I not dare to ask her +mother, for to disturb the poor lady's mind about her daughter in +her present state of health would be fatal. Mrs. Westenra has +confided to me that her doom is spoken, disease of the heart, though +poor Lucy does not know it yet. I am sure that there is something +preying on my dear girl's mind. I am almost distracted when I think +of her. To look at her gives me a pang. I told her I should ask +you to see her, and though she demurred at first--I know why, old +fellow--she finally consented. It will be a painful task for you, I +know, old friend, but it is for _her_ sake, and I must not hesitate to +ask, or you to act. You are to come to lunch at Hillingham +tomorrow, two o'clock, so as not to arouse any suspicion in Mrs. +Westenra, and after lunch Lucy will take an opportunity of being +alone with you. I am filled with anxiety, and want to consult with +you alone as soon as I can after you have seen her. Do not fail! + +"Arthur." + + + +TELEGRAM, ARTHUR HOLMWOOD TO SEWARD + +1 September + +"Am summoned to see my father, who is worse. Am writing. Write +me fully by tonight's post to Ring. Wire me if necessary." + + + +LETTER FROM DR. SEWARD TO ARTHUR HOLMWOOD + +2 September + +"My dear old fellow, + +"With regard to Miss Westenra's health I hasten to let you know at +once that in my opinion there is not any functional disturbance or +any malady that I know of. At the same time, I am not by any means +satisfied with her appearance. She is woefully different from what +she was when I saw her last. Of course you must bear in mind that I +did not have full opportunity of examination such as I should wish. +Our very friendship makes a little difficulty which not even medical +science or custom can bridge over. I had better tell you exactly +what happened, leaving you to draw, in a measure, your own +conclusions. I shall then say what I have done and propose doing. + +"I found Miss Westenra in seemingly gay spirits. Her mother was +present, and in a few seconds I made up my mind that she was trying +all she knew to mislead her mother and prevent her from being +anxious. I have no doubt she guesses, if she does not know, what +need of caution there is. + +"We lunched alone, and as we all exerted ourselves to be cheerful, +we got, as some kind of reward for our labours, some real +cheerfulness amongst us. Then Mrs. Westenra went to lie down, and +Lucy was left with me. We went into her boudoir, and till we got +there her gaiety remained, for the servants were coming and going. + +"As soon as the door was closed, however, the mask fell from her +face, and she sank down into a chair with a great sigh, and hid her +eyes with her hand. When I saw that her high spirits had failed, I +at once took advantage of her reaction to make a diagnosis. + +"She said to me very sweetly, 'I cannot tell you how I loathe +talking about myself.' I reminded her that a doctor's confidence +was sacred, but that you were grievously anxious about her. She +caught on to my meaning at once, and settled that matter in a word. +'Tell Arthur everything you choose. I do not care for myself, but +for him!' So I am quite free. + +"I could easily see that she was somewhat bloodless, but I could not +see the usual anemic signs, and by the chance, I was able to test +the actual quality of her blood, for in opening a window which was +stiff a cord gave way, and she cut her hand slightly with broken +glass. It was a slight matter in itself, but it gave me an evident +chance, and I secured a few drops of the blood and have analysed +them. + +"The qualitative analysis give a quite normal condition, and shows, +I should infer, in itself a vigorous state of health. In other +physical matters I was quite satisfied that there is no need for +anxiety, but as there must be a cause somewhere, I have come to the +conclusion that it must be something mental. + +"She complains of difficulty breathing satisfactorily at times, and +of heavy, lethargic sleep, with dreams that frighten her, but +regarding which she can remember nothing. She says that as a child, +she used to walk in her sleep, and that when in Whitby the habit +came back, and that once she walked out in the night and went to +East Cliff, where Miss Murray found her. But she assures me that of +late the habit has not returned. + +"I am in doubt, and so have done the best thing I know of. I have +written to my old friend and master, Professor Van Helsing, of +Amsterdam, who knows as much about obscure diseases as any one in +the world. I have asked him to come over, and as you told me that +all things were to be at your charge, I have mentioned to him who +you are and your relations to Miss Westenra. This, my dear fellow, +is in obedience to your wishes, for I am only too proud and happy to +do anything I can for her. + +"Van Helsing would, I know, do anything for me for a personal +reason, so no matter on what ground he comes, we must accept his +wishes. He is a seemingly arbitrary man, this is because he knows +what he is talking about better than any one else. He is a +philosopher and a metaphysician, and one of the most advanced +scientists of his day, and he has, I believe, an absolutely open +mind. This, with an iron nerve, a temper of the ice-brook, and +indomitable resolution, self-command, and toleration exalted from +virtues to blessings, and the kindliest and truest heart that beats, +these form his equipment for the noble work that he is doing for +mankind, work both in theory and practice, for his views are as wide +as his all-embracing sympathy. I tell you these facts that you may +know why I have such confidence in him. I have asked him to come at +once. I shall see Miss Westenra tomorrow again. She is to meet me +at the Stores, so that I may not alarm her mother by too early a +repetition of my call. + +"Yours always." + +John Seward + + + + +LETTER, ABRAHAM VAN HELSING, MD, DPh, D. Lit, ETC, ETC, TO DR. SEWARD + +2 September. + +"My good Friend, + +"When I received your letter I am already coming to you. By good +fortune I can leave just at once, without wrong to any of those who +have trusted me. Were fortune other, then it were bad for those who +have trusted, for I come to my friend when he call me to aid those +he holds dear. Tell your friend that when that time you suck from +my wound so swiftly the poison of the gangrene from that knife that +our other friend, too nervous, let slip, you did more for him when +he wants my aids and you call for them than all his great fortune +could do. But it is pleasure added to do for him, your friend, it +is to you that I come. Have near at hand, and please it so arrange +that we may see the young lady not too late on tomorrow, for it is +likely that I may have to return here that night. But if need be I +shall come again in three days, and stay longer if it must. Till +then goodbye, my friend John. + +"Van Helsing." + + + +LETTER, DR. SEWARD TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMWOOD + +3 September + +"My dear Art, + +"Van Helsing has come and gone. He came on with me to Hillingham, +and found that, by Lucy's discretion, her mother was lunching out, +so that we were alone with her. + +"Van Helsing made a very careful examination of the patient. He is +to report to me, and I shall advise you, for of course I was not +present all the time. He is, I fear, much concerned, but says he +must think. When I told him of our friendship and how you trust to +me in the matter, he said, 'You must tell him all you think. Tell +him what I think, if you can guess it, if you will. Nay, I am +not jesting. This is no jest, but life and death, perhaps more.' I +asked what he meant by that, for he was very serious. This was when +we had come back to town, and he was having a cup of tea before +starting on his return to Amsterdam. He would not give me any +further clue. You must not be angry with me, Art, because his very +reticence means that all his brains are working for her good. He +will speak plainly enough when the time comes, be sure. So I told +him I would simply write an account of our visit, just as if I were +doing a descriptive special article for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH. He +seemed not to notice, but remarked that the smuts of London were not +quite so bad as they used to be when he was a student here. I am to +get his report tomorrow if he can possibly make it. In any case I +am to have a letter. + +"Well, as to the visit, Lucy was more cheerful than on the day I +first saw her, and certainly looked better. She had lost something +of the ghastly look that so upset you, and her breathing was normal. +She was very sweet to the Professor (as she always is), and tried to +make him feel at ease, though I could see the poor girl was making a +hard struggle for it. + +"I believe Van Helsing saw it, too, for I saw the quick look +under his bushy brows that I knew of old. Then he began to +chat of all things except ourselves and diseases and with +such an infinite geniality that I could see poor Lucy's +pretense of animation merge into reality. Then, without +any seeming change, he brought the conversation gently round +to his visit, and suavely said, + +"'My dear young miss, I have the so great pleasure because you are +so much beloved. That is much, my dear, even were there that which +I do not see. They told me you were down in the spirit, and that +you were of a ghastly pale. To them I say "Pouf!"' And he snapped +his fingers at me and went on. 'But you and I shall show them how +wrong they are. How can he,' and he pointed at me with the same +look and gesture as that with which he pointed me out in his class, +on, or rather after, a particular occasion which he never fails to +remind me of, 'know anything of a young ladies? He has his madmen +to play with, and to bring them back to happiness, and to those that +love them. It is much to do, and, oh, but there are rewards in that +we can bestow such happiness. But the young ladies! He has no wife +nor daughter, and the young do not tell themselves to the young, but +to the old, like me, who have known so many sorrows and the causes +of them. So, my dear, we will send him away to smoke the cigarette +in the garden, whiles you and I have little talk all to ourselves.' +I took the hint, and strolled about, and presently the professor +came to the window and called me in. He looked grave, but said, 'I +have made careful examination, but there is no functional cause. +With you I agree that there has been much blood lost, it has been +but is not. But the conditions of her are in no way anemic. I have +asked her to send me her maid, that I may ask just one or two +questions, that so I may not chance to miss nothing. I know well +what she will say. And yet there is cause. There is always cause +for everything. I must go back home and think. You must send me +the telegram every day, and if there be cause I shall come again. +The disease, for not to be well is a disease, interest me, and the +sweet, young dear, she interest me too. She charm me, and for her, +if not for you or disease, I come.' + +"As I tell you, he would not say a word more, even when we were +alone. And so now, Art, you know all I know. I shall keep stern +watch. I trust your poor father is rallying. It must be a terrible +thing to you, my dear old fellow, to be placed in such a position +between two people who are both so dear to you. I know your idea of +duty to your father, and you are right to stick to it. But if need +be, I shall send you word to come at once to Lucy, so do not be +over-anxious unless you hear from me." + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +4 September.--Zoophagous patient still keeps up our interest in him. +He had only one outburst and that was yesterday at an unusual time. +Just before the stroke of noon he began to grow restless. The +attendant knew the symptoms, and at once summoned aid. Fortunately +the men came at a run, and were just in time, for at the stroke of +noon he became so violent that it took all their strength to hold him. +In about five minutes, however, he began to get more quiet, and +finally sank into a sort of melancholy, in which state he has remained +up to now. The attendant tells me that his screams whilst in the +paroxysm were really appalling. I found my hands full when I got in, +attending to some of the other patients who were frightened by him. +Indeed, I can quite understand the effect, for the sounds disturbed +even me, though I was some distance away. It is now after the dinner +hour of the asylum, and as yet my patient sits in a corner brooding, +with a dull, sullen, woe-begone look in his face, which seems rather +to indicate than to show something directly. I cannot quite +understand it. + + +Later.--Another change in my patient. At five o'clock I looked in on +him, and found him seemingly as happy and contented as he used to be. +He was catching flies and eating them, and was keeping note of his +capture by making nailmarks on the edge of the door between the ridges +of padding. When he saw me, he came over and apologized for his bad +conduct, and asked me in a very humble, cringing way to be led back to +his own room, and to have his notebook again. I thought it well to +humour him, so he is back in his room with the window open. He has +the sugar of his tea spread out on the window sill, and is reaping +quite a harvest of flies. He is not now eating them, but putting them +into a box, as of old, and is already examining the corners of his +room to find a spider. I tried to get him to talk about the past few +days, for any clue to his thoughts would be of immense help to me, but +he would not rise. For a moment or two he looked very sad, and said +in a sort of far away voice, as though saying it rather to himself +than to me. + +"All over! All over! He has deserted me. No hope for me now unless +I do it myself!" Then suddenly turning to me in a resolute way, he +said, "Doctor, won't you be very good to me and let me have a little +more sugar? I think it would be very good for me." + +"And the flies?" I said. + +"Yes! The flies like it, too, and I like the flies, therefore I like +it." And there are people who know so little as to think that madmen do +not argue. I procured him a double supply, and left him as happy a +man as, I suppose, any in the world. I wish I could fathom his mind. + + +Midnight.--Another change in him. I had been to see Miss Westenra, +whom I found much better, and had just returned, and was standing at +our own gate looking at the sunset, when once more I heard him +yelling. As his room is on this side of the house, I could hear it +better than in the morning. It was a shock to me to turn from the +wonderful smoky beauty of a sunset over London, with its lurid lights +and inky shadows and all the marvellous tints that come on foul clouds +even as on foul water, and to realize all the grim sternness of my own +cold stone building, with its wealth of breathing misery, and my own +desolate heart to endure it all. I reached him just as the sun was +going down, and from his window saw the red disc sink. As it sank he +became less and less frenzied, and just as it dipped he slid from the +hands that held him, an inert mass, on the floor. It is wonderful, +however, what intellectual recuperative power lunatics have, for +within a few minutes he stood up quite calmly and looked around him. I +signalled to the attendants not to hold him, for I was anxious to see +what he would do. He went straight over to the window and brushed out +the crumbs of sugar. Then he took his fly box, and emptied it +outside, and threw away the box. Then he shut the window, and +crossing over, sat down on his bed. All this surprised me, so I asked +him, "Are you going to keep flies any more?" + +"No," said he. "I am sick of all that rubbish!" He certainly is a +wonderfully interesting study. I wish I could get some glimpse of his +mind or of the cause of his sudden passion. Stop. There may be a +clue after all, if we can find why today his paroxysms came on at high +noon and at sunset. Can it be that there is a malign influence of the +sun at periods which affects certain natures, as at times the moon +does others? We shall see. + + + +TELEGRAM. SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM + +"4 September.--Patient still better today." + + + +TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM + +"5 September.--Patient greatly improved. Good appetite, sleeps +naturally, good spirits, colour coming back." + + + +TELEGRAM, SEWARD, LONDON, TO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM + +"6 September.--Terrible change for the worse. Come at once. +Do not lose an hour. I hold over telegram to Holmwood till +have seen you." + + + + +CHAPTER 10 + + +LETTER, DR. SEWARD TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMWOOD + + +6 September + +"My dear Art, + +"My news today is not so good. Lucy this morning had gone back a +bit. There is, however, one good thing which has arisen from it. +Mrs. Westenra was naturally anxious concerning Lucy, and has +consulted me professionally about her. I took advantage of the +opportunity, and told her that my old master, Van Helsing, the great +specialist, was coming to stay with me, and that I would put her in +his charge conjointly with myself. So now we can come and go +without alarming her unduly, for a shock to her would mean sudden +death, and this, in Lucy's weak condition, might be disastrous to +her. We are hedged in with difficulties, all of us, my poor fellow, +but, please God, we shall come through them all right. If any need +I shall write, so that, if you do not hear from me, take it for +granted that I am simply waiting for news, In haste, + +"Yours ever," + +John Seward + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +7 September.--The first thing Van Helsing said to me when we met at +Liverpool Street was, "Have you said anything to our young friend, to +lover of her?" + +"No," I said. "I waited till I had seen you, as I said in my +telegram. I wrote him a letter simply telling him that you were +coming, as Miss Westenra was not so well, and that I should let him +know if need be." + +"Right, my friend," he said. "Quite right! Better he not know as +yet. Perhaps he will never know. I pray so, but if it be needed, +then he shall know all. And, my good friend John, let me caution you. +You deal with the madmen. All men are mad in some way or the other, +and inasmuch as you deal discreetly with your madmen, so deal with +God's madmen too, the rest of the world. You tell not your madmen +what you do nor why you do it. You tell them not what you think. So +you shall keep knowledge in its place, where it may rest, where it may +gather its kind around it and breed. You and I shall keep as yet what +we know here, and here." He touched me on the heart and on the +forehead, and then touched himself the same way. "I have for myself +thoughts at the present. Later I shall unfold to you." + +"Why not now?" I asked. "It may do some good. We may arrive at some +decision." He looked at me and said, "My friend John, when the corn is +grown, even before it has ripened, while the milk of its mother earth +is in him, and the sunshine has not yet begun to paint him with his +gold, the husbandman he pull the ear and rub him between his rough +hands, and blow away the green chaff, and say to you, 'Look! He's +good corn, he will make a good crop when the time comes.'" + +I did not see the application and told him so. For reply he reached +over and took my ear in his hand and pulled it playfully, as he used +long ago to do at lectures, and said, "The good husbandman tell you so +then because he knows, but not till then. But you do not find the +good husbandman dig up his planted corn to see if he grow. That is +for the children who play at husbandry, and not for those who take it +as of the work of their life. See you now, friend John? I have sown +my corn, and Nature has her work to do in making it sprout, if he +sprout at all, there's some promise, and I wait till the ear begins to +swell." He broke off, for he evidently saw that I understood. Then he +went on gravely, "You were always a careful student, and your case +book was ever more full than the rest. And I trust that good habit +have not fail. Remember, my friend, that knowledge is stronger than +memory, and we should not trust the weaker. Even if you have not kept +the good practice, let me tell you that this case of our dear miss is +one that may be, mind, I say may be, of such interest to us and others +that all the rest may not make him kick the beam, as your people say. +Take then good note of it. Nothing is too small. I counsel you, put +down in record even your doubts and surmises. Hereafter it may be of +interest to you to see how true you guess. We learn from failure, not +from success!" + +When I described Lucy's symptoms, the same as before, but infinitely +more marked, he looked very grave, but said nothing. He took with him +a bag in which were many instruments and drugs, "the ghastly +paraphernalia of our beneficial trade," as he once called, in one of +his lectures, the equipment of a professor of the healing craft. + +When we were shown in, Mrs. Westenra met us. She was alarmed, but not +nearly so much as I expected to find her. Nature in one of her +beneficient moods has ordained that even death has some antidote to +its own terrors. Here, in a case where any shock may prove fatal, +matters are so ordered that, from some cause or other, the things not +personal, even the terrible change in her daughter to whom she is so +attached, do not seem to reach her. It is something like the way dame +Nature gathers round a foreign body an envelope of some insensitive +tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm +by contact. If this be an ordered selfishness, then we should pause +before we condemn any one for the vice of egoism, for there may be +deeper root for its causes than we have knowledge of. + +I used my knowledge of this phase of spiritual pathology, and set down +a rule that she should not be present with Lucy, or think of her +illness more than was absolutely required. She assented readily, so +readily that I saw again the hand of Nature fighting for life. Van +Helsing and I were shown up to Lucy's room. If I was shocked when I +saw her yesterday, I was horrified when I saw her today. + +She was ghastly, chalkily pale. The red seemed to have gone even from +her lips and gums, and the bones of her face stood out prominently. +Her breathing was painful to see or hear. Van Helsing's face grew set +as marble, and his eyebrows converged till they almost touched over his +nose. Lucy lay motionless, and did not seem to have strength to +speak, so for a while we were all silent. Then Van Helsing beckoned +to me, and we went gently out of the room. The instant we had closed +the door he stepped quickly along the passage to the next door, which +was open. Then he pulled me quickly in with him and closed the door. +"My god!" he said. "This is dreadful. There is not time to be lost. +She will die for sheer want of blood to keep the heart's action as it +should be. There must be a transfusion of blood at once. Is it you +or me?" + +"I am younger and stronger, Professor. It must be me." + +"Then get ready at once. I will bring up my bag. I am prepared." + +I went downstairs with him, and as we were going there was a knock at +the hall door. When we reached the hall, the maid had just opened the +door, and Arthur was stepping quickly in. He rushed up to me, saying +in an eager whisper, + +"Jack, I was so anxious. I read between the lines of your letter, and +have been in an agony. The dad was better, so I ran down here to see +for myself. Is not that gentleman Dr. Van Helsing? I am so thankful +to you, sir, for coming." + +When first the Professor's eye had lit upon him, he had been angry at +his interruption at such a time, but now, as he took in his stalwart +proportions and recognized the strong young manhood which seemed to +emanate from him, his eyes gleamed. Without a pause he said to him as +he held out his hand, + +"Sir, you have come in time. You are the lover of our dear miss. She +is bad, very, very bad. Nay, my child, do not go like that." For he +suddenly grew pale and sat down in a chair almost fainting. "You are +to help her. You can do more than any that live, and your courage is +your best help." + +"What can I do?" asked Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me, and I shall do it. +My life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for +her." + +The Professor has a strongly humorous side, and I could from old +knowledge detect a trace of its origin in his answer. + +"My young sir, I do not ask so much as that, not the last!" + +"What shall I do?" There was fire in his eyes, and his open nostrils +quivered with intent. Van Helsing slapped him on the shoulder. + +"Come!" he said. "You are a man, and it is a man we want. You are +better than me, better than my friend John." Arthur looked bewildered, +and the Professor went on by explaining in a kindly way. + +"Young miss is bad, very bad. She wants blood, and blood she must +have or die. My friend John and I have consulted, and we are about to +perform what we call transfusion of blood, to transfer from full veins +of one to the empty veins which pine for him. John was to give his +blood, as he is the more young and strong than me."--Here Arthur took +my hand and wrung it hard in silence.--"But now you are here, you are +more good than us, old or young, who toil much in the world of +thought. Our nerves are not so calm and our blood so bright than +yours!" + +Arthur turned to him and said, "If you only knew how gladly I would +die for her you would understand . . ." He stopped with a sort of +choke in his voice. + +"Good boy!" said Van Helsing. "In the not-so-far-off you will be +happy that you have done all for her you love. Come now and be +silent. You shall kiss her once before it is done, but then you must +go, and you must leave at my sign. Say no word to Madame. You know +how it is with her. There must be no shock, any knowledge of this +would be one. Come!" + +We all went up to Lucy's room. Arthur by direction remained outside. +Lucy turned her head and looked at us, but said nothing. She was not +asleep, but she was simply too weak to make the effort. Her eyes +spoke to us, that was all. + +Van Helsing took some things from his bag and laid them on a little +table out of sight. Then he mixed a narcotic, and coming over to the +bed, said cheerily, "Now, little miss, here is your medicine. Drink +it off, like a good child. See, I lift you so that to swallow is +easy. Yes." She had made the effort with success. + +It astonished me how long the drug took to act. This, in fact, marked +the extent of her weakness. The time seemed endless until sleep began +to flicker in her eyelids. At last, however, the narcotic began to +manifest its potency, and she fell into a deep sleep. When the +Professor was satisfied, he called Arthur into the room, and bade him +strip off his coat. Then he added, "You may take that one little kiss +whiles I bring over the table. Friend John, help to me!" So neither +of us looked whilst he bent over her. + +Van Helsing, turning to me, said, "He is so young and strong, and of +blood so pure that we need not defibrinate it." + +Then with swiftness, but with absolute method, Van Helsing performed +the operation. As the transfusion went on, something like life seemed +to come back to poor Lucy's cheeks, and through Arthur's growing +pallor the joy of his face seemed absolutely to shine. After a bit I +began to grow anxious, for the loss of blood was telling on Arthur, +strong man as he was. It gave me an idea of what a terrible strain +Lucy's system must have undergone that what weakened Arthur only +partially restored her. + +But the Professor's face was set, and he stood watch in hand, and with +his eyes fixed now on the patient and now on Arthur. I could hear my +own heart beat. Presently, he said in a soft voice, "Do not stir an +instant. It is enough. You attend him. I will look to her." + +When all was over, I could see how much Arthur was weakened. I +dressed the wound and took his arm to bring him away, when Van Helsing +spoke without turning round, the man seems to have eyes in the back of +his head, "The brave lover, I think, deserve another kiss, which he +shall have presently." And as he had now finished his operation, he +adjusted the pillow to the patient's head. As he did so the narrow +black velvet band which she seems always to wear round her throat, +buckled with an old diamond buckle which her lover had given her, was +dragged a little up, and showed a red mark on her throat. + +Arthur did not notice it, but I could hear the deep hiss of indrawn +breath which is one of Van Helsing's ways of betraying emotion. He +said nothing at the moment, but turned to me, saying, "Now take down +our brave young lover, give him of the port wine, and let him lie down +a while. He must then go home and rest, sleep much and eat much, that +he may be recruited of what he has so given to his love. He must not +stay here. Hold a moment! I may take it, sir, that you are anxious +of result. Then bring it with you, that in all ways the operation is +successful. You have saved her life this time, and you can go home +and rest easy in mind that all that can be is. I shall tell her all +when she is well. She shall love you none the less for what you have +done. Goodbye." + +When Arthur had gone I went back to the room. Lucy was sleeping +gently, but her breathing was stronger. I could see the counterpane +move as her breast heaved. By the bedside sat Van Helsing, looking at +her intently. The velvet band again covered the red mark. I asked +the Professor in a whisper, "What do you make of that mark on her +throat?" + +"What do you make of it?" + +"I have not examined it yet," I answered, and then and there proceeded +to loose the band. Just over the external jugular vein there were two +punctures, not large, but not wholesome looking. There was no sign of +disease, but the edges were white and worn looking, as if by some +trituration. It at once occurred to me that that this wound, or +whatever it was, might be the means of that manifest loss of blood. +But I abandoned the idea as soon as it formed, for such a thing could +not be. The whole bed would have been drenched to a scarlet with the +blood which the girl must have lost to leave such a pallor as she had +before the transfusion. + +"Well?" said Van Helsing. + +"Well," said I. "I can make nothing of it." + +The Professor stood up. "I must go back to Amsterdam tonight," he +said "There are books and things there which I want. You must remain +here all night, and you must not let your sight pass from her." + +"Shall I have a nurse?" I asked. + +"We are the best nurses, you and I. You keep watch all night. See +that she is well fed, and that nothing disturbs her. You must not +sleep all the night. Later on we can sleep, you and I. I shall be +back as soon as possible. And then we may begin." + +"May begin?" I said. "What on earth do you mean?" + +"We shall see!" he answered, as he hurried out. He came back a moment +later and put his head inside the door and said with a warning finger +held up, "Remember, she is your charge. If you leave her, and harm +befall, you shall not sleep easy hereafter!" + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--CONTINUED + +8 September.--I sat up all night with Lucy. The opiate worked itself +off towards dusk, and she waked naturally. She looked a different +being from what she had been before the operation. Her spirits even +were good, and she was full of a happy vivacity, but I could see +evidences of the absolute prostration which she had undergone. When I +told Mrs. Westenra that Dr. Van Helsing had directed that I should sit +up with her, she almost pooh-poohed the idea, pointing out her +daughter's renewed strength and excellent spirits. I was firm, +however, and made preparations for my long vigil. When her maid had +prepared her for the night I came in, having in the meantime had +supper, and took a seat by the bedside. + +She did not in any way make objection, but looked at me gratefully +whenever I caught her eye. After a long spell she seemed sinking off +to sleep, but with an effort seemed to pull herself together and shook +it off. It was apparent that she did not want to sleep, so I tackled +the subject at once. + +"You do not want to sleep?" + +"No. I am afraid." + +"Afraid to go to sleep! Why so? It is the boon we all crave for." + +"Ah, not if you were like me, if sleep was to you a presage of +horror!" + +"A presage of horror! What on earth do you mean?" + +"I don't know. Oh, I don't know. And that is what is so terrible. +All this weakness comes to me in sleep, until I dread the very +thought." + +"But, my dear girl, you may sleep tonight. I am here watching you, +and I can promise that nothing will happen." + +"Ah, I can trust you!" she said. + +I seized the opportunity, and said, "I promise that if I see any +evidence of bad dreams I will wake you at once." + +"You will? Oh, will you really? How good you are to me. Then I will +sleep!" And almost at the word she gave a deep sigh of relief, and +sank back, asleep. + +All night long I watched by her. She never stirred, but slept on and +on in a deep, tranquil, life-giving, health-giving sleep. Her lips +were slightly parted, and her breast rose and fell with the regularity +of a pendulum. There was a smile on her face, and it was evident that +no bad dreams had come to disturb her peace of mind. + +In the early morning her maid came, and I left her in her care and took +myself back home, for I was anxious about many things. I sent a short +wire to Van Helsing and to Arthur, telling them of the excellent +result of the operation. My own work, with its manifold arrears, took +me all day to clear off. It was dark when I was able to inquire about +my zoophagous patient. The report was good. He had been quite quiet +for the past day and night. A telegram came from Van Helsing at +Amsterdam whilst I was at dinner, suggesting that I should be at +Hillingham tonight, as it might be well to be at hand, and stating +that he was leaving by the night mail and would join me early in the +morning. + + +9 September.--I was pretty tired and worn out when I got to +Hillingham. For two nights I had hardly had a wink of sleep, and my +brain was beginning to feel that numbness which marks cerebral +exhaustion. Lucy was up and in cheerful spirits. When she shook +hands with me she looked sharply in my face and said, + +"No sitting up tonight for you. You are worn out. I am quite well +again. Indeed, I am, and if there is to be any sitting up, it is I +who will sit up with you." + +I would not argue the point, but went and had my supper. Lucy came +with me, and, enlivened by her charming presence, I made an excellent +meal, and had a couple of glasses of the more than excellent port. +Then Lucy took me upstairs, and showed me a room next her own, where a +cozy fire was burning. + +"Now," she said. "You must stay here. I shall leave this door open +and my door too. You can lie on the sofa for I know that nothing +would induce any of you doctors to go to bed whilst there is a patient +above the horizon. If I want anything I shall call out, and you can +come to me at once." + +I could not but acquiesce, for I was dog tired, and could not have sat +up had I tried. So, on her renewing her promise to call me if she +should want anything, I lay on the sofa, and forgot all about +everything. + + + +LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY + +9 September.--I feel so happy tonight. I have been so miserably weak, +that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after +a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky. Somehow Arthur feels +very, very close to me. I seem to feel his presence warm about me. I +suppose it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn +our inner eyes and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strength +give love rein, and in thought and feeling he can wander where he +wills. I know where my thoughts are. If only Arthur knew! My dear, +my dear, your ears must tingle as you sleep, as mine do waking. Oh, +the blissful rest of last night! How I slept, with that dear, good +Dr. Seward watching me. And tonight I shall not fear to sleep, since +he is close at hand and within call. Thank everybody for being so +good to me. Thank God! Goodnight Arthur. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +10 September.--I was conscious of the Professor's hand on my head, and +started awake all in a second. That is one of the things that we +learn in an asylum, at any rate. + +"And how is our patient?" + +"Well, when I left her, or rather when she left me," I answered. + +"Come, let us see," he said. And together we went into the room. + +The blind was down, and I went over to raise it gently, whilst Van +Helsing stepped, with his soft, cat-like tread, over to the bed. + +As I raised the blind, and the morning sunlight flooded the room, I +heard the Professor's low hiss of inspiration, and knowing its rarity, +a deadly fear shot through my heart. As I passed over he moved back, +and his exclamation of horror, "Gott in Himmel!" needed no enforcement +from his agonized face. He raised his hand and pointed to the bed, +and his iron face was drawn and ashen white. I felt my knees begin to +tremble. + +There on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly +white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the +gums seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see +in a corpse after a prolonged illness. + +Van Helsing raised his foot to stamp in anger, but the instinct of his +life and all the long years of habit stood to him, and he put it down +again softly. + +"Quick!" he said. "Bring the brandy." + +I flew to the dining room, and returned with the decanter. He wetted +the poor white lips with it, and together we rubbed palm and wrist and +heart. He felt her heart, and after a few moments of agonizing +suspense said, + +"It is not too late. It beats, though but feebly. All our work is +undone. We must begin again. There is no young Arthur here now. I +have to call on you yourself this time, friend John." As he spoke, he +was dipping into his bag, and producing the instruments of +transfusion. I had taken off my coat and rolled up my shirt sleeve. +There was no possibility of an opiate just at present, and no need of +one; and so, without a moment's delay, we began the operation. + +After a time, it did not seem a short time either, for the draining +away of one's blood, no matter how willingly it be given, is a +terrible feeling, Van Helsing held up a warning finger. "Do not +stir," he said. "But I fear that with growing strength she may wake, +and that would make danger, oh, so much danger. But I shall +precaution take. I shall give hypodermic injection of morphia." He +proceeded then, swiftly and deftly, to carry out his intent. + +The effect on Lucy was not bad, for the faint seemed to merge subtly +into the narcotic sleep. It was with a feeling of personal pride that +I could see a faint tinge of colour steal back into the pallid cheeks +and lips. No man knows, till he experiences it, what it is to feel +his own lifeblood drawn away into the veins of the woman he loves. + +The Professor watched me critically. "That will do," he said. +"Already?" I remonstrated. "You took a great deal more from Art." To +which he smiled a sad sort of smile as he replied, + +"He is her lover, her fiance. You have work, much work to do for her +and for others, and the present will suffice." + +When we stopped the operation, he attended to Lucy, whilst I applied +digital pressure to my own incision. I laid down, while I waited his +leisure to attend to me, for I felt faint and a little sick. By and +by he bound up my wound, and sent me downstairs to get a glass of wine +for myself. As I was leaving the room, he came after me, and half +whispered. + +"Mind, nothing must be said of this. If our young lover should turn +up unexpected, as before, no word to him. It would at once frighten +him and enjealous him, too. There must be none. So!" + +When I came back he looked at me carefully, and then said, "You are +not much the worse. Go into the room, and lie on your sofa, and rest +awhile, then have much breakfast and come here to me." + +I followed out his orders, for I knew how right and wise they were. I +had done my part, and now my next duty was to keep up my strength. I +felt very weak, and in the weakness lost something of the amazement at +what had occurred. I fell asleep on the sofa, however, wondering over +and over again how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how +she could have been drained of so much blood with no sign any where to +show for it. I think I must have continued my wonder in my dreams, +for, sleeping and waking my thoughts always came back to the little +punctures in her throat and the ragged, exhausted appearance of their +edges, tiny though they were. + +Lucy slept well into the day, and when she woke she was fairly well +and strong, though not nearly so much so as the day before. When Van +Helsing had seen her, he went out for a walk, leaving me in charge, +with strict injunctions that I was not to leave her for a moment. I +could hear his voice in the hall, asking the way to the nearest +telegraph office. + +Lucy chatted with me freely, and seemed quite unconscious that +anything had happened. I tried to keep her amused and interested. +When her mother came up to see her, she did not seem to notice any +change whatever, but said to me gratefully, + +"We owe you so much, Dr. Seward, for all you have done, but you really +must now take care not to overwork yourself. You are looking pale +yourself. You want a wife to nurse and look after you a bit, that you +do!" As she spoke, Lucy turned crimson, though it was only +momentarily, for her poor wasted veins could not stand for long an +unwonted drain to the head. The reaction came in excessive pallor as +she turned imploring eyes on me. I smiled and nodded, and laid my +finger on my lips. With a sigh, she sank back amid her pillows. + +Van Helsing returned in a couple of hours, and presently said to me: +"Now you go home, and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself +strong. I stay here tonight, and I shall sit up with little miss +myself. You and I must watch the case, and we must have none other to +know. I have grave reasons. No, do not ask me. Think what you will. +Do not fear to think even the most not-improbable. Goodnight." + +In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either +of them might not sit up with Miss Lucy. They implored me to let +them, and when I said it was Dr. Van Helsing's wish that either he or +I should sit up, they asked me quite piteously to intercede with +the 'foreign gentleman'. I was much touched by their kindness. Perhaps +it is because I am weak at present, and perhaps because it was on +Lucy's account, that their devotion was manifested. For over and over +again have I seen similar instances of woman's kindness. I got back +here in time for a late dinner, went my rounds, all well, and set this +down whilst waiting for sleep. It is coming. + + +11 September.--This afternoon I went over to Hillingham. Found Van +Helsing in excellent spirits, and Lucy much better. Shortly after I +had arrived, a big parcel from abroad came for the Professor. He +opened it with much impressment, assumed, of course, and showed a +great bundle of white flowers. + +"These are for you, Miss Lucy," he said. + +"For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!" + +"Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines." +Here Lucy made a wry face. "Nay, but they are not to take in a +decoction or in nauseous form, so you need not snub that so charming +nose, or I shall point out to my friend Arthur what woes he may have +to endure in seeing so much beauty that he so loves so much distort. +Aha, my pretty miss, that bring the so nice nose all straight again. +This is medicinal, but you do not know how. I put him in your window, +I make pretty wreath, and hang him round your neck, so you sleep well. +Oh, yes! They, like the lotus flower, make your trouble forgotten. +It smell so like the waters of Lethe, and of that fountain of youth +that the Conquistadores sought for in the Floridas, and find him all +too late." + +Whilst he was speaking, Lucy had been examining the flowers and +smelling them. Now she threw them down saying, with half laughter, +and half disgust, + +"Oh, Professor, I believe you are only putting up a joke on me. Why, +these flowers are only common garlic." + +To my surprise, Van Helsing rose up and said with all his sternness, +his iron jaw set and his bushy eyebrows meeting, + +"No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in what I +do, and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care, for the sake +of others if not for your own." Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she +might well be, he went on more gently, "Oh, little miss, my dear, do +not fear me. I only do for your good, but there is much virtue to you +in those so common flowers. See, I place them myself in your room. I +make myself the wreath that you are to wear. But hush! No telling to +others that make so inquisitive questions. We must obey, and silence +is a part of obedience, and obedience is to bring you strong and well +into loving arms that wait for you. Now sit still a while. Come with +me, friend John, and you shall help me deck the room with my garlic, +which is all the way from Haarlem, where my friend Vanderpool raise +herb in his glass houses all the year. I had to telegraph yesterday, +or they would not have been here." + +We went into the room, taking the flowers with us. The Professor's +actions were certainly odd and not to be found in any pharmacopeia +that I ever heard of. First he fastened up the windows and latched +them securely. Next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them +all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that +might get in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with the wisp +he rubbed all over the jamb of the door, above, below, and at each +side, and round the fireplace in the same way. It all seemed +grotesque to me, and presently I said, "Well, Professor, I know you +always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. +It is well we have no sceptic here, or he would say that you were +working some spell to keep out an evil spirit." + +"Perhaps I am!" he answered quietly as he began to make the wreath +which Lucy was to wear round her neck. + +We then waited whilst Lucy made her toilet for the night, and when she +was in bed he came and himself fixed the wreath of garlic round her +neck. The last words he said to her were, + +"Take care you do not disturb it, and even if the room feel close, do +not tonight open the window or the door." + +"I promise," said Lucy. "And thank you both a thousand times for all +your kindness to me! Oh, what have I done to be blessed with such +friends?" + +As we left the house in my fly, which was waiting, Van Helsing said, +"Tonight I can sleep in peace, and sleep I want, two nights of travel, +much reading in the day between, and much anxiety on the day to +follow, and a night to sit up, without to wink. Tomorrow in the +morning early you call for me, and we come together to see our pretty +miss, so much more strong for my 'spell' which I have work. Ho, ho!" + +He seemed so confident that I, remembering my own confidence two +nights before and with the baneful result, felt awe and vague terror. +It must have been my weakness that made me hesitate to tell it to my +friend, but I felt it all the more, like unshed tears. + + + + +CHAPTER 11 + + +LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY + +12 September.--How good they all are to me. I quite love that dear +Dr. Van Helsing. I wonder why he was so anxious about these flowers. +He positively frightened me, he was so fierce. And yet he must have +been right, for I feel comfort from them already. Somehow, I do not +dread being alone tonight, and I can go to sleep without fear. I +shall not mind any flapping outside the window. Oh, the terrible +struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late, the pain of +sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such unknown +horrors as it has for me! How blessed are some people, whose lives +have no fears, no dreads, to whom sleep is a blessing that comes +nightly, and brings nothing but sweet dreams. Well, here I am +tonight, hoping for sleep, and lying like Ophelia in the play, with +'virgin crants and maiden strewments.' I never liked garlic before, +but tonight it is delightful! There is peace in its smell. I feel +sleep coming already. Goodnight, everybody. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +13 September.--Called at the Berkeley and found Van Helsing, as usual, +up to time. The carriage ordered from the hotel was waiting. The +Professor took his bag, which he always brings with him now. + +Let all be put down exactly. Van Helsing and I arrived at Hillingham +at eight o'clock. It was a lovely morning. The bright sunshine and +all the fresh feeling of early autumn seemed like the completion of +nature's annual work. The leaves were turning to all kinds of +beautiful colours, but had not yet begun to drop from the trees. When +we entered we met Mrs. Westenra coming out of the morning room. She +is always an early riser. She greeted us warmly and said, + +"You will be glad to know that Lucy is better. The dear child is +still asleep. I looked into her room and saw her, but did not go in, +lest I should disturb her." The Professor smiled, and looked quite +jubilant. He rubbed his hands together, and said, "Aha! I thought I +had diagnosed the case. My treatment is working." + +To which she replied, "You must not take all the credit to yourself, +doctor. Lucy's state this morning is due in part to me." + +"How do you mean, ma'am?" asked the Professor. + +"Well, I was anxious about the dear child in the night, and went into +her room. She was sleeping soundly, so soundly that even my coming +did not wake her. But the room was awfully stuffy. There were a lot +of those horrible, strong-smelling flowers about everywhere, and she +had actually a bunch of them round her neck. I feared that the heavy +odour would be too much for the dear child in her weak state, so I took +them all away and opened a bit of the window to let in a little fresh +air. You will be pleased with her, I am sure." + +She moved off into her boudoir, where she usually breakfasted early. +As she had spoken, I watched the Professor's face, and saw it turn +ashen gray. He had been able to retain his self-command whilst the +poor lady was present, for he knew her state and how mischievous a +shock would be. He actually smiled on her as he held open the door +for her to pass into her room. But the instant she had disappeared he +pulled me, suddenly and forcibly, into the dining room and closed the +door. + +Then, for the first time in my life, I saw Van Helsing break down. He +raised his hands over his head in a sort of mute despair, and then +beat his palms together in a helpless way. Finally he sat down on a +chair, and putting his hands before his face, began to sob, with loud, +dry sobs that seemed to come from the very racking of his heart. + +Then he raised his arms again, as though appealing to the whole +universe. "God! God! God!" he said. "What have we done, what has +this poor thing done, that we are so sore beset? Is there fate +amongst us still, send down from the pagan world of old, that such +things must be, and in such way? This poor mother, all unknowing, and +all for the best as she think, does such thing as lose her daughter +body and soul, and we must not tell her, we must not even warn her, or +she die, then both die. Oh, how we are beset! How are all the powers +of the devils against us!" + +Suddenly he jumped to his feet. "Come," he said, "come, we must see and +act. Devils or no devils, or all the devils at once, it matters not. +We must fight him all the same." He went to the hall door for his +bag, and together we went up to Lucy's room. + +Once again I drew up the blind, whilst Van Helsing went towards the +bed. This time he did not start as he looked on the poor face with +the same awful, waxen pallor as before. He wore a look of stern +sadness and infinite pity. + +"As I expected," he murmured, with that hissing inspiration of his +which meant so much. Without a word he went and locked the door, and +then began to set out on the little table the instruments for yet +another operation of transfusion of blood. I had long ago recognized +the necessity, and begun to take off my coat, but he stopped me with a +warning hand. "No!" he said. "Today you must operate. I shall +provide. You are weakened already." As he spoke he took off his coat +and rolled up his shirtsleeve. + +Again the operation. Again the narcotic. Again some return of colour +to the ashy cheeks, and the regular breathing of healthy sleep. This +time I watched whilst Van Helsing recruited himself and rested. + +Presently he took an opportunity of telling Mrs. Westenra that she +must not remove anything from Lucy's room without consulting him. +That the flowers were of medicinal value, and that the breathing of +their odour was a part of the system of cure. Then he took over the +care of the case himself, saying that he would watch this night and +the next, and would send me word when to come. + +After another hour Lucy waked from her sleep, fresh and bright and +seemingly not much the worse for her terrible ordeal. + +What does it all mean? I am beginning to wonder if my long habit of +life amongst the insane is beginning to tell upon my own brain. + + + +LUCY WESTENRA'S DIARY + +17 September.--Four days and nights of peace. I am getting so strong +again that I hardly know myself. It is as if I had passed through +some long nightmare, and had just awakened to see the beautiful +sunshine and feel the fresh air of the morning around me. I have a +dim half remembrance of long, anxious times of waiting and fearing, +darkness in which there was not even the pain of hope to make present +distress more poignant. And then long spells of oblivion, and the +rising back to life as a diver coming up through a great press of +water. Since, however, Dr. Van Helsing has been with me, all this bad +dreaming seems to have passed away. The noises that used to frighten +me out of my wits, the flapping against the windows, the distant +voices which seemed so close to me, the harsh sounds that came from I +know not where and commanded me to do I know not what, have all +ceased. I go to bed now without any fear of sleep. I do not even try +to keep awake. I have grown quite fond of the garlic, and a boxful +arrives for me every day from Haarlem. Tonight Dr. Van Helsing is +going away, as he has to be for a day in Amsterdam. But I need not be +watched. I am well enough to be left alone. + +Thank God for Mother's sake, and dear Arthur's, and for all our +friends who have been so kind! I shall not even feel the change, for +last night Dr. Van Helsing slept in his chair a lot of the time. I +found him asleep twice when I awoke. But I did not fear to go to +sleep again, although the boughs or bats or something flapped almost +angrily against the window panes. + + + + +THE PALL MALL GAZETTE 18 September. + +THE ESCAPED WOLF PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF OUR INTERVIEWER + +INTERVIEW WITH THE KEEPER IN THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS + +After many inquiries and almost as many refusals, and perpetually +using the words 'PALL MALL GAZETTE' as a sort of talisman, I managed +to find the keeper of the section of the Zoological Gardens in which +the wolf department is included. Thomas Bilder lives in one of the +cottages in the enclosure behind the elephant house, and was just +sitting down to his tea when I found him. Thomas and his wife are +hospitable folk, elderly, and without children, and if the specimen +I enjoyed of their hospitality be of the average kind, their lives +must be pretty comfortable. The keeper would not enter on what he +called business until the supper was over, and we were all +satisfied. Then when the table was cleared, and he had lit his +pipe, he said, + +"Now, Sir, you can go on and arsk me what you want. You'll excoose +me refoosin' to talk of perfeshunal subjucts afore meals. I gives +the wolves and the jackals and the hyenas in all our section their +tea afore I begins to arsk them questions." + +"How do you mean, ask them questions?" I queried, wishful to get him +into a talkative humor. + +"'Ittin' of them over the 'ead with a pole is one way. Scratchin' of +their ears in another, when gents as is flush wants a bit of a show-orf +to their gals. I don't so much mind the fust, the 'ittin of the +pole part afore I chucks in their dinner, but I waits till they've +'ad their sherry and kawffee, so to speak, afore I tries on with the +ear scratchin'. Mind you," he added philosophically, "there's a +deal of the same nature in us as in them theer animiles. Here's you +a-comin' and arskin' of me questions about my business, and I that +grump-like that only for your bloomin' 'arf-quid I'd 'a' seen you +blowed fust 'fore I'd answer. Not even when you arsked me sarcastic +like if I'd like you to arsk the Superintendent if you might arsk me +questions. Without offence did I tell yer to go to 'ell?" + +"You did." + +"An' when you said you'd report me for usin' obscene language that +was 'ittin' me over the 'ead. But the 'arf-quid made that all +right. I weren't a-goin' to fight, so I waited for the food, and +did with my 'owl as the wolves and lions and tigers does. But, lor' +love yer 'art, now that the old 'ooman has stuck a chunk of her +tea-cake in me, an' rinsed me out with her bloomin' old teapot, and I've +lit hup, you may scratch my ears for all you're worth, and won't +even get a growl out of me. Drive along with your questions. I +know what yer a-comin' at, that 'ere escaped wolf." + +"Exactly. I want you to give me your view of it. Just tell me how +it happened, and when I know the facts I'll get you to say what you +consider was the cause of it, and how you think the whole affair +will end." + +"All right, guv'nor. This 'ere is about the 'ole story. +That 'ere wolf what we called Bersicker was one of three gray +ones that came from Norway to Jamrach's, which we bought +off him four years ago. He was a nice well-behaved wolf, +that never gave no trouble to talk of. I'm more surprised +at 'im for wantin' to get out nor any other animile in the +place. But, there, you can't trust wolves no more nor women." + +"Don't you mind him, Sir!" broke in Mrs. Tom, with a cheery +laugh. "'E's got mindin' the animiles so long that blest +if he ain't like a old wolf 'isself! But there ain't no +'arm in 'im." + +"Well, Sir, it was about two hours after feedin' yesterday when I +first hear my disturbance. I was makin' up a litter in the monkey +house for a young puma which is ill. But when I heard the yelpin' +and 'owlin' I kem away straight. There was Bersicker a-tearin' like +a mad thing at the bars as if he wanted to get out. There wasn't +much people about that day, and close at hand was only one man, a +tall, thin chap, with a 'ook nose and a pointed beard, with a few +white hairs runnin' through it. He had a 'ard, cold look and red +eyes, and I took a sort of mislike to him, for it seemed as if it +was 'im as they was hirritated at. He 'ad white kid gloves on 'is +'ands, and he pointed out the animiles to me and says, 'Keeper, +these wolves seem upset at something.' + +"'Maybe it's you,' says I, for I did not like the airs as he +give 'isself. He didn't get angry, as I 'oped he would, but +he smiled a kind of insolent smile, with a mouth full of white, +sharp teeth. 'Oh no, they wouldn't like me,' 'e says. + +"'Ow yes, they would,' says I, a-imitatin' of him. 'They +always like a bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea +time, which you 'as a bagful.' + +"Well, it was a odd thing, but when the animiles see us +a-talkin' they lay down, and when I went over to Bersicker +he let me stroke his ears same as ever. That there man kem +over, and blessed but if he didn't put in his hand and stroke +the old wolf's ears too! + +"'Tyke care,' says I. 'Bersicker is quick.' + +"'Never mind,' he says. I'm used to 'em!' + +"'Are you in the business yourself?' I says, tyking off my +'at, for a man what trades in wolves, anceterer, is a good +friend to keepers. + +"'Nom,' says he, 'not exactly in the business, but I 'ave made pets +of several.' And with that he lifts his 'at as perlite as a lord, +and walks away. Old Bersicker kep' a-lookin' arter 'im till 'e was +out of sight, and then went and lay down in a corner and wouldn't +come hout the 'ole hevening. Well, larst night, so soon as the moon +was hup, the wolves here all began a-'owling. There warn't nothing +for them to 'owl at. There warn't no one near, except some one that +was evidently a-callin' a dog somewheres out back of the gardings in +the Park road. Once or twice I went out to see that all was right, +and it was, and then the 'owling stopped. Just before twelve +o'clock I just took a look round afore turnin' in, an', bust me, but +when I kem opposite to old Bersicker's cage I see the rails broken +and twisted about and the cage empty. And that's all I know for +certing." + +"Did any one else see anything?" + +"One of our gard'ners was a-comin' 'ome about that time from a +'armony, when he sees a big gray dog comin' out through the garding +'edges. At least, so he says, but I don't give much for it myself, +for if he did 'e never said a word about it to his missis when 'e +got 'ome, and it was only after the escape of the wolf was made +known, and we had been up all night a-huntin' of the Park for +Bersicker, that he remembered seein' anything. My own belief was +that the 'armony 'ad got into his 'ead." + +"Now, Mr. Bilder, can you account in any way for the escape +of the wolf?" + +"Well, Sir," he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty, "I think I +can, but I don't know as 'ow you'd be satisfied with the theory." + +"Certainly I shall. If a man like you, who knows the animals from +experience, can't hazard a good guess at any rate, who is even to +try?" + +"Well then, Sir, I accounts for it this way. It seems to me that +'ere wolf escaped--simply because he wanted to get out." + +From the hearty way that both Thomas and his wife laughed at the +joke I could see that it had done service before, and that the whole +explanation was simply an elaborate sell. I couldn't cope in +badinage with the worthy Thomas, but I thought I knew a surer way to +his heart, so I said, "Now, Mr. Bilder, we'll consider that first +half-sovereign worked off, and this brother of his is waiting to be +claimed when you've told me what you think will happen." + +"Right y'are, Sir," he said briskly. "Ye'll excoose me, I +know, for a-chaffin' of ye, but the old woman here winked at +me, which was as much as telling me to go on." + +"Well, I never!" said the old lady. + +"My opinion is this: that 'ere wolf is a'idin' of, somewheres. The +gard'ner wot didn't remember said he was a-gallopin' northward +faster than a horse could go, but I don't believe him, for, yer see, +Sir, wolves don't gallop no more nor dogs does, they not bein' built +that way. Wolves is fine things in a storybook, and I dessay when +they gets in packs and does be chivyin' somethin' that's more +afeared than they is they can make a devil of a noise and chop it +up, whatever it is. But, Lor' bless you, in real life a wolf is +only a low creature, not half so clever or bold as a good dog, and +not half a quarter so much fight in 'im. This one ain't been used +to fightin' or even to providin' for hisself, and more like he's +somewhere round the Park a'hidin' an' a'shiverin' of, and if he +thinks at all, wonderin' where he is to get his breakfast from. Or +maybe he's got down some area and is in a coal cellar. My eye, +won't some cook get a rum start when she sees his green eyes +a-shinin' at her out of the dark! If he can't get food he's bound to +look for it, and mayhap he may chance to light on a butcher's shop +in time. If he doesn't, and some nursemaid goes out walkin' or orf +with a soldier, leavin' of the hinfant in the perambulator--well, +then I shouldn't be surprised if the census is one babby the less. +That's all." + +I was handing him the half-sovereign, when something came bobbing up +against the window, and Mr. Bilder's face doubled its natural length +with surprise. + +"God bless me!" he said. "If there ain't old Bersicker come back by +'isself!" + +He went to the door and opened it, a most unnecessary proceeding it +seemed to me. I have always thought that a wild animal never looks +so well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between +us. A personal experience has intensified rather than diminished +that idea. + +After all, however, there is nothing like custom, for neither Bilder +nor his wife thought any more of the wolf than I should of a dog. +The animal itself was a peaceful and well-behaved as that father of +all picture-wolves, Red Riding Hood's quondam friend, whilst moving +her confidence in masquerade. + +The whole scene was a unutterable mixture of comedy and +pathos. The wicked wolf that for a half a day had +paralyzed London and set all the children in town shivering +in their shoes, was there in a sort of penitent mood, and +was received and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal +son. Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender +solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent +said, + +"There, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of +trouble. Didn't I say it all along? Here's his head all +cut and full of broken glass. 'E's been a-gettin' over +some bloomin' wall or other. It's a shyme that people are +allowed to top their walls with broken bottles. This 'ere's +what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker." + +He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece +of meat that satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary +conditions of the fatted calf, and went off to report. + +I came off too, to report the only exclusive information +that is given today regarding the strange escapade at the +Zoo. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +17 September.--I was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my +books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy, +had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open, and +in rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was +thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord +into the Superintendent's study is almost unknown. + +Without an instant's notice he made straight at me. He had a dinner +knife in his hand, and as I saw he was dangerous, I tried to keep the +table between us. He was too quick and too strong for me, however, +for before I could get my balance he had struck at me and cut my left +wrist rather severely. + +Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right hand and he +was sprawling on his back on the floor. My wrist bled freely, and +quite a little pool trickled on to the carpet. I saw that my friend +was not intent on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my +wrist, keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time. When +the attendants rushed in, and we turned our attention to him, his +employment positively sickened me. He was lying on his belly on the +floor licking up, like a dog, the blood which had fallen from my +wounded wrist. He was easily secured, and to my surprise, went with +the attendants quite placidly, simply repeating over and over again, +"The blood is the life! The blood is the life!" + +I cannot afford to lose blood just at present. I have lost too much +of late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain of Lucy's +illness and its horrible phases is telling on me. I am over excited +and weary, and I need rest, rest, rest. Happily Van Helsing has not +summoned me, so I need not forego my sleep. Tonight I could not well +do without it. + + + +TELEGRAM, VAN HELSING, ANTWERP, TO SEWARD, CARFAX + +(Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given, delivered late +by twenty-two hours.) + +17 September.--Do not fail to be at Hilllingham tonight. +If not watching all the time, frequently visit and see that +flowers are as placed, very important, do not fail. Shall +be with you as soon as possible after arrival. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +18 September.--Just off train to London. The arrival of Van +Helsing's telegram filled me with dismay. A whole night lost, +and I know by bitter experience what may happen in a night. +Of course it is possible that all may be well, but what may +have happened? Surely there is some horrible doom hanging over us +that every possible accident should thwart us in all we try to do. +I shall take this cylinder with me, and then I can complete +my entry on Lucy's phonograph. + + + + +MEMORANDUM LEFT BY LUCY WESTENRA + +17 September, Night.--I write this and leave it to be seen, +so that no one may by any chance get into trouble through +me. This is an exact record of what took place tonight. I +feel I am dying of weakness, and have barely strength to +write, but it must be done if I die in the doing. + +I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were +placed as Dr. Van Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep. + +I was waked by the flapping at the window, which had begun after +that sleep-walking on the cliff at Whitby when Mina saved me, and +which now I know so well. I was not afraid, but I did wish that +Dr. Seward was in the next room, as Dr. Van Helsing said he would +be, so that I might have called him. I tried to sleep, but I +could not. Then there came to me the old fear of sleep, and I +determined to keep awake. Perversely sleep would try to come then +when I did not want it. So, as I feared to be alone, I opened my +door and called out, "Is there anybody there?" There was no +answer. I was afraid to wake mother, and so closed my door +again. Then outside in the shrubbery I heard a sort of howl like +a dog's, but more fierce and deeper. I went to the window and +looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat, which had +evidently been buffeting its wings against the window. So I went +back to bed again, but determined not to go to sleep. Presently +the door opened, and mother looked in. Seeing by my moving that +I was not asleep, she came in and sat by me. She said to me even +more sweetly and softly than her wont, + +"I was uneasy about you, darling, and came in to see that +you were all right." + +I feared she might catch cold sitting there, and asked her +to come in and sleep with me, so she came into bed, and lay +down beside me. She did not take off her dressing gown, +for she said she would only stay a while and then go back +to her own bed. As she lay there in my arms, and I in hers +the flapping and buffeting came to the window again. She +was startled and a little frightened, and cried out, "What +is that?" + +I tried to pacify her, and at last succeeded, and she lay +quiet. But I could hear her poor dear heart still beating +terribly. After a while there was the howl again out in +the shrubbery, and shortly after there was a crash at the +window, and a lot of broken glass was hurled on the floor. +The window blind blew back with the wind that rushed in, +and in the aperture of the broken panes there was the head +of a great, gaunt gray wolf. + +Mother cried out in a fright, and struggled up into a +sitting posture, and clutched wildly at anything that would +help her. Amongst other things, she clutched the wreath of +flowers that Dr. Van Helsing insisted on my wearing round +my neck, and tore it away from me. For a second or two she +sat up, pointing at the wolf, and there was a strange and +horrible gurgling in her throat. Then she fell over, as if +struck with lightning, and her head hit my forehead and +made me dizzy for a moment or two. + +The room and all round seemed to spin round. I kept my eyes +fixed on the window, but the wolf drew his head back, and a whole +myriad of little specks seems to come blowing in through the +broken window, and wheeling and circling round like the pillar of +dust that travellers describe when there is a simoon in the +desert. I tried to stir, but there was some spell upon me, and +dear Mother's poor body, which seemed to grow cold already, for +her dear heart had ceased to beat, weighed me down, and I +remembered no more for a while. + +The time did not seem long, but very, very awful, till I +recovered consciousness again. Somewhere near, a passing +bell was tolling. The dogs all round the neighbourhood were +howling, and in our shrubbery, seemingly just outside, a +nightingale was singing. I was dazed and stupid with pain +and terror and weakness, but the sound of the nightingale +seemed like the voice of my dead mother come back to comfort me. +The sounds seemed to have awakened the maids, too, for I could +hear their bare feet pattering outside my door. I called to +them, and they came in, and when they saw what had happened, and +what it was that lay over me on the bed, they screamed out. The +wind rushed in through the broken window, and the door slammed +to. They lifted off the body of my dear mother, and laid her, +covered up with a sheet, on the bed after I had got up. They +were all so frightened and nervous that I directed them to go to +the dining room and each have a glass of wine. The door flew +open for an instant and closed again. The maids shrieked, and +then went in a body to the dining room, and I laid what flowers I +had on my dear mother's breast. When they were there I +remembered what Dr. Van Helsing had told me, but I didn't like to +remove them, and besides, I would have some of the servants to +sit up with me now. I was surprised that the maids did not come +back. I called them, but got no answer, so I went to the dining +room to look for them. + +My heart sank when I saw what had happened. They all four +lay helpless on the floor, breathing heavily. The decanter +of sherry was on the table half full, but there was a queer, +acrid smell about. I was suspicious, and examined the decanter. +It smelt of laudanum, and looking on the sideboard, I found that +the bottle which Mother's doctor uses for her--oh! did use--was +empty. What am I to do? What am I to do? I am back in the room +with Mother. I cannot leave her, and I am alone, save for the +sleeping servants, whom some one has drugged. Alone with the +dead! I dare not go out, for I can hear the low howl of the wolf +through the broken window. + +The air seems full of specks, floating and circling in the +draught from the window, and the lights burn blue and dim. +What am I to do? God shield me from harm this night! I +shall hide this paper in my breast, where they shall find +it when they come to lay me out. My dear mother gone! It +is time that I go too. Goodbye, dear Arthur, if I should +not survive this night. God keep you, dear, and God help +me! + + + + +CHAPTER 12 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +18 September.--I drove at once to Hillingham and arrived early. +Keeping my cab at the gate, I went up the avenue alone. I knocked +gently and rang as quietly as possible, for I feared to disturb Lucy +or her mother, and hoped to only bring a servant to the door. After a +while, finding no response, I knocked and rang again, still no +answer. I cursed the laziness of the servants that they should lie +abed at such an hour, for it was now ten o'clock, and so rang and +knocked again, but more impatiently, but still without response. +Hitherto I had blamed only the servants, but now a terrible fear began +to assail me. Was this desolation but another link in the chain of +doom which seemed drawing tight round us? Was it indeed a house of +death to which I had come, too late? I know that minutes, even +seconds of delay, might mean hours of danger to Lucy, if she had had +again one of those frightful relapses, and I went round the house to +try if I could find by chance an entry anywhere. + +I could find no means of ingress. Every window and door was fastened +and locked, and I returned baffled to the porch. As I did so, I heard +the rapid pit-pat of a swiftly driven horse's feet. They stopped at +the gate, and a few seconds later I met Van Helsing running up the +avenue. When he saw me, he gasped out, "Then it was you, and just +arrived. How is she? Are we too late? Did you not get my telegram?" + +I answered as quickly and coherently as I could that I had only got +his telegram early in the morning, and had not a minute in coming +here, and that I could not make any one in the house hear me. He +paused and raised his hat as he said solemnly, "Then I fear we are too +late. God's will be done!" + +With his usual recuperative energy, he went on, "Come. If there be no +way open to get in, we must make one. Time is all in all to us now." + +We went round to the back of the house, where there was a kitchen +window. The Professor took a small surgical saw from his case, and +handing it to me, pointed to the iron bars which guarded the window. +I attacked them at once and had very soon cut through three of them. +Then with a long, thin knife we pushed back the fastening of the +sashes and opened the window. I helped the Professor in, and followed +him. There was no one in the kitchen or in the servants' rooms, which +were close at hand. We tried all the rooms as we went along, and in +the dining room, dimly lit by rays of light through the shutters, +found four servant women lying on the floor. There was no need to +think them dead, for their stertorous breathing and the acrid smell of +laudanum in the room left no doubt as to their condition. + +Van Helsing and I looked at each other, and as we moved away he said, +"We can attend to them later." Then we ascended to Lucy's room. For an +instant or two we paused at the door to listen, but there was no sound +that we could hear. With white faces and trembling hands, we opened +the door gently, and entered the room. + +How shall I describe what we saw? On the bed lay two women, Lucy and +her mother. The latter lay farthest in, and she was covered with a +white sheet, the edge of which had been blown back by the drought +through the broken window, showing the drawn, white, face, with a look +of terror fixed upon it. By her side lay Lucy, with face white and +still more drawn. The flowers which had been round her neck we found +upon her mother's bosom, and her throat was bare, showing the two +little wounds which we had noticed before, but looking horribly white +and mangled. Without a word the Professor bent over the bed, his head +almost touching poor Lucy's breast. Then he gave a quick turn of his +head, as of one who listens, and leaping to his feet, he cried out to +me, "It is not yet too late! Quick! Quick! Bring the brandy!" + +I flew downstairs and returned with it, taking care to smell and taste +it, lest it, too, were drugged like the decanter of sherry which I +found on the table. The maids were still breathing, but more +restlessly, and I fancied that the narcotic was wearing off. I did +not stay to make sure, but returned to Van Helsing. He rubbed the +brandy, as on another occasion, on her lips and gums and on her wrists +and the palms of her hands. He said to me, "I can do this, all that +can be at the present. You go wake those maids. Flick them in the +face with a wet towel, and flick them hard. Make them get heat and +fire and a warm bath. This poor soul is nearly as cold as that beside +her. She will need be heated before we can do anything more." + +I went at once, and found little difficulty in waking three of the +women. The fourth was only a young girl, and the drug had evidently +affected her more strongly so I lifted her on the sofa and let her +sleep. + +The others were dazed at first, but as remembrance came back to them +they cried and sobbed in a hysterical manner. I was stern with them, +however, and would not let them talk. I told them that one life was +bad enough to lose, and if they delayed they would sacrifice Miss +Lucy. So, sobbing and crying they went about their way, half clad as +they were, and prepared fire and water. Fortunately, the kitchen and +boiler fires were still alive, and there was no lack of hot water. We +got a bath and carried Lucy out as she was and placed her in it. +Whilst we were busy chafing her limbs there was a knock at the hall +door. One of the maids ran off, hurried on some more clothes, and +opened it. Then she returned and whispered to us that there was a +gentleman who had come with a message from Mr. Holmwood. I bade her +simply tell him that he must wait, for we could see no one now. She +went away with the message, and, engrossed with our work, I clean +forgot all about him. + +I never saw in all my experience the Professor work in such deadly +earnest. I knew, as he knew, that it was a stand-up fight with death, +and in a pause told him so. He answered me in a way that I did not +understand, but with the sternest look that his face could wear. + +"If that were all, I would stop here where we are now, and let her +fade away into peace, for I see no light in life over her horizon." He +went on with his work with, if possible, renewed and more frenzied +vigour. + +Presently we both began to be conscious that the heat was beginning to +be of some effect. Lucy's heart beat a trifle more audibly to the +stethoscope, and her lungs had a perceptible movement. Van Helsing's +face almost beamed, and as we lifted her from the bath and rolled her +in a hot sheet to dry her he said to me, "The first gain is ours! +Check to the King!" + +We took Lucy into another room, which had by now been prepared, and +laid her in bed and forced a few drops of brandy down her throat. I +noticed that Van Helsing tied a soft silk handkerchief round her +throat. She was still unconscious, and was quite as bad as, if not +worse than, we had ever seen her. + +Van Helsing called in one of the women, and told her to stay with her +and not to take her eyes off her till we returned, and then beckoned +me out of the room. + +"We must consult as to what is to be done," he said as we descended +the stairs. In the hall he opened the dining room door, and we passed +in, he closing the door carefully behind him. The shutters had been +opened, but the blinds were already down, with that obedience to the +etiquette of death which the British woman of the lower classes always +rigidly observes. The room was, therefore, dimly dark. It was, +however, light enough for our purposes. Van Helsing's sternness was +somewhat relieved by a look of perplexity. He was evidently torturing +his mind about something, so I waited for an instant, and he spoke. + +"What are we to do now? Where are we to turn for help? We must have +another transfusion of blood, and that soon, or that poor girl's life +won't be worth an hour's purchase. You are exhausted already. I am +exhausted too. I fear to trust those women, even if they would have +courage to submit. What are we to do for some one who will open his +veins for her?" + +"What's the matter with me, anyhow?" + +The voice came from the sofa across the room, and its tones brought +relief and joy to my heart, for they were those of Quincey Morris. + +Van Helsing started angrily at the first sound, but his face softened +and a glad look came into his eyes as I cried out, "Quincey Morris!" +and rushed towards him with outstretched hands. + +"What brought you here?" I cried as our hands met. + +"I guess Art is the cause." + +He handed me a telegram.--'Have not heard from Seward for three days, +and am terribly anxious. Cannot leave. Father still in same +condition. Send me word how Lucy is. Do not delay.--Holmwood.' + +"I think I came just in the nick of time. You know you have only to +tell me what to do." + +Van Helsing strode forward, and took his hand, looking him straight in +the eyes as he said, "A brave man's blood is the best thing on this +earth when a woman is in trouble. You're a man and no mistake. Well, +the devil may work against us for all he's worth, but God sends us men +when we want them." + +Once again we went through that ghastly operation. I have not the +heart to go through with the details. Lucy had got a terrible shock +and it told on her more than before, for though plenty of blood went +into her veins, her body did not respond to the treatment as well as +on the other occasions. Her struggle back into life was something +frightful to see and hear. However, the action of both heart and +lungs improved, and Van Helsing made a sub-cutaneous injection of +morphia, as before, and with good effect. Her faint became a profound +slumber. The Professor watched whilst I went downstairs with Quincey +Morris, and sent one of the maids to pay off one of the cabmen who +were waiting. + +I left Quincey lying down after having a glass of wine, and told the +cook to get ready a good breakfast. Then a thought struck me, and I +went back to the room where Lucy now was. When I came softly in, I +found Van Helsing with a sheet or two of note paper in his hand. He +had evidently read it, and was thinking it over as he sat with his +hand to his brow. There was a look of grim satisfaction in his face, +as of one who has had a doubt solved. He handed me the paper saying +only, "It dropped from Lucy's breast when we carried her to the bath." + +When I had read it, I stood looking at the Professor, and after a +pause asked him, "In God's name, what does it all mean? Was she, or +is she, mad, or what sort of horrible danger is it?" I was so +bewildered that I did not know what to say more. Van Helsing put out +his hand and took the paper, saying, + +"Do not trouble about it now. Forget it for the present. You shall +know and understand it all in good time, but it will be later. And +now what is it that you came to me to say?" This brought me back to +fact, and I was all myself again. + +"I came to speak about the certificate of death. If we do not act +properly and wisely, there may be an inquest, and that paper would +have to be produced. I am in hopes that we need have no inquest, for +if we had it would surely kill poor Lucy, if nothing else did. I +know, and you know, and the other doctor who attended her knows, that +Mrs. Westenra had disease of the heart, and we can certify that she +died of it. Let us fill up the certificate at once, and I shall take +it myself to the registrar and go on to the undertaker." + +"Good, oh my friend John! Well thought of! Truly Miss Lucy, if she +be sad in the foes that beset her, is at least happy in the friends +that love her. One, two, three, all open their veins for her, besides +one old man. Ah, yes, I know, friend John. I am not blind! I love +you all the more for it! Now go." + +In the hall I met Quincey Morris, with a telegram for Arthur telling +him that Mrs. Westenra was dead, that Lucy also had been ill, but was +now going on better, and that Van Helsing and I were with her. I told +him where I was going, and he hurried me out, but as I was going said, + +"When you come back, Jack, may I have two words with you all to +ourselves?" I nodded in reply and went out. I found no difficulty +about the registration, and arranged with the local undertaker to come +up in the evening to measure for the coffin and to make arrangements. + +When I got back Quincey was waiting for me. I told him I would see +him as soon as I knew about Lucy, and went up to her room. She was +still sleeping, and the Professor seemingly had not moved from his +seat at her side. From his putting his finger to his lips, I gathered +that he expected her to wake before long and was afraid of +fore-stalling nature. So I went down to Quincey and took him into the +breakfast room, where the blinds were not drawn down, and which was a +little more cheerful, or rather less cheerless, than the other rooms. + +When we were alone, he said to me, "Jack Seward, I don't want to shove +myself in anywhere where I've no right to be, but this is no ordinary +case. You know I loved that girl and wanted to marry her, but +although that's all past and gone, I can't help feeling anxious about +her all the same. What is it that's wrong with her? The Dutchman, +and a fine old fellow he is, I can see that, said that time you two +came into the room, that you must have another transfusion of blood, +and that both you and he were exhausted. Now I know well that you +medical men speak in camera, and that a man must not expect to know +what they consult about in private. But this is no common matter, and +whatever it is, I have done my part. Is not that so?" + +"That's so," I said, and he went on. + +"I take it that both you and Van Helsing had done already what I did +today. Is not that so?" + +"That's so." + +"And I guess Art was in it too. When I saw him four days ago down at +his own place he looked queer. I have not seen anything pulled down +so quick since I was on the Pampas and had a mare that I was fond of +go to grass all in a night. One of those big bats that they call +vampires had got at her in the night, and what with his gorge and the +vein left open, there wasn't enough blood in her to let her stand up, +and I had to put a bullet through her as she lay. Jack, if you may +tell me without betraying confidence, Arthur was the first, is not +that so?" + +As he spoke the poor fellow looked terribly anxious. He was in a +torture of suspense regarding the woman he loved, and his utter +ignorance of the terrible mystery which seemed to surround her +intensified his pain. His very heart was bleeding, and it took all +the manhood of him, and there was a royal lot of it, too, to keep him +from breaking down. I paused before answering, for I felt that I must +not betray anything which the Professor wished kept secret, but +already he knew so much, and guessed so much, that there could be no +reason for not answering, so I answered in the same phrase. + +"That's so." + +"And how long has this been going on?" + +"About ten days." + +"Ten days! Then I guess, Jack Seward, that that poor pretty creature +that we all love has had put into her veins within that time the blood +of four strong men. Man alive, her whole body wouldn't hold it." Then +coming close to me, he spoke in a fierce half-whisper. "What took it +out?" + +I shook my head. "That," I said, "is the crux. Van Helsing is simply +frantic about it, and I am at my wits' end. I can't even hazard a +guess. There has been a series of little circumstances which have +thrown out all our calculations as to Lucy being properly watched. +But these shall not occur again. Here we stay until all be well, or +ill." + +Quincey held out his hand. "Count me in," he said. "You and the +Dutchman will tell me what to do, and I'll do it." + +When she woke late in the afternoon, Lucy's first movement was to feel +in her breast, and to my surprise, produced the paper which Van +Helsing had given me to read. The careful Professor had replaced it +where it had come from, lest on waking she should be alarmed. Her +eyes then lit on Van Helsing and on me too, and gladdened. Then she +looked round the room, and seeing where she was, shuddered. She gave +a loud cry, and put her poor thin hands before her pale face. + +We both understood what was meant, that she had realized to the full +her mother's death. So we tried what we could to comfort her. +Doubtless sympathy eased her somewhat, but she was very low in thought +and spirit, and wept silently and weakly for a long time. We told her +that either or both of us would now remain with her all the time, and +that seemed to comfort her. Towards dusk she fell into a doze. Here +a very odd thing occurred. Whilst still asleep she took the paper +from her breast and tore it in two. Van Helsing stepped over and took +the pieces from her. All the same, however, she went on with the +action of tearing, as though the material were still in her hands. +Finally she lifted her hands and opened them as though scattering the +fragments. Van Helsing seemed surprised, and his brows gathered as if +in thought, but he said nothing. + + +19 September.--All last night she slept fitfully, being always afraid +to sleep, and something weaker when she woke from it. The Professor +and I took in turns to watch, and we never left her for a moment +unattended. Quincey Morris said nothing about his intention, but I +knew that all night long he patrolled round and round the house. + +When the day came, its searching light showed the ravages in poor +Lucy's strength. She was hardly able to turn her head, and the little +nourishment which she could take seemed to do her no good. At times +she slept, and both Van Helsing and I noticed the difference in her, +between sleeping and waking. Whilst asleep she looked stronger, +although more haggard, and her breathing was softer. Her open mouth +showed the pale gums drawn back from the teeth, which looked +positively longer and sharper than usual. When she woke the softness +of her eyes evidently changed the expression, for she looked her own +self, although a dying one. In the afternoon she asked for Arthur, +and we telegraphed for him. Quincey went off to meet him at the +station. + +When he arrived it was nearly six o'clock, and the sun was setting +full and warm, and the red light streamed in through the window and +gave more colour to the pale cheeks. When he saw her, Arthur was +simply choking with emotion, and none of us could speak. In the hours +that had passed, the fits of sleep, or the comatose condition that +passed for it, had grown more frequent, so that the pauses when +conversation was possible were shortened. Arthur's presence, however, +seemed to act as a stimulant. She rallied a little, and spoke to him +more brightly than she had done since we arrived. He too pulled +himself together, and spoke as cheerily as he could, so that the best +was made of everything. + +It is now nearly one o'clock, and he and Van Helsing are sitting with +her. I am to relieve them in a quarter of an hour, and I am entering +this on Lucy's phonograph. Until six o'clock they are to try to rest. +I fear that tomorrow will end our watching, for the shock has been too +great. The poor child cannot rally. God help us all. + + + + +LETTER MINA HARKER TO LUCY WESTENRA + +(Unopened by her) + +17 September + +My dearest Lucy, + +"It seems an age since I heard from you, or indeed since I +wrote. You will pardon me, I know, for all my faults when +you have read all my budget of news. Well, I got my husband back +all right. When we arrived at Exeter there was a carriage +waiting for us, and in it, though he had an attack of gout, Mr. +Hawkins. He took us to his house, where there were rooms for us +all nice and comfortable, and we dined together. After dinner +Mr. Hawkins said, + +"'My dears, I want to drink your health and prosperity, and +may every blessing attend you both. I know you both from +children, and have, with love and pride, seen you grow up. +Now I want you to make your home here with me. I have left +to me neither chick nor child. All are gone, and in my +will I have left you everything.' I cried, Lucy dear, as +Jonathan and the old man clasped hands. Our evening was a +very, very happy one. + +"So here we are, installed in this beautiful old house, and +from both my bedroom and the drawing room I can see the +great elms of the cathedral close, with their great black +stems standing out against the old yellow stone of the cathedral, +and I can hear the rooks overhead cawing and cawing and +chattering and chattering and gossiping all day, after the manner +of rooks--and humans. I am busy, I need not tell you, arranging +things and housekeeping. Jonathan and Mr. Hawkins are busy all +day, for now that Jonathan is a partner, Mr. Hawkins wants to +tell him all about the clients. + +"How is your dear mother getting on? I wish I could run up +to town for a day or two to see you, dear, but I dare not +go yet, with so much on my shoulders, and Jonathan wants +looking after still. He is beginning to put some flesh on +his bones again, but he was terribly weakened by the long +illness. Even now he sometimes starts out of his sleep in +a sudden way and awakes all trembling until I can coax him +back to his usual placidity. However, thank God, these +occasions grow less frequent as the days go on, and they +will in time pass away altogether, I trust. And now I have +told you my news, let me ask yours. When are you to be +married, and where, and who is to perform the ceremony, and +what are you to wear, and is it to be a public or private +wedding? Tell me all about it, dear, tell me all about +everything, for there is nothing which interests you which +will not be dear to me. Jonathan asks me to send his 'respectful +duty', but I do not think that is good enough from the junior +partner of the important firm Hawkins & Harker. And so, as you +love me, and he loves me, and I love you with all the moods and +tenses of the verb, I send you simply his 'love' instead. +Goodbye, my dearest Lucy, and blessings on you. + +"Yours, + +"Mina Harker" + + + +REPORT FROM PATRICK HENNESSEY, MD, MRCSLK, QCPI, ETC, ETC, +TO JOHN SEWARD, MD + +20 September + +My dear Sir: + +"In accordance with your wishes, I enclose report of the +conditions of everything left in my charge. With regard to +patient, Renfield, there is more to say. He has had another +outbreak, which might have had a dreadful ending, but which, as +it fortunately happened, was unattended with any unhappy results. +This afternoon a carrier's cart with two men made a call at the +empty house whose grounds abut on ours, the house to which, you +will remember, the patient twice ran away. The men stopped at +our gate to ask the porter their way, as they were strangers. + +"I was myself looking out of the study window, having a +smoke after dinner, and saw one of them come up to the +house. As he passed the window of Renfield's room, the +patient began to rate him from within, and called him all +the foul names he could lay his tongue to. The man, who +seemed a decent fellow enough, contented himself by telling +him to 'shut up for a foul-mouthed beggar', whereon our man +accused him of robbing him and wanting to murder him and +said that he would hinder him if he were to swing for it. +I opened the window and signed to the man not to notice, so +he contented himself after looking the place over and making up +his mind as to what kind of place he had got to by saying, 'Lor' +bless yer, sir, I wouldn't mind what was said to me in a bloomin' +madhouse. I pity ye and the guv'nor for havin' to live in the +house with a wild beast like that.' + +"Then he asked his way civilly enough, and I told him where +the gate of the empty house was. He went away followed by +threats and curses and revilings from our man. I went down +to see if I could make out any cause for his anger, since +he is usually such a well-behaved man, and except his violent +fits nothing of the kind had ever occurred. I found him, to my +astonishment, quite composed and most genial in his manner. I +tried to get him to talk of the incident, but he blandly asked me +questions as to what I meant, and led me to believe that he was +completely oblivious of the affair. It was, I am sorry to say, +however, only another instance of his cunning, for within half an +hour I heard of him again. This time he had broken out through +the window of his room, and was running down the avenue. I +called to the attendants to follow me, and ran after him, for I +feared he was intent on some mischief. My fear was justified +when I saw the same cart which had passed before coming down the +road, having on it some great wooden boxes. The men were wiping +their foreheads, and were flushed in the face, as if with violent +exercise. Before I could get up to him, the patient rushed at +them, and pulling one of them off the cart, began to knock his +head against the ground. If I had not seized him just at the +moment, I believe he would have killed the man there and then. +The other fellow jumped down and struck him over the head with +the butt end of his heavy whip. It was a horrible blow, but he +did not seem to mind it, but seized him also, and struggled with +the three of us, pulling us to and fro as if we were kittens. +You know I am no lightweight, and the others were both burly men. +At first he was silent in his fighting, but as we began to master +him, and the attendants were putting a strait waistcoat on him, +he began to shout, 'I'll frustrate them! They shan't rob me! +They shan't murder me by inches! I'll fight for my Lord and +Master!' and all sorts of similar incoherent ravings. It was +with very considerable difficulty that they got him back to the +house and put him in the padded room. One of the attendants, +Hardy, had a finger broken. However, I set it all right, and he +is going on well. + +"The two carriers were at first loud in their threats of +actions for damages, and promised to rain all the penalties +of the law on us. Their threats were, however, mingled +with some sort of indirect apology for the defeat of the +two of them by a feeble madman. They said that if it had +not been for the way their strength had been spent in carrying +and raising the heavy boxes to the cart they would have made +short work of him. They gave as another reason for their defeat +the extraordinary state of drouth to which they had been reduced +by the dusty nature of their occupation and the reprehensible +distance from the scene of their labors of any place of public +entertainment. I quite understood their drift, and after a stiff +glass of strong grog, or rather more of the same, and with each a +sovereign in hand, they made light of the attack, and swore that +they would encounter a worse madman any day for the pleasure of +meeting so 'bloomin' good a bloke' as your correspondent. I took +their names and addresses, in case they might be needed. They +are as follows: Jack Smollet, of Dudding's Rents, King George's +Road, Great Walworth, and Thomas Snelling, Peter Farley's Row, +Guide Court, Bethnal Green. They are both in the employment of +Harris & Sons, Moving and Shipment Company, Orange Master's Yard, +Soho. + +"I shall report to you any matter of interest occurring here, and +shall wire you at once if there is anything of importance. + +"Believe me, dear Sir, + +"Yours faithfully, + +"Patrick Hennessey." + + + +LETTER, MINA HARKER TO LUCY WESTENRA (Unopened by her) + +18 September + +"My dearest Lucy, + +"Such a sad blow has befallen us. Mr. Hawkins has died very +suddenly. Some may not think it so sad for us, but we had +both come to so love him that it really seems as though we +had lost a father. I never knew either father or mother, +so that the dear old man's death is a real blow to me. Jonathan +is greatly distressed. It is not only that he feels sorrow, deep +sorrow, for the dear, good man who has befriended him all his +life, and now at the end has treated him like his own son and +left him a fortune which to people of our modest bringing up is +wealth beyond the dream of avarice, but Jonathan feels it on +another account. He says the amount of responsibility which it +puts upon him makes him nervous. He begins to doubt himself. I +try to cheer him up, and my belief in him helps him to have a +belief in himself. But it is here that the grave shock that he +experienced tells upon him the most. Oh, it is too hard that a +sweet, simple, noble, strong nature such as his, a nature which +enabled him by our dear, good friend's aid to rise from clerk to +master in a few years, should be so injured that the very essence +of its strength is gone. Forgive me, dear, if I worry you with my +troubles in the midst of your own happiness, but Lucy dear, I +must tell someone, for the strain of keeping up a brave and +cheerful appearance to Jonathan tries me, and I have no one here +that I can confide in. I dread coming up to London, as we must +do that day after tomorrow, for poor Mr. Hawkins left in his will +that he was to be buried in the grave with his father. As there +are no relations at all, Jonathan will have to be chief mourner. +I shall try to run over to see you, dearest, if only for a few +minutes. Forgive me for troubling you. With all blessings, + +"Your loving + +"Mina Harker" + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +20 September.--Only resolution and habit can let me make an entry +tonight. I am too miserable, too low spirited, too sick of the world +and all in it, including life itself, that I would not care if I heard +this moment the flapping of the wings of the angel of death. And he +has been flapping those grim wings to some purpose of late, Lucy's +mother and Arthur's father, and now . . . Let me get on with my work. + +I duly relieved Van Helsing in his watch over Lucy. We wanted Arthur +to go to rest also, but he refused at first. It was only when I told +him that we should want him to help us during the day, and that we +must not all break down for want of rest, lest Lucy should suffer, +that he agreed to go. + +Van Helsing was very kind to him. "Come, my child," he said. "Come +with me. You are sick and weak, and have had much sorrow and much +mental pain, as well as that tax on your strength that we know of. +You must not be alone, for to be alone is to be full of fears and +alarms. Come to the drawing room, where there is a big fire, and +there are two sofas. You shall lie on one, and I on the other, and +our sympathy will be comfort to each other, even though we do not +speak, and even if we sleep." + +Arthur went off with him, casting back a longing look on Lucy's face, +which lay in her pillow, almost whiter than the lawn. She lay quite +still, and I looked around the room to see that all was as it should +be. I could see that the Professor had carried out in this room, as +in the other, his purpose of using the garlic. The whole of the +window sashes reeked with it, and round Lucy's neck, over the silk +handkerchief which Van Helsing made her keep on, was a rough chaplet +of the same odorous flowers. + +Lucy was breathing somewhat stertorously, and her face was at its +worst, for the open mouth showed the pale gums. Her teeth, in the +dim, uncertain light, seemed longer and sharper than they had been in +the morning. In particular, by some trick of the light, the canine +teeth looked longer and sharper than the rest. + +I sat down beside her, and presently she moved uneasily. At the same +moment there came a sort of dull flapping or buffeting at the window. +I went over to it softly, and peeped out by the corner of the blind. +There was a full moonlight, and I could see that the noise was made by +a great bat, which wheeled around, doubtless attracted by the light, +although so dim, and every now and again struck the window with its +wings. When I came back to my seat, I found that Lucy had moved +slightly, and had torn away the garlic flowers from her throat. I +replaced them as well as I could, and sat watching her. + +Presently she woke, and I gave her food, as Van Helsing had +prescribed. She took but a little, and that languidly. There did not +seem to be with her now the unconscious struggle for life and strength +that had hitherto so marked her illness. It struck me as curious that +the moment she became conscious she pressed the garlic flowers close +to her. It was certainly odd that whenever she got into that +lethargic state, with the stertorous breathing, she put the flowers +from her, but that when she waked she clutched them close. There was +no possibility of making any mistake about this, for in the long hours +that followed, she had many spells of sleeping and waking and repeated +both actions many times. + +At six o'clock Van Helsing came to relieve me. Arthur had then fallen +into a doze, and he mercifully let him sleep on. When he saw Lucy's +face I could hear the hissing indraw of breath, and he said to me in a +sharp whisper. "Draw up the blind. I want light!" Then he bent down, +and, with his face almost touching Lucy's, examined her carefully. He +removed the flowers and lifted the silk handkerchief from her throat. +As he did so he started back and I could hear his ejaculation, "Mein +Gott!" as it was smothered in his throat. I bent over and looked, +too, and as I noticed some queer chill came over me. The wounds on +the throat had absolutely disappeared. + +For fully five minutes Van Helsing stood looking at her, with his face +at its sternest. Then he turned to me and said calmly, "She is +dying. It will not be long now. It will be much difference, mark me, +whether she dies conscious or in her sleep. Wake that poor boy, and +let him come and see the last. He trusts us, and we have promised +him." + +I went to the dining room and waked him. He was dazed for a moment, +but when he saw the sunlight streaming in through the edges of the +shutters he thought he was late, and expressed his fear. I assured +him that Lucy was still asleep, but told him as gently as I could that +both Van Helsing and I feared that the end was near. He covered his +face with his hands, and slid down on his knees by the sofa, where he +remained, perhaps a minute, with his head buried, praying, whilst his +shoulders shook with grief. I took him by the hand and raised him up. +"Come," I said, "my dear old fellow, summon all your fortitude. It +will be best and easiest for her." + +When we came into Lucy's room I could see that Van Helsing had, with +his usual forethought, been putting matters straight and making +everything look as pleasing as possible. He had even brushed Lucy's +hair, so that it lay on the pillow in its usual sunny ripples. When +we came into the room she opened her eyes, and seeing him, whispered +softly, "Arthur! Oh, my love, I am so glad you have come!" + +He was stooping to kiss her, when Van Helsing motioned him back. +"No," he whispered, "not yet! Hold her hand, it will comfort her +more." + +So Arthur took her hand and knelt beside her, and she looked her best, +with all the soft lines matching the angelic beauty of her eyes. Then +gradually her eyes closed, and she sank to sleep. For a little bit +her breast heaved softly, and her breath came and went like a tired +child's. + +And then insensibly there came the strange change which I had noticed +in the night. Her breathing grew stertorous, the mouth opened, and +the pale gums, drawn back, made the teeth look longer and sharper than +ever. In a sort of sleep-waking, vague, unconscious way she opened +her eyes, which were now dull and hard at once, and said in a soft, +voluptuous voice, such as I had never heard from her lips, "Arthur! +Oh, my love, I am so glad you have come! Kiss me!" + +Arthur bent eagerly over to kiss her, but at that instant Van Helsing, +who, like me, had been startled by her voice, swooped upon him, and +catching him by the neck with both hands, dragged him back with a fury +of strength which I never thought he could have possessed, and +actually hurled him almost across the room. + +"Not on your life!" he said, "not for your living soul and hers!" And +he stood between them like a lion at bay. + +Arthur was so taken aback that he did not for a moment know what to do +or say, and before any impulse of violence could seize him he realized +the place and the occasion, and stood silent, waiting. + +I kept my eyes fixed on Lucy, as did Van Helsing, and we saw a spasm +as of rage flit like a shadow over her face. The sharp teeth clamped +together. Then her eyes closed, and she breathed heavily. + +Very shortly after she opened her eyes in all their softness, and +putting out her poor, pale, thin hand, took Van Helsing's great brown +one, drawing it close to her, she kissed it. "My true friend," she +said, in a faint voice, but with untellable pathos, "My true friend, +and his! Oh, guard him, and give me peace!" + +"I swear it!" he said solemnly, kneeling beside her and holding up his +hand, as one who registers an oath. Then he turned to Arthur, and +said to him, "Come, my child, take her hand in yours, and kiss her on +the forehead, and only once." + +Their eyes met instead of their lips, and so they parted. Lucy's eyes +closed, and Van Helsing, who had been watching closely, took Arthur's +arm, and drew him away. + +And then Lucy's breathing became stertorous again, and all at once it +ceased. + +"It is all over," said Van Helsing. "She is dead!" + +I took Arthur by the arm, and led him away to the drawing room, where +he sat down, and covered his face with his hands, sobbing in a way +that nearly broke me down to see. + +I went back to the room, and found Van Helsing looking at poor Lucy, +and his face was sterner than ever. Some change had come over her +body. Death had given back part of her beauty, for her brow and +cheeks had recovered some of their flowing lines. Even the lips had +lost their deadly pallor. It was as if the blood, no longer needed +for the working of the heart, had gone to make the harshness of death +as little rude as might be. + +"We thought her dying whilst she slept, and sleeping when she died." + + +I stood beside Van Helsing, and said, "Ah well, poor girl, there is +peace for her at last. It is the end!" + +He turned to me, and said with grave solemnity, "Not so, alas! Not +so. It is only the beginning!" + +When I asked him what he meant, he only shook his head and answered, +"We can do nothing as yet. Wait and see." + + + + +CHAPTER 13 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--cont. + +The funeral was arranged for the next succeeding day, so that Lucy and +her mother might be buried together. I attended to all the ghastly +formalities, and the urbane undertaker proved that his staff was +afflicted, or blessed, with something of his own obsequious suavity. +Even the woman who performed the last offices for the dead remarked to +me, in a confidential, brother-professional way, when she had come out +from the death chamber, + +"She makes a very beautiful corpse, sir. It's quite a privilege to +attend on her. It's not too much to say that she will do credit to +our establishment!" + +I noticed that Van Helsing never kept far away. This was possible +from the disordered state of things in the household. There were no +relatives at hand, and as Arthur had to be back the next day to attend +at his father's funeral, we were unable to notify any one who should +have been bidden. Under the circumstances, Van Helsing and I took it +upon ourselves to examine papers, etc. He insisted upon looking over +Lucy's papers himself. I asked him why, for I feared that he, being a +foreigner, might not be quite aware of English legal requirements, and +so might in ignorance make some unnecessary trouble. + +He answered me, "I know, I know. You forget that I am a lawyer as +well as a doctor. But this is not altogether for the law. You knew +that, when you avoided the coroner. I have more than him to avoid. +There may be papers more, such as this." + +As he spoke he took from his pocket book the memorandum which had been +in Lucy's breast, and which she had torn in her sleep. + +"When you find anything of the solicitor who is for the late Mrs. +Westenra, seal all her papers, and write him tonight. For me, I watch +here in the room and in Miss Lucy's old room all night, and I myself +search for what may be. It is not well that her very thoughts go into +the hands of strangers." + +I went on with my part of the work, and in another half hour had found +the name and address of Mrs. Westenra's solicitor and had written to +him. All the poor lady's papers were in order. Explicit directions +regarding the place of burial were given. I had hardly sealed the +letter, when, to my surprise, Van Helsing walked into the room, +saying, + +"Can I help you friend John? I am free, and if I may, my service is +to you." + +"Have you got what you looked for?" I asked. + +To which he replied, "I did not look for any specific thing. I only +hoped to find, and find I have, all that there was, only some letters +and a few memoranda, and a diary new begun. But I have them here, and +we shall for the present say nothing of them. I shall see that poor +lad tomorrow evening, and, with his sanction, I shall use some." + +When we had finished the work in hand, he said to me, "And now, friend +John, I think we may to bed. We want sleep, both you and I, and rest +to recuperate. Tomorrow we shall have much to do, but for the tonight +there is no need of us. Alas!" + +Before turning in we went to look at poor Lucy. The undertaker had +certainly done his work well, for the room was turned into a small +chapelle ardente. There was a wilderness of beautiful white flowers, +and death was made as little repulsive as might be. The end of the +winding sheet was laid over the face. When the Professor bent over +and turned it gently back, we both started at the beauty before us. +The tall wax candles showing a sufficient light to note it well. All +Lucy's loveliness had come back to her in death, and the hours that +had passed, instead of leaving traces of 'decay's effacing fingers', +had but restored the beauty of life, till positively I could not +believe my eyes that I was looking at a corpse. + +The Professor looked sternly grave. He had not loved her as I had, +and there was no need for tears in his eyes. He said to me, "Remain +till I return," and left the room. He came back with a handful of +wild garlic from the box waiting in the hall, but which had not been +opened, and placed the flowers amongst the others on and around the +bed. Then he took from his neck, inside his collar, a little gold +crucifix, and placed it over the mouth. He restored the sheet to its +place, and we came away. + +I was undressing in my own room, when, with a premonitory tap at the +door, he entered, and at once began to speak. + +"Tomorrow I want you to bring me, before night, a set of post-mortem +knives." + +"Must we make an autopsy?" I asked. + +"Yes and no. I want to operate, but not what you think. Let me tell +you now, but not a word to another. I want to cut off her head and +take out her heart. Ah! You a surgeon, and so shocked! You, whom I +have seen with no tremble of hand or heart, do operations of life and +death that make the rest shudder. Oh, but I must not forget, my dear +friend John, that you loved her, and I have not forgotten it for is I +that shall operate, and you must not help. I would like to do it +tonight, but for Arthur I must not. He will be free after his +father's funeral tomorrow, and he will want to see her, to see it. +Then, when she is coffined ready for the next day, you and I shall +come when all sleep. We shall unscrew the coffin lid, and shall do +our operation, and then replace all, so that none know, save we +alone." + +"But why do it at all? The girl is dead. Why mutilate her poor body +without need? And if there is no necessity for a post-mortem and +nothing to gain by it, no good to her, to us, to science, to human +knowledge, why do it? Without such it is monstrous." + +For answer he put his hand on my shoulder, and said, with infinite +tenderness, "Friend John, I pity your poor bleeding heart, and I love +you the more because it does so bleed. If I could, I would take on +myself the burden that you do bear. But there are things that you +know not, but that you shall know, and bless me for knowing, though +they are not pleasant things. John, my child, you have been my friend +now many years, and yet did you ever know me to do any without good +cause? I may err, I am but man, but I believe in all I do. Was it +not for these causes that you send for me when the great trouble +came? Yes! Were you not amazed, nay horrified, when I would not let +Arthur kiss his love, though she was dying, and snatched him away by +all my strength? Yes! And yet you saw how she thanked me, with her +so beautiful dying eyes, her voice, too, so weak, and she kiss my +rough old hand and bless me? Yes! And did you not hear me swear +promise to her, that so she closed her eyes grateful? Yes! + +"Well, I have good reason now for all I want to do. You have for many +years trust me. You have believe me weeks past, when there be things +so strange that you might have well doubt. Believe me yet a little, +friend John. If you trust me not, then I must tell what I think, and +that is not perhaps well. And if I work, as work I shall, no matter +trust or no trust, without my friend trust in me, I work with heavy +heart and feel oh so lonely when I want all help and courage that may +be!" He paused a moment and went on solemnly, "Friend John, there are +strange and terrible days before us. Let us not be two, but one, that +so we work to a good end. Will you not have faith in me?" + +I took his hand, and promised him. I held my door open as he went +away, and watched him go to his room and close the door. As I stood +without moving, I saw one of the maids pass silently along the +passage, she had her back to me, so did not see me, and go into the +room where Lucy lay. The sight touched me. Devotion is so rare, and +we are so grateful to those who show it unasked to those we love. Here +was a poor girl putting aside the terrors which she naturally had of +death to go watch alone by the bier of the mistress whom she loved, so +that the poor clay might not be lonely till laid to eternal rest. + +I must have slept long and soundly, for it was broad daylight when Van +Helsing waked me by coming into my room. He came over to my bedside +and said, "You need not trouble about the knives. We shall not do +it." + +"Why not?" I asked. For his solemnity of the night before had +greatly impressed me. + +"Because," he said sternly, "it is too late, or too early. See!" +Here he held up the little golden crucifix. + +"This was stolen in the night." + +"How stolen," I asked in wonder, "since you have it now?" + +"Because I get it back from the worthless wretch who stole it, from +the woman who robbed the dead and the living. Her punishment will +surely come, but not through me. She knew not altogether what she +did, and thus unknowing, she only stole. Now we must wait." He went +away on the word, leaving me with a new mystery to think of, a new +puzzle to grapple with. + +The forenoon was a dreary time, but at noon the solicitor came, Mr. +Marquand, of Wholeman, Sons, Marquand & Lidderdale. He was very +genial and very appreciative of what we had done, and took off our +hands all cares as to details. During lunch he told us that Mrs. +Westenra had for some time expected sudden death from her heart, and +had put her affairs in absolute order. He informed us that, with the +exception of a certain entailed property of Lucy's father which now, +in default of direct issue, went back to a distant branch of the +family, the whole estate, real and personal, was left absolutely to +Arthur Holmwood. When he had told us so much he went on, + +"Frankly we did our best to prevent such a testamentary disposition, +and pointed out certain contingencies that might leave her daughter +either penniless or not so free as she should be to act regarding a +matrimonial alliance. Indeed, we pressed the matter so far that we +almost came into collision, for she asked us if we were or were not +prepared to carry out her wishes. Of course, we had then no +alternative but to accept. We were right in principle, and +ninety-nine times out of a hundred we should have proved, by the logic +of events, the accuracy of our judgment. + +"Frankly, however, I must admit that in this case any other form of +disposition would have rendered impossible the carrying out of her +wishes. For by her predeceasing her daughter the latter would have +come into possession of the property, and, even had she only survived +her mother by five minutes, her property would, in case there were no +will, and a will was a practical impossibility in such a case, have +been treated at her decease as under intestacy. In which case Lord +Godalming, though so dear a friend, would have had no claim in the +world. And the inheritors, being remote, would not be likely to +abandon their just rights, for sentimental reasons regarding an entire +stranger. I assure you, my dear sirs, I am rejoiced at the result, +perfectly rejoiced." + +He was a good fellow, but his rejoicing at the one little part, in +which he was officially interested, of so great a tragedy, was an +object-lesson in the limitations of sympathetic understanding. + +He did not remain long, but said he would look in later in the day and +see Lord Godalming. His coming, however, had been a certain comfort +to us, since it assured us that we should not have to dread hostile +criticism as to any of our acts. Arthur was expected at five o'clock, +so a little before that time we visited the death chamber. It was so +in very truth, for now both mother and daughter lay in it. The +undertaker, true to his craft, had made the best display he could of +his goods, and there was a mortuary air about the place that lowered +our spirits at once. + +Van Helsing ordered the former arrangement to be adhered to, +explaining that, as Lord Godalming was coming very soon, it would be +less harrowing to his feelings to see all that was left of his fiancee +quite alone. + +The undertaker seemed shocked at his own stupidity and exerted himself +to restore things to the condition in which we left them the night +before, so that when Arthur came such shocks to his feelings as we +could avoid were saved. + +Poor fellow! He looked desperately sad and broken. Even his stalwart +manhood seemed to have shrunk somewhat under the strain of his +much-tried emotions. He had, I knew, been very genuinely and +devotedly attached to his father, and to lose him, and at such a time, +was a bitter blow to him. With me he was warm as ever, and to Van +Helsing he was sweetly courteous. But I could not help seeing that +there was some constraint with him. The professor noticed it too, and +motioned me to bring him upstairs. I did so, and left him at the door +of the room, as I felt he would like to be quite alone with her, but +he took my arm and led me in, saying huskily, + +"You loved her too, old fellow. She told me all about it, and there +was no friend had a closer place in her heart than you. I don't know +how to thank you for all you have done for her. I can't think +yet . . ." + +Here he suddenly broke down, and threw his arms round my shoulders and +laid his head on my breast, crying, "Oh, Jack! Jack! What shall I +do? The whole of life seems gone from me all at once, and there is +nothing in the wide world for me to live for." + +I comforted him as well as I could. In such cases men do not need +much expression. A grip of the hand, the tightening of an arm over +the shoulder, a sob in unison, are expressions of sympathy dear to a +man's heart. I stood still and silent till his sobs died away, and +then I said softly to him, "Come and look at her." + +Together we moved over to the bed, and I lifted the lawn from her +face. God! How beautiful she was. Every hour seemed to be enhancing +her loveliness. It frightened and amazed me somewhat. And as for +Arthur, he fell to trembling, and finally was shaken with doubt as +with an ague. At last, after a long pause, he said to me in a faint +whisper, "Jack, is she really dead?" + +I assured him sadly that it was so, and went on to suggest, for I felt +that such a horrible doubt should not have life for a moment longer +than I could help, that it often happened that after death faces +become softened and even resolved into their youthful beauty, that +this was especially so when death had been preceded by any acute or +prolonged suffering. I seemed to quite do away with any doubt, and +after kneeling beside the couch for a while and looking at her +lovingly and long, he turned aside. I told him that that must be +goodbye, as the coffin had to be prepared, so he went back and took +her dead hand in his and kissed it, and bent over and kissed her +forehead. He came away, fondly looking back over his shoulder at her +as he came. + +I left him in the drawing room, and told Van Helsing that he had said +goodbye, so the latter went to the kitchen to tell the undertaker's +men to proceed with the preparations and to screw up the coffin. When +he came out of the room again I told him of Arthur's question, and he +replied, "I am not surprised. Just now I doubted for a moment +myself!" + +We all dined together, and I could see that poor Art was trying to +make the best of things. Van Helsing had been silent all dinner time, +but when we had lit our cigars he said, "Lord . . ." but Arthur +interrupted him. + +"No, no, not that, for God's sake! Not yet at any rate. Forgive me, +sir. I did not mean to speak offensively. It is only because my loss +is so recent." + +The Professor answered very sweetly, "I only used that name because I +was in doubt. I must not call you 'Mr.' and I have grown to love you, +yes, my dear boy, to love you, as Arthur." + +Arthur held out his hand, and took the old man's warmly. "Call me +what you will," he said. "I hope I may always have the title of a +friend. And let me say that I am at a loss for words to thank you for +your goodness to my poor dear." He paused a moment, and went on, "I +know that she understood your goodness even better than I do. And if +I was rude or in any way wanting at that time you acted so, you +remember"--the Professor nodded--"you must forgive me." + +He answered with a grave kindness, "I know it was hard for you to +quite trust me then, for to trust such violence needs to understand, +and I take it that you do not, that you cannot, trust me now, for you +do not yet understand. And there may be more times when I shall want +you to trust when you cannot, and may not, and must not yet +understand. But the time will come when your trust shall be whole and +complete in me, and when you shall understand as though the sunlight +himself shone through. Then you shall bless me from first to last for +your own sake, and for the sake of others, and for her dear sake to +whom I swore to protect." + +"And indeed, indeed, sir," said Arthur warmly. "I shall in all ways +trust you. I know and believe you have a very noble heart, and you +are Jack's friend, and you were hers. You shall do what you like." + +The Professor cleared his throat a couple of times, as though about to +speak, and finally said, "May I ask you something now?" + +"Certainly." + +"You know that Mrs. Westenra left you all her property?" + +"No, poor dear. I never thought of it." + +"And as it is all yours, you have a right to deal with it as you will. +I want you to give me permission to read all Miss Lucy's papers and +letters. Believe me, it is no idle curiosity. I have a motive of +which, be sure, she would have approved. I have them all here. I +took them before we knew that all was yours, so that no strange hand +might touch them, no strange eye look through words into her soul. I +shall keep them, if I may. Even you may not see them yet, but I shall +keep them safe. No word shall be lost, and in the good time I shall +give them back to you. It is a hard thing that I ask, but you will do +it, will you not, for Lucy's sake?" + +Arthur spoke out heartily, like his old self, "Dr. Van Helsing, you +may do what you will. I feel that in saying this I am doing what my +dear one would have approved. I shall not trouble you with questions +till the time comes." + +The old Professor stood up as he said solemnly, "And you are right. +There will be pain for us all, but it will not be all pain, nor will +this pain be the last. We and you too, you most of all, dear boy, +will have to pass through the bitter water before we reach the sweet. +But we must be brave of heart and unselfish, and do our duty, and all +will be well!" + +I slept on a sofa in Arthur's room that night. Van Helsing did not go +to bed at all. He went to and fro, as if patroling the house, and was +never out of sight of the room where Lucy lay in her coffin, strewn +with the wild garlic flowers, which sent through the odour of lily and +rose, a heavy, overpowering smell into the night. + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +22 September.--In the train to Exeter. Jonathan sleeping. It seems +only yesterday that the last entry was made, and yet how much between +then, in Whitby and all the world before me, Jonathan away and no news +of him, and now, married to Jonathan, Jonathan a solicitor, a partner, +rich, master of his business, Mr. Hawkins dead and buried, and +Jonathan with another attack that may harm him. Some day he may ask +me about it. Down it all goes. I am rusty in my shorthand, see what +unexpected prosperity does for us, so it may be as well to freshen it +up again with an exercise anyhow. + +The service was very simple and very solemn. There were only +ourselves and the servants there, one or two old friends of his from +Exeter, his London agent, and a gentleman representing Sir John +Paxton, the President of the Incorporated Law Society. Jonathan and I +stood hand in hand, and we felt that our best and dearest friend was +gone from us. + +We came back to town quietly, taking a bus to Hyde Park Corner. +Jonathan thought it would interest me to go into the Row for a while, +so we sat down. But there were very few people there, and it was +sad-looking and desolate to see so many empty chairs. It made us +think of the empty chair at home. So we got up and walked down +Piccadilly. Jonathan was holding me by the arm, the way he used to in +the old days before I went to school. I felt it very improper, for +you can't go on for some years teaching etiquette and decorum to other +girls without the pedantry of it biting into yourself a bit. But it +was Jonathan, and he was my husband, and we didn't know anybody who +saw us, and we didn't care if they did, so on we walked. I was +looking at a very beautiful girl, in a big cart-wheel hat, sitting in +a victoria outside Guiliano's, when I felt Jonathan clutch my arm so +tight that he hurt me, and he said under his breath, "My God!" + +I am always anxious about Jonathan, for I fear that some nervous fit +may upset him again. So I turned to him quickly, and asked him what +it was that disturbed him. + +He was very pale, and his eyes seemed bulging out as, half in terror +and half in amazement, he gazed at a tall, thin man, with a beaky nose +and black moustache and pointed beard, who was also observing the +pretty girl. He was looking at her so hard that he did not see either +of us, and so I had a good view of him. His face was not a good +face. It was hard, and cruel, and sensual, and big white teeth, that +looked all the whiter because his lips were so red, were pointed like +an animal's. Jonathan kept staring at him, till I was afraid he would +notice. I feared he might take it ill, he looked so fierce and nasty. +I asked Jonathan why he was disturbed, and he answered, evidently +thinking that I knew as much about it as he did, "Do you see who it +is?" + +"No, dear," I said. "I don't know him, who is it?" His answer seemed +to shock and thrill me, for it was said as if he did not know that it +was me, Mina, to whom he was speaking. "It is the man himself!" + +The poor dear was evidently terrified at something, very greatly +terrified. I do believe that if he had not had me to lean on and to +support him he would have sunk down. He kept staring. A man came out +of the shop with a small parcel, and gave it to the lady, who then +drove off. The dark man kept his eyes fixed on her, and when the +carriage moved up Piccadilly he followed in the same direction, and +hailed a hansom. Jonathan kept looking after him, and said, as if to +himself, + +"I believe it is the Count, but he has grown young. My God, if this +be so! Oh, my God! My God! If only I knew! If only I knew!" He was +distressing himself so much that I feared to keep his mind on the +subject by asking him any questions, so I remained silent. I drew +away quietly, and he, holding my arm, came easily. We walked a little +further, and then went in and sat for a while in the Green Park. It +was a hot day for autumn, and there was a comfortable seat in a shady +place. After a few minutes' staring at nothing, Jonathan's eyes +closed, and he went quickly into a sleep, with his head on my +shoulder. I thought it was the best thing for him, so did not disturb +him. In about twenty minutes he woke up, and said to me quite +cheerfully, + +"Why, Mina, have I been asleep! Oh, do forgive me for being so rude. +Come, and we'll have a cup of tea somewhere." + +He had evidently forgotten all about the dark stranger, as in his +illness he had forgotten all that this episode had reminded him of. I +don't like this lapsing into forgetfulness. It may make or continue +some injury to the brain. I must not ask him, for fear I shall do +more harm than good, but I must somehow learn the facts of his journey +abroad. The time is come, I fear, when I must open the parcel, and +know what is written. Oh, Jonathan, you will, I know, forgive me if I +do wrong, but it is for your own dear sake. + + +Later.--A sad homecoming in every way, the house empty of the dear +soul who was so good to us. Jonathan still pale and dizzy under a +slight relapse of his malady, and now a telegram from Van Helsing, +whoever he may be. "You will be grieved to hear that Mrs. Westenra +died five days ago, and that Lucy died the day before yesterday. They +were both buried today." + +Oh, what a wealth of sorrow in a few words! Poor Mrs. Westenra! Poor +Lucy! Gone, gone, never to return to us! And poor, poor Arthur, to +have lost such a sweetness out of his life! God help us all to bear +our troubles. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY-CONT. + +22 September.--It is all over. Arthur has gone back to Ring, and has +taken Quincey Morris with him. What a fine fellow is Quincey! I +believe in my heart of hearts that he suffered as much about Lucy's +death as any of us, but he bore himself through it like a moral +Viking. If America can go on breeding men like that, she will be a +power in the world indeed. Van Helsing is lying down, having a rest +preparatory to his journey. He goes to Amsterdam tonight, but says he +returns tomorrow night, that he only wants to make some arrangements +which can only be made personally. He is to stop with me then, if he +can. He says he has work to do in London which may take him some +time. Poor old fellow! I fear that the strain of the past week has +broken down even his iron strength. All the time of the burial he +was, I could see, putting some terrible restraint on himself. When it +was all over, we were standing beside Arthur, who, poor fellow, was +speaking of his part in the operation where his blood had been +transfused to his Lucy's veins. I could see Van Helsing's face grow +white and purple by turns. Arthur was saying that he felt since then +as if they two had been really married, and that she was his wife in +the sight of God. None of us said a word of the other operations, and +none of us ever shall. Arthur and Quincey went away together to the +station, and Van Helsing and I came on here. The moment we were alone +in the carriage he gave way to a regular fit of hysterics. He has +denied to me since that it was hysterics, and insisted that it was +only his sense of humor asserting itself under very terrible +conditions. He laughed till he cried, and I had to draw down the +blinds lest any one should see us and misjudge. And then he cried, +till he laughed again, and laughed and cried together, just as a woman +does. I tried to be stern with him, as one is to a woman under the +circumstances, but it had no effect. Men and women are so different +in manifestations of nervous strength or weakness! Then when his face +grew grave and stern again I asked him why his mirth, and why at such +a time. His reply was in a way characteristic of him, for it was +logical and forceful and mysterious. He said, + +"Ah, you don't comprehend, friend John. Do not think that I am not +sad, though I laugh. See, I have cried even when the laugh did choke +me. But no more think that I am all sorry when I cry, for the laugh +he come just the same. Keep it always with you that laughter who +knock at your door and say, 'May I come in?' is not true laughter. +No! He is a king, and he come when and how he like. He ask no +person, he choose no time of suitability. He say, 'I am here.' +Behold, in example I grieve my heart out for that so sweet young +girl. I give my blood for her, though I am old and worn. I give my +time, my skill, my sleep. I let my other sufferers want that she may +have all. And yet I can laugh at her very grave, laugh when the clay +from the spade of the sexton drop upon her coffin and say 'Thud, +thud!' to my heart, till it send back the blood from my cheek. My +heart bleed for that poor boy, that dear boy, so of the age of mine +own boy had I been so blessed that he live, and with his hair and eyes +the same. + +"There, you know now why I love him so. And yet when he say things +that touch my husband-heart to the quick, and make my father-heart +yearn to him as to no other man, not even you, friend John, for we are +more level in experiences than father and son, yet even at such a +moment King Laugh he come to me and shout and bellow in my ear, 'Here I +am! Here I am!' till the blood come dance back and bring some of the +sunshine that he carry with him to my cheek. Oh, friend John, it is a +strange world, a sad world, a world full of miseries, and woes, and +troubles. And yet when King Laugh come, he make them all dance to the +tune he play. Bleeding hearts, and dry bones of the churchyard, and +tears that burn as they fall, all dance together to the music that he +make with that smileless mouth of him. And believe me, friend John, +that he is good to come, and kind. Ah, we men and women are like +ropes drawn tight with strain that pull us different ways. Then tears +come, and like the rain on the ropes, they brace us up, until perhaps +the strain become too great, and we break. But King Laugh he come +like the sunshine, and he ease off the strain again, and we bear to go +on with our labor, what it may be." + +I did not like to wound him by pretending not to see his idea, but as +I did not yet understand the cause of his laughter, I asked him. As +he answered me his face grew stern, and he said in quite a different +tone, + +"Oh, it was the grim irony of it all, this so lovely lady garlanded +with flowers, that looked so fair as life, till one by one we wondered +if she were truly dead, she laid in that so fine marble house in that +lonely churchyard, where rest so many of her kin, laid there with the +mother who loved her, and whom she loved, and that sacred bell going +'Toll! Toll! Toll!' so sad and slow, and those holy men, with the +white garments of the angel, pretending to read books, and yet all the +time their eyes never on the page, and all of us with the bowed head. +And all for what? She is dead, so! Is it not?" + +"Well, for the life of me, Professor," I said, "I can't see anything +to laugh at in all that. Why, your expression makes it a harder +puzzle than before. But even if the burial service was comic, what +about poor Art and his trouble? Why his heart was simply breaking." + +"Just so. Said he not that the transfusion of his blood to her veins +had made her truly his bride?" + +"Yes, and it was a sweet and comforting idea for him." + +"Quite so. But there was a difficulty, friend John. If so that, then +what about the others? Ho, ho! Then this so sweet maid is a +polyandrist, and me, with my poor wife dead to me, but alive by +Church's law, though no wits, all gone, even I, who am faithful +husband to this now-no-wife, am bigamist." + +"I don't see where the joke comes in there either!" I said, and I did +not feel particularly pleased with him for saying such things. He +laid his hand on my arm, and said, + +"Friend John, forgive me if I pain. I showed not my feeling to others +when it would wound, but only to you, my old friend, whom I can trust. +If you could have looked into my heart then when I want to laugh, if +you could have done so when the laugh arrived, if you could do so now, +when King Laugh have pack up his crown, and all that is to him, for he +go far, far away from me, and for a long, long time, maybe you would +perhaps pity me the most of all." + +I was touched by the tenderness of his tone, and asked why. + +"Because I know!" + +And now we are all scattered, and for many a long day loneliness will +sit over our roofs with brooding wings. Lucy lies in the tomb of her +kin, a lordly death house in a lonely churchyard, away from teeming +London, where the air is fresh, and the sun rises over Hampstead Hill, +and where wild flowers grow of their own accord. + +So I can finish this diary, and God only knows if I shall ever begin +another. If I do, or if I even open this again, it will be to deal +with different people and different themes, for here at the end, where +the romance of my life is told, ere I go back to take up the thread of +my life-work, I say sadly and without hope, "FINIS". + + + + +THE WESTMINSTER GAZETTE, 25 SEPTEMBER A HAMPSTEAD MYSTERY + +The neighborhood of Hampstead is just at present exercised +with a series of events which seem to run on lines parallel +to those of what was known to the writers of headlines as +"The Kensington Horror," or "The Stabbing Woman," or "The +Woman in Black." During the past two or three days several +cases have occurred of young children straying from home or +neglecting to return from their playing on the Heath. In +all these cases the children were too young to give any +properly intelligible account of themselves, but the +consensus of their excuses is that they had been with a +"bloofer lady." It has always been late in the evening when +they have been missed, and on two occasions the children +have not been found until early in the following morning. +It is generally supposed in the neighborhood that, as the +first child missed gave as his reason for being away that a +"bloofer lady" had asked him to come for a walk, the others +had picked up the phrase and used it as occasion served. This +is the more natural as the favourite game of the little ones +at present is luring each other away by wiles. A correspondent +writes us that to see some of the tiny tots pretending to be the +"bloofer lady" is supremely funny. Some of our caricaturists +might, he says, take a lesson in the irony of grotesque by +comparing the reality and the picture. It is only in accordance +with general principles of human nature that the "bloofer lady" +should be the popular role at these al fresco performances. Our +correspondent naively says that even Ellen Terry could not be so +winningly attractive as some of these grubby-faced little +children pretend, and even imagine themselves, to be. + +There is, however, possibly a serious side to the question, +for some of the children, indeed all who have been missed +at night, have been slightly torn or wounded in the throat. +The wounds seem such as might be made by a rat or a small +dog, and although of not much importance individually, would tend +to show that whatever animal inflicts them has a system or method +of its own. The police of the division have been instructed to +keep a sharp lookout for straying children, especially when very +young, in and around Hampstead Heath, and for any stray dog which +may be about. + + + + +THE WESTMINSTER GAZETTE, 25 SEPTEMBER EXTRA SPECIAL + +THE HAMPSTEAD HORROR + + +ANOTHER CHILD INJURED + +THE "BLOOFER LADY" + +We have just received intelligence that another child, +missed last night, was only discovered late in the morning +under a furze bush at the Shooter's Hill side of Hampstead +Heath, which is perhaps, less frequented than the other +parts. It has the same tiny wound in the throat as has +been noticed in other cases. It was terribly weak, and +looked quite emaciated. It too, when partially restored, +had the common story to tell of being lured away by the +"bloofer lady". + + + + +CHAPTER 14 + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +23 September.--Jonathan is better after a bad night. I am so glad +that he has plenty of work to do, for that keeps his mind off the +terrible things, and oh, I am rejoiced that he is not now weighed down +with the responsibility of his new position. I knew he would be true +to himself, and now how proud I am to see my Jonathan rising to the +height of his advancement and keeping pace in all ways with the duties +that come upon him. He will be away all day till late, for he said he +could not lunch at home. My household work is done, so I shall take +his foreign journal, and lock myself up in my room and read it. + + +24 September.--I hadn't the heart to write last night, that terrible +record of Jonathan's upset me so. Poor dear! How he must have +suffered, whether it be true or only imagination. I wonder if there +is any truth in it at all. Did he get his brain fever, and then write +all those terrible things, or had he some cause for it all? I suppose +I shall never know, for I dare not open the subject to him. And yet +that man we saw yesterday! He seemed quite certain of him, poor +fellow! I suppose it was the funeral upset him and sent his mind back +on some train of thought. + +He believes it all himself. I remember how on our wedding day he said +"Unless some solemn duty come upon me to go back to the bitter hours, +asleep or awake, mad or sane . . ." There seems to be through it all +some thread of continuity. That fearful Count was coming to London. +If it should be, and he came to London, with its teeming millions . . . +There may be a solemn duty, and if it come we must not shrink from +it. I shall be prepared. I shall get my typewriter this very hour +and begin transcribing. Then we shall be ready for other eyes if +required. And if it be wanted, then, perhaps, if I am ready, poor +Jonathan may not be upset, for I can speak for him and never let him +be troubled or worried with it at all. If ever Jonathan quite gets +over the nervousness he may want to tell me of it all, and I can ask +him questions and find out things, and see how I may comfort him. + + + + +LETTER, VAN HELSING TO MRS. HARKER + +24 September + +(Confidence) + +"Dear Madam, + +"I pray you to pardon my writing, in that I am so far +friend as that I sent to you sad news of Miss Lucy +Westenra's death. By the kindness of Lord Godalming, I am +empowered to read her letters and papers, for I am deeply +concerned about certain matters vitally important. In them +I find some letters from you, which show how great friends +you were and how you love her. Oh, Madam Mina, by that +love, I implore you, help me. It is for others' good that +I ask, to redress great wrong, and to lift much and terrible +troubles, that may be more great than you can know. May it be +that I see you? You can trust me. I am friend of Dr. John +Seward and of Lord Godalming (that was Arthur of Miss Lucy). I +must keep it private for the present from all. I should come to +Exeter to see you at once if you tell me I am privilege to come, +and where and when. I implore your pardon, Madam. I have read +your letters to poor Lucy, and know how good you are and how your +husband suffer. So I pray you, if it may be, enlighten him not, +least it may harm. Again your pardon, and forgive me. + +"VAN HELSING" + + + + +TELEGRAM, MRS. HARKER TO VAN HELSING + +25 September.--Come today by quarter past ten train if you +can catch it. Can see you any time you call. + +"WILHELMINA HARKER" + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +25 September.--I cannot help feeling terribly excited as the time +draws near for the visit of Dr. Van Helsing, for somehow I expect that +it will throw some light upon Jonathan's sad experience, and as he +attended poor dear Lucy in her last illness, he can tell me all about +her. That is the reason of his coming. It is concerning Lucy and her +sleep-walking, and not about Jonathan. Then I shall never know the +real truth now! How silly I am. That awful journal gets hold of my +imagination and tinges everything with something of its own colour. Of +course it is about Lucy. That habit came back to the poor dear, and +that awful night on the cliff must have made her ill. I had almost +forgotten in my own affairs how ill she was afterwards. She must have +told him of her sleep-walking adventure on the cliff, and that I knew +all about it, and now he wants me to tell him what I know, so that he +may understand. I hope I did right in not saying anything of it to +Mrs. Westenra. I should never forgive myself if any act of mine, were +it even a negative one, brought harm on poor dear Lucy. I hope too, +Dr. Van Helsing will not blame me. I have had so much trouble and +anxiety of late that I feel I cannot bear more just at present. + +I suppose a cry does us all good at times, clears the air as other +rain does. Perhaps it was reading the journal yesterday that upset +me, and then Jonathan went away this morning to stay away from me a +whole day and night, the first time we have been parted since our +marriage. I do hope the dear fellow will take care of himself, and +that nothing will occur to upset him. It is two o'clock, and the +doctor will be here soon now. I shall say nothing of Jonathan's +journal unless he asks me. I am so glad I have typewritten out my own +journal, so that, in case he asks about Lucy, I can hand it to him. +It will save much questioning. + +Later.--He has come and gone. Oh, what a strange meeting, and how it +all makes my head whirl round. I feel like one in a dream. Can it be +all possible, or even a part of it? If I had not read Jonathan's +journal first, I should never have accepted even a possibility. Poor, +poor, dear Jonathan! How he must have suffered. Please the good God, +all this may not upset him again. I shall try to save him from it. +But it may be even a consolation and a help to him, terrible though it +be and awful in its consequences, to know for certain that his eyes +and ears and brain did not deceive him, and that it is all true. It +may be that it is the doubt which haunts him, that when the doubt is +removed, no matter which, waking or dreaming, may prove the truth, he +will be more satisfied and better able to bear the shock. Dr. Van +Helsing must be a good man as well as a clever one if he is Arthur's +friend and Dr. Seward's, and if they brought him all the way from +Holland to look after Lucy. I feel from having seen him that he is +good and kind and of a noble nature. When he comes tomorrow I shall +ask him about Jonathan. And then, please God, all this sorrow and +anxiety may lead to a good end. I used to think I would like to +practice interviewing. Jonathan's friend on "The Exeter News" told +him that memory is everything in such work, that you must be able to +put down exactly almost every word spoken, even if you had to refine +some of it afterwards. Here was a rare interview. I shall try to +record it verbatim. + +It was half-past two o'clock when the knock came. I took my courage a +deux mains and waited. In a few minutes Mary opened the door, and +announced "Dr. Van Helsing". + +I rose and bowed, and he came towards me, a man of medium weight, +strongly built, with his shoulders set back over a broad, deep chest +and a neck well balanced on the trunk as the head is on the neck. The +poise of the head strikes me at once as indicative of thought and +power. The head is noble, well-sized, broad, and large behind the +ears. The face, clean-shaven, shows a hard, square chin, a large +resolute, mobile mouth, a good-sized nose, rather straight, but with +quick, sensitive nostrils, that seem to broaden as the big bushy brows +come down and the mouth tightens. The forehead is broad and fine, +rising at first almost straight and then sloping back above two bumps +or ridges wide apart, such a forehead that the reddish hair cannot +possibly tumble over it, but falls naturally back and to the sides. +Big, dark blue eyes are set widely apart, and are quick and tender or +stern with the man's moods. He said to me, + +"Mrs. Harker, is it not?" I bowed assent. + +"That was Miss Mina Murray?" Again I assented. + +"It is Mina Murray that I came to see that was friend of that poor dear +child Lucy Westenra. Madam Mina, it is on account of the dead that I +come." + +"Sir," I said, "you could have no better claim on me than that you +were a friend and helper of Lucy Westenra." And I held out my hand. +He took it and said tenderly, + +"Oh, Madam Mina, I know that the friend of that poor little girl must +be good, but I had yet to learn . . ." He finished his speech with a +courtly bow. I asked him what it was that he wanted to see me about, +so he at once began. + +"I have read your letters to Miss Lucy. Forgive me, but I had to +begin to inquire somewhere, and there was none to ask. I know that +you were with her at Whitby. She sometimes kept a diary, you need not +look surprised, Madam Mina. It was begun after you had left, and was +an imitation of you, and in that diary she traces by inference certain +things to a sleep-walking in which she puts down that you saved her. +In great perplexity then I come to you, and ask you out of your so +much kindness to tell me all of it that you can remember." + +"I can tell you, I think, Dr. Van Helsing, all about it." + +"Ah, then you have good memory for facts, for details? It is not +always so with young ladies." + +"No, doctor, but I wrote it all down at the time. I can show it to +you if you like." + +"Oh, Madam Mina, I well be grateful. You will do me much favour." + +I could not resist the temptation of mystifying him a bit, I suppose +it is some taste of the original apple that remains still in our +mouths, so I handed him the shorthand diary. He took it with a +grateful bow, and said, "May I read it?" + +"If you wish," I answered as demurely as I could. He opened it, and +for an instant his face fell. Then he stood up and bowed. + +"Oh, you so clever woman!" he said. "I knew long that Mr. Jonathan +was a man of much thankfulness, but see, his wife have all the good +things. And will you not so much honour me and so help me as to read +it for me? Alas! I know not the shorthand." + +By this time my little joke was over, and I was almost ashamed. So I +took the typewritten copy from my work basket and handed it to him. + +"Forgive me," I said. "I could not help it, but I had been thinking +that it was of dear Lucy that you wished to ask, and so that you might +not have time to wait, not on my account, but because I know your time +must be precious, I have written it out on the typewriter for you." + +He took it and his eyes glistened. "You are so good," he said. "And +may I read it now? I may want to ask you some things when I have +read." + +"By all means," I said, "read it over whilst I order lunch, and then +you can ask me questions whilst we eat." + +He bowed and settled himself in a chair with his back to the light, +and became so absorbed in the papers, whilst I went to see after lunch +chiefly in order that he might not be disturbed. When I came back, I +found him walking hurriedly up and down the room, his face all ablaze +with excitement. He rushed up to me and took me by both hands. + +"Oh, Madam Mina," he said, "how can I say what I owe to you? This +paper is as sunshine. It opens the gate to me. I am dazed, I am +dazzled, with so much light, and yet clouds roll in behind the light +every time. But that you do not, cannot comprehend. Oh, but I am +grateful to you, you so clever woman. Madame," he said this very +solemnly, "if ever Abraham Van Helsing can do anything for you or +yours, I trust you will let me know. It will be pleasure and delight +if I may serve you as a friend, as a friend, but all I have ever +learned, all I can ever do, shall be for you and those you love. There +are darknesses in life, and there are lights. You are one of the +lights. You will have a happy life and a good life, and your husband +will be blessed in you." + +"But, doctor, you praise me too much, and you do not know me." + +"Not know you, I, who am old, and who have studied all my life men and +women, I who have made my specialty the brain and all that belongs to +him and all that follow from him! And I have read your diary that you +have so goodly written for me, and which breathes out truth in every +line. I, who have read your so sweet letter to poor Lucy of your +marriage and your trust, not know you! Oh, Madam Mina, good women +tell all their lives, and by day and by hour and by minute, such +things that angels can read. And we men who wish to know have in us +something of angels' eyes. Your husband is noble nature, and you are +noble too, for you trust, and trust cannot be where there is mean +nature. And your husband, tell me of him. Is he quite well? Is all +that fever gone, and is he strong and hearty?" + +I saw here an opening to ask him about Jonathan, so I said, "He was +almost recovered, but he has been greatly upset by Mr. Hawkins death." + +He interrupted, "Oh, yes. I know. I know. I have read your last two +letters." + +I went on, "I suppose this upset him, for when we were in town on +Thursday last he had a sort of shock." + +"A shock, and after brain fever so soon! That is not good. What kind +of shock was it?" + +"He thought he saw some one who recalled something terrible, something +which led to his brain fever." And here the whole thing seemed to +overwhelm me in a rush. The pity for Jonathan, the horror which he +experienced, the whole fearful mystery of his diary, and the fear that +has been brooding over me ever since, all came in a tumult. I suppose +I was hysterical, for I threw myself on my knees and held up my hands +to him, and implored him to make my husband well again. He took my +hands and raised me up, and made me sit on the sofa, and sat by me. He +held my hand in his, and said to me with, oh, such infinite sweetness, + +"My life is a barren and lonely one, and so full of work that I have +not had much time for friendships, but since I have been summoned to +here by my friend John Seward I have known so many good people and +seen such nobility that I feel more than ever, and it has grown with +my advancing years, the loneliness of my life. Believe me, then, that +I come here full of respect for you, and you have given me hope, hope, +not in what I am seeking of, but that there are good women still left +to make life happy, good women, whose lives and whose truths may make +good lesson for the children that are to be. I am glad, glad, that I +may here be of some use to you. For if your husband suffer, he suffer +within the range of my study and experience. I promise you that I +will gladly do all for him that I can, all to make his life strong and +manly, and your life a happy one. Now you must eat. You are +overwrought and perhaps over-anxious. Husband Jonathan would not like +to see you so pale, and what he like not where he love, is not to his +good. Therefore for his sake you must eat and smile. You have told +me about Lucy, and so now we shall not speak of it, lest it distress. +I shall stay in Exeter tonight, for I want to think much over what you +have told me, and when I have thought I will ask you questions, if I +may. And then too, you will tell me of husband Jonathan's trouble so +far as you can, but not yet. You must eat now, afterwards you shall +tell me all." + +After lunch, when we went back to the drawing room, he said to me, +"And now tell me all about him." + +When it came to speaking to this great learned man, I began to fear +that he would think me a weak fool, and Jonathan a madman, that +journal is all so strange, and I hesitated to go on. But he was so +sweet and kind, and he had promised to help, and I trusted him, so I +said, + +"Dr. Van Helsing, what I have to tell you is so queer that you must +not laugh at me or at my husband. I have been since yesterday in a +sort of fever of doubt. You must be kind to me, and not think me +foolish that I have even half believed some very strange things." + +He reassured me by his manner as well as his words when he said, "Oh, +my dear, if you only know how strange is the matter regarding which I +am here, it is you who would laugh. I have learned not to think +little of any one's belief, no matter how strange it may be. I have +tried to keep an open mind, and it is not the ordinary things of life +that could close it, but the strange things, the extraordinary things, +the things that make one doubt if they be mad or sane." + +"Thank you, thank you a thousand times! You have taken a weight off my +mind. If you will let me, I shall give you a paper to read. It is +long, but I have typewritten it out. It will tell you my trouble and +Jonathan's. It is the copy of his journal when abroad, and all that +happened. I dare not say anything of it. You will read for yourself +and judge. And then when I see you, perhaps, you will be very kind +and tell me what you think." + +"I promise," he said as I gave him the papers. "I shall in the +morning, as soon as I can, come to see you and your husband, if I +may." + +"Jonathan will be here at half-past eleven, and you must come to lunch +with us and see him then. You could catch the quick 3:34 train, which +will leave you at Paddington before eight." He was surprised at my +knowledge of the trains offhand, but he does not know that I have made +up all the trains to and from Exeter, so that I may help Jonathan in +case he is in a hurry. + +So he took the papers with him and went away, and I sit here thinking, +thinking I don't know what. + + + + +LETTER (by hand), VAN HELSING TO MRS. HARKER + +25 September, 6 o'clock + +"Dear Madam Mina, + +"I have read your husband's so wonderful diary. You may +sleep without doubt. Strange and terrible as it is, it is +true! I will pledge my life on it. It may be worse for +others, but for him and you there is no dread. He is a +noble fellow, and let me tell you from experience of men, +that one who would do as he did in going down that wall and +to that room, aye, and going a second time, is not one to +be injured in permanence by a shock. His brain and his +heart are all right, this I swear, before I have even seen +him, so be at rest. I shall have much to ask him of other +things. I am blessed that today I come to see you, for I +have learn all at once so much that again I am dazzled, +dazzled more than ever, and I must think. + +"Yours the most faithful, + +"Abraham Van Helsing." + + +LETTER, MRS. HARKER TO VAN HELSING + +25 September, 6:30 P.M. + +"My dear Dr. Van Helsing, + +"A thousand thanks for your kind letter, which has taken a +great weight off my mind. And yet, if it be true, what +terrible things there are in the world, and what an awful +thing if that man, that monster, be really in London! I +fear to think. I have this moment, whilst writing, had a +wire from Jonathan, saying that he leaves by the 6:25 tonight +from Launceston and will be here at 10:18, so that I shall have +no fear tonight. Will you, therefore, instead of lunching with +us, please come to breakfast at eight o'clock, if this be not too +early for you? You can get away, if you are in a hurry, by the +10:30 train, which will bring you to Paddington by 2:35. Do not +answer this, as I shall take it that, if I do not hear, you will +come to breakfast. + +"Believe me, + +"Your faithful and grateful friend, + +"Mina Harker." + + + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +26 September.--I thought never to write in this diary again, but the +time has come. When I got home last night Mina had supper ready, and +when we had supped she told me of Van Helsing's visit, and of her +having given him the two diaries copied out, and of how anxious she +has been about me. She showed me in the doctor's letter that all I +wrote down was true. It seems to have made a new man of me. It was +the doubt as to the reality of the whole thing that knocked me over. +I felt impotent, and in the dark, and distrustful. But, now that I +know, I am not afraid, even of the Count. He has succeeded after all, +then, in his design in getting to London, and it was he I saw. He has +got younger, and how? Van Helsing is the man to unmask him and hunt +him out, if he is anything like what Mina says. We sat late, and +talked it over. Mina is dressing, and I shall call at the hotel in a +few minutes and bring him over. + + +He was, I think, surprised to see me. When I came into the room where +he was, and introduced myself, he took me by the shoulder, and turned +my face round to the light, and said, after a sharp scrutiny, + +"But Madam Mina told me you were ill, that you had had a shock." + +It was so funny to hear my wife called 'Madam Mina' by this kindly, +strong-faced old man. I smiled, and said, "I was ill, I have had a +shock, but you have cured me already." + +"And how?" + +"By your letter to Mina last night. I was in doubt, and then +everything took a hue of unreality, and I did not know what to trust, +even the evidence of my own senses. Not knowing what to trust, I did +not know what to do, and so had only to keep on working in what had +hitherto been the groove of my life. The groove ceased to avail me, +and I mistrusted myself. Doctor, you don't know what it is to doubt +everything, even yourself. No, you don't, you couldn't with eyebrows +like yours." + +He seemed pleased, and laughed as he said, "So! You are a +physiognomist. I learn more here with each hour. I am with so much +pleasure coming to you to breakfast, and, oh, sir, you will pardon +praise from an old man, but you are blessed in your wife." + +I would listen to him go on praising Mina for a day, so I simply +nodded and stood silent. + +"She is one of God's women, fashioned by His own hand to show us men +and other women that there is a heaven where we can enter, and that +its light can be here on earth. So true, so sweet, so noble, so +little an egoist, and that, let me tell you, is much in this age, so +sceptical and selfish. And you, sir . . . I have read all the letters +to poor Miss Lucy, and some of them speak of you, so I know you since +some days from the knowing of others, but I have seen your true self +since last night. You will give me your hand, will you not? And let +us be friends for all our lives." + +We shook hands, and he was so earnest and so kind that it made me +quite choky. + +"And now," he said, "may I ask you for some more help? I have a great +task to do, and at the beginning it is to know. You can help me +here. Can you tell me what went before your going to Transylvania? +Later on I may ask more help, and of a different kind, but at first +this will do." + +"Look here, Sir," I said, "does what you have to do concern the +Count?" + +"It does," he said solemnly. + +"Then I am with you heart and soul. As you go by the 10:30 train, you +will not have time to read them, but I shall get the bundle of papers. +You can take them with you and read them in the train." + +After breakfast I saw him to the station. When we were parting he +said, "Perhaps you will come to town if I send for you, and take Madam +Mina too." + +"We shall both come when you will," I said. + +I had got him the morning papers and the London papers of the previous +night, and while we were talking at the carriage window, waiting for +the train to start, he was turning them over. His eyes suddenly +seemed to catch something in one of them, "The Westminster Gazette", I +knew it by the colour, and he grew quite white. He read something +intently, groaning to himself, "Mein Gott! Mein Gott! So soon! So +soon!" I do not think he remembered me at the moment. Just then the +whistle blew, and the train moved off. This recalled him to himself, +and he leaned out of the window and waved his hand, calling out, "Love +to Madam Mina. I shall write so soon as ever I can." + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +26 September.--Truly there is no such thing as finality. Not a week +since I said "Finis," and yet here I am starting fresh again, or +rather going on with the record. Until this afternoon I had no cause +to think of what is done. Renfield had become, to all intents, as +sane as he ever was. He was already well ahead with his fly business, +and he had just started in the spider line also, so he had not been of +any trouble to me. I had a letter from Arthur, written on Sunday, and +from it I gather that he is bearing up wonderfully well. Quincey +Morris is with him, and that is much of a help, for he himself is a +bubbling well of good spirits. Quincey wrote me a line too, and from +him I hear that Arthur is beginning to recover something of his old +buoyancy, so as to them all my mind is at rest. As for myself, I was +settling down to my work with the enthusiasm which I used to have for +it, so that I might fairly have said that the wound which poor Lucy +left on me was becoming cicatrised. + +Everything is, however, now reopened, and what is to be the end God +only knows. I have an idea that Van Helsing thinks he knows, too, but +he will only let out enough at a time to whet curiosity. He went to +Exeter yesterday, and stayed there all night. Today he came back, and +almost bounded into the room at about half-past five o'clock, and +thrust last night's "Westminster Gazette" into my hand. + +"What do you think of that?" he asked as he stood back and folded his +arms. + +I looked over the paper, for I really did not know what he meant, but +he took it from me and pointed out a paragraph about children being +decoyed away at Hampstead. It did not convey much to me, until I +reached a passage where it described small puncture wounds on their +throats. An idea struck me, and I looked up. + +"Well?" he said. + +"It is like poor Lucy's." + +"And what do you make of it?" + +"Simply that there is some cause in common. Whatever it was that +injured her has injured them." I did not quite understand his answer. + +"That is true indirectly, but not directly." + +"How do you mean, Professor?" I asked. I was a little inclined to +take his seriousness lightly, for, after all, four days of rest and +freedom from burning, harrowing, anxiety does help to restore one's +spirits, but when I saw his face, it sobered me. Never, even in the +midst of our despair about poor Lucy, had he looked more stern. + +"Tell me!" I said. "I can hazard no opinion. I do not know what to +think, and I have no data on which to found a conjecture." + +"Do you mean to tell me, friend John, that you have no suspicion as to +what poor Lucy died of, not after all the hints given, not only by +events, but by me?" + +"Of nervous prostration following a great loss or waste of blood." + +"And how was the blood lost or wasted?" I shook my head. + +He stepped over and sat down beside me, and went on, "You are a clever +man, friend John. You reason well, and your wit is bold, but you are +too prejudiced. You do not let your eyes see nor your ears hear, and +that which is outside your daily life is not of account to you. Do +you not think that there are things which you cannot understand, and +yet which are, that some people see things that others cannot? But +there are things old and new which must not be contemplated by men's +eyes, because they know, or think they know, some things which other +men have told them. Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants +to explain all, and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing +to explain. But yet we see around us every day the growth of new +beliefs, which think themselves new, and which are yet but the old, +which pretend to be young, like the fine ladies at the opera. I +suppose now you do not believe in corporeal transference. No? Nor in +materialization. No? Nor in astral bodies. No? Nor in the reading +of thought. No? Nor in hypnotism . . ." + +"Yes," I said. "Charcot has proved that pretty well." + +He smiled as he went on, "Then you are satisfied as to it. Yes? And +of course then you understand how it act, and can follow the mind of +the great Charcot, alas that he is no more, into the very soul of the +patient that he influence. No? Then, friend John, am I to take it +that you simply accept fact, and are satisfied to let from premise to +conclusion be a blank? No? Then tell me, for I am a student of the +brain, how you accept hypnotism and reject the thought reading. Let +me tell you, my friend, that there are things done today in electrical +science which would have been deemed unholy by the very man who +discovered electricity, who would themselves not so long before been +burned as wizards. There are always mysteries in life. Why was it +that Methuselah lived nine hundred years, and 'Old Parr' one hundred +and sixty-nine, and yet that poor Lucy, with four men's blood in her +poor veins, could not live even one day? For, had she live one more +day, we could save her. Do you know all the mystery of life and +death? Do you know the altogether of comparative anatomy and can say +wherefore the qualities of brutes are in some men, and not in others? +Can you tell me why, when other spiders die small and soon, that one +great spider lived for centuries in the tower of the old Spanish +church and grew and grew, till, on descending, he could drink the oil +of all the church lamps? Can you tell me why in the Pampas, ay and +elsewhere, there are bats that come out at night and open the veins of +cattle and horses and suck dry their veins, how in some islands of the +Western seas there are bats which hang on the trees all day, and those +who have seen describe as like giant nuts or pods, and that when the +sailors sleep on the deck, because that it is hot, flit down on them +and then, and then in the morning are found dead men, white as even +Miss Lucy was?" + +"Good God, Professor!" I said, starting up. "Do you mean to tell me +that Lucy was bitten by such a bat, and that such a thing is here in +London in the nineteenth century?" + +He waved his hand for silence, and went on, "Can you tell me why the +tortoise lives more long than generations of men, why the elephant +goes on and on till he have sees dynasties, and why the parrot never +die only of bite of cat of dog or other complaint? Can you tell me +why men believe in all ages and places that there are men and women +who cannot die? We all know, because science has vouched for the +fact, that there have been toads shut up in rocks for thousands of +years, shut in one so small hole that only hold him since the youth of +the world. Can you tell me how the Indian fakir can make himself to +die and have been buried, and his grave sealed and corn sowed on it, +and the corn reaped and be cut and sown and reaped and cut again, and +then men come and take away the unbroken seal and that there lie the +Indian fakir, not dead, but that rise up and walk amongst them as +before?" + +Here I interrupted him. I was getting bewildered. He so crowded on +my mind his list of nature's eccentricities and possible +impossibilities that my imagination was getting fired. I had a dim +idea that he was teaching me some lesson, as long ago he used to do in +his study at Amsterdam. But he used them to tell me the thing, so +that I could have the object of thought in mind all the time. But now +I was without his help, yet I wanted to follow him, so I said, + +"Professor, let me be your pet student again. Tell me the thesis, so +that I may apply your knowledge as you go on. At present I am going +in my mind from point to point as a madman, and not a sane one, +follows an idea. I feel like a novice lumbering through a bog in a +midst, jumping from one tussock to another in the mere blind effort to +move on without knowing where I am going." + +"That is a good image," he said. "Well, I shall tell you. My thesis +is this, I want you to believe." + +"To believe what?" + +"To believe in things that you cannot. Let me illustrate. I heard +once of an American who so defined faith, 'that faculty which enables +us to believe things which we know to be untrue.' For one, I follow +that man. He meant that we shall have an open mind, and not let a +little bit of truth check the rush of the big truth, like a small rock +does a railway truck. We get the small truth first. Good! We keep +him, and we value him, but all the same we must not let him think +himself all the truth in the universe." + +"Then you want me not to let some previous conviction inure the +receptivity of my mind with regard to some strange matter. Do I read +your lesson aright?" + +"Ah, you are my favourite pupil still. It is worth to teach you. Now +that you are willing to understand, you have taken the first step to +understand. You think then that those so small holes in the +children's throats were made by the same that made the holes in Miss +Lucy?" + +"I suppose so." + +He stood up and said solemnly, "Then you are wrong. Oh, would it were +so! But alas! No. It is worse, far, far worse." + +"In God's name, Professor Van Helsing, what do you mean?" I cried. + +He threw himself with a despairing gesture into a chair, and placed +his elbows on the table, covering his face with his hands as he spoke. + +"They were made by Miss Lucy!" + + + + +CHAPTER 15 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--cont. + +For a while sheer anger mastered me. It was as if he had during her +life struck Lucy on the face. I smote the table hard and rose up as I +said to him, "Dr. Van Helsing, are you mad?" + +He raised his head and looked at me, and somehow the tenderness of his +face calmed me at once. "Would I were!" he said. "Madness were easy +to bear compared with truth like this. Oh, my friend, why, think +you, did I go so far round, why take so long to tell so simple a +thing? Was it because I hate you and have hated you all my life? Was +it because I wished to give you pain? Was it that I wanted, now so +late, revenge for that time when you saved my life, and from a fearful +death? Ah no!" + +"Forgive me," said I. + +He went on, "My friend, it was because I wished to be gentle in the +breaking to you, for I know you have loved that so sweet lady. But +even yet I do not expect you to believe. It is so hard to accept at +once any abstract truth, that we may doubt such to be possible when we +have always believed the 'no' of it. It is more hard still to accept +so sad a concrete truth, and of such a one as Miss Lucy. Tonight I go +to prove it. Dare you come with me?" + +This staggered me. A man does not like to prove such a truth, Byron +excepted from the category, jealousy. + + "And prove the very truth he most abhorred." + +He saw my hesitation, and spoke, "The logic is simple, no madman's +logic this time, jumping from tussock to tussock in a misty bog. If +it not be true, then proof will be relief. At worst it will not harm. +If it be true! Ah, there is the dread. Yet every dread should help my +cause, for in it is some need of belief. Come, I tell you what I +propose. First, that we go off now and see that child in the +hospital. Dr. Vincent, of the North Hospital, where the papers say +the child is, is a friend of mine, and I think of yours since you were +in class at Amsterdam. He will let two scientists see his case, if he +will not let two friends. We shall tell him nothing, but only that we +wish to learn. And then . . ." + +"And then?" + +He took a key from his pocket and held it up. "And then we spend the +night, you and I, in the churchyard where Lucy lies. This is the key +that lock the tomb. I had it from the coffin man to give to Arthur." + +My heart sank within me, for I felt that there was some fearful ordeal +before us. I could do nothing, however, so I plucked up what heart I +could and said that we had better hasten, as the afternoon was +passing. + +We found the child awake. It had had a sleep and taken some food, and +altogether was going on well. Dr. Vincent took the bandage from its +throat, and showed us the punctures. There was no mistaking the +similarity to those which had been on Lucy's throat. They were +smaller, and the edges looked fresher, that was all. We asked Vincent +to what he attributed them, and he replied that it must have been a +bite of some animal, perhaps a rat, but for his own part, he was +inclined to think it was one of the bats which are so numerous on the +northern heights of London. "Out of so many harmless ones," he said, +"there may be some wild specimen from the South of a more malignant +species. Some sailor may have brought one home, and it managed to +escape, or even from the Zoological Gardens a young one may have got +loose, or one be bred there from a vampire. These things do occur, +you, know. Only ten days ago a wolf got out, and was, I believe, +traced up in this direction. For a week after, the children were +playing nothing but Red Riding Hood on the Heath and in every alley in +the place until this 'bloofer lady' scare came along, since then it +has been quite a gala time with them. Even this poor little mite, +when he woke up today, asked the nurse if he might go away. When she +asked him why he wanted to go, he said he wanted to play with the +'bloofer lady'." + +"I hope," said Van Helsing, "that when you are sending the child home +you will caution its parents to keep strict watch over it. These +fancies to stray are most dangerous, and if the child were to remain +out another night, it would probably be fatal. But in any case I +suppose you will not let it away for some days?" + +"Certainly not, not for a week at least, longer if the wound is not +healed." + +Our visit to the hospital took more time than we had reckoned on, and +the sun had dipped before we came out. When Van Helsing saw how dark +it was, he said, + +"There is not hurry. It is more late than I thought. Come, let us +seek somewhere that we may eat, and then we shall go on our way." + +We dined at 'Jack Straw's Castle' along with a little crowd of +bicyclists and others who were genially noisy. About ten o'clock we +started from the inn. It was then very dark, and the scattered lamps +made the darkness greater when we were once outside their individual +radius. The Professor had evidently noted the road we were to go, for +he went on unhesitatingly, but, as for me, I was in quite a mixup as +to locality. As we went further, we met fewer and fewer people, till +at last we were somewhat surprised when we met even the patrol of +horse police going their usual suburban round. At last we reached the +wall of the churchyard, which we climbed over. With some little +difficulty, for it was very dark, and the whole place seemed so +strange to us, we found the Westenra tomb. The Professor took the +key, opened the creaky door, and standing back, politely, but quite +unconsciously, motioned me to precede him. There was a delicious +irony in the offer, in the courtliness of giving preference on such a +ghastly occasion. My companion followed me quickly, and cautiously +drew the door to, after carefully ascertaining that the lock was a +falling, and not a spring one. In the latter case we should have been +in a bad plight. Then he fumbled in his bag, and taking out a +matchbox and a piece of candle, proceeded to make a light. The tomb +in the daytime, and when wreathed with fresh flowers, had looked grim +and gruesome enough, but now, some days afterwards, when the flowers +hung lank and dead, their whites turning to rust and their greens to +browns, when the spider and the beetle had resumed their accustomed +dominance, when the time-discoloured stone, and dust-encrusted mortar, +and rusty, dank iron, and tarnished brass, and clouded silver-plating +gave back the feeble glimmer of a candle, the effect was more +miserable and sordid than could have been imagined. It conveyed +irresistibly the idea that life, animal life, was not the only thing +which could pass away. + +Van Helsing went about his work systematically. Holding his candle so +that he could read the coffin plates, and so holding it that the sperm +dropped in white patches which congealed as they touched the metal, he +made assurance of Lucy's coffin. Another search in his bag, and he +took out a turnscrew. + +"What are you going to do?" I asked. + +"To open the coffin. You shall yet be convinced." + +Straightway he began taking out the screws, and finally lifted off the +lid, showing the casing of lead beneath. The sight was almost too +much for me. It seemed to be as much an affront to the dead as it +would have been to have stripped off her clothing in her sleep whilst +living. I actually took hold of his hand to stop him. + +He only said, "You shall see," and again fumbling in his bag took out +a tiny fret saw. Striking the turnscrew through the lead with a swift +downward stab, which made me wince, he made a small hole, which was, +however, big enough to admit the point of the saw. I had expected a +rush of gas from the week-old corpse. We doctors, who have had to +study our dangers, have to become accustomed to such things, and I +drew back towards the door. But the Professor never stopped for a +moment. He sawed down a couple of feet along one side of the lead +coffin, and then across, and down the other side. Taking the edge of +the loose flange, he bent it back towards the foot of the coffin, and +holding up the candle into the aperture, motioned to me to look. + +I drew near and looked. The coffin was empty. It was certainly a +surprise to me, and gave me a considerable shock, but Van Helsing was +unmoved. He was now more sure than ever of his ground, and so +emboldened to proceed in his task. "Are you satisfied now, friend +John?" he asked. + +I felt all the dogged argumentativeness of my nature awake within me as +I answered him, "I am satisfied that Lucy's body is not in that +coffin, but that only proves one thing." + +"And what is that, friend John?" + +"That it is not there." + +"That is good logic," he said, "so far as it goes. But how do you, +how can you, account for it not being there?" + +"Perhaps a body-snatcher," I suggested. "Some of the undertaker's +people may have stolen it." I felt that I was speaking folly, and yet +it was the only real cause which I could suggest. + +The Professor sighed. "Ah well!" he said, "we must have more proof. +Come with me." + +He put on the coffin lid again, gathered up all his things and placed +them in the bag, blew out the light, and placed the candle also in the +bag. We opened the door, and went out. Behind us he closed the door +and locked it. He handed me the key, saying, "Will you keep it? You +had better be assured." + +I laughed, it was not a very cheerful laugh, I am bound to say, as I +motioned him to keep it. "A key is nothing," I said, "there are many +duplicates, and anyhow it is not difficult to pick a lock of this +kind." + +He said nothing, but put the key in his pocket. Then he told me to +watch at one side of the churchyard whilst he would watch at the +other. + +I took up my place behind a yew tree, and I saw his dark figure move +until the intervening headstones and trees hid it from my sight. + +It was a lonely vigil. Just after I had taken my place I heard a +distant clock strike twelve, and in time came one and two. I was +chilled and unnerved, and angry with the Professor for taking me on +such an errand and with myself for coming. I was too cold and too +sleepy to be keenly observant, and not sleepy enough to betray my +trust, so altogether I had a dreary, miserable time. + +Suddenly, as I turned round, I thought I saw something like a white +streak, moving between two dark yew trees at the side of the +churchyard farthest from the tomb. At the same time a dark mass moved +from the Professor's side of the ground, and hurriedly went towards +it. Then I too moved, but I had to go round headstones and railed-off +tombs, and I stumbled over graves. The sky was overcast, and +somewhere far off an early cock crew. A little ways off, beyond a +line of scattered juniper trees, which marked the pathway to the +church, a white dim figure flitted in the direction of the tomb. The +tomb itself was hidden by trees, and I could not see where the figure +had disappeared. I heard the rustle of actual movement where I had +first seen the white figure, and coming over, found the Professor +holding in his arms a tiny child. When he saw me he held it out to +me, and said, "Are you satisfied now?" + +"No," I said, in a way that I felt was aggressive. + +"Do you not see the child?" + +"Yes, it is a child, but who brought it here? And is it wounded?" + +"We shall see," said the Professor, and with one impulse we took our +way out of the churchyard, he carrying the sleeping child. + +When we had got some little distance away, we went into a clump of +trees, and struck a match, and looked at the child's throat. It was +without a scratch or scar of any kind. + +"Was I right?" I asked triumphantly. + +"We were just in time," said the Professor thankfully. + +We had now to decide what we were to do with the child, and so +consulted about it. If we were to take it to a police station we +should have to give some account of our movements during the night. +At least, we should have had to make some statement as to how we had +come to find the child. So finally we decided that we would take it +to the Heath, and when we heard a policeman coming, would leave it +where he could not fail to find it. We would then seek our way home +as quickly as we could. All fell out well. At the edge of Hampstead +Heath we heard a policeman's heavy tramp, and laying the child on the +pathway, we waited and watched until he saw it as he flashed his +lantern to and fro. We heard his exclamation of astonishment, and +then we went away silently. By good chance we got a cab near the +'Spainiards,' and drove to town. + +I cannot sleep, so I make this entry. But I must try to get a few +hours' sleep, as Van Helsing is to call for me at noon. He insists +that I go with him on another expedition. + + +27 September.--It was two o'clock before we found a suitable +opportunity for our attempt. The funeral held at noon was all +completed, and the last stragglers of the mourners had taken +themselves lazily away, when, looking carefully from behind a clump of +alder trees, we saw the sexton lock the gate after him. We knew that +we were safe till morning did we desire it, but the Professor told me +that we should not want more than an hour at most. Again I felt that +horrid sense of the reality of things, in which any effort of +imagination seemed out of place, and I realized distinctly the perils +of the law which we were incurring in our unhallowed work. Besides, I +felt it was all so useless. Outrageous as it was to open a leaden +coffin, to see if a woman dead nearly a week were really dead, it now +seemed the height of folly to open the tomb again, when we knew, from +the evidence of our own eyesight, that the coffin was empty. I +shrugged my shoulders, however, and rested silent, for Van Helsing had +a way of going on his own road, no matter who remonstrated. He took +the key, opened the vault, and again courteously motioned me to +precede. The place was not so gruesome as last night, but oh, how +unutterably mean looking when the sunshine streamed in. Van Helsing +walked over to Lucy's coffin, and I followed. He bent over and again +forced back the leaden flange, and a shock of surprise and dismay shot +through me. + +There lay Lucy, seemingly just as we had seen her the night before her +funeral. She was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful than ever, +and I could not believe that she was dead. The lips were red, nay +redder than before, and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom. + +"Is this a juggle?" I said to him. + +"Are you convinced now?" said the Professor, in response, and as he +spoke he put over his hand, and in a way that made me shudder, pulled +back the dead lips and showed the white teeth. "See," he went on, +"they are even sharper than before. With this and this," and he +touched one of the canine teeth and that below it, "the little +children can be bitten. Are you of belief now, friend John?" + +Once more argumentative hostility woke within me. I could not accept +such an overwhelming idea as he suggested. So, with an attempt to +argue of which I was even at the moment ashamed, I said, "She may have +been placed here since last night." + +"Indeed? That is so, and by whom?" + +"I do not know. Someone has done it." + +"And yet she has been dead one week. Most peoples in that time would +not look so." + +I had no answer for this, so was silent. Van Helsing did not seem to +notice my silence. At any rate, he showed neither chagrin nor +triumph. He was looking intently at the face of the dead woman, +raising the eyelids and looking at the eyes, and once more opening the +lips and examining the teeth. Then he turned to me and said, + +"Here, there is one thing which is different from all recorded. Here +is some dual life that is not as the common. She was bitten by the +vampire when she was in a trance, sleep-walking, oh, you start. You +do not know that, friend John, but you shall know it later, and in +trance could he best come to take more blood. In trance she dies, and +in trance she is UnDead, too. So it is that she differ from all +other. Usually when the UnDead sleep at home," as he spoke he made a +comprehensive sweep of his arm to designate what to a vampire was +'home', "their face show what they are, but this so sweet that was +when she not UnDead she go back to the nothings of the common dead. +There is no malign there, see, and so it make hard that I must kill +her in her sleep." + +This turned my blood cold, and it began to dawn upon me that I was +accepting Van Helsing's theories. But if she were really dead, what +was there of terror in the idea of killing her? + +He looked up at me, and evidently saw the change in my face, for he +said almost joyously, "Ah, you believe now?" + +I answered, "Do not press me too hard all at once. I am willing to +accept. How will you do this bloody work?" + +"I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic, and I shall +drive a stake through her body." + +It made me shudder to think of so mutilating the body of the woman +whom I had loved. And yet the feeling was not so strong as I had +expected. I was, in fact, beginning to shudder at the presence of +this being, this UnDead, as Van Helsing called it, and to loathe it. +Is it possible that love is all subjective, or all objective? + +I waited a considerable time for Van Helsing to begin, but he stood as +if wrapped in thought. Presently he closed the catch of his bag with +a snap, and said, + +"I have been thinking, and have made up my mind as to what is best. +If I did simply follow my inclining I would do now, at this moment, +what is to be done. But there are other things to follow, and things +that are thousand times more difficult in that them we do not know. +This is simple. She have yet no life taken, though that is of time, +and to act now would be to take danger from her forever. But then we +may have to want Arthur, and how shall we tell him of this? If you, +who saw the wounds on Lucy's throat, and saw the wounds so similar on +the child's at the hospital, if you, who saw the coffin empty last +night and full today with a woman who have not change only to be more +rose and more beautiful in a whole week, after she die, if you know of +this and know of the white figure last night that brought the child to +the churchyard, and yet of your own senses you did not believe, how +then, can I expect Arthur, who know none of those things, to believe? + +"He doubted me when I took him from her kiss when she was dying. I +know he has forgiven me because in some mistaken idea I have done +things that prevent him say goodbye as he ought, and he may think that +in some more mistaken idea this woman was buried alive, and that in +most mistake of all we have killed her. He will then argue back that +it is we, mistaken ones, that have killed her by our ideas, and so he +will be much unhappy always. Yet he never can be sure, and that is +the worst of all. And he will sometimes think that she he loved was +buried alive, and that will paint his dreams with horrors of what she +must have suffered, and again, he will think that we may be right, and +that his so beloved was, after all, an UnDead. No! I told him once, +and since then I learn much. Now, since I know it is all true, a +hundred thousand times more do I know that he must pass through the +bitter waters to reach the sweet. He, poor fellow, must have one hour +that will make the very face of heaven grow black to him, then we can +act for good all round and send him peace. My mind is made up. Let +us go. You return home for tonight to your asylum, and see that all +be well. As for me, I shall spend the night here in this churchyard +in my own way. Tomorrow night you will come to me to the Berkeley +Hotel at ten of the clock. I shall send for Arthur to come too, and +also that so fine young man of America that gave his blood. Later we +shall all have work to do. I come with you so far as Piccadilly and +there dine, for I must be back here before the sun set." + +So we locked the tomb and came away, and got over the wall of the +churchyard, which was not much of a task, and drove back to +Piccadilly. + + + + +NOTE LEFT BY VAN HELSING IN HIS PORTMANTEAU, BERKELEY HOTEL DIRECTED TO +JOHN SEWARD, M. D. (Not Delivered) + +27 September + +"Friend John, + +"I write this in case anything should happen. I go alone to +watch in that churchyard. It pleases me that the UnDead, +Miss Lucy, shall not leave tonight, that so on the morrow +night she may be more eager. Therefore I shall fix some +things she like not, garlic and a crucifix, and so seal up +the door of the tomb. She is young as UnDead, and will +heed. Moreover, these are only to prevent her coming out. +They may not prevail on her wanting to get in, for then the +UnDead is desperate, and must find the line of least resistance, +whatsoever it may be. I shall be at hand all the night from +sunset till after sunrise, and if there be aught that may be +learned I shall learn it. For Miss Lucy or from her, I have no +fear, but that other to whom is there that she is UnDead, he have +not the power to seek her tomb and find shelter. He is cunning, +as I know from Mr. Jonathan and from the way that all along he +have fooled us when he played with us for Miss Lucy's life, and +we lost, and in many ways the UnDead are strong. He have always +the strength in his hand of twenty men, even we four who gave our +strength to Miss Lucy it also is all to him. Besides, he can +summon his wolf and I know not what. So if it be that he came +thither on this night he shall find me. But none other shall, +until it be too late. But it may be that he will not attempt the +place. There is no reason why he should. His hunting ground is +more full of game than the churchyard where the UnDead woman +sleeps, and the one old man watch. + +"Therefore I write this in case . . . Take the papers that +are with this, the diaries of Harker and the rest, and read +them, and then find this great UnDead, and cut off his head +and burn his heart or drive a stake through it, so that the +world may rest from him. + +"If it be so, farewell. + +"VAN HELSING." + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +28 September.--It is wonderful what a good night's sleep will do for +one. Yesterday I was almost willing to accept Van Helsing's monstrous +ideas, but now they seem to start out lurid before me as outrages on +common sense. I have no doubt that he believes it all. I wonder if +his mind can have become in any way unhinged. Surely there must be +some rational explanation of all these mysterious things. Is it +possible that the Professor can have done it himself? He is so +abnormally clever that if he went off his head he would carry out his +intent with regard to some fixed idea in a wonderful way. I am loathe +to think it, and indeed it would be almost as great a marvel as the +other to find that Van Helsing was mad, but anyhow I shall watch him +carefully. I may get some light on the mystery. + + +29 September.--Last night, at a little before ten o'clock, Arthur and +Quincey came into Van Helsing's room. He told us all what he wanted +us to do, but especially addressing himself to Arthur, as if all our +wills were centred in his. He began by saying that he hoped we would +all come with him too, "for," he said, "there is a grave duty to be +done there. You were doubtless surprised at my letter?" This query +was directly addressed to Lord Godalming. + +"I was. It rather upset me for a bit. There has been so much trouble +around my house of late that I could do without any more. I have been +curious, too, as to what you mean. + +"Quincey and I talked it over, but the more we talked, the more +puzzled we got, till now I can say for myself that I'm about up a tree +as to any meaning about anything." + +"Me too," said Quincey Morris laconically. + +"Oh," said the Professor, "then you are nearer the beginning, both of +you, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he +can even get so far as to begin." + +It was evident that he recognized my return to my old doubting frame +of mind without my saying a word. Then, turning to the other two, he +said with intense gravity, + +"I want your permission to do what I think good this night. It is, I +know, much to ask, and when you know what it is I propose to do you +will know, and only then how much. Therefore may I ask that you +promise me in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry +with me for a time, I must not disguise from myself the possibility +that such may be, you shall not blame yourselves for anything." + +"That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the +Professor. I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest, and +that's good enough for me." + +"I thank you, Sir," said Van Helsing proudly. "I have done myself the +honour of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is +dear to me." He held out a hand, which Quincey took. + +Then Arthur spoke out, "Dr. Van Helsing, I don't quite like to 'buy a +pig in a poke', as they say in Scotland, and if it be anything in +which my honour as a gentleman or my faith as a Christian is +concerned, I cannot make such a promise. If you can assure me that +what you intend does not violate either of these two, then I give my +consent at once, though for the life of me, I cannot understand what +you are driving at." + +"I accept your limitation," said Van Helsing, "and all I ask of you is +that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will +first consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your +reservations." + +"Agreed!" said Arthur. "That is only fair. And now that the +pourparlers are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?" + +"I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard +at Kingstead." + +Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way, + +"Where poor Lucy is buried?" + +The Professor bowed. + +Arthur went on, "And when there?" + +"To enter the tomb!" + +Arthur stood up. "Professor, are you in earnest, or is it some +monstrous joke? Pardon me, I see that you are in earnest." He sat +down again, but I could see that he sat firmly and proudly, as one who +is on his dignity. There was silence until he asked again, "And when +in the tomb?" + +"To open the coffin." + +"This is too much!" he said, angrily rising again. "I am willing to +be patient in all things that are reasonable, but in this, this +desecration of the grave, of one who . . ." He fairly choked with +indignation. + +The Professor looked pityingly at him. "If I could spare you one pang, +my poor friend," he said, "God knows I would. But this night our feet +must tread in thorny paths, or later, and for ever, the feet you love +must walk in paths of flame!" + +Arthur looked up with set white face and said, "Take care, sir, take +care!" + +"Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing. +"And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I go +on?" + +"That's fair enough," broke in Morris. + +After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort, "Miss +Lucy is dead, is it not so? Yes! Then there can be no wrong to her. +But if she be not dead . . ." + +Arthur jumped to his feet, "Good God!" he cried. "What do you mean? +Has there been any mistake, has she been buried alive?" He groaned in +anguish that not even hope could soften. + +"I did not say she was alive, my child. I did not think it. I go no +further than to say that she might be UnDead." + +"UnDead! Not alive! What do you mean? Is this all a nightmare, or +what is it?" + +"There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age +they may solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of +one. But I have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?" + +"Heavens and earth, no!" cried Arthur in a storm of passion. "Not for +the wide world will I consent to any mutilation of her dead body. Dr. +Van Helsing, you try me too far. What have I done to you that you +should torture me so? What did that poor, sweet girl do that you +should want to cast such dishonour on her grave? Are you mad, that you +speak of such things, or am I mad to listen to them? Don't dare think +more of such a desecration. I shall not give my consent to anything +you do. I have a duty to do in protecting her grave from outrage, and +by God, I shall do it!" + +Van Helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated, and +said, gravely and sternly, "My Lord Godalming, I too, have a duty to +do, a duty to others, a duty to you, a duty to the dead, and by God, I +shall do it! All I ask you now is that you come with me, that you +look and listen, and if when later I make the same request you do not +be more eager for its fulfillment even than I am, then, I shall do my +duty, whatever it may seem to me. And then, to follow your Lordship's +wishes I shall hold myself at your disposal to render an account to +you, when and where you will." His voice broke a little, and he went +on with a voice full of pity. + +"But I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life +of acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did +wring my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now. Believe me +that if the time comes for you to change your mind towards me, one +look from you will wipe away all this so sad hour, for I would do what +a man can to save you from sorrow. Just think. For why should I give +myself so much labor and so much of sorrow? I have come here from my +own land to do what I can of good, at the first to please my friend +John, and then to help a sweet young lady, whom too, I come to love. +For her, I am ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness, I gave +what you gave, the blood of my veins. I gave it, I who was not, like +you, her lover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave her my +nights and days, before death, after death, and if my death can do her +good even now, when she is the dead UnDead, she shall have it freely." +He said this with a very grave, sweet pride, and Arthur was much +affected by it. + +He took the old man's hand and said in a broken voice, "Oh, it is hard +to think of it, and I cannot understand, but at least I shall go with +you and wait." + + + + +CHAPTER 16 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--cont. + +It was just a quarter before twelve o'clock when we got into the +churchyard over the low wall. The night was dark with occasional +gleams of moonlight between the dents of the heavy clouds that scudded +across the sky. We all kept somehow close together, with Van Helsing +slightly in front as he led the way. When we had come close to the +tomb I looked well at Arthur, for I feared the proximity to a place +laden with so sorrowful a memory would upset him, but he bore himself +well. I took it that the very mystery of the proceeding was in some +way a counteractant to his grief. The Professor unlocked the door, +and seeing a natural hesitation amongst us for various reasons, solved +the difficulty by entering first himself. The rest of us followed, +and he closed the door. He then lit a dark lantern and pointed to a +coffin. Arthur stepped forward hesitatingly. Van Helsing said to me, +"You were with me here yesterday. Was the body of Miss Lucy in that +coffin?" + +"It was." + +The Professor turned to the rest saying, "You hear, and yet there is +no one who does not believe with me." + +He took his screwdriver and again took off the lid of the coffin. +Arthur looked on, very pale but silent. When the lid was removed he +stepped forward. He evidently did not know that there was a leaden +coffin, or at any rate, had not thought of it. When he saw the rent +in the lead, the blood rushed to his face for an instant, but as +quickly fell away again, so that he remained of a ghastly whiteness. +He was still silent. Van Helsing forced back the leaden flange, and +we all looked in and recoiled. + +The coffin was empty! + +For several minutes no one spoke a word. The silence was broken by +Quincey Morris, "Professor, I answered for you. Your word is all I +want. I wouldn't ask such a thing ordinarily, I wouldn't so dishonour +you as to imply a doubt, but this is a mystery that goes beyond any +honour or dishonour. Is this your doing?" + +"I swear to you by all that I hold sacred that I have not removed or +touched her. What happened was this. Two nights ago my friend Seward +and I came here, with good purpose, believe me. I opened that coffin, +which was then sealed up, and we found it as now, empty. We then +waited, and saw something white come through the trees. The next day +we came here in daytime and she lay there. Did she not, friend John? + +"Yes." + +"That night we were just in time. One more so small child was +missing, and we find it, thank God, unharmed amongst the graves. +Yesterday I came here before sundown, for at sundown the UnDead can +move. I waited here all night till the sun rose, but I saw nothing. +It was most probable that it was because I had laid over the clamps of +those doors garlic, which the UnDead cannot bear, and other things +which they shun. Last night there was no exodus, so tonight before +the sundown I took away my garlic and other things. And so it is we +find this coffin empty. But bear with me. So far there is much that +is strange. Wait you with me outside, unseen and unheard, and things +much stranger are yet to be. So," here he shut the dark slide of his +lantern, "now to the outside." He opened the door, and we filed out, +he coming last and locking the door behind him. + +Oh! But it seemed fresh and pure in the night air after the terror of +that vault. How sweet it was to see the clouds race by, and the +passing gleams of the moonlight between the scudding clouds crossing +and passing, like the gladness and sorrow of a man's life. How sweet +it was to breathe the fresh air, that had no taint of death and decay. +How humanizing to see the red lighting of the sky beyond the hill, and +to hear far away the muffled roar that marks the life of a great +city. Each in his own way was solemn and overcome. Arthur was +silent, and was, I could see, striving to grasp the purpose and the +inner meaning of the mystery. I was myself tolerably patient, and +half inclined again to throw aside doubt and to accept Van Helsing's +conclusions. Quincey Morris was phlegmatic in the way of a man who +accepts all things, and accepts them in the spirit of cool bravery, +with hazard of all he has at stake. Not being able to smoke, he cut +himself a good-sized plug of tobacco and began to chew. As to Van +Helsing, he was employed in a definite way. First he took from his +bag a mass of what looked like thin, wafer-like biscuit, which was +carefully rolled up in a white napkin. Next he took out a double +handful of some whitish stuff, like dough or putty. He crumbled the +wafer up fine and worked it into the mass between his hands. This he +then took, and rolling it into thin strips, began to lay them into the +crevices between the door and its setting in the tomb. I was somewhat +puzzled at this, and being close, asked him what it was that he was +doing. Arthur and Quincey drew near also, as they too were curious. + +He answered, "I am closing the tomb so that the UnDead may not enter." + +"And is that stuff you have there going to do it?" + +"It is." + +"What is that which you are using?" This time the question was by +Arthur. Van Helsing reverently lifted his hat as he answered. + +"The Host. I brought it from Amsterdam. I have an Indulgence." + +It was an answer that appalled the most sceptical of us, and we felt +individually that in the presence of such earnest purpose as the +Professor's, a purpose which could thus use the to him most sacred of +things, it was impossible to distrust. In respectful silence we took +the places assigned to us close round the tomb, but hidden from the +sight of any one approaching. I pitied the others, especially Arthur. +I had myself been apprenticed by my former visits to this watching +horror, and yet I, who had up to an hour ago repudiated the proofs, +felt my heart sink within me. Never did tombs look so ghastly white. +Never did cypress, or yew, or juniper so seem the embodiment of +funeral gloom. Never did tree or grass wave or rustle so ominously. +Never did bough creak so mysteriously, and never did the far-away +howling of dogs send such a woeful presage through the night. + +There was a long spell of silence, big, aching, void, and then from +the Professor a keen "S-s-s-s!" He pointed, and far down the avenue of +yews we saw a white figure advance, a dim white figure, which held +something dark at its breast. The figure stopped, and at the moment a +ray of moonlight fell upon the masses of driving clouds, and showed in +startling prominence a dark-haired woman, dressed in the cerements of +the grave. We could not see the face, for it was bent down over what +we saw to be a fair-haired child. There was a pause and a sharp +little cry, such as a child gives in sleep, or a dog as it lies before +the fire and dreams. We were starting forward, but the Professor's +warning hand, seen by us as he stood behind a yew tree, kept us back. +And then as we looked the white figure moved forwards again. It was +now near enough for us to see clearly, and the moonlight still held. +My own heart grew cold as ice, and I could hear the gasp of Arthur, as +we recognized the features of Lucy Westenra. Lucy Westenra, but yet +how changed. The sweetness was turned to adamantine, heartless +cruelty, and the purity to voluptuous wantonness. + +Van Helsing stepped out, and obedient to his gesture, we all advanced +too. The four of us ranged in a line before the door of the tomb. Van +Helsing raised his lantern and drew the slide. By the concentrated +light that fell on Lucy's face we could see that the lips were crimson +with fresh blood, and that the stream had trickled over her chin and +stained the purity of her lawn death-robe. + +We shuddered with horror. I could see by the tremulous light that +even Van Helsing's iron nerve had failed. Arthur was next to me, and +if I had not seized his arm and held him up, he would have fallen. + +When Lucy, I call the thing that was before us Lucy because it bore +her shape, saw us she drew back with an angry snarl, such as a cat +gives when taken unawares, then her eyes ranged over us. Lucy's eyes +in form and colour, but Lucy's eyes unclean and full of hell fire, +instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew. At that moment the remnant +of my love passed into hate and loathing. Had she then to be killed, +I could have done it with savage delight. As she looked, her eyes +blazed with unholy light, and the face became wreathed with a +voluptuous smile. Oh, God, how it made me shudder to see it! With a +careless motion, she flung to the ground, callous as a devil, the +child that up to now she had clutched strenuously to her breast, +growling over it as a dog growls over a bone. The child gave a sharp +cry, and lay there moaning. There was a cold-bloodedness in the act +which wrung a groan from Arthur. When she advanced to him with +outstretched arms and a wanton smile he fell back and hid his face in +his hands. + +She still advanced, however, and with a languorous, voluptuous grace, +said, "Come to me, Arthur. Leave these others and come to me. My +arms are hungry for you. Come, and we can rest together. Come, my +husband, come!" + +There was something diabolically sweet in her tones, something of the +tinkling of glass when struck, which rang through the brains even of +us who heard the words addressed to another. + +As for Arthur, he seemed under a spell, moving his hands from his +face, he opened wide his arms. She was leaping for them, when Van +Helsing sprang forward and held between them his little golden +crucifix. She recoiled from it, and, with a suddenly distorted face, +full of rage, dashed past him as if to enter the tomb. + +When within a foot or two of the door, however, she stopped, as if +arrested by some irresistible force. Then she turned, and her face +was shown in the clear burst of moonlight and by the lamp, which had +now no quiver from Van Helsing's nerves. Never did I see such baffled +malice on a face, and never, I trust, shall such ever be seen again by +mortal eyes. The beautiful colour became livid, the eyes seemed to +throw out sparks of hell fire, the brows were wrinkled as though the +folds of flesh were the coils of Medusa's snakes, and the lovely, +blood-stained mouth grew to an open square, as in the passion masks of +the Greeks and Japanese. If ever a face meant death, if looks could +kill, we saw it at that moment. + +And so for full half a minute, which seemed an eternity, she remained +between the lifted crucifix and the sacred closing of her means of +entry. + +Van Helsing broke the silence by asking Arthur, "Answer me, oh my +friend! Am I to proceed in my work?" + +"Do as you will, friend. Do as you will. There can be no horror like +this ever any more." And he groaned in spirit. + +Quincey and I simultaneously moved towards him, and took his arms. We +could hear the click of the closing lantern as Van Helsing held it +down. Coming close to the tomb, he began to remove from the chinks +some of the sacred emblem which he had placed there. We all looked on +with horrified amazement as we saw, when he stood back, the woman, +with a corporeal body as real at that moment as our own, pass through +the interstice where scarce a knife blade could have gone. We all +felt a glad sense of relief when we saw the Professor calmly restoring +the strings of putty to the edges of the door. + +When this was done, he lifted the child and said, "Come now, my +friends. We can do no more till tomorrow. There is a funeral at +noon, so here we shall all come before long after that. The friends +of the dead will all be gone by two, and when the sexton locks the +gate we shall remain. Then there is more to do, but not like this of +tonight. As for this little one, he is not much harmed, and by +tomorrow night he shall be well. We shall leave him where the police +will find him, as on the other night, and then to home." + +Coming close to Arthur, he said, "My friend Arthur, you have had a sore +trial, but after, when you look back, you will see how it was +necessary. You are now in the bitter waters, my child. By this time +tomorrow you will, please God, have passed them, and have drunk of the +sweet waters. So do not mourn over-much. Till then I shall not ask +you to forgive me." + +Arthur and Quincey came home with me, and we tried to cheer each other +on the way. We had left behind the child in safety, and were tired. +So we all slept with more or less reality of sleep. + + +29 September, night.--A little before twelve o'clock we three, Arthur, +Quincey Morris, and myself, called for the Professor. It was odd to +notice that by common consent we had all put on black clothes. Of +course, Arthur wore black, for he was in deep mourning, but the rest +of us wore it by instinct. We got to the graveyard by half-past one, +and strolled about, keeping out of official observation, so that when +the gravediggers had completed their task and the sexton, under the +belief that every one had gone, had locked the gate, we had the place +all to ourselves. Van Helsing, instead of his little black bag, had +with him a long leather one, something like a cricketing bag. It was +manifestly of fair weight. + +When we were alone and had heard the last of the footsteps die out up +the road, we silently, and as if by ordered intention, followed the +Professor to the tomb. He unlocked the door, and we entered, closing +it behind us. Then he took from his bag the lantern, which he lit, +and also two wax candles, which, when lighted, he stuck by melting +their own ends, on other coffins, so that they might give light +sufficient to work by. When he again lifted the lid off Lucy's coffin +we all looked, Arthur trembling like an aspen, and saw that the corpse +lay there in all its death beauty. But there was no love in my own +heart, nothing but loathing for the foul Thing which had taken Lucy's +shape without her soul. I could see even Arthur's face grow hard as +he looked. Presently he said to Van Helsing, "Is this really Lucy's +body, or only a demon in her shape?" + +"It is her body, and yet not it. But wait a while, and you shall see +her as she was, and is." + +She seemed like a nightmare of Lucy as she lay there, the pointed +teeth, the blood stained, voluptuous mouth, which made one shudder to +see, the whole carnal and unspirited appearance, seeming like a +devilish mockery of Lucy's sweet purity. Van Helsing, with his usual +methodicalness, began taking the various contents from his bag and +placing them ready for use. First he took out a soldering iron and +some plumbing solder, and then small oil lamp, which gave out, when +lit in a corner of the tomb, gas which burned at a fierce heat with a +blue flame, then his operating knives, which he placed to hand, and +last a round wooden stake, some two and a half or three inches thick +and about three feet long. One end of it was hardened by charring in +the fire, and was sharpened to a fine point. With this stake came a +heavy hammer, such as in households is used in the coal cellar for +breaking the lumps. To me, a doctor's preparations for work of any +kind are stimulating and bracing, but the effect of these things on +both Arthur and Quincey was to cause them a sort of consternation. +They both, however, kept their courage, and remained silent and quiet. + +When all was ready, Van Helsing said, "Before we do anything, let me +tell you this. It is out of the lore and experience of the ancients +and of all those who have studied the powers of the UnDead. When they +become such, there comes with the change the curse of immortality. +They cannot die, but must go on age after age adding new victims and +multiplying the evils of the world. For all that die from the preying +of the Undead become themselves Undead, and prey on their kind. And +so the circle goes on ever widening, like as the ripples from a stone +thrown in the water. Friend Arthur, if you had met that kiss which +you know of before poor Lucy die, or again, last night when you open +your arms to her, you would in time, when you had died, have become +nosferatu, as they call it in Eastern Europe, and would for all time +make more of those Un-Deads that so have filled us with horror. The +career of this so unhappy dear lady is but just begun. Those children +whose blood she sucked are not as yet so much the worse, but if she +lives on, UnDead, more and more they lose their blood and by her power +over them they come to her, and so she draw their blood with that so +wicked mouth. But if she die in truth, then all cease. The tiny +wounds of the throats disappear, and they go back to their play +unknowing ever of what has been. But of the most blessed of all, when +this now UnDead be made to rest as true dead, then the soul of the +poor lady whom we love shall again be free. Instead of working +wickedness by night and growing more debased in the assimilating of it +by day, she shall take her place with the other Angels. So that, my +friend, it will be a blessed hand for her that shall strike the blow +that sets her free. To this I am willing, but is there none amongst +us who has a better right? Will it be no joy to think of hereafter in +the silence of the night when sleep is not, 'It was my hand that sent +her to the stars. It was the hand of him that loved her best, the +hand that of all she would herself have chosen, had it been to her to +choose?' Tell me if there be such a one amongst us?" + +We all looked at Arthur. He saw too, what we all did, the infinite +kindness which suggested that his should be the hand which would +restore Lucy to us as a holy, and not an unholy, memory. He stepped +forward and said bravely, though his hand trembled, and his face was +as pale as snow, "My true friend, from the bottom of my broken heart I +thank you. Tell me what I am to do, and I shall not falter!" + +Van Helsing laid a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Brave lad! A +moment's courage, and it is done. This stake must be driven through +her. It well be a fearful ordeal, be not deceived in that, but it +will be only a short time, and you will then rejoice more than your +pain was great. From this grim tomb you will emerge as though you +tread on air. But you must not falter when once you have begun. Only +think that we, your true friends, are round you, and that we pray for +you all the time." + +"Go on," said Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me what I am to do." + +"Take this stake in your left hand, ready to place to the point over +the heart, and the hammer in your right. Then when we begin our +prayer for the dead, I shall read him, I have here the book, and the +others shall follow, strike in God's name, that so all may be well +with the dead that we love and that the UnDead pass away." + +Arthur took the stake and the hammer, and when once his mind was set +on action his hands never trembled nor even quivered. Van Helsing +opened his missal and began to read, and Quincey and I followed as +well as we could. + +Arthur placed the point over the heart, and as I looked I could see its +dint in the white flesh. Then he struck with all his might. + +The thing in the coffin writhed, and a hideous, blood-curdling screech +came from the opened red lips. The body shook and quivered and +twisted in wild contortions. The sharp white teeth champed together till +the lips were cut, and the mouth was smeared with a crimson foam. But +Arthur never faltered. He looked like a figure of Thor as his +untrembling arm rose and fell, driving deeper and deeper the +mercy-bearing stake, whilst the blood from the pierced heart welled +and spurted up around it. His face was set, and high duty seemed to +shine through it. The sight of it gave us courage so that our voices +seemed to ring through the little vault. + +And then the writhing and quivering of the body became less, and the +teeth seemed to champ, and the face to quiver. Finally it lay still. +The terrible task was over. + +The hammer fell from Arthur's hand. He reeled and would have fallen +had we not caught him. The great drops of sweat sprang from his +forehead, and his breath came in broken gasps. It had indeed been an +awful strain on him, and had he not been forced to his task by more +than human considerations he could never have gone through with it. +For a few minutes we were so taken up with him that we did not look +towards the coffin. When we did, however, a murmur of startled +surprise ran from one to the other of us. We gazed so eagerly that +Arthur rose, for he had been seated on the ground, and came and looked +too, and then a glad strange light broke over his face and dispelled +altogether the gloom of horror that lay upon it. + +There, in the coffin lay no longer the foul Thing that we had so +dreaded and grown to hate that the work of her destruction was yielded +as a privilege to the one best entitled to it, but Lucy as we had seen +her in life, with her face of unequalled sweetness and purity. True +that there were there, as we had seen them in life, the traces of care +and pain and waste. But these were all dear to us, for they marked +her truth to what we knew. One and all we felt that the holy calm +that lay like sunshine over the wasted face and form was only an +earthly token and symbol of the calm that was to reign for ever. + +Van Helsing came and laid his hand on Arthur's shoulder, and said to +him, "And now, Arthur my friend, dear lad, am I not forgiven?" + +The reaction of the terrible strain came as he took the old man's hand +in his, and raising it to his lips, pressed it, and said, "Forgiven! +God bless you that you have given my dear one her soul again, and me +peace." He put his hands on the Professor's shoulder, and laying his +head on his breast, cried for a while silently, whilst we stood +unmoving. + +When he raised his head Van Helsing said to him, "And now, my child, +you may kiss her. Kiss her dead lips if you will, as she would have +you to, if for her to choose. For she is not a grinning devil now, +not any more a foul Thing for all eternity. No longer she is the +devil's UnDead. She is God's true dead, whose soul is with Him!" + +Arthur bent and kissed her, and then we sent him and Quincey out of the +tomb. The Professor and I sawed the top off the stake, leaving the +point of it in the body. Then we cut off the head and filled the +mouth with garlic. We soldered up the leaden coffin, screwed on the +coffin lid, and gathering up our belongings, came away. When the +Professor locked the door he gave the key to Arthur. + +Outside the air was sweet, the sun shone, and the birds sang, and it +seemed as if all nature were tuned to a different pitch. There was +gladness and mirth and peace everywhere, for we were at rest ourselves +on one account, and we were glad, though it was with a tempered joy. + +Before we moved away Van Helsing said, "Now, my friends, one step of +our work is done, one the most harrowing to ourselves. But there +remains a greater task: to find out the author of all this our sorrow +and to stamp him out. I have clues which we can follow, but it is a +long task, and a difficult one, and there is danger in it, and pain. +Shall you not all help me? We have learned to believe, all of us, is +it not so? And since so, do we not see our duty? Yes! And do we not +promise to go on to the bitter end?" + +Each in turn, we took his hand, and the promise was made. Then said +the Professor as we moved off, "Two nights hence you shall meet with +me and dine together at seven of the clock with friend John. I shall +entreat two others, two that you know not as yet, and I shall be ready +to all our work show and our plans unfold. Friend John, you come with +me home, for I have much to consult you about, and you can help me. +Tonight I leave for Amsterdam, but shall return tomorrow night. And +then begins our great quest. But first I shall have much to say, so +that you may know what to do and to dread. Then our promise shall be +made to each other anew. For there is a terrible task before us, and +once our feet are on the ploughshare we must not draw back." + + + + +CHAPTER 17 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY--cont. + +When we arrived at the Berkely Hotel, Van Helsing found a telegram +waiting for him. + +"Am coming up by train. Jonathan at Whitby. Important news. Mina +Harker." + + +The Professor was delighted. "Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina," he +said, "pearl among women! She arrive, but I cannot stay. She must go +to your house, friend John. You must meet her at the station. +Telegraph her en route so that she may be prepared." + +When the wire was dispatched he had a cup of tea. Over it he told me +of a diary kept by Jonathan Harker when abroad, and gave me a +typewritten copy of it, as also of Mrs. Harker's diary at Whitby. +"Take these," he said, "and study them well. When I have returned you +will be master of all the facts, and we can then better enter on our +inquisition. Keep them safe, for there is in them much of treasure. +You will need all your faith, even you who have had such an experience +as that of today. What is here told," he laid his hand heavily and +gravely on the packet of papers as he spoke, "may be the beginning of +the end to you and me and many another, or it may sound the knell of +the UnDead who walk the earth. Read all, I pray you, with the open +mind, and if you can add in any way to the story here told do so, for +it is all important. You have kept a diary of all these so strange +things, is it not so? Yes! Then we shall go through all these +together when we meet." He then made ready for his departure and +shortly drove off to Liverpool Street. I took my way to Paddington, +where I arrived about fifteen minutes before the train came in. + +The crowd melted away, after the bustling fashion common to arrival +platforms, and I was beginning to feel uneasy, lest I might miss my +guest, when a sweet-faced, dainty looking girl stepped up to me, and +after a quick glance said, "Dr. Seward, is it not?" + +"And you are Mrs. Harker!" I answered at once, whereupon she held out +her hand. + +"I knew you from the description of poor dear Lucy, but . . ." She +stopped suddenly, and a quick blush overspread her face. + +The blush that rose to my own cheeks somehow set us both at ease, for +it was a tacit answer to her own. I got her luggage, which included a +typewriter, and we took the Underground to Fenchurch Street, after I +had sent a wire to my housekeeper to have a sitting room and a bedroom +prepared at once for Mrs. Harker. + +In due time we arrived. She knew, of course, that the place was a +lunatic asylum, but I could see that she was unable to repress a +shudder when we entered. + +She told me that, if she might, she would come presently to my study, +as she had much to say. So here I am finishing my entry in my +phonograph diary whilst I await her. As yet I have not had the chance +of looking at the papers which Van Helsing left with me, though they +lie open before me. I must get her interested in something, so that I +may have an opportunity of reading them. She does not know how +precious time is, or what a task we have in hand. I must be careful +not to frighten her. Here she is! + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +29 September.--After I had tidied myself, I went down to Dr. Seward's +study. At the door I paused a moment, for I thought I heard him +talking with some one. As, however, he had pressed me to be quick, I +knocked at the door, and on his calling out, "Come in," I entered. + +To my intense surprise, there was no one with him. He was quite +alone, and on the table opposite him was what I knew at once from the +description to be a phonograph. I had never seen one, and was much +interested. + +"I hope I did not keep you waiting," I said, "but I stayed at the door +as I heard you talking, and thought there was someone with you." + +"Oh," he replied with a smile, "I was only entering my diary." + +"Your diary?" I asked him in surprise. + +"Yes," he answered. "I keep it in this." As he spoke he laid his +hand on the phonograph. I felt quite excited over it, and blurted +out, "Why, this beats even shorthand! May I hear it say something?" + +"Certainly," he replied with alacrity, and stood up to put it in train +for speaking. Then he paused, and a troubled look overspread his +face. + +"The fact is," he began awkwardly, "I only keep my diary in it, and as +it is entirely, almost entirely, about my cases it may be awkward, +that is, I mean . . ." He stopped, and I tried to help him out of his +embarrassment. + +"You helped to attend dear Lucy at the end. Let me hear how she died, +for all that I know of her, I shall be very grateful. She was very, +very dear to me." + +To my surprise, he answered, with a horrorstruck look in his face, +"Tell you of her death? Not for the wide world!" + +"Why not?" I asked, for some grave, terrible feeling was coming over me. + +Again he paused, and I could see that he was trying to invent an +excuse. At length, he stammered out, "You see, I do not know how to +pick out any particular part of the diary." + +Even while he was speaking an idea dawned upon him, and he said with +unconscious simplicity, in a different voice, and with the naivete of +a child, "that's quite true, upon my honour. Honest Indian!" + +I could not but smile, at which he grimaced. "I gave myself away that +time!" he said. "But do you know that, although I have kept the diary +for months past, it never once struck me how I was going to find any +particular part of it in case I wanted to look it up?" + +By this time my mind was made up that the diary of a doctor who +attended Lucy might have something to add to the sum of our knowledge +of that terrible Being, and I said boldly, "Then, Dr. Seward, you had +better let me copy it out for you on my typewriter." + +He grew to a positively deathly pallor as he said, "No! No! No! For +all the world. I wouldn't let you know that terrible story!" + +Then it was terrible. My intuition was right! For a moment, I +thought, and as my eyes ranged the room, unconsciously looking for +something or some opportunity to aid me, they lit on a great batch of +typewriting on the table. His eyes caught the look in mine, and +without his thinking, followed their direction. As they saw the +parcel he realized my meaning. + +"You do not know me," I said. "When you have read those papers, my +own diary and my husband's also, which I have typed, you will know me +better. I have not faltered in giving every thought of my own heart +in this cause. But, of course, you do not know me, yet, and I must +not expect you to trust me so far." + +He is certainly a man of noble nature. Poor dear Lucy was right about +him. He stood up and opened a large drawer, in which were arranged in +order a number of hollow cylinders of metal covered with dark wax, and +said, + +"You are quite right. I did not trust you because I did not know +you. But I know you now, and let me say that I should have known you +long ago. I know that Lucy told you of me. She told me of you too. +May I make the only atonement in my power? Take the cylinders and +hear them. The first half-dozen of them are personal to me, and they +will not horrify you. Then you will know me better. Dinner will by +then be ready. In the meantime I shall read over some of these +documents, and shall be better able to understand certain things." + +He carried the phonograph himself up to my sitting room and adjusted +it for me. Now I shall learn something pleasant, I am sure. For it +will tell me the other side of a true love episode of which I know one +side already. + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +29 September.--I was so absorbed in that wonderful diary of Jonathan +Harker and that other of his wife that I let the time run on without +thinking. Mrs. Harker was not down when the maid came to announce +dinner, so I said, "She is possibly tired. Let dinner wait an hour," +and I went on with my work. I had just finished Mrs. Harker's diary, +when she came in. She looked sweetly pretty, but very sad, and her +eyes were flushed with crying. This somehow moved me much. Of late I +have had cause for tears, God knows! But the relief of them was +denied me, and now the sight of those sweet eyes, brightened by recent +tears, went straight to my heart. So I said as gently as I could, "I +greatly fear I have distressed you." + +"Oh, no, not distressed me," she replied. "But I have been more +touched than I can say by your grief. That is a wonderful machine, +but it is cruelly true. It told me, in its very tones, the anguish of +your heart. It was like a soul crying out to Almighty God. No one +must hear them spoken ever again! See, I have tried to be useful. I +have copied out the words on my typewriter, and none other need now +hear your heart beat, as I did." + +"No one need ever know, shall ever know," I said in a low voice. She +laid her hand on mine and said very gravely, "Ah, but they must!" + +"Must! But why?" I asked. + +"Because it is a part of the terrible story, a part of poor Lucy's +death and all that led to it. Because in the struggle which we have +before us to rid the earth of this terrible monster we must have all +the knowledge and all the help which we can get. I think that the +cylinders which you gave me contained more than you intended me to +know. But I can see that there are in your record many lights to this +dark mystery. You will let me help, will you not? I know all up to a +certain point, and I see already, though your diary only took me to 7 +September, how poor Lucy was beset, and how her terrible doom was +being wrought out. Jonathan and I have been working day and night +since Professor Van Helsing saw us. He is gone to Whitby to get more +information, and he will be here tomorrow to help us. We need have no +secrets amongst us. Working together and with absolute trust, we can +surely be stronger than if some of us were in the dark." + +She looked at me so appealingly, and at the same time manifested such +courage and resolution in her bearing, that I gave in at once to her +wishes. "You shall," I said, "do as you like in the matter. God +forgive me if I do wrong! There are terrible things yet to learn of, +but if you have so far traveled on the road to poor Lucy's death, you +will not be content, I know, to remain in the dark. Nay, the end, the +very end, may give you a gleam of peace. Come, there is dinner. We +must keep one another strong for what is before us. We have a cruel +and dreadful task. When you have eaten you shall learn the rest, and +I shall answer any questions you ask, if there be anything which you +do not understand, though it was apparent to us who were present." + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +29 September.--After dinner I came with Dr. Seward to his study. He +brought back the phonograph from my room, and I took a chair, and +arranged the phonograph so that I could touch it without getting up, +and showed me how to stop it in case I should want to pause. Then he +very thoughtfully took a chair, with his back to me, so that I might +be as free as possible, and began to read. I put the forked metal to +my ears and listened. + +When the terrible story of Lucy's death, and all that followed, was +done, I lay back in my chair powerless. Fortunately I am not of a +fainting disposition. When Dr. Seward saw me he jumped up with a +horrified exclamation, and hurriedly taking a case bottle from the +cupboard, gave me some brandy, which in a few minutes somewhat +restored me. My brain was all in a whirl, and only that there came +through all the multitude of horrors, the holy ray of light that my +dear Lucy was at last at peace, I do not think I could have borne it +without making a scene. It is all so wild and mysterious, and strange +that if I had not known Jonathan's experience in Transylvania I could +not have believed. As it was, I didn't know what to believe, and so +got out of my difficulty by attending to something else. I took the +cover off my typewriter, and said to Dr. Seward, + +"Let me write this all out now. We must be ready for Dr. Van Helsing +when he comes. I have sent a telegram to Jonathan to come on here +when he arrives in London from Whitby. In this matter dates are +everything, and I think that if we get all of our material ready, and +have every item put in chronological order, we shall have done much. + +"You tell me that Lord Godalming and Mr. Morris are coming too. Let +us be able to tell them when they come." + +He accordingly set the phonograph at a slow pace, and I began to +typewrite from the beginning of the seventeenth cylinder. I used +manifold, and so took three copies of the diary, just as I had done +with the rest. It was late when I got through, but Dr. Seward went +about his work of going his round of the patients. When he had +finished he came back and sat near me, reading, so that I did not feel +too lonely whilst I worked. How good and thoughtful he is. The world +seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it. + +Before I left him I remembered what Jonathan put in his diary of the +Professor's perturbation at reading something in an evening paper at +the station at Exeter, so, seeing that Dr. Seward keeps his +newspapers, I borrowed the files of 'The Westminster Gazette' and 'The +Pall Mall Gazette' and took them to my room. I remember how much the +'Dailygraph' and 'The Whitby Gazette', of which I had made cuttings, +had helped us to understand the terrible events at Whitby when Count +Dracula landed, so I shall look through the evening papers since then, +and perhaps I shall get some new light. I am not sleepy, and the work +will help to keep me quiet. + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +30 September.--Mr. Harker arrived at nine o'clock. He got his wife's +wire just before starting. He is uncommonly clever, if one can judge +from his face, and full of energy. If this journal be true, and +judging by one's own wonderful experiences, it must be, he is also a +man of great nerve. That going down to the vault a second time was a +remarkable piece of daring. After reading his account of it I was +prepared to meet a good specimen of manhood, but hardly the quiet, +businesslike gentleman who came here today. + + +LATER.--After lunch Harker and his wife went back to their own room, +and as I passed a while ago I heard the click of the typewriter. They +are hard at it. Mrs. Harker says that they are knitting together in +chronological order every scrap of evidence they have. Harker has got +the letters between the consignee of the boxes at Whitby and the +carriers in London who took charge of them. He is now reading his +wife's transcript of my diary. I wonder what they make out of it. +Here it is . . . + +Strange that it never struck me that the very next house might be the +Count's hiding place! Goodness knows that we had enough clues from +the conduct of the patient Renfield! The bundle of letters relating +to the purchase of the house were with the transcript. Oh, if we had +only had them earlier we might have saved poor Lucy! Stop! That way +madness lies! Harker has gone back, and is again collecting material. +He says that by dinner time they will be able to show a whole +connected narrative. He thinks that in the meantime I should see +Renfield, as hitherto he has been a sort of index to the coming and +going of the Count. I hardly see this yet, but when I get at the +dates I suppose I shall. What a good thing that Mrs. Harker put my +cylinders into type! We never could have found the dates otherwise. + +I found Renfield sitting placidly in his room with his hands folded, +smiling benignly. At the moment he seemed as sane as any one I ever +saw. I sat down and talked with him on a lot of subjects, all of +which he treated naturally. He then, of his own accord, spoke of +going home, a subject he has never mentioned to my knowledge during +his sojourn here. In fact, he spoke quite confidently of getting his +discharge at once. I believe that, had I not had the chat with Harker +and read the letters and the dates of his outbursts, I should have +been prepared to sign for him after a brief time of observation. As +it is, I am darkly suspicious. All those out-breaks were in some way +linked with the proximity of the Count. What then does this absolute +content mean? Can it be that his instinct is satisfied as to the +vampire's ultimate triumph? Stay. He is himself zoophagous, and in +his wild ravings outside the chapel door of the deserted house he +always spoke of 'master'. This all seems confirmation of our idea. +However, after a while I came away. My friend is just a little too +sane at present to make it safe to probe him too deep with questions. +He might begin to think, and then . . . So I came away. I mistrust +these quiet moods of his, so I have given the attendant a hint to +look closely after him, and to have a strait waistcoat ready in case +of need. + + + + + +JOHNATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +29 September, in train to London.--When I received Mr. Billington's +courteous message that he would give me any information in his power I +thought it best to go down to Whitby and make, on the spot, such +inquiries as I wanted. It was now my object to trace that horrid +cargo of the Count's to its place in London. Later, we may be able to +deal with it. Billington junior, a nice lad, met me at the station, +and brought me to his father's house, where they had decided that I +must spend the night. They are hospitable, with true Yorkshire +hospitality, give a guest everything and leave him to do as he likes. +They all knew that I was busy, and that my stay was short, and Mr. +Billington had ready in his office all the papers concerning the +consignment of boxes. It gave me almost a turn to see again one of +the letters which I had seen on the Count's table before I knew of his +diabolical plans. Everything had been carefully thought out, and done +systematically and with precision. He seemed to have been prepared +for every obstacle which might be placed by accident in the way of his +intentions being carried out. To use an Americanism, he had 'taken no +chances', and the absolute accuracy with which his instructions were +fulfilled was simply the logical result of his care. I saw the +invoice, and took note of it. 'Fifty cases of common earth, to be used +for experimental purposes'. Also the copy of the letter to Carter +Paterson, and their reply. Of both these I got copies. This was all +the information Mr. Billington could give me, so I went down to the +port and saw the coastguards, the Customs Officers and the harbour +master, who kindly put me in communication with the men who had +actually received the boxes. Their tally was exact with the list, and +they had nothing to add to the simple description 'fifty cases of +common earth', except that the boxes were 'main and mortal heavy', and +that shifting them was dry work. One of them added that it was hard +lines that there wasn't any gentleman 'such like as like yourself, +squire', to show some sort of appreciation of their efforts in a +liquid form. Another put in a rider that the thirst then generated +was such that even the time which had elapsed had not completely +allayed it. Needless to add, I took care before leaving to lift, +forever and adequately, this source of reproach. + +30 September.--The station master was good enough to give me a line to +his old companion the station master at King's Cross, so that when I +arrived there in the morning I was able to ask him about the arrival +of the boxes. He, too put me at once in communication with the proper +officials, and I saw that their tally was correct with the original +invoice. The opportunities of acquiring an abnormal thirst had been +here limited. A noble use of them had, however, been made, and again +I was compelled to deal with the result in ex post facto manner. + +From thence I went to Carter Paterson's central office, where I met +with the utmost courtesy. They looked up the transaction in their day +book and letter book, and at once telephoned to their King's Cross +office for more details. By good fortune, the men who did the teaming +were waiting for work, and the official at once sent them over, +sending also by one of them the way-bill and all the papers connected +with the delivery of the boxes at Carfax. Here again I found the +tally agreeing exactly. The carriers' men were able to supplement the +paucity of the written words with a few more details. These were, I +shortly found, connected almost solely with the dusty nature of the +job, and the consequent thirst engendered in the operators. On my +affording an opportunity, through the medium of the currency of the +realm, of the allaying, at a later period, this beneficial evil, one +of the men remarked, + +"That 'ere 'ouse, guv'nor, is the rummiest I ever was in. Blyme! But +it ain't been touched sence a hundred years. There was dust that +thick in the place that you might have slep' on it without 'urtin' of +yer bones. An' the place was that neglected that yer might 'ave +smelled ole Jerusalem in it. But the old chapel, that took the cike, +that did! Me and my mate, we thort we wouldn't never git out quick +enough. Lor', I wouldn't take less nor a quid a moment to stay there +arter dark." + +Having been in the house, I could well believe him, but if he knew +what I know, he would, I think have raised his terms. + +Of one thing I am now satisfied. That all those boxes which arrived at +Whitby from Varna in the Demeter were safely deposited in the old +chapel at Carfax. There should be fifty of them there, unless any +have since been removed, as from Dr. Seward's diary I fear. + + +Later.--Mina and I have worked all day, and we have put all the papers +into order. + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +30 September.--I am so glad that I hardly know how to contain myself. +It is, I suppose, the reaction from the haunting fear which I have +had, that this terrible affair and the reopening of his old wound +might act detrimentally on Jonathan. I saw him leave for Whitby with +as brave a face as could, but I was sick with apprehension. The +effort has, however, done him good. He was never so resolute, never +so strong, never so full of volcanic energy, as at present. It is +just as that dear, good Professor Van Helsing said, he is true grit, +and he improves under strain that would kill a weaker nature. He came +back full of life and hope and determination. We have got everything +in order for tonight. I feel myself quite wild with excitement. I +suppose one ought to pity anything so hunted as the Count. That is +just it. This thing is not human, not even a beast. To read Dr. +Seward's account of poor Lucy's death, and what followed, is enough to +dry up the springs of pity in one's heart. + + +Later.--Lord Godalming and Mr. Morris arrived earlier than we +expected. Dr. Seward was out on business, and had taken Jonathan with +him, so I had to see them. It was to me a painful meeting, for it +brought back all poor dear Lucy's hopes of only a few months ago. Of +course they had heard Lucy speak of me, and it seemed that Dr. Van +Helsing, too, had been quite 'blowing my trumpet', as Mr. Morris +expressed it. Poor fellows, neither of them is aware that I know all +about the proposals they made to Lucy. They did not quite know what +to say or do, as they were ignorant of the amount of my knowledge. So +they had to keep on neutral subjects. However, I thought the matter +over, and came to the conclusion that the best thing I could do would +be to post them on affairs right up to date. I knew from Dr. Seward's +diary that they had been at Lucy's death, her real death, and that I +need not fear to betray any secret before the time. So I told them, +as well as I could, that I had read all the papers and diaries, and +that my husband and I, having typewritten them, had just finished +putting them in order. I gave them each a copy to read in the +library. When Lord Godalming got his and turned it over, it does make +a pretty good pile, he said, "Did you write all this, Mrs. Harker?" + +I nodded, and he went on. + +"I don't quite see the drift of it, but you people are all so good and +kind, and have been working so earnestly and so energetically, that +all I can do is to accept your ideas blindfold and try to help you. I +have had one lesson already in accepting facts that should make a man +humble to the last hour of his life. Besides, I know you loved my +Lucy . . ." + +Here he turned away and covered his face with his hands. I could hear +the tears in his voice. Mr. Morris, with instinctive delicacy, just +laid a hand for a moment on his shoulder, and then walked quietly out +of the room. I suppose there is something in a woman's nature that +makes a man free to break down before her and express his feelings on +the tender or emotional side without feeling it derogatory to his +manhood. For when Lord Godalming found himself alone with me he sat +down on the sofa and gave way utterly and openly. I sat down beside +him and took his hand. I hope he didn't think it forward of me, and +that if he ever thinks of it afterwards he never will have such a +thought. There I wrong him. I know he never will. He is too true a +gentleman. I said to him, for I could see that his heart was +breaking, "I loved dear Lucy, and I know what she was to you, and what +you were to her. She and I were like sisters, and now she is gone, +will you not let me be like a sister to you in your trouble? I know +what sorrows you have had, though I cannot measure the depth of them. +If sympathy and pity can help in your affliction, won't you let me be +of some little service, for Lucy's sake?" + +In an instant the poor dear fellow was overwhelmed with grief. It +seemed to me that all that he had of late been suffering in silence +found a vent at once. He grew quite hysterical, and raising his open +hands, beat his palms together in a perfect agony of grief. He stood +up and then sat down again, and the tears rained down his cheeks. I +felt an infinite pity for him, and opened my arms unthinkingly. With +a sob he laid his head on my shoulder and cried like a wearied child, +whilst he shook with emotion. + +We women have something of the mother in us that makes us rise above +smaller matters when the mother spirit is invoked. I felt this big +sorrowing man's head resting on me, as though it were that of a baby +that some day may lie on my bosom, and I stroked his hair as though he +were my own child. I never thought at the time how strange it all +was. + +After a little bit his sobs ceased, and he raised himself with an +apology, though he made no disguise of his emotion. He told me that +for days and nights past, weary days and sleepless nights, he had been +unable to speak with any one, as a man must speak in his time of +sorrow. There was no woman whose sympathy could be given to him, or +with whom, owing to the terrible circumstance with which his sorrow +was surrounded, he could speak freely. + +"I know now how I suffered," he said, as he dried his eyes, "but I do +not know even yet, and none other can ever know, how much your sweet +sympathy has been to me today. I shall know better in time, and +believe me that, though I am not ungrateful now, my gratitude will +grow with my understanding. You will let me be like a brother, will +you not, for all our lives, for dear Lucy's sake?" + +"For dear Lucy's sake," I said as we clasped hands. "Ay, and for your +own sake," he added, "for if a man's esteem and gratitude are ever +worth the winning, you have won mine today. If ever the future should +bring to you a time when you need a man's help, believe me, you will +not call in vain. God grant that no such time may ever come to you to +break the sunshine of your life, but if it should ever come, promise +me that you will let me know." + +He was so earnest, and his sorrow was so fresh, that I felt it would +comfort him, so I said, "I promise." + +As I came along the corridor I saw Mr. Morris looking out of a window. +He turned as he heard my footsteps. "How is Art?" he said. Then +noticing my red eyes, he went on, "Ah, I see you have been comforting +him. Poor old fellow! He needs it. No one but a woman can help a +man when he is in trouble of the heart, and he had no one to comfort +him." + +He bore his own trouble so bravely that my heart bled for him. I saw +the manuscript in his hand, and I knew that when he read it he would +realize how much I knew, so I said to him, "I wish I could comfort all +who suffer from the heart. Will you let me be your friend, and will +you come to me for comfort if you need it? You will know later why I +speak." + +He saw that I was in earnest, and stooping, took my hand, and raising +it to his lips, kissed it. It seemed but poor comfort to so brave and +unselfish a soul, and impulsively I bent over and kissed him. The +tears rose in his eyes, and there was a momentary choking in his +throat. He said quite calmly, "Little girl, you will never forget +that true hearted kindness, so long as ever you live!" Then he went +into the study to his friend. + +"Little girl!" The very words he had used to Lucy, and, oh, but he +proved himself a friend. + + + + +CHAPTER 18 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +30 September.--I got home at five o'clock, and found that Godalming +and Morris had not only arrived, but had already studied the +transcript of the various diaries and letters which Harker had not yet +returned from his visit to the carriers' men, of whom Dr. Hennessey +had written to me. Mrs. Harker gave us a cup of tea, and I can +honestly say that, for the first time since I have lived in it, this +old house seemed like home. When we had finished, Mrs. Harker said, + +"Dr. Seward, may I ask a favour? I want to see your patient, Mr. +Renfield. Do let me see him. What you have said of him in your diary +interests me so much!" + +She looked so appealing and so pretty that I could not refuse her, and +there was no possible reason why I should, so I took her with me. +When I went into the room, I told the man that a lady would like to see +him, to which he simply answered, "Why?" + +"She is going through the house, and wants to see every one in it," I +answered. + +"Oh, very well," he said, "let her come in, by all means, but just +wait a minute till I tidy up the place." + +His method of tidying was peculiar, he simply swallowed all the flies +and spiders in the boxes before I could stop him. It was quite +evident that he feared, or was jealous of, some interference. When he +had got through his disgusting task, he said cheerfully, "Let the lady +come in," and sat down on the edge of his bed with his head down, but +with his eyelids raised so that he could see her as she entered. For +a moment I thought that he might have some homicidal intent. I +remembered how quiet he had been just before he attacked me in my own +study, and I took care to stand where I could seize him at once if he +attempted to make a spring at her. + +She came into the room with an easy gracefulness which would at once +command the respect of any lunatic, for easiness is one of the +qualities mad people most respect. She walked over to him, smiling +pleasantly, and held out her hand. + +"Good evening, Mr. Renfield," said she. "You see, I know you, for Dr. +Seward has told me of you." He made no immediate reply, but eyed her +all over intently with a set frown on his face. This look gave way to +one of wonder, which merged in doubt, then to my intense astonishment +he said, "You're not the girl the doctor wanted to marry, are you? You +can't be, you know, for she's dead." + +Mrs. Harker smiled sweetly as she replied, "Oh no! I have a husband +of my own, to whom I was married before I ever saw Dr. Seward, or he +me. I am Mrs. Harker." + +"Then what are you doing here?" + +"My husband and I are staying on a visit with Dr. Seward." + +"Then don't stay." + +"But why not?" + +I thought that this style of conversation might not be pleasant to +Mrs. Harker, any more than it was to me, so I joined in, "How did you +know I wanted to marry anyone?" + +His reply was simply contemptuous, given in a pause in which he turned +his eyes from Mrs. Harker to me, instantly turning them back again, +"What an asinine question!" + +"I don't see that at all, Mr. Renfield," said Mrs. Harker, at once +championing me. + +He replied to her with as much courtesy and respect as he had shown +contempt to me, "You will, of course, understand, Mrs. Harker, that +when a man is so loved and honoured as our host is, everything +regarding him is of interest in our little community. Dr. Seward is +loved not only by his household and his friends, but even by his +patients, who, being some of them hardly in mental equilibrium, are +apt to distort causes and effects. Since I myself have been an inmate +of a lunatic asylum, I cannot but notice that the sophistic tendencies +of some of its inmates lean towards the errors of non causa and +ignoratio elenche." + +I positively opened my eyes at this new development. Here was my own +pet lunatic, the most pronounced of his type that I had ever met with, +talking elemental philosophy, and with the manner of a polished +gentleman. I wonder if it was Mrs. Harker's presence which had +touched some chord in his memory. If this new phase was spontaneous, +or in any way due to her unconscious influence, she must have some +rare gift or power. + +We continued to talk for some time, and seeing that he was seemingly +quite reasonable, she ventured, looking at me questioningly as she +began, to lead him to his favourite topic. I was again astonished, +for he addressed himself to the question with the impartiality of +the completest sanity. He even took himself as an example when he +mentioned certain things. + +"Why, I myself am an instance of a man who had a strange belief. +Indeed, it was no wonder that my friends were alarmed, and insisted on +my being put under control. I used to fancy that life was a positive +and perpetual entity, and that by consuming a multitude of live +things, no matter how low in the scale of creation, one might +indefinitely prolong life. At times I held the belief so strongly +that I actually tried to take human life. The doctor here will bear +me out that on one occasion I tried to kill him for the purpose of +strengthening my vital powers by the assimilation with my own body of +his life through the medium of his blood, relying of course, upon the +Scriptural phrase, 'For the blood is the life.' Though, indeed, the +vendor of a certain nostrum has vulgarized the truism to the very +point of contempt. Isn't that true, doctor?" + +I nodded assent, for I was so amazed that I hardly knew what to either +think or say, it was hard to imagine that I had seen him eat up his +spiders and flies not five minutes before. Looking at my watch, I saw +that I should go to the station to meet Van Helsing, so I told Mrs. +Harker that it was time to leave. + +She came at once, after saying pleasantly to Mr. Renfield, "Goodbye, +and I hope I may see you often, under auspices pleasanter to +yourself." + +To which, to my astonishment, he replied, "Goodbye, my dear. I pray +God I may never see your sweet face again. May He bless and keep +you!" + +When I went to the station to meet Van Helsing I left the boys behind +me. Poor Art seemed more cheerful than he has been since Lucy first +took ill, and Quincey is more like his own bright self than he has +been for many a long day. + +Van Helsing stepped from the carriage with the eager nimbleness of a +boy. He saw me at once, and rushed up to me, saying, "Ah, friend +John, how goes all? Well? So! I have been busy, for I come here to +stay if need be. All affairs are settled with me, and I have much to +tell. Madam Mina is with you? Yes. And her so fine husband? And +Arthur and my friend Quincey, they are with you, too? Good!" + +As I drove to the house I told him of what had passed, and of how my +own diary had come to be of some use through Mrs. Harker's suggestion, +at which the Professor interrupted me. + +"Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man's brain, a brain that a +man should have were he much gifted, and a woman's heart. The good +God fashioned her for a purpose, believe me, when He made that so good +combination. Friend John, up to now fortune has made that woman of +help to us, after tonight she must not have to do with this so +terrible affair. It is not good that she run a risk so great. We men +are determined, nay, are we not pledged, to destroy this monster? But +it is no part for a woman. Even if she be not harmed, her heart may +fail her in so much and so many horrors and hereafter she may suffer, +both in waking, from her nerves, and in sleep, from her dreams. And, +besides, she is young woman and not so long married, there may be +other things to think of some time, if not now. You tell me she has +wrote all, then she must consult with us, but tomorrow she say goodbye +to this work, and we go alone." + +I agreed heartily with him, and then I told him what we had found in +his absence, that the house which Dracula had bought was the very next +one to my own. He was amazed, and a great concern seemed to come on +him. + +"Oh that we had known it before!" he said, "for then we might have +reached him in time to save poor Lucy. However, 'the milk that is +spilt cries not out afterwards,' as you say. We shall not think of +that, but go on our way to the end." Then he fell into a silence that +lasted till we entered my own gateway. Before we went to prepare for +dinner he said to Mrs. Harker, "I am told, Madam Mina, by my friend +John that you and your husband have put up in exact order all things +that have been, up to this moment." + +"Not up to this moment, Professor," she said impulsively, "but up to +this morning." + +"But why not up to now? We have seen hitherto how good light all the +little things have made. We have told our secrets, and yet no one who +has told is the worse for it." + +Mrs. Harker began to blush, and taking a paper from her pockets, she +said, "Dr. Van Helsing, will you read this, and tell me if it must go +in. It is my record of today. I too have seen the need of putting +down at present everything, however trivial, but there is little in +this except what is personal. Must it go in?" + +The Professor read it over gravely, and handed it back, saying, "It +need not go in if you do not wish it, but I pray that it may. It can +but make your husband love you the more, and all us, your friends, +more honour you, as well as more esteem and love." She took it back +with another blush and a bright smile. + +And so now, up to this very hour, all the records we have are complete +and in order. The Professor took away one copy to study after dinner, +and before our meeting, which is fixed for nine o'clock. The rest of +us have already read everything, so when we meet in the study we shall +all be informed as to facts, and can arrange our plan of battle with +this terrible and mysterious enemy. + + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +30 September.--When we met in Dr. Seward's study two hours after +dinner, which had been at six o'clock, we unconsciously formed a sort +of board or committee. Professor Van Helsing took the head of the +table, to which Dr. Seward motioned him as he came into the room. He +made me sit next to him on his right, and asked me to act as +secretary. Jonathan sat next to me. Opposite us were Lord Godalming, +Dr. Seward, and Mr. Morris, Lord Godalming being next the Professor, +and Dr. Seward in the centre. + +The Professor said, "I may, I suppose, take it that we are all +acquainted with the facts that are in these papers." We all expressed +assent, and he went on, "Then it were, I think, good that I tell you +something of the kind of enemy with which we have to deal. I shall +then make known to you something of the history of this man, which has +been ascertained for me. So we then can discuss how we shall act, and +can take our measure according. + +"There are such beings as vampires, some of us have evidence that they +exist. Even had we not the proof of our own unhappy experience, the +teachings and the records of the past give proof enough for sane +peoples. I admit that at the first I was sceptic. Were it not that +through long years I have trained myself to keep an open mind, I could +not have believed until such time as that fact thunder on my ear. 'See! +See! I prove, I prove.' Alas! Had I known at first what now I know, +nay, had I even guess at him, one so precious life had been spared to +many of us who did love her. But that is gone, and we must so work, +that other poor souls perish not, whilst we can save. The nosferatu +do not die like the bee when he sting once. He is only stronger, and +being stronger, have yet more power to work evil. This vampire which +is amongst us is of himself so strong in person as twenty men, he is +of cunning more than mortal, for his cunning be the growth of ages, he +have still the aids of necromancy, which is, as his etymology imply, +the divination by the dead, and all the dead that he can come nigh to +are for him at command; he is brute, and more than brute; he is devil +in callous, and the heart of him is not; he can, within his range, +direct the elements, the storm, the fog, the thunder; he can command +all the meaner things, the rat, and the owl, and the bat, the moth, +and the fox, and the wolf, he can grow and become small; and he can at +times vanish and come unknown. How then are we to begin our strike to +destroy him? How shall we find his where, and having found it, how +can we destroy? My friends, this is much, it is a terrible task that +we undertake, and there may be consequence to make the brave shudder. +For if we fail in this our fight he must surely win, and then where +end we? Life is nothings, I heed him not. But to fail here, is not +mere life or death. It is that we become as him, that we henceforward +become foul things of the night like him, without heart or conscience, +preying on the bodies and the souls of those we love best. To us +forever are the gates of heaven shut, for who shall open them to us +again? We go on for all time abhorred by all, a blot on the face of +God's sunshine, an arrow in the side of Him who died for man. But we +are face to face with duty, and in such case must we shrink? For me, +I say no, but then I am old, and life, with his sunshine, his fair +places, his song of birds, his music and his love, lie far behind. You +others are young. Some have seen sorrow, but there are fair days yet +in store. What say you?" + +Whilst he was speaking, Jonathan had taken my hand. I feared, oh so +much, that the appalling nature of our danger was overcoming him when +I saw his hand stretch out, but it was life to me to feel its touch, +so strong, so self reliant, so resolute. A brave man's hand can speak +for itself, it does not even need a woman's love to hear its music. + +When the Professor had done speaking my husband looked in my eyes, and +I in his, there was no need for speaking between us. + +"I answer for Mina and myself," he said. + +"Count me in, Professor," said Mr. Quincey Morris, laconically as +usual. + +"I am with you," said Lord Godalming, "for Lucy's sake, if for no +other reason." + +Dr. Seward simply nodded. + +The Professor stood up and, after laying his golden crucifix on the +table, held out his hand on either side. I took his right hand, and +Lord Godalming his left, Jonathan held my right with his left and +stretched across to Mr. Morris. So as we all took hands our solemn +compact was made. I felt my heart icy cold, but it did not even occur +to me to draw back. We resumed our places, and Dr. Van Helsing went +on with a sort of cheerfulness which showed that the serious work had +begun. It was to be taken as gravely, and in as businesslike a way, +as any other transaction of life. + +"Well, you know what we have to contend against, but we too, are not +without strength. We have on our side power of combination, a power +denied to the vampire kind, we have sources of science, we are free to +act and think, and the hours of the day and the night are ours +equally. In fact, so far as our powers extend, they are unfettered, +and we are free to use them. We have self devotion in a cause and an +end to achieve which is not a selfish one. These things are much. + +"Now let us see how far the general powers arrayed against us are +restrict, and how the individual cannot. In fine, let us consider the +limitations of the vampire in general, and of this one in particular. + +"All we have to go upon are traditions and superstitions. These do +not at the first appear much, when the matter is one of life and +death, nay of more than either life or death. Yet must we be +satisfied, in the first place because we have to be, no other means is +at our control, and secondly, because, after all these things, +tradition and superstition, are everything. Does not the belief in +vampires rest for others, though not, alas! for us, on them? A year +ago which of us would have received such a possibility, in the midst +of our scientific, sceptical, matter-of-fact nineteenth century? We +even scouted a belief that we saw justified under our very eyes. Take +it, then, that the vampire, and the belief in his limitations and his +cure, rest for the moment on the same base. For, let me tell you, he +is known everywhere that men have been. In old Greece, in old Rome, +he flourish in Germany all over, in France, in India, even in the +Chermosese, and in China, so far from us in all ways, there even is +he, and the peoples for him at this day. He have follow the wake of +the berserker Icelander, the devil-begotten Hun, the Slav, the Saxon, +the Magyar. + +"So far, then, we have all we may act upon, and let me tell you that +very much of the beliefs are justified by what we have seen in our own +so unhappy experience. The vampire live on, and cannot die by mere +passing of the time, he can flourish when that he can fatten on the +blood of the living. Even more, we have seen amongst us that he can +even grow younger, that his vital faculties grow strenuous, and seem +as though they refresh themselves when his special pabulum is plenty. + +"But he cannot flourish without this diet, he eat not as others. Even +friend Jonathan, who lived with him for weeks, did never see him eat, +never! He throws no shadow, he make in the mirror no reflect, as +again Jonathan observe. He has the strength of many of his hand, +witness again Jonathan when he shut the door against the wolves, and +when he help him from the diligence too. He can transform himself to +wolf, as we gather from the ship arrival in Whitby, when he tear open +the dog, he can be as bat, as Madam Mina saw him on the window at +Whitby, and as friend John saw him fly from this so near house, and as +my friend Quincey saw him at the window of Miss Lucy. + +"He can come in mist which he create, that noble ship's captain proved +him of this, but, from what we know, the distance he can make this +mist is limited, and it can only be round himself. + +"He come on moonlight rays as elemental dust, as again Jonathan saw +those sisters in the castle of Dracula. He become so small, we +ourselves saw Miss Lucy, ere she was at peace, slip through a +hairbreadth space at the tomb door. He can, when once he find his +way, come out from anything or into anything, no matter how close it +be bound or even fused up with fire, solder you call it. He can see +in the dark, no small power this, in a world which is one half shut +from the light. Ah, but hear me through. + +"He can do all these things, yet he is not free. Nay, he is even more +prisoner than the slave of the galley, than the madman in his cell. +He cannot go where he lists, he who is not of nature has yet to obey +some of nature's laws, why we know not. He may not enter anywhere at +the first, unless there be some one of the household who bid him to +come, though afterwards he can come as he please. His power ceases, +as does that of all evil things, at the coming of the day. + +"Only at certain times can he have limited freedom. If he be not at +the place whither he is bound, he can only change himself at noon or +at exact sunrise or sunset. These things we are told, and in this +record of ours we have proof by inference. Thus, whereas he can do as +he will within his limit, when he have his earth-home, his +coffin-home, his hell-home, the place unhallowed, as we saw when he +went to the grave of the suicide at Whitby, still at other time he can +only change when the time come. It is said, too, that he can only +pass running water at the slack or the flood of the tide. Then there +are things which so afflict him that he has no power, as the garlic +that we know of, and as for things sacred, as this symbol, my +crucifix, that was amongst us even now when we resolve, to them he is +nothing, but in their presence he take his place far off and silent +with respect. There are others, too, which I shall tell you of, lest +in our seeking we may need them. + +"The branch of wild rose on his coffin keep him that he move not from +it, a sacred bullet fired into the coffin kill him so that he be true +dead, and as for the stake through him, we know already of its peace, +or the cut off head that giveth rest. We have seen it with our eyes. + +"Thus when we find the habitation of this man-that-was, we can confine +him to his coffin and destroy him, if we obey what we know. But he is +clever. I have asked my friend Arminius, of Buda-Pesth University, to +make his record, and from all the means that are, he tell me of what +he has been. He must, indeed, have been that Voivode Dracula who won +his name against the Turk, over the great river on the very frontier +of Turkeyland. If it be so, then was he no common man, for in that +time, and for centuries after, he was spoken of as the cleverest and +the most cunning, as well as the bravest of the sons of the 'land +beyond the forest.' That mighty brain and that iron resolution went +with him to his grave, and are even now arrayed against us. The +Draculas were, says Arminius, a great and noble race, though now and +again were scions who were held by their coevals to have had dealings +with the Evil One. They learned his secrets in the Scholomance, +amongst the mountains over Lake Hermanstadt, where the devil claims +the tenth scholar as his due. In the records are such words as +'stregoica' witch, 'ordog' and 'pokol' Satan and hell, and in one +manuscript this very Dracula is spoken of as 'wampyr,' which we all +understand too well. There have been from the loins of this very one +great men and good women, and their graves make sacred the earth where +alone this foulness can dwell. For it is not the least of its terrors +that this evil thing is rooted deep in all good, in soil barren of +holy memories it cannot rest." + +Whilst they were talking Mr. Morris was looking steadily at the +window, and he now got up quietly, and went out of the room. There +was a little pause, and then the Professor went on. + +"And now we must settle what we do. We have here much data, and we +must proceed to lay out our campaign. We know from the inquiry of +Jonathan that from the castle to Whitby came fifty boxes of earth, all +of which were delivered at Carfax, we also know that at least some of +these boxes have been removed. It seems to me, that our first step +should be to ascertain whether all the rest remain in the house beyond +that wall where we look today, or whether any more have been removed. +If the latter, we must trace . . ." + +Here we were interrupted in a very startling way. Outside the house +came the sound of a pistol shot, the glass of the window was shattered +with a bullet, which ricochetting from the top of the embrasure, +struck the far wall of the room. I am afraid I am at heart a coward, +for I shrieked out. The men all jumped to their feet, Lord Godalming +flew over to the window and threw up the sash. As he did so we heard +Mr. Morris' voice without, "Sorry! I fear I have alarmed you. I +shall come in and tell you about it." + +A minute later he came in and said, "It was an idiotic thing of me to +do, and I ask your pardon, Mrs. Harker, most sincerely, I fear I must +have frightened you terribly. But the fact is that whilst the +Professor was talking there came a big bat and sat on the window sill. +I have got such a horror of the damned brutes from recent events that +I cannot stand them, and I went out to have a shot, as I have been +doing of late of evenings, whenever I have seen one. You used to +laugh at me for it then, Art." + +"Did you hit it?" asked Dr. Van Helsing. + +"I don't know, I fancy not, for it flew away into the wood." Without +saying any more he took his seat, and the Professor began to resume +his statement. + +"We must trace each of these boxes, and when we are ready, we must +either capture or kill this monster in his lair, or we must, so to +speak, sterilize the earth, so that no more he can seek safety in it. +Thus in the end we may find him in his form of man between the hours +of noon and sunset, and so engage with him when he is at his most +weak. + +"And now for you, Madam Mina, this night is the end until all be well. +You are too precious to us to have such risk. When we part tonight, +you no more must question. We shall tell you all in good time. We +are men and are able to bear, but you must be our star and our hope, +and we shall act all the more free that you are not in the danger, +such as we are." + +All the men, even Jonathan, seemed relieved, but it did not seem to me +good that they should brave danger and, perhaps lessen their safety, +strength being the best safety, through care of me, but their minds +were made up, and though it was a bitter pill for me to swallow, I +could say nothing, save to accept their chivalrous care of me. + +Mr. Morris resumed the discussion, "As there is no time to lose, I +vote we have a look at his house right now. Time is everything with +him, and swift action on our part may save another victim." + +I own that my heart began to fail me when the time for action came so +close, but I did not say anything, for I had a greater fear that if I +appeared as a drag or a hindrance to their work, they might even leave +me out of their counsels altogether. They have now gone off to +Carfax, with means to get into the house. + +Manlike, they had told me to go to bed and sleep, as if a woman can +sleep when those she loves are in danger! I shall lie down, and +pretend to sleep, lest Jonathan have added anxiety about me when he +returns. + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +1 October, 4 A.M.--Just as we were about to leave the house, an urgent +message was brought to me from Renfield to know if I would see him at +once, as he had something of the utmost importance to say to me. I +told the messenger to say that I would attend to his wishes in the +morning, I was busy just at the moment. + +The attendant added, "He seems very importunate, sir. I have never +seen him so eager. I don't know but what, if you don't see him soon, +he will have one of his violent fits." I knew the man would not have +said this without some cause, so I said, "All right, I'll go now," and +I asked the others to wait a few minutes for me, as I had to go and +see my patient. + +"Take me with you, friend John," said the Professor. "His case in your +diary interest me much, and it had bearing, too, now and again on our +case. I should much like to see him, and especial when his mind is +disturbed." + +"May I come also?" asked Lord Godalming. + +"Me too?" said Quincey Morris. "May I come?" said Harker. I nodded, +and we all went down the passage together. + +We found him in a state of considerable excitement, but far more +rational in his speech and manner than I had ever seen him. There was +an unusual understanding of himself, which was unlike anything I had +ever met with in a lunatic, and he took it for granted that his +reasons would prevail with others entirely sane. We all five went +into the room, but none of the others at first said anything. His +request was that I would at once release him from the asylum and send +him home. This he backed up with arguments regarding his complete +recovery, and adduced his own existing sanity. + +"I appeal to your friends," he said, "they will, perhaps, not mind +sitting in judgement on my case. By the way, you have not introduced +me." + +I was so much astonished, that the oddness of introducing a madman in +an asylum did not strike me at the moment, and besides, there was a +certain dignity in the man's manner, so much of the habit of equality, +that I at once made the introduction, "Lord Godalming, Professor Van +Helsing, Mr. Quincey Morris, of Texas, Mr. Jonathan Harker, Mr. +Renfield." + +He shook hands with each of them, saying in turn, "Lord Godalming, I +had the honour of seconding your father at the Windham; I grieve to +know, by your holding the title, that he is no more. He was a man +loved and honoured by all who knew him, and in his youth was, I have +heard, the inventor of a burnt rum punch, much patronized on Derby +night. Mr. Morris, you should be proud of your great state. Its +reception into the Union was a precedent which may have far-reaching +effects hereafter, when the Pole and the Tropics may hold alliance to +the Stars and Stripes. The power of Treaty may yet prove a vast +engine of enlargement, when the Monroe doctrine takes its true place +as a political fable. What shall any man say of his pleasure at +meeting Van Helsing? Sir, I make no apology for dropping all forms of +conventional prefix. When an individual has revolutionized +therapeutics by his discovery of the continuous evolution of brain +matter, conventional forms are unfitting, since they would seem to +limit him to one of a class. You, gentlemen, who by nationality, by +heredity, or by the possession of natural gifts, are fitted to hold +your respective places in the moving world, I take to witness that I +am as sane as at least the majority of men who are in full possession +of their liberties. And I am sure that you, Dr. Seward, humanitarian +and medico-jurist as well as scientist, will deem it a moral duty to +deal with me as one to be considered as under exceptional +circumstances." He made this last appeal with a courtly air of +conviction which was not without its own charm. + +I think we were all staggered. For my own part, I was under the +conviction, despite my knowledge of the man's character and history, +that his reason had been restored, and I felt under a strong impulse +to tell him that I was satisfied as to his sanity, and would see about +the necessary formalities for his release in the morning. I thought +it better to wait, however, before making so grave a statement, for of +old I knew the sudden changes to which this particular patient was +liable. So I contented myself with making a general statement that he +appeared to be improving very rapidly, that I would have a longer chat +with him in the morning, and would then see what I could do in the +direction of meeting his wishes. + +This did not at all satisfy him, for he said quickly, "But I fear, Dr. +Seward, that you hardly apprehend my wish. I desire to go at once, +here, now, this very hour, this very moment, if I may. Time presses, +and in our implied agreement with the old scytheman it is of the +essence of the contract. I am sure it is only necessary to put before +so admirable a practitioner as Dr. Seward so simple, yet so momentous +a wish, to ensure its fulfilment." + +He looked at me keenly, and seeing the negative in my face, turned to +the others, and scrutinized them closely. Not meeting any sufficient +response, he went on, "Is it possible that I have erred in my +supposition?" + +"You have," I said frankly, but at the same time, as I felt, brutally. + +There was a considerable pause, and then he said slowly, "Then I +suppose I must only shift my ground of request. Let me ask for this +concession, boon, privilege, what you will. I am content to implore +in such a case, not on personal grounds, but for the sake of others. I +am not at liberty to give you the whole of my reasons, but you may, I +assure you, take it from me that they are good ones, sound and +unselfish, and spring from the highest sense of duty. + +"Could you look, sir, into my heart, you would approve to the full the +sentiments which animate me. Nay, more, you would count me amongst +the best and truest of your friends." + +Again he looked at us all keenly. I had a growing conviction that +this sudden change of his entire intellectual method was but yet +another phase of his madness, and so determined to let him go on a +little longer, knowing from experience that he would, like all +lunatics, give himself away in the end. Van Helsing was gazing at him +with a look of utmost intensity, his bushy eyebrows almost meeting +with the fixed concentration of his look. He said to Renfield in a +tone which did not surprise me at the time, but only when I thought of +it afterwards, for it was as of one addressing an equal, "Can you not +tell frankly your real reason for wishing to be free tonight? I will +undertake that if you will satisfy even me, a stranger, without +prejudice, and with the habit of keeping an open mind, Dr. Seward will +give you, at his own risk and on his own responsibility, the privilege +you seek." + +He shook his head sadly, and with a look of poignant regret on his +face. The Professor went on, "Come, sir, bethink yourself. You claim +the privilege of reason in the highest degree, since you seek to +impress us with your complete reasonableness. You do this, whose +sanity we have reason to doubt, since you are not yet released from +medical treatment for this very defect. If you will not help us in +our effort to choose the wisest course, how can we perform the duty +which you yourself put upon us? Be wise, and help us, and if we can +we shall aid you to achieve your wish." + +He still shook his head as he said, "Dr. Van Helsing, I have nothing to +say. Your argument is complete, and if I were free to speak I should +not hesitate a moment, but I am not my own master in the matter. I +can only ask you to trust me. If I am refused, the responsibility +does not rest with me." + +I thought it was now time to end the scene, which was becoming too +comically grave, so I went towards the door, simply saying, "Come, my +friends, we have work to do. Goodnight." + +As, however, I got near the door, a new change came over the patient. +He moved towards me so quickly that for the moment I feared that he +was about to make another homicidal attack. My fears, however, were +groundless, for he held up his two hands imploringly, and made his +petition in a moving manner. As he saw that the very excess of his +emotion was militating against him, by restoring us more to our old +relations, he became still more demonstrative. I glanced at Van +Helsing, and saw my conviction reflected in his eyes, so I became a +little more fixed in my manner, if not more stern, and motioned to him +that his efforts were unavailing. I had previously seen something of +the same constantly growing excitement in him when he had to make some +request of which at the time he had thought much, such for instance, +as when he wanted a cat, and I was prepared to see the collapse into +the same sullen acquiescence on this occasion. + +My expectation was not realized, for when he found that his appeal +would not be successful, he got into quite a frantic condition. He +threw himself on his knees, and held up his hands, wringing them in +plaintive supplication, and poured forth a torrent of entreaty, with +the tears rolling down his cheeks, and his whole face and form +expressive of the deepest emotion. + +"Let me entreat you, Dr. Seward, oh, let me implore you, to let me out +of this house at once. Send me away how you will and where you will, +send keepers with me with whips and chains, let them take me in a +strait waistcoat, manacled and leg-ironed, even to gaol, but let me go +out of this. You don't know what you do by keeping me here. I am +speaking from the depths of my heart, of my very soul. You don't know +whom you wrong, or how, and I may not tell. Woe is me! I may not +tell. By all you hold sacred, by all you hold dear, by your love that +is lost, by your hope that lives, for the sake of the Almighty, take +me out of this and save my soul from guilt! Can't you hear me, man? +Can't you understand? Will you never learn? Don't you know that I am +sane and earnest now, that I am no lunatic in a mad fit, but a sane +man fighting for his soul? Oh, hear me! Hear me! Let me go, let me +go, let me go!" + +I thought that the longer this went on the wilder he would get, and so +would bring on a fit, so I took him by the hand and raised him up. + +"Come," I said sternly, "no more of this, we have had quite enough +already. Get to your bed and try to behave more discreetly." + +He suddenly stopped and looked at me intently for several moments. +Then, without a word, he rose and moving over, sat down on the side of +the bed. The collapse had come, as on former occasions, just as I had +expected. + +When I was leaving the room, last of our party, he said to me in a +quiet, well-bred voice, "You will, I trust, Dr. Seward, do me the +justice to bear in mind, later on, that I did what I could to convince +you tonight." + + + + +CHAPTER 19 + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +1 October, 5 A.M.--I went with the party to the search with an easy +mind, for I think I never saw Mina so absolutely strong and well. I +am so glad that she consented to hold back and let us men do the work. +Somehow, it was a dread to me that she was in this fearful business at +all, but now that her work is done, and that it is due to her energy +and brains and foresight that the whole story is put together in such +a way that every point tells, she may well feel that her part is +finished, and that she can henceforth leave the rest to us. We were, +I think, all a little upset by the scene with Mr. Renfield. When we +came away from his room we were silent till we got back to the study. + +Then Mr. Morris said to Dr. Seward, "Say, Jack, if that man wasn't +attempting a bluff, he is about the sanest lunatic I ever saw. I'm +not sure, but I believe that he had some serious purpose, and if he +had, it was pretty rough on him not to get a chance." + +Lord Godalming and I were silent, but Dr. Van Helsing added, "Friend +John, you know more lunatics than I do, and I'm glad of it, for I fear +that if it had been to me to decide I would before that last +hysterical outburst have given him free. But we live and learn, and +in our present task we must take no chance, as my friend Quincey would +say. All is best as they are." + +Dr. Seward seemed to answer them both in a dreamy kind of way, "I +don't know but that I agree with you. If that man had been an +ordinary lunatic I would have taken my chance of trusting him, but he +seems so mixed up with the Count in an indexy kind of way that I am +afraid of doing anything wrong by helping his fads. I can't forget +how he prayed with almost equal fervor for a cat, and then tried to +tear my throat out with his teeth. Besides, he called the Count 'lord +and master', and he may want to get out to help him in some diabolical +way. That horrid thing has the wolves and the rats and his own kind +to help him, so I suppose he isn't above trying to use a respectable +lunatic. He certainly did seem earnest, though. I only hope we have +done what is best. These things, in conjunction with the wild work we +have in hand, help to unnerve a man." + +The Professor stepped over, and laying his hand on his shoulder, said +in his grave, kindly way, "Friend John, have no fear. We are trying +to do our duty in a very sad and terrible case, we can only do as we +deem best. What else have we to hope for, except the pity of the good +God?" + +Lord Godalming had slipped away for a few minutes, but now he +returned. He held up a little silver whistle as he remarked, "That +old place may be full of rats, and if so, I've got an antidote on +call." + +Having passed the wall, we took our way to the house, taking care to +keep in the shadows of the trees on the lawn when the moonlight shone +out. When we got to the porch the Professor opened his bag and took +out a lot of things, which he laid on the step, sorting them into four +little groups, evidently one for each. Then he spoke. + +"My friends, we are going into a terrible danger, and we need arms of +many kinds. Our enemy is not merely spiritual. Remember that he has +the strength of twenty men, and that, though our necks or our +windpipes are of the common kind, and therefore breakable or +crushable, his are not amenable to mere strength. A stronger man, or +a body of men more strong in all than him, can at certain times hold +him, but they cannot hurt him as we can be hurt by him. We must, +therefore, guard ourselves from his touch. Keep this near your +heart." As he spoke he lifted a little silver crucifix and held it +out to me, I being nearest to him, "put these flowers round your +neck," here he handed to me a wreath of withered garlic blossoms, "for +other enemies more mundane, this revolver and this knife, and for aid +in all, these so small electric lamps, which you can fasten to your +breast, and for all, and above all at the last, this, which we must +not desecrate needless." + +This was a portion of Sacred Wafer, which he put in an envelope and +handed to me. Each of the others was similarly equipped. + +"Now," he said, "friend John, where are the skeleton keys? If so that +we can open the door, we need not break house by the window, as before +at Miss Lucy's." + +Dr. Seward tried one or two skeleton keys, his mechanical dexterity as +a surgeon standing him in good stead. Presently he got one to suit, +after a little play back and forward the bolt yielded, and with a +rusty clang, shot back. We pressed on the door, the rusty hinges +creaked, and it slowly opened. It was startlingly like the image +conveyed to me in Dr. Seward's diary of the opening of Miss Westenra's +tomb, I fancy that the same idea seemed to strike the others, for with +one accord they shrank back. The Professor was the first to move +forward, and stepped into the open door. + +"In manus tuas, Domine!" he said, crossing himself as he passed over +the threshold. We closed the door behind us, lest when we should have +lit our lamps we should possibly attract attention from the road. The +Professor carefully tried the lock, lest we might not be able to open +it from within should we be in a hurry making our exit. Then we all +lit our lamps and proceeded on our search. + +The light from the tiny lamps fell in all sorts of odd forms, as the +rays crossed each other, or the opacity of our bodies threw great +shadows. I could not for my life get away from the feeling that there +was someone else amongst us. I suppose it was the recollection, so +powerfully brought home to me by the grim surroundings, of that +terrible experience in Transylvania. I think the feeling was common +to us all, for I noticed that the others kept looking over their +shoulders at every sound and every new shadow, just as I felt myself +doing. + +The whole place was thick with dust. The floor was seemingly inches +deep, except where there were recent footsteps, in which on holding +down my lamp I could see marks of hobnails where the dust was cracked. +The walls were fluffy and heavy with dust, and in the corners were +masses of spider's webs, whereon the dust had gathered till they +looked like old tattered rags as the weight had torn them partly down. +On a table in the hall was a great bunch of keys, with a time-yellowed +label on each. They had been used several times, for on the table +were several similar rents in the blanket of dust, similar to that +exposed when the Professor lifted them. + +He turned to me and said, "You know this place, Jonathan. You have +copied maps of it, and you know it at least more than we do. Which is +the way to the chapel?" + +I had an idea of its direction, though on my former visit I had not +been able to get admission to it, so I led the way, and after a few +wrong turnings found myself opposite a low, arched oaken door, ribbed +with iron bands. + +"This is the spot," said the Professor as he turned his lamp on a +small map of the house, copied from the file of my original +correspondence regarding the purchase. With a little trouble we found +the key on the bunch and opened the door. We were prepared for some +unpleasantness, for as we were opening the door a faint, malodorous +air seemed to exhale through the gaps, but none of us ever expected +such an odour as we encountered. None of the others had met the Count +at all at close quarters, and when I had seen him he was either in the +fasting stage of his existence in his rooms or, when he was bloated +with fresh blood, in a ruined building open to the air, but here the +place was small and close, and the long disuse had made the air +stagnant and foul. There was an earthy smell, as of some dry miasma, +which came through the fouler air. But as to the odour itself, how +shall I describe it? It was not alone that it was composed of all the +ills of mortality and with the pungent, acrid smell of blood, but it +seemed as though corruption had become itself corrupt. Faugh! It +sickens me to think of it. Every breath exhaled by that monster +seemed to have clung to the place and intensified its loathsomeness. + +Under ordinary circumstances such a stench would have brought our +enterprise to an end, but this was no ordinary case, and the high and +terrible purpose in which we were involved gave us a strength which +rose above merely physical considerations. After the involuntary +shrinking consequent on the first nauseous whiff, we one and all set +about our work as though that loathsome place were a garden of roses. + +We made an accurate examination of the place, the Professor saying as +we began, "The first thing is to see how many of the boxes are left, +we must then examine every hole and corner and cranny and see if we +cannot get some clue as to what has become of the rest." + +A glance was sufficient to show how many remained, for the great earth +chests were bulky, and there was no mistaking them. + +There were only twenty-nine left out of the fifty! Once I got a +fright, for, seeing Lord Godalming suddenly turn and look out of the +vaulted door into the dark passage beyond, I looked too, and for an +instant my heart stood still. Somewhere, looking out from the shadow, +I seemed to see the high lights of the Count's evil face, the ridge of +the nose, the red eyes, the red lips, the awful pallor. It was only +for a moment, for, as Lord Godalming said, "I thought I saw a face, +but it was only the shadows," and resumed his inquiry, I turned my +lamp in the direction, and stepped into the passage. There was no +sign of anyone, and as there were no corners, no doors, no aperture of +any kind, but only the solid walls of the passage, there could be no +hiding place even for him. I took it that fear had helped +imagination, and said nothing. + +A few minutes later I saw Morris step suddenly back from a corner, +which he was examining. We all followed his movements with our eyes, +for undoubtedly some nervousness was growing on us, and we saw a whole +mass of phosphorescence, which twinkled like stars. We all +instinctively drew back. The whole place was becoming alive with +rats. + +For a moment or two we stood appalled, all save Lord Godalming, who +was seemingly prepared for such an emergency. Rushing over to the +great iron-bound oaken door, which Dr. Seward had described from the +outside, and which I had seen myself, he turned the key in the lock, +drew the huge bolts, and swung the door open. Then, taking his little +silver whistle from his pocket, he blew a low, shrill call. It was +answered from behind Dr. Seward's house by the yelping of dogs, and +after about a minute three terriers came dashing round the corner of +the house. Unconsciously we had all moved towards the door, and as we +moved I noticed that the dust had been much disturbed. The boxes +which had been taken out had been brought this way. But even in the +minute that had elapsed the number of the rats had vastly increased. +They seemed to swarm over the place all at once, till the lamplight, +shining on their moving dark bodies and glittering, baleful eyes, made +the place look like a bank of earth set with fireflies. The dogs +dashed on, but at the threshold suddenly stopped and snarled, and +then, simultaneously lifting their noses, began to howl in most +lugubrious fashion. The rats were multiplying in thousands, and we +moved out. + +Lord Godalming lifted one of the dogs, and carrying him in, placed him +on the floor. The instant his feet touched the ground he seemed to +recover his courage, and rushed at his natural enemies. They fled +before him so fast that before he had shaken the life out of a score, +the other dogs, who had by now been lifted in the same manner, had but +small prey ere the whole mass had vanished. + +With their going it seemed as if some evil presence had departed, for +the dogs frisked about and barked merrily as they made sudden darts at +their prostrate foes, and turned them over and over and tossed them in +the air with vicious shakes. We all seemed to find our spirits rise. +Whether it was the purifying of the deadly atmosphere by the opening +of the chapel door, or the relief which we experienced by finding +ourselves in the open I know not, but most certainly the shadow of +dread seemed to slip from us like a robe, and the occasion of our +coming lost something of its grim significance, though we did not +slacken a whit in our resolution. We closed the outer door and barred +and locked it, and bringing the dogs with us, began our search of the +house. We found nothing throughout except dust in extraordinary +proportions, and all untouched save for my own footsteps when I had +made my first visit. Never once did the dogs exhibit any symptom of +uneasiness, and even when we returned to the chapel they frisked about +as though they had been rabbit hunting in a summer wood. + +The morning was quickening in the east when we emerged from the front. +Dr. Van Helsing had taken the key of the hall door from the bunch, and +locked the door in orthodox fashion, putting the key into his pocket +when he had done. + +"So far," he said, "our night has been eminently successful. No harm +has come to us such as I feared might be and yet we have ascertained +how many boxes are missing. More than all do I rejoice that this, our +first, and perhaps our most difficult and dangerous, step has been +accomplished without the bringing thereinto our most sweet Madam Mina +or troubling her waking or sleeping thoughts with sights and sounds +and smells of horror which she might never forget. One lesson, too, +we have learned, if it be allowable to argue a particulari, that the +brute beasts which are to the Count's command are yet themselves not +amenable to his spiritual power, for look, these rats that would come +to his call, just as from his castle top he summon the wolves to your +going and to that poor mother's cry, though they come to him, they run +pell-mell from the so little dogs of my friend Arthur. We have other +matters before us, other dangers, other fears, and that monster . . . +He has not used his power over the brute world for the only or the +last time tonight. So be it that he has gone elsewhere. Good! It +has given us opportunity to cry 'check' in some ways in this chess +game, which we play for the stake of human souls. And now let us go +home. The dawn is close at hand, and we have reason to be content +with our first night's work. It may be ordained that we have many +nights and days to follow, if full of peril, but we must go on, and +from no danger shall we shrink." + +The house was silent when we got back, save for some poor creature who +was screaming away in one of the distant wards, and a low, moaning +sound from Renfield's room. The poor wretch was doubtless torturing +himself, after the manner of the insane, with needless thoughts of +pain. + +I came tiptoe into our own room, and found Mina asleep, breathing so +softly that I had to put my ear down to hear it. She looks paler than +usual. I hope the meeting tonight has not upset her. I am truly +thankful that she is to be left out of our future work, and even of +our deliberations. It is too great a strain for a woman to bear. I +did not think so at first, but I know better now. Therefore I am glad +that it is settled. There may be things which would frighten her to +hear, and yet to conceal them from her might be worse than to tell her +if once she suspected that there was any concealment. Henceforth our +work is to be a sealed book to her, till at least such time as we can +tell her that all is finished, and the earth free from a monster of +the nether world. I daresay it will be difficult to begin to keep +silence after such confidence as ours, but I must be resolute, and +tomorrow I shall keep dark over tonight's doings, and shall refuse to +speak of anything that has happened. I rest on the sofa, so as not to +disturb her. + + +1 October, later.--I suppose it was natural that we should have all +overslept ourselves, for the day was a busy one, and the night had no +rest at all. Even Mina must have felt its exhaustion, for though I +slept till the sun was high, I was awake before her, and had to call +two or three times before she awoke. Indeed, she was so sound asleep +that for a few seconds she did not recognize me, but looked at me with +a sort of blank terror, as one looks who has been waked out of a bad +dream. She complained a little of being tired, and I let her rest +till later in the day. We now know of twenty-one boxes having been +removed, and if it be that several were taken in any of these removals +we may be able to trace them all. Such will, of course, immensely +simplify our labor, and the sooner the matter is attended to the +better. I shall look up Thomas Snelling today. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +1 October.--It was towards noon when I was awakened by the Professor +walking into my room. He was more jolly and cheerful than usual, and +it is quite evident that last night's work has helped to take some of +the brooding weight off his mind. + +After going over the adventure of the night he suddenly said, "Your +patient interests me much. May it be that with you I visit him this +morning? Or if that you are too occupy, I can go alone if it may be. +It is a new experience to me to find a lunatic who talk philosophy, +and reason so sound." + +I had some work to do which pressed, so I told him that if he would go +alone I would be glad, as then I should not have to keep him waiting, +so I called an attendant and gave him the necessary instructions. +Before the Professor left the room I cautioned him against getting any +false impression from my patient. + +"But," he answered, "I want him to talk of himself and of his delusion +as to consuming live things. He said to Madam Mina, as I see in your +diary of yesterday, that he had once had such a belief. Why do you +smile, friend John?" + +"Excuse me," I said, "but the answer is here." I laid my hand on the +typewritten matter. "When our sane and learned lunatic made that very +statement of how he used to consume life, his mouth was actually +nauseous with the flies and spiders which he had eaten just before +Mrs. Harker entered the room." + +Van Helsing smiled in turn. "Good!" he said. "Your memory is true, +friend John. I should have remembered. And yet it is this very +obliquity of thought and memory which makes mental disease such a +fascinating study. Perhaps I may gain more knowledge out of the folly +of this madman than I shall from the teaching of the most wise. Who +knows?" + +I went on with my work, and before long was through that in hand. It +seemed that the time had been very short indeed, but there was Van +Helsing back in the study. + +"Do I interrupt?" he asked politely as he stood at the door. + +"Not at all," I answered. "Come in. My work is finished, and I am +free. I can go with you now, if you like." + +"It is needless, I have seen him!" + +"Well?" + +"I fear that he does not appraise me at much. Our interview was +short. When I entered his room he was sitting on a stool in the +centre, with his elbows on his knees, and his face was the picture of +sullen discontent. I spoke to him as cheerfully as I could, and with +such a measure of respect as I could assume. He made no reply +whatever. 'Don't you know me?' I asked. His answer was not +reassuring: 'I know you well enough; you are the old fool Van +Helsing. I wish you would take yourself and your idiotic brain +theories somewhere else. Damn all thick-headed Dutchmen!' Not a word +more would he say, but sat in his implacable sullenness as indifferent +to me as though I had not been in the room at all. Thus departed for +this time my chance of much learning from this so clever lunatic, so I +shall go, if I may, and cheer myself with a few happy words with that +sweet soul Madam Mina. Friend John, it does rejoice me unspeakable +that she is no more to be pained, no more to be worried with our +terrible things. Though we shall much miss her help, it is better +so." + +"I agree with you with all my heart," I answered earnestly, for I did +not want him to weaken in this matter. "Mrs. Harker is better out of +it. Things are quite bad enough for us, all men of the world, and who +have been in many tight places in our time, but it is no place for a +woman, and if she had remained in touch with the affair, it would in +time infallibly have wrecked her." + +So Van Helsing has gone to confer with Mrs. Harker and Harker, Quincey +and Art are all out following up the clues as to the earth boxes. I +shall finish my round of work and we shall meet tonight. + + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +1 October.--It is strange to me to be kept in the dark as I am today, +after Jonathan's full confidence for so many years, to see him +manifestly avoid certain matters, and those the most vital of all. +This morning I slept late after the fatigues of yesterday, and though +Jonathan was late too, he was the earlier. He spoke to me before he +went out, never more sweetly or tenderly, but he never mentioned a +word of what had happened in the visit to the Count's house. And yet +he must have known how terribly anxious I was. Poor dear fellow! I +suppose it must have distressed him even more than it did me. They +all agreed that it was best that I should not be drawn further into +this awful work, and I acquiesced. But to think that he keeps +anything from me! And now I am crying like a silly fool, when I know +it comes from my husband's great love and from the good, good wishes +of those other strong men. + +That has done me good. Well, some day Jonathan will tell me all. And +lest it should ever be that he should think for a moment that I kept +anything from him, I still keep my journal as usual. Then if he has +feared of my trust I shall show it to him, with every thought of my +heart put down for his dear eyes to read. I feel strangely sad and +low-spirited today. I suppose it is the reaction from the terrible +excitement. + +Last night I went to bed when the men had gone, simply because they +told me to. I didn't feel sleepy, and I did feel full of devouring +anxiety. I kept thinking over everything that has been ever since +Jonathan came to see me in London, and it all seems like a horrible +tragedy, with fate pressing on relentlessly to some destined end. +Everything that one does seems, no matter how right it may be, to bring +on the very thing which is most to be deplored. If I hadn't gone to +Whitby, perhaps poor dear Lucy would be with us now. She hadn't taken +to visiting the churchyard till I came, and if she hadn't come there +in the day time with me she wouldn't have walked in her sleep. And if +she hadn't gone there at night and asleep, that monster couldn't have +destroyed her as he did. Oh, why did I ever go to Whitby? There now, +crying again! I wonder what has come over me today. I must hide it +from Jonathan, for if he knew that I had been crying twice in one +morning . . . I, who never cried on my own account, and whom he has +never caused to shed a tear, the dear fellow would fret his heart out. +I shall put a bold face on, and if I do feel weepy, he shall never see +it. I suppose it is just one of the lessons that we poor women have +to learn . . . + +I can't quite remember how I fell asleep last night. I remember +hearing the sudden barking of the dogs and a lot of queer sounds, like +praying on a very tumultuous scale, from Mr. Renfield's room, which is +somewhere under this. And then there was silence over everything, +silence so profound that it startled me, and I got up and looked out +of the window. All was dark and silent, the black shadows thrown by +the moonlight seeming full of a silent mystery of their own. Not a +thing seemed to be stirring, but all to be grim and fixed as death or +fate, so that a thin streak of white mist, that crept with almost +imperceptible slowness across the grass towards the house, seemed to +have a sentience and a vitality of its own. I think that the +digression of my thoughts must have done me good, for when I got back +to bed I found a lethargy creeping over me. I lay a while, but could +not quite sleep, so I got out and looked out of the window again. The +mist was spreading, and was now close up to the house, so that I could +see it lying thick against the wall, as though it were stealing up to +the windows. The poor man was more loud than ever, and though I could +not distinguish a word he said, I could in some way recognize in his +tones some passionate entreaty on his part. Then there was the sound +of a struggle, and I knew that the attendants were dealing with him. +I was so frightened that I crept into bed, and pulled the clothes over +my head, putting my fingers in my ears. I was not then a bit sleepy, +at least so I thought, but I must have fallen asleep, for except +dreams, I do not remember anything until the morning, when Jonathan +woke me. I think that it took me an effort and a little time to +realize where I was, and that it was Jonathan who was bending over me. +My dream was very peculiar, and was almost typical of the way that +waking thoughts become merged in, or continued in, dreams. + +I thought that I was asleep, and waiting for Jonathan to come back. I +was very anxious about him, and I was powerless to act, my feet, and +my hands, and my brain were weighted, so that nothing could proceed at +the usual pace. And so I slept uneasily and thought. Then it began +to dawn upon me that the air was heavy, and dank, and cold. I put +back the clothes from my face, and found, to my surprise, that all was +dim around. The gaslight which I had left lit for Jonathan, but +turned down, came only like a tiny red spark through the fog, which +had evidently grown thicker and poured into the room. Then it +occurred to me that I had shut the window before I had come to bed. I +would have got out to make certain on the point, but some leaden +lethargy seemed to chain my limbs and even my will. I lay still and +endured, that was all. I closed my eyes, but could still see through +my eyelids. (It is wonderful what tricks our dreams play us, and how +conveniently we can imagine.) The mist grew thicker and thicker and I +could see now how it came in, for I could see it like smoke, or with +the white energy of boiling water, pouring in, not through the window, +but through the joinings of the door. It got thicker and thicker, +till it seemed as if it became concentrated into a sort of pillar of +cloud in the room, through the top of which I could see the light of +the gas shining like a red eye. Things began to whirl through my +brain just as the cloudy column was now whirling in the room, and +through it all came the scriptural words "a pillar of cloud by day and +of fire by night." Was it indeed such spiritual guidance that was +coming to me in my sleep? But the pillar was composed of both the day +and the night guiding, for the fire was in the red eye, which at the +thought got a new fascination for me, till, as I looked, the fire +divided, and seemed to shine on me through the fog like two red eyes, +such as Lucy told me of in her momentary mental wandering when, on the +cliff, the dying sunlight struck the windows of St. Mary's Church. +Suddenly the horror burst upon me that it was thus that Jonathan had +seen those awful women growing into reality through the whirling mist +in the moonlight, and in my dream I must have fainted, for all became +black darkness. The last conscious effort which imagination made was +to show me a livid white face bending over me out of the mist. + +I must be careful of such dreams, for they would unseat one's reason if +there were too much of them. I would get Dr. Van Helsing or Dr. +Seward to prescribe something for me which would make me sleep, only +that I fear to alarm them. Such a dream at the present time would +become woven into their fears for me. Tonight I shall strive hard to +sleep naturally. If I do not, I shall tomorrow night get them to give +me a dose of chloral, that cannot hurt me for once, and it will give +me a good night's sleep. Last night tired me more than if I had not +slept at all. + + +2 October 10 P.M.--Last night I slept, but did not dream. I must have +slept soundly, for I was not waked by Jonathan coming to bed, but the +sleep has not refreshed me, for today I feel terribly weak and +spiritless. I spent all yesterday trying to read, or lying down +dozing. In the afternoon, Mr. Renfield asked if he might see me. Poor +man, he was very gentle, and when I came away he kissed my hand and +bade God bless me. Some way it affected me much. I am crying when I +think of him. This is a new weakness, of which I must be careful. +Jonathan would be miserable if he knew I had been crying. He and the +others were out till dinner time, and they all came in tired. I did +what I could to brighten them up, and I suppose that the effort did me +good, for I forgot how tired I was. After dinner they sent me to bed, +and all went off to smoke together, as they said, but I knew that they +wanted to tell each other of what had occurred to each during the day. +I could see from Jonathan's manner that he had something important to +communicate. I was not so sleepy as I should have been, so before +they went I asked Dr. Seward to give me a little opiate of some kind, +as I had not slept well the night before. He very kindly made me up a +sleeping draught, which he gave to me, telling me that it would do me +no harm, as it was very mild . . . I have taken it, and am waiting for +sleep, which still keeps aloof. I hope I have not done wrong, for as +sleep begins to flirt with me, a new fear comes: that I may have been +foolish in thus depriving myself of the power of waking. I might want +it. Here comes sleep. Goodnight. + + + + +CHAPTER 20 + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +1 October, evening.--I found Thomas Snelling in his house at Bethnal +Green, but unhappily he was not in a condition to remember anything. +The very prospect of beer which my expected coming had opened to him +had proved too much, and he had begun too early on his expected +debauch. I learned, however, from his wife, who seemed a decent, poor +soul, that he was only the assistant of Smollet, who of the two mates +was the responsible person. So off I drove to Walworth, and found Mr. +Joseph Smollet at home and in his shirtsleeves, taking a late tea out +of a saucer. He is a decent, intelligent fellow, distinctly a good, +reliable type of workman, and with a headpiece of his own. He +remembered all about the incident of the boxes, and from a wonderful +dog-eared notebook, which he produced from some mysterious receptacle +about the seat of his trousers, and which had hieroglyphical entries +in thick, half-obliterated pencil, he gave me the destinations of the +boxes. There were, he said, six in the cartload which he took from +Carfax and left at 197 Chicksand Street, Mile End New Town, and +another six which he deposited at Jamaica Lane, Bermondsey. If then +the Count meant to scatter these ghastly refuges of his over London, +these places were chosen as the first of delivery, so that later he +might distribute more fully. The systematic manner in which this was +done made me think that he could not mean to confine himself to two +sides of London. He was now fixed on the far east on the northern +shore, on the east of the southern shore, and on the south. The north +and west were surely never meant to be left out of his diabolical +scheme, let alone the City itself and the very heart of fashionable +London in the south-west and west. I went back to Smollet, and asked +him if he could tell us if any other boxes had been taken from Carfax. + +He replied, "Well guv'nor, you've treated me very 'an'some", I had +given him half a sovereign, "an I'll tell yer all I know. I heard a +man by the name of Bloxam say four nights ago in the 'Are an' 'Ounds, +in Pincher's Alley, as 'ow he an' his mate 'ad 'ad a rare dusty job in +a old 'ouse at Purfleet. There ain't a many such jobs as this 'ere, +an' I'm thinkin' that maybe Sam Bloxam could tell ye summut." + +I asked if he could tell me where to find him. I told him that if he +could get me the address it would be worth another half sovereign to +him. So he gulped down the rest of his tea and stood up, saying that +he was going to begin the search then and there. + +At the door he stopped, and said, "Look 'ere, guv'nor, there ain't no +sense in me a keepin' you 'ere. I may find Sam soon, or I mayn't, but +anyhow he ain't like to be in a way to tell ye much tonight. Sam is a +rare one when he starts on the booze. If you can give me a envelope +with a stamp on it, and put yer address on it, I'll find out where Sam +is to be found and post it ye tonight. But ye'd better be up arter +'im soon in the mornin', never mind the booze the night afore." + +This was all practical, so one of the children went off with a penny +to buy an envelope and a sheet of paper, and to keep the change. When +she came back, I addressed the envelope and stamped it, and when +Smollet had again faithfully promised to post the address when found, +I took my way to home. We're on the track anyhow. I am tired +tonight, and I want to sleep. Mina is fast asleep, and looks a little +too pale. Her eyes look as though she had been crying. Poor dear, +I've no doubt it frets her to be kept in the dark, and it may make her +doubly anxious about me and the others. But it is best as it is. It +is better to be disappointed and worried in such a way now than to +have her nerve broken. The doctors were quite right to insist on her +being kept out of this dreadful business. I must be firm, for on me +this particular burden of silence must rest. I shall not ever enter +on the subject with her under any circumstances. Indeed, It may not +be a hard task, after all, for she herself has become reticent on the +subject, and has not spoken of the Count or his doings ever since we +told her of our decision. + + +2 October, evening--A long and trying and exciting day. By the first +post I got my directed envelope with a dirty scrap of paper enclosed, +on which was written with a carpenter's pencil in a sprawling hand, +"Sam Bloxam, Korkrans, 4 Poters Cort, Bartel Street, Walworth. Arsk +for the depite." + +I got the letter in bed, and rose without waking Mina. She looked +heavy and sleepy and pale, and far from well. I determined not to +wake her, but that when I should return from this new search, I would +arrange for her going back to Exeter. I think she would be happier in +our own home, with her daily tasks to interest her, than in being here +amongst us and in ignorance. I only saw Dr. Seward for a moment, and +told him where I was off to, promising to come back and tell the rest +so soon as I should have found out anything. I drove to Walworth and +found, with some difficulty, Potter's Court. Mr. Smollet's spelling +misled me, as I asked for Poter's Court instead of Potter's Court. +However, when I had found the court, I had no difficulty in +discovering Corcoran's lodging house. + +When I asked the man who came to the door for the "depite," he shook +his head, and said, "I dunno 'im. There ain't no such a person 'ere. +I never 'eard of 'im in all my bloomin' days. Don't believe there +ain't nobody of that kind livin' 'ere or anywheres." + +I took out Smollet's letter, and as I read it it seemed to me that the +lesson of the spelling of the name of the court might guide me. "What +are you?" I asked. + +"I'm the depity," he answered. + +I saw at once that I was on the right track. Phonetic spelling had +again misled me. A half crown tip put the deputy's knowledge at my +disposal, and I learned that Mr. Bloxam, who had slept off the remains +of his beer on the previous night at Corcoran's, had left for his work +at Poplar at five o'clock that morning. He could not tell me where +the place of work was situated, but he had a vague idea that it was +some kind of a "new-fangled ware'us," and with this slender clue I had +to start for Poplar. It was twelve o'clock before I got any +satisfactory hint of such a building, and this I got at a coffee shop, +where some workmen were having their dinner. One of them suggested +that there was being erected at Cross Angel Street a new "cold +storage" building, and as this suited the condition of a "new-fangled +ware'us," I at once drove to it. An interview with a surly gatekeeper +and a surlier foreman, both of whom were appeased with the coin of the +realm, put me on the track of Bloxam. He was sent for on my +suggestion that I was willing to pay his days wages to his foreman for +the privilege of asking him a few questions on a private matter. He +was a smart enough fellow, though rough of speech and bearing. When I +had promised to pay for his information and given him an earnest, he +told me that he had made two journeys between Carfax and a house in +Piccadilly, and had taken from this house to the latter nine great +boxes, "main heavy ones," with a horse and cart hired by him for this +purpose. + +I asked him if he could tell me the number of the house in Piccadilly, +to which he replied, "Well, guv'nor, I forgits the number, but it was +only a few door from a big white church, or somethink of the kind, not +long built. It was a dusty old 'ouse, too, though nothin' to the +dustiness of the 'ouse we tooked the bloomin' boxes from." + +"How did you get in if both houses were empty?" + +"There was the old party what engaged me a waitin' in the 'ouse at +Purfleet. He 'elped me to lift the boxes and put them in the dray. +Curse me, but he was the strongest chap I ever struck, an' him a old +feller, with a white moustache, one that thin you would think he +couldn't throw a shadder." + +How this phrase thrilled through me! + +"Why, 'e took up 'is end o' the boxes like they was pounds of tea, and +me a puffin' an' a blowin' afore I could upend mine anyhow, an' I'm no +chicken, neither." + +"How did you get into the house in Piccadilly?" I asked. + +"He was there too. He must 'a started off and got there afore me, for +when I rung of the bell he kem an' opened the door 'isself an' 'elped +me carry the boxes into the 'all." + +"The whole nine?" I asked. + +"Yus, there was five in the first load an' four in the second. It was +main dry work, an' I don't so well remember 'ow I got 'ome." + +I interrupted him, "Were the boxes left in the hall?" + +"Yus, it was a big 'all, an' there was nothin' else in it." + +I made one more attempt to further matters. "You didn't have any +key?" + +"Never used no key nor nothink. The old gent, he opened the door +'isself an' shut it again when I druv off. I don't remember the last +time, but that was the beer." + +"And you can't remember the number of the house?" + +"No, sir. But ye needn't have no difficulty about that. It's a 'igh +'un with a stone front with a bow on it, an' 'igh steps up to the +door. I know them steps, 'avin' 'ad to carry the boxes up with three +loafers what come round to earn a copper. The old gent give them +shillin's, an' they seein' they got so much, they wanted more. But 'e +took one of them by the shoulder and was like to throw 'im down the +steps, till the lot of them went away cussin'." + +I thought that with this description I could find the house, so having +paid my friend for his information, I started off for Piccadilly. I +had gained a new painful experience. The Count could, it was evident, +handle the earth boxes himself. If so, time was precious, for now +that he had achieved a certain amount of distribution, he could, by +choosing his own time, complete the task unobserved. At Piccadilly +Circus I discharged my cab, and walked westward. Beyond the Junior +Constitutional I came across the house described and was satisfied +that this was the next of the lairs arranged by Dracula. The house +looked as though it had been long untenanted. The windows were +encrusted with dust, and the shutters were up. All the framework was +black with time, and from the iron the paint had mostly scaled away. +It was evident that up to lately there had been a large notice board +in front of the balcony. It had, however, been roughly torn away, the +uprights which had supported it still remaining. Behind the rails of +the balcony I saw there were some loose boards, whose raw edges looked +white. I would have given a good deal to have been able to see the +notice board intact, as it would, perhaps, have given some clue to the +ownership of the house. I remembered my experience of the investigation +and purchase of Carfax, and I could not but feel that if I could find +the former owner there might be some means discovered of gaining access +to the house. + +There was at present nothing to be learned from the Piccadilly side, +and nothing could be done, so I went around to the back to see if +anything could be gathered from this quarter. The mews were active, +the Piccadilly houses being mostly in occupation. I asked one or two +of the grooms and helpers whom I saw around if they could tell me +anything about the empty house. One of them said that he heard it had +lately been taken, but he couldn't say from whom. He told me, +however, that up to very lately there had been a notice board of "For +Sale" up, and that perhaps Mitchell, Sons, & Candy the house agents +could tell me something, as he thought he remembered seeing the name +of that firm on the board. I did not wish to seem too eager, or to +let my informant know or guess too much, so thanking him in the usual +manner, I strolled away. It was now growing dusk, and the autumn +night was closing in, so I did not lose any time. Having learned the +address of Mitchell, Sons, & Candy from a directory at the Berkeley, I +was soon at their office in Sackville Street. + +The gentleman who saw me was particularly suave in manner, but +uncommunicative in equal proportion. Having once told me that the +Piccadilly house, which throughout our interview he called a +"mansion," was sold, he considered my business as concluded. When I +asked who had purchased it, he opened his eyes a thought wider, and +paused a few seconds before replying, "It is sold, sir." + +"Pardon me," I said, with equal politeness, "but I have a special +reason for wishing to know who purchased it." + +Again he paused longer, and raised his eyebrows still more. "It is +sold, sir," was again his laconic reply. + +"Surely," I said, "you do not mind letting me know so much." + +"But I do mind," he answered. "The affairs of their clients are +absolutely safe in the hands of Mitchell, Sons, & Candy." + +This was manifestly a prig of the first water, and there was no use +arguing with him. I thought I had best meet him on his own ground, so +I said, "Your clients, sir, are happy in having so resolute a guardian +of their confidence. I am myself a professional man." + +Here I handed him my card. "In this instance I am not prompted by +curiosity, I act on the part of Lord Godalming, who wishes to know +something of the property which was, he understood, lately for sale." + +These words put a different complexion on affairs. He said, "I would +like to oblige you if I could, Mr. Harker, and especially would I like +to oblige his lordship. We once carried out a small matter of renting +some chambers for him when he was the honourable Arthur Holmwood. If +you will let me have his lordship's address I will consult the House +on the subject, and will, in any case, communicate with his lordship +by tonight's post. It will be a pleasure if we can so far deviate +from our rules as to give the required information to his lordship." + +I wanted to secure a friend, and not to make an enemy, so I thanked +him, gave the address at Dr. Seward's and came away. It was now dark, +and I was tired and hungry. I got a cup of tea at the Aerated Bread +Company and came down to Purfleet by the next train. + +I found all the others at home. Mina was looking tired and pale, but +she made a gallant effort to be bright and cheerful. It wrung my +heart to think that I had had to keep anything from her and so caused +her inquietude. Thank God, this will be the last night of her looking +on at our conferences, and feeling the sting of our not showing our +confidence. It took all my courage to hold to the wise resolution of +keeping her out of our grim task. She seems somehow more reconciled, +or else the very subject seems to have become repugnant to her, for +when any accidental allusion is made she actually shudders. I am glad +we made our resolution in time, as with such a feeling as this, our +growing knowledge would be torture to her. + +I could not tell the others of the day's discovery till we were alone, +so after dinner, followed by a little music to save appearances even +amongst ourselves, I took Mina to her room and left her to go to bed. +The dear girl was more affectionate with me than ever, and clung to me +as though she would detain me, but there was much to be talked of and +I came away. Thank God, the ceasing of telling things has made no +difference between us. + +When I came down again I found the others all gathered round the fire +in the study. In the train I had written my diary so far, and simply +read it off to them as the best means of letting them get abreast of +my own information. + +When I had finished Van Helsing said, "This has been a great day's +work, friend Jonathan. Doubtless we are on the track of the missing +boxes. If we find them all in that house, then our work is near the +end. But if there be some missing, we must search until we find them. +Then shall we make our final coup, and hunt the wretch to his real +death." + +We all sat silent awhile and all at once Mr. Morris spoke, "Say! How +are we going to get into that house?" + +"We got into the other," answered Lord Godalming quickly. + +"But, Art, this is different. We broke house at Carfax, but we had +night and a walled park to protect us. It will be a mighty different +thing to commit burglary in Piccadilly, either by day or night. I +confess I don't see how we are going to get in unless that agency duck +can find us a key of some sort." + +Lord Godalming's brows contracted, and he stood up and walked about the +room. By-and-by he stopped and said, turning from one to another of +us, "Quincey's head is level. This burglary business is getting +serious. We got off once all right, but we have now a rare job on +hand. Unless we can find the Count's key basket." + +As nothing could well be done before morning, and as it would be at +least advisable to wait till Lord Godalming should hear from +Mitchell's, we decided not to take any active step before breakfast +time. For a good while we sat and smoked, discussing the matter in +its various lights and bearings. I took the opportunity of bringing +this diary right up to the moment. I am very sleepy and shall go to +bed . . . + +Just a line. Mina sleeps soundly and her breathing is regular. Her +forehead is puckered up into little wrinkles, as though she thinks +even in her sleep. She is still too pale, but does not look so +haggard as she did this morning. Tomorrow will, I hope, mend all +this. She will be herself at home in Exeter. Oh, but I am sleepy! + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +1 October.--I am puzzled afresh about Renfield. His moods change so +rapidly that I find it difficult to keep touch of them, and as they +always mean something more than his own well-being, they form a more +than interesting study. This morning, when I went to see him after +his repulse of Van Helsing, his manner was that of a man commanding +destiny. He was, in fact, commanding destiny, subjectively. He did +not really care for any of the things of mere earth, he was in the +clouds and looked down on all the weaknesses and wants of us poor +mortals. + +I thought I would improve the occasion and learn something, so I asked +him, "What about the flies these times?" + +He smiled on me in quite a superior sort of way, such a smile as would +have become the face of Malvolio, as he answered me, "The fly, my dear +sir, has one striking feature. Its wings are typical of the aerial +powers of the psychic faculties. The ancients did well when they +typified the soul as a butterfly!" + +I thought I would push his analogy to its utmost logically, so I said +quickly, "Oh, it is a soul you are after now, is it?" + +His madness foiled his reason, and a puzzled look spread over his face +as, shaking his head with a decision which I had but seldom seen in +him. + +He said, "Oh, no, oh no! I want no souls. Life is all I want." Here +he brightened up. "I am pretty indifferent about it at present. Life +is all right. I have all I want. You must get a new patient, doctor, +if you wish to study zoophagy!" + +This puzzled me a little, so I drew him on. "Then you command life. +You are a god, I suppose?" + +He smiled with an ineffably benign superiority. "Oh no! Far be it +from me to arrogate to myself the attributes of the Deity. I am not +even concerned in His especially spiritual doings. If I may state my +intellectual position I am, so far as concerns things purely +terrestrial, somewhat in the position which Enoch occupied +spiritually!" + +This was a poser to me. I could not at the moment recall Enoch's +appositeness, so I had to ask a simple question, though I felt that by +so doing I was lowering myself in the eyes of the lunatic. "And why +with Enoch?" + +"Because he walked with God." + +I could not see the analogy, but did not like to admit it, so I harked +back to what he had denied. "So you don't care about life and you +don't want souls. Why not?" I put my question quickly and somewhat +sternly, on purpose to disconcert him. + +The effort succeeded, for an instant he unconsciously relapsed into +his old servile manner, bent low before me, and actually fawned upon +me as he replied. "I don't want any souls, indeed, indeed! I don't. +I couldn't use them if I had them. They would be no manner of use to +me. I couldn't eat them or . . ." + +He suddenly stopped and the old cunning look spread over his face, +like a wind sweep on the surface of the water. + +"And doctor, as to life, what is it after all? When you've got all +you require, and you know that you will never want, that is all. I +have friends, good friends, like you, Dr. Seward." This was said with +a leer of inexpressible cunning. "I know that I shall never lack the +means of life!" + +I think that through the cloudiness of his insanity he saw some +antagonism in me, for he at once fell back on the last refuge of such +as he, a dogged silence. After a short time I saw that for the +present it was useless to speak to him. He was sulky, and so I came +away. + +Later in the day he sent for me. Ordinarily I would not have come +without special reason, but just at present I am so interested in him +that I would gladly make an effort. Besides, I am glad to have +anything to help pass the time. Harker is out, following up clues, +and so are Lord Godalming and Quincey. Van Helsing sits in my study +poring over the record prepared by the Harkers. He seems to think +that by accurate knowledge of all details he will light up on some +clue. He does not wish to be disturbed in the work, without cause. I +would have taken him with me to see the patient, only I thought that +after his last repulse he might not care to go again. There was also +another reason. Renfield might not speak so freely before a third +person as when he and I were alone. + +I found him sitting in the middle of the floor on his stool, a pose +which is generally indicative of some mental energy on his part. When +I came in, he said at once, as though the question had been waiting on +his lips. "What about souls?" + +It was evident then that my surmise had been correct. Unconscious +cerebration was doing its work, even with the lunatic. I determined +to have the matter out. + +"What about them yourself?" I asked. + +He did not reply for a moment but looked all around him, and up and +down, as though he expected to find some inspiration for an answer. + +"I don't want any souls!" he said in a feeble, apologetic way. The +matter seemed preying on his mind, and so I determined to use it, to +"be cruel only to be kind." So I said, "You like life, and you want +life?" + +"Oh yes! But that is all right. You needn't worry about that!" + +"But," I asked, "how are we to get the life without getting the soul +also?" + +This seemed to puzzle him, so I followed it up, "A nice time you'll +have some time when you're flying out here, with the souls of +thousands of flies and spiders and birds and cats buzzing and +twittering and moaning all around you. You've got their lives, you +know, and you must put up with their souls!" + +Something seemed to affect his imagination, for he put his fingers to +his ears and shut his eyes, screwing them up tightly just as a small +boy does when his face is being soaped. There was something pathetic +in it that touched me. It also gave me a lesson, for it seemed that +before me was a child, only a child, though the features were worn, +and the stubble on the jaws was white. It was evident that he was +undergoing some process of mental disturbance, and knowing how his +past moods had interpreted things seemingly foreign to himself, I +thought I would enter into his mind as well as I could and go with him. + +The first step was to restore confidence, so I asked him, speaking +pretty loud so that he would hear me through his closed ears, "Would +you like some sugar to get your flies around again?" + +He seemed to wake up all at once, and shook his head. With a laugh he +replied, "Not much! Flies are poor things, after all!" After a pause +he added, "But I don't want their souls buzzing round me, all the +same." + +"Or spiders?" I went on. + +"Blow spiders! What's the use of spiders? There isn't anything in +them to eat or . . ." He stopped suddenly as though reminded of a +forbidden topic. + +"So, so!" I thought to myself, "this is the second time he has +suddenly stopped at the word 'drink'. What does it mean?" + +Renfield seemed himself aware of having made a lapse, for he hurried +on, as though to distract my attention from it, "I don't take any +stock at all in such matters. 'Rats and mice and such small deer,' as +Shakespeare has it, 'chicken feed of the larder' they might be called. +I'm past all that sort of nonsense. You might as well ask a man to +eat molecules with a pair of chopsticks, as to try to interest me +about the less carnivora, when I know of what is before me." + +"I see," I said. "You want big things that you can make your teeth +meet in? How would you like to breakfast on an elephant?" + +"What ridiculous nonsense you are talking?" He was getting too wide +awake, so I thought I would press him hard. + +"I wonder," I said reflectively, "what an elephant's soul is like!" + +The effect I desired was obtained, for he at once fell from his +high-horse and became a child again. + +"I don't want an elephant's soul, or any soul at all!" he said. For a +few moments he sat despondently. Suddenly he jumped to his feet, with +his eyes blazing and all the signs of intense cerebral excitement. +"To hell with you and your souls!" he shouted. "Why do you plague me +about souls? Haven't I got enough to worry, and pain, to distract me +already, without thinking of souls?" + +He looked so hostile that I thought he was in for another homicidal +fit, so I blew my whistle. + +The instant, however, that I did so he became calm, and said +apologetically, "Forgive me, Doctor. I forgot myself. You do not +need any help. I am so worried in my mind that I am apt to be +irritable. If you only knew the problem I have to face, and that I am +working out, you would pity, and tolerate, and pardon me. Pray do not +put me in a strait waistcoat. I want to think and I cannot think +freely when my body is confined. I am sure you will understand!" + +He had evidently self-control, so when the attendants came I told them +not to mind, and they withdrew. Renfield watched them go. When the +door was closed he said with considerable dignity and sweetness, "Dr. +Seward, you have been very considerate towards me. Believe me that I +am very, very grateful to you!" + +I thought it well to leave him in this mood, and so I came away. +There is certainly something to ponder over in this man's state. +Several points seem to make what the American interviewer calls "a +story," if one could only get them in proper order. Here they are: + + Will not mention "drinking." + + Fears the thought of being burdened with the "soul" of anything. + + Has no dread of wanting "life" in the future. + + Despises the meaner forms of life altogether, though he dreads + being haunted by their souls. + + Logically all these things point one way! He has assurance of + some kind that he will acquire some higher life. + + He dreads the consequence, the burden of a soul. Then it is a + human life he looks to! + + And the assurance . . .? + +Merciful God! The Count has been to him, and there is some new scheme +of terror afoot! + + +Later.--I went after my round to Van Helsing and told him my +suspicion. He grew very grave, and after thinking the matter over for +a while asked me to take him to Renfield. I did so. As we came to +the door we heard the lunatic within singing gaily, as he used to do +in the time which now seems so long ago. + +When we entered we saw with amazement that he had spread out his sugar +as of old. The flies, lethargic with the autumn, were beginning to +buzz into the room. We tried to make him talk of the subject of our +previous conversation, but he would not attend. He went on with his +singing, just as though we had not been present. He had got a scrap +of paper and was folding it into a notebook. We had to come away as +ignorant as we went in. + +His is a curious case indeed. We must watch him tonight. + + + + + +LETTER, MITCHELL, SONS & CANDY TO LORD GODALMING. + +"1 October. + +"My Lord, + +"We are at all times only too happy to meet your wishes. We beg, +with regard to the desire of your Lordship, expressed by Mr. +Harker on your behalf, to supply the following information +concerning the sale and purchase of No. 347, Piccadilly. The +original vendors are the executors of the late Mr. Archibald +Winter-Suffield. The purchaser is a foreign nobleman, Count de +Ville, who effected the purchase himself paying the purchase +money in notes 'over the counter,' if your Lordship will pardon +us using so vulgar an expression. Beyond this we know nothing +whatever of him. + +"We are, my Lord, + +"Your Lordship's humble servants, + +"MITCHELL, SONS & CANDY." + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +2 October.--I placed a man in the corridor last night, and told him to +make an accurate note of any sound he might hear from Renfield's room, +and gave him instructions that if there should be anything strange he +was to call me. After dinner, when we had all gathered round the fire +in the study, Mrs. Harker having gone to bed, we discussed the +attempts and discoveries of the day. Harker was the only one who had +any result, and we are in great hopes that his clue may be an +important one. + +Before going to bed I went round to the patient's room and looked in +through the observation trap. He was sleeping soundly, his heart rose +and fell with regular respiration. + +This morning the man on duty reported to me that a little after +midnight he was restless and kept saying his prayers somewhat loudly. +I asked him if that was all. He replied that it was all he heard. +There was something about his manner, so suspicious that I asked him +point blank if he had been asleep. He denied sleep, but admitted to +having "dozed" for a while. It is too bad that men cannot be trusted +unless they are watched. + +Today Harker is out following up his clue, and Art and Quincey are +looking after horses. Godalming thinks that it will be well to have +horses always in readiness, for when we get the information which we +seek there will be no time to lose. We must sterilize all the +imported earth between sunrise and sunset. We shall thus catch the +Count at his weakest, and without a refuge to fly to. Van Helsing is +off to the British Museum looking up some authorities on ancient +medicine. The old physicians took account of things which their +followers do not accept, and the Professor is searching for witch and +demon cures which may be useful to us later. + +I sometimes think we must be all mad and that we shall wake to sanity +in strait waistcoats. + +Later.--We have met again. We seem at last to be on the track, and +our work of tomorrow may be the beginning of the end. I wonder if +Renfield's quiet has anything to do with this. His moods have so +followed the doings of the Count, that the coming destruction of the +monster may be carried to him some subtle way. If we could only get +some hint as to what passed in his mind, between the time of my +argument with him today and his resumption of fly-catching, it might +afford us a valuable clue. He is now seemingly quiet for a spell . . . +Is he? That wild yell seemed to come from his room . . . + +The attendant came bursting into my room and told me that Renfield had +somehow met with some accident. He had heard him yell, and when he +went to him found him lying on his face on the floor, all covered with +blood. I must go at once . . . + + + + +CHAPTER 21 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +3 October.--Let me put down with exactness all that happened, as well +as I can remember, since last I made an entry. Not a detail that I +can recall must be forgotten. In all calmness I must proceed. + +When I came to Renfield's room I found him lying on the floor on his +left side in a glittering pool of blood. When I went to move him, it +became at once apparent that he had received some terrible injuries. +There seemed none of the unity of purpose between the parts of the +body which marks even lethargic sanity. As the face was exposed I +could see that it was horribly bruised, as though it had been beaten +against the floor. Indeed it was from the face wounds that the pool +of blood originated. + +The attendant who was kneeling beside the body said to me as we turned +him over, "I think, sir, his back is broken. See, both his right arm +and leg and the whole side of his face are paralysed." How such a +thing could have happened puzzled the attendant beyond measure. He +seemed quite bewildered, and his brows were gathered in as he said, "I +can't understand the two things. He could mark his face like that by +beating his own head on the floor. I saw a young woman do it once at +the Eversfield Asylum before anyone could lay hands on her. And I +suppose he might have broken his neck by falling out of bed, if he got +in an awkward kink. But for the life of me I can't imagine how the +two things occurred. If his back was broke, he couldn't beat his +head, and if his face was like that before the fall out of bed, there +would be marks of it." + +I said to him, "Go to Dr. Van Helsing, and ask him to kindly come here +at once. I want him without an instant's delay." + +The man ran off, and within a few minutes the Professor, in his +dressing gown and slippers, appeared. When he saw Renfield on the +ground, he looked keenly at him a moment, and then turned to me. I +think he recognized my thought in my eyes, for he said very quietly, +manifestly for the ears of the attendant, "Ah, a sad accident! He +will need very careful watching, and much attention. I shall stay +with you myself, but I shall first dress myself. If you will remain I +shall in a few minutes join you." + +The patient was now breathing stertorously and it was easy to see that +he had suffered some terrible injury. + +Van Helsing returned with extraordinary celerity, bearing with him a +surgical case. He had evidently been thinking and had his mind made +up, for almost before he looked at the patient, he whispered to me, +"Send the attendant away. We must be alone with him when he becomes +conscious, after the operation." + +I said, "I think that will do now, Simmons. We have done all that we +can at present. You had better go your round, and Dr. Van Helsing +will operate. Let me know instantly if there be anything unusual +anywhere." + +The man withdrew, and we went into a strict examination of the +patient. The wounds of the face were superficial. The real injury +was a depressed fracture of the skull, extending right up through the +motor area. + +The Professor thought a moment and said, "We must reduce the pressure +and get back to normal conditions, as far as can be. The rapidity of +the suffusion shows the terrible nature of his injury. The whole +motor area seems affected. The suffusion of the brain will increase +quickly, so we must trephine at once or it may be too late." + +As he was speaking there was a soft tapping at the door. I went over +and opened it and found in the corridor without, Arthur and Quincey in +pajamas and slippers; the former spoke, "I heard your man call up Dr. +Van Helsing and tell him of an accident. So I woke Quincey or rather +called for him as he was not asleep. Things are moving too quickly +and too strangely for sound sleep for any of us these times. I've +been thinking that tomorrow night will not see things as they have +been. We'll have to look back, and forward a little more than we have +done. May we come in?" + +I nodded, and held the door open till they had entered, then I closed +it again. When Quincey saw the attitude and state of the patient, and +noted the horrible pool on the floor, he said softly, "My God! What +has happened to him? Poor, poor devil!" + +I told him briefly, and added that we expected he would recover +consciousness after the operation, for a short time, at all events. +He went at once and sat down on the edge of the bed, with Godalming +beside him. We all watched in patience. + +"We shall wait," said Van Helsing, "just long enough to fix the best +spot for trephining, so that we may most quickly and perfectly remove +the blood clot, for it is evident that the haemorrhage is increasing." + +The minutes during which we waited passed with fearful slowness. I +had a horrible sinking in my heart, and from Van Helsing's face I +gathered that he felt some fear or apprehension as to what was to +come. I dreaded the words Renfield might speak. I was positively +afraid to think. But the conviction of what was coming was on me, as +I have read of men who have heard the death watch. The poor man's +breathing came in uncertain gasps. Each instant he seemed as though +he would open his eyes and speak, but then would follow a prolonged +stertorous breath, and he would relapse into a more fixed +insensibility. Inured as I was to sick beds and death, this suspense +grew and grew upon me. I could almost hear the beating of my own +heart, and the blood surging through my temples sounded like blows +from a hammer. The silence finally became agonizing. I looked at my +companions, one after another, and saw from their flushed faces and +damp brows that they were enduring equal torture. There was a nervous +suspense over us all, as though overhead some dread bell would peal +out powerfully when we should least expect it. + +At last there came a time when it was evident that the patient was +sinking fast. He might die at any moment. I looked up at the +Professor and caught his eyes fixed on mine. His face was sternly set +as he spoke, "There is no time to lose. His words may be worth many +lives. I have been thinking so, as I stood here. It may be there is +a soul at stake! We shall operate just above the ear." + +Without another word he made the operation. For a few moments the +breathing continued to be stertorous. Then there came a breath so +prolonged that it seemed as though it would tear open his chest. +Suddenly his eyes opened, and became fixed in a wild, helpless stare. +This was continued for a few moments, then it was softened into a glad +surprise, and from his lips came a sigh of relief. He moved +convulsively, and as he did so, said, "I'll be quiet, Doctor. Tell +them to take off the strait waistcoat. I have had a terrible dream, +and it has left me so weak that I cannot move. What's wrong with my +face? It feels all swollen, and it smarts dreadfully." + +He tried to turn his head, but even with the effort his eyes seemed to +grow glassy again so I gently put it back. Then Van Helsing said in a +quiet grave tone, "Tell us your dream, Mr. Renfield." + +As he heard the voice his face brightened, through its mutilation, and +he said, "That is Dr. Van Helsing. How good it is of you to be here. +Give me some water, my lips are dry, and I shall try to tell you. I +dreamed . . ." + +He stopped and seemed fainting. I called quietly to Quincey, "The +brandy, it is in my study, quick!" He flew and returned with a glass, +the decanter of brandy and a carafe of water. We moistened the +parched lips, and the patient quickly revived. + +It seemed, however, that his poor injured brain had been working in +the interval, for when he was quite conscious, he looked at me +piercingly with an agonized confusion which I shall never forget, and +said, "I must not deceive myself. It was no dream, but all a grim +reality." Then his eyes roved round the room. As they caught sight +of the two figures sitting patiently on the edge of the bed he went +on, "If I were not sure already, I would know from them." + +For an instant his eyes closed, not with pain or sleep but +voluntarily, as though he were bringing all his faculties to bear. +When he opened them he said, hurriedly, and with more energy than he +had yet displayed, "Quick, Doctor, quick, I am dying! I feel that I +have but a few minutes, and then I must go back to death, or worse! +Wet my lips with brandy again. I have something that I must say +before I die. Or before my poor crushed brain dies anyhow. Thank +you! It was that night after you left me, when I implored you to let +me go away. I couldn't speak then, for I felt my tongue was tied. +But I was as sane then, except in that way, as I am now. I was in an +agony of despair for a long time after you left me, it seemed hours. +Then there came a sudden peace to me. My brain seemed to become cool +again, and I realized where I was. I heard the dogs bark behind our +house, but not where He was!" + +As he spoke, Van Helsing's eyes never blinked, but his hand came out +and met mine and gripped it hard. He did not, however, betray +himself. He nodded slightly and said, "Go on," in a low voice. + +Renfield proceeded. "He came up to the window in the mist, as I had +seen him often before, but he was solid then, not a ghost, and his +eyes were fierce like a man's when angry. He was laughing with his +red mouth, the sharp white teeth glinted in the moonlight when he +turned to look back over the belt of trees, to where the dogs were +barking. I wouldn't ask him to come in at first, though I knew he +wanted to, just as he had wanted all along. Then he began promising +me things, not in words but by doing them." + +He was interrupted by a word from the Professor, "How?" + +"By making them happen. Just as he used to send in the flies when the +sun was shining. Great big fat ones with steel and sapphire on their +wings. And big moths, in the night, with skull and cross-bones on +their backs." + +Van Helsing nodded to him as he whispered to me unconsciously, "The +Acherontia Atropos of the Sphinges, what you call the 'Death's-head +Moth'?" + +The patient went on without stopping, "Then he began to whisper. 'Rats, +rats, rats! Hundreds, thousands, millions of them, and every one a +life. And dogs to eat them, and cats too. All lives! All red blood, +with years of life in it, and not merely buzzing flies!' I laughed at +him, for I wanted to see what he could do. Then the dogs howled, away +beyond the dark trees in His house. He beckoned me to the window. I +got up and looked out, and He raised his hands, and seemed to call out +without using any words. A dark mass spread over the grass, coming on +like the shape of a flame of fire. And then He moved the mist to the +right and left, and I could see that there were thousands of rats with +their eyes blazing red, like His only smaller. He held up his hand, +and they all stopped, and I thought he seemed to be saying, 'All these +lives will I give you, ay, and many more and greater, through +countless ages, if you will fall down and worship me!' And then a red +cloud, like the colour of blood, seemed to close over my eyes, and +before I knew what I was doing, I found myself opening the sash and +saying to Him, 'Come in, Lord and Master!' The rats were all gone, but +He slid into the room through the sash, though it was only open an +inch wide, just as the Moon herself has often come in through the +tiniest crack and has stood before me in all her size and splendour." + +His voice was weaker, so I moistened his lips with the brandy again, +and he continued, but it seemed as though his memory had gone on +working in the interval for his story was further advanced. I was +about to call him back to the point, but Van Helsing whispered to me, +"Let him go on. Do not interrupt him. He cannot go back, and maybe +could not proceed at all if once he lost the thread of his thought." + +He proceeded, "All day I waited to hear from him, but he did not send +me anything, not even a blowfly, and when the moon got up I was pretty +angry with him. When he did slide in through the window, though it +was shut, and did not even knock, I got mad with him. He sneered at +me, and his white face looked out of the mist with his red eyes +gleaming, and he went on as though he owned the whole place, and I was +no one. He didn't even smell the same as he went by me. I couldn't +hold him. I thought that, somehow, Mrs. Harker had come into the +room." + +The two men sitting on the bed stood up and came over, standing behind +him so that he could not see them, but where they could hear better. +They were both silent, but the Professor started and quivered. His +face, however, grew grimmer and sterner still. Renfield went on +without noticing, "When Mrs. Harker came in to see me this afternoon +she wasn't the same. It was like tea after the teapot has been +watered." Here we all moved, but no one said a word. + +He went on, "I didn't know that she was here till she spoke, and she +didn't look the same. I don't care for the pale people. I like them +with lots of blood in them, and hers all seemed to have run out. I +didn't think of it at the time, but when she went away I began to +think, and it made me mad to know that He had been taking the life out +of her." I could feel that the rest quivered, as I did; but we +remained otherwise still. "So when He came tonight I was ready for +Him. I saw the mist stealing in, and I grabbed it tight. I had heard +that madmen have unnatural strength. And as I knew I was a madman, at +times anyhow, I resolved to use my power. Ay, and He felt it too, for +He had to come out of the mist to struggle with me. I held tight, and +I thought I was going to win, for I didn't mean Him to take any more +of her life, till I saw His eyes. They burned into me, and my +strength became like water. He slipped through it, and when I tried +to cling to Him, He raised me up and flung me down. There was a red +cloud before me, and a noise like thunder, and the mist seemed to +steal away under the door." + +His voice was becoming fainter and his breath more stertorous. Van +Helsing stood up instinctively. + +"We know the worst now," he said. "He is here, and we know his +purpose. It may not be too late. Let us be armed, the same as we +were the other night, but lose no time, there is not an instant to +spare." + +There was no need to put our fear, nay our conviction, into words, we +shared them in common. We all hurried and took from our rooms the +same things that we had when we entered the Count's house. The +Professor had his ready, and as we met in the corridor he pointed to +them significantly as he said, "They never leave me, and they shall +not till this unhappy business is over. Be wise also, my friends. It +is no common enemy that we deal with Alas! Alas! That dear Madam +Mina should suffer!" He stopped, his voice was breaking, and I do not +know if rage or terror predominated in my own heart. + +Outside the Harkers' door we paused. Art and Quincey held back, and +the latter said, "Should we disturb her?" + +"We must," said Van Helsing grimly. "If the door be locked, I shall +break it in." + +"May it not frighten her terribly? It is unusual to break into a +lady's room!" + +Van Helsing said solemnly, "You are always right. But this is life +and death. All chambers are alike to the doctor. And even were they +not they are all as one to me tonight. Friend John, when I turn the +handle, if the door does not open, do you put your shoulder down and +shove; and you too, my friends. Now!" + +He turned the handle as he spoke, but the door did not yield. We +threw ourselves against it. With a crash it burst open, and we almost +fell headlong into the room. The Professor did actually fall, and I +saw across him as he gathered himself up from hands and knees. What I +saw appalled me. I felt my hair rise like bristles on the back of my +neck, and my heart seemed to stand still. + +The moonlight was so bright that through the thick yellow blind the +room was light enough to see. On the bed beside the window lay +Jonathan Harker, his face flushed and breathing heavily as though in a +stupor. Kneeling on the near edge of the bed facing outwards was the +white-clad figure of his wife. By her side stood a tall, thin man, +clad in black. His face was turned from us, but the instant we saw we +all recognized the Count, in every way, even to the scar on his +forehead. With his left hand he held both Mrs. Harker's hands, +keeping them away with her arms at full tension. His right hand +gripped her by the back of the neck, forcing her face down on his +bosom. Her white nightdress was smeared with blood, and a thin stream +trickled down the man's bare chest which was shown by his torn-open +dress. The attitude of the two had a terrible resemblance to a child +forcing a kitten's nose into a saucer of milk to compel it to drink. +As we burst into the room, the Count turned his face, and the hellish +look that I had heard described seemed to leap into it. His eyes +flamed red with devilish passion. The great nostrils of the white +aquiline nose opened wide and quivered at the edge, and the white +sharp teeth, behind the full lips of the blood dripping mouth, clamped +together like those of a wild beast. With a wrench, which threw his +victim back upon the bed as though hurled from a height, he turned and +sprang at us. But by this time the Professor had gained his feet, and +was holding towards him the envelope which contained the Sacred Wafer. +The Count suddenly stopped, just as poor Lucy had done outside the +tomb, and cowered back. Further and further back he cowered, as we, +lifting our crucifixes, advanced. The moonlight suddenly failed, as a +great black cloud sailed across the sky. And when the gaslight sprang +up under Quincey's match, we saw nothing but a faint vapour. This, as +we looked, trailed under the door, which with the recoil from its +bursting open, had swung back to its old position. Van Helsing, Art, +and I moved forward to Mrs. Harker, who by this time had drawn her +breath and with it had given a scream so wild, so ear-piercing, so +despairing that it seems to me now that it will ring in my ears till +my dying day. For a few seconds she lay in her helpless attitude and +disarray. Her face was ghastly, with a pallor which was accentuated +by the blood which smeared her lips and cheeks and chin. From her +throat trickled a thin stream of blood. Her eyes were mad with +terror. Then she put before her face her poor crushed hands, which +bore on their whiteness the red mark of the Count's terrible grip, and +from behind them came a low desolate wail which made the terrible +scream seem only the quick expression of an endless grief. Van +Helsing stepped forward and drew the coverlet gently over her body, +whilst Art, after looking at her face for an instant despairingly, ran +out of the room. + +Van Helsing whispered to me, "Jonathan is in a stupor such as we know +the Vampire can produce. We can do nothing with poor Madam Mina for a +few moments till she recovers herself. I must wake him!" + +He dipped the end of a towel in cold water and with it began to flick +him on the face, his wife all the while holding her face between her +hands and sobbing in a way that was heart breaking to hear. I raised +the blind, and looked out of the window. There was much moonshine, +and as I looked I could see Quincey Morris run across the lawn and +hide himself in the shadow of a great yew tree. It puzzled me to +think why he was doing this. But at the instant I heard Harker's +quick exclamation as he woke to partial consciousness, and turned to +the bed. On his face, as there might well be, was a look of wild +amazement. He seemed dazed for a few seconds, and then full +consciousness seemed to burst upon him all at once, and he started up. + +His wife was aroused by the quick movement, and turned to him with her +arms stretched out, as though to embrace him. Instantly, however, she +drew them in again, and putting her elbows together, held her hands +before her face, and shuddered till the bed beneath her shook. + +"In God's name what does this mean?" Harker cried out. "Dr. Seward, +Dr. Van Helsing, what is it? What has happened? What is wrong? Mina, +dear what is it? What does that blood mean? My God, my God! Has it +come to this!" And, raising himself to his knees, he beat his hands +wildly together. "Good God help us! Help her! Oh, help her!" + +With a quick movement he jumped from bed, and began to pull on his +clothes, all the man in him awake at the need for instant exertion. +"What has happened? Tell me all about it!" he cried without pausing. +"Dr. Van Helsing, you love Mina, I know. Oh, do something to save her. +It cannot have gone too far yet. Guard her while I look for him!" + +His wife, through her terror and horror and distress, saw some sure +danger to him. Instantly forgetting her own grief, she seized hold of +him and cried out. + +"No! No! Jonathan, you must not leave me. I have suffered enough +tonight, God knows, without the dread of his harming you. You must +stay with me. Stay with these friends who will watch over you!" Her +expression became frantic as she spoke. And, he yielding to her, she +pulled him down sitting on the bedside, and clung to him fiercely. + +Van Helsing and I tried to calm them both. The Professor held up his +golden crucifix, and said with wonderful calmness, "Do not fear, my +dear. We are here, and whilst this is close to you no foul thing can +approach. You are safe for tonight, and we must be calm and take +counsel together." + +She shuddered and was silent, holding down her head on her husband's +breast. When she raised it, his white nightrobe was stained with +blood where her lips had touched, and where the thin open wound in the +neck had sent forth drops. The instant she saw it she drew back, with +a low wail, and whispered, amidst choking sobs. + +"Unclean, unclean! I must touch him or kiss him no more. Oh, that it +should be that it is I who am now his worst enemy, and whom he may +have most cause to fear." + +To this he spoke out resolutely, "Nonsense, Mina. It is a shame to me +to hear such a word. I would not hear it of you. And I shall not +hear it from you. May God judge me by my deserts, and punish me with +more bitter suffering than even this hour, if by any act or will of +mine anything ever come between us!" + +He put out his arms and folded her to his breast. And for a while she +lay there sobbing. He looked at us over her bowed head, with eyes +that blinked damply above his quivering nostrils. His mouth was set +as steel. + +After a while her sobs became less frequent and more faint, and then +he said to me, speaking with a studied calmness which I felt tried his +nervous power to the utmost. + +"And now, Dr. Seward, tell me all about it. Too well I know the broad +fact. Tell me all that has been." + +I told him exactly what had happened and he listened with seeming +impassiveness, but his nostrils twitched and his eyes blazed as I told +how the ruthless hands of the Count had held his wife in that terrible +and horrid position, with her mouth to the open wound in his breast. +It interested me, even at that moment, to see that whilst the face of +white set passion worked convulsively over the bowed head, the hands +tenderly and lovingly stroked the ruffled hair. Just as I had +finished, Quincey and Godalming knocked at the door. They entered in +obedience to our summons. Van Helsing looked at me questioningly. I +understood him to mean if we were to take advantage of their coming to +divert if possible the thoughts of the unhappy husband and wife from +each other and from themselves. So on nodding acquiescence to him he +asked them what they had seen or done. To which Lord Godalming +answered. + +"I could not see him anywhere in the passage, or in any of our rooms. +I looked in the study but, though he had been there, he had gone. He +had, however . . ." He stopped suddenly, looking at the poor drooping +figure on the bed. + +Van Helsing said gravely, "Go on, friend Arthur. We want here no more +concealments. Our hope now is in knowing all. Tell freely!" + +So Art went on, "He had been there, and though it could only have been +for a few seconds, he made rare hay of the place. All the manuscript +had been burned, and the blue flames were flickering amongst the white +ashes. The cylinders of your phonograph too were thrown on the fire, +and the wax had helped the flames." + +Here I interrupted. "Thank God there is the other copy in the safe!" + +His face lit for a moment, but fell again as he went on. "I ran +downstairs then, but could see no sign of him. I looked into +Renfield's room, but there was no trace there except . . ." Again he +paused. + +"Go on," said Harker hoarsely. So he bowed his head and moistening his +lips with his tongue, added, "except that the poor fellow is dead." + +Mrs. Harker raised her head, looking from one to the other of us she +said solemnly, "God's will be done!" + +I could not but feel that Art was keeping back something. But, as I +took it that it was with a purpose, I said nothing. + +Van Helsing turned to Morris and asked, "And you, friend Quincey, have +you any to tell?" + +"A little," he answered. "It may be much eventually, but at present I +can't say. I thought it well to know if possible where the Count +would go when he left the house. I did not see him, but I saw a bat +rise from Renfield's window, and flap westward. I expected to see him +in some shape go back to Carfax, but he evidently sought some other +lair. He will not be back tonight, for the sky is reddening in the +east, and the dawn is close. We must work tomorrow!" + +He said the latter words through his shut teeth. For a space of +perhaps a couple of minutes there was silence, and I could fancy that +I could hear the sound of our hearts beating. + +Then Van Helsing said, placing his hand tenderly on Mrs. Harker's +head, "And now, Madam Mina, poor dear, dear, Madam Mina, tell us +exactly what happened. God knows that I do not want that you be +pained, but it is need that we know all. For now more than ever has +all work to be done quick and sharp, and in deadly earnest. The day +is close to us that must end all, if it may be so, and now is the +chance that we may live and learn." + +The poor dear lady shivered, and I could see the tension of her nerves +as she clasped her husband closer to her and bent her head lower and +lower still on his breast. Then she raised her head proudly, and held +out one hand to Van Helsing who took it in his, and after stooping and +kissing it reverently, held it fast. The other hand was locked in +that of her husband, who held his other arm thrown round her +protectingly. After a pause in which she was evidently ordering her +thoughts, she began. + +"I took the sleeping draught which you had so kindly given me, but for +a long time it did not act. I seemed to become more wakeful, and +myriads of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind. All of +them connected with death, and vampires, with blood, and pain, and +trouble." Her husband involuntarily groaned as she turned to him and +said lovingly, "Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and +help me through the horrible task. If you only knew what an effort it +is to me to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand +how much I need your help. Well, I saw I must try to help the +medicine to its work with my will, if it was to do me any good, so I +resolutely set myself to sleep. Sure enough sleep must soon have come +to me, for I remember no more. Jonathan coming in had not waked me, +for he lay by my side when next I remember. There was in the room the +same thin white mist that I had before noticed. But I forget now if +you know of this. You will find it in my diary which I shall show you +later. I felt the same vague terror which had come to me before and +the same sense of some presence. I turned to wake Jonathan, but found +that he slept so soundly that it seemed as if it was he who had taken +the sleeping draught, and not I. I tried, but I could not wake him. +This caused me a great fear, and I looked around terrified. Then +indeed, my heart sank within me. Beside the bed, as if he had stepped +out of the mist, or rather as if the mist had turned into his figure, +for it had entirely disappeared, stood a tall, thin man, all in +black. I knew him at once from the description of the others. The +waxen face, the high aquiline nose, on which the light fell in a thin +white line, the parted red lips, with the sharp white teeth showing +between, and the red eyes that I had seemed to see in the sunset on +the windows of St. Mary's Church at Whitby. I knew, too, the red scar +on his forehead where Jonathan had struck him. For an instant my +heart stood still, and I would have screamed out, only that I was +paralyzed. In the pause he spoke in a sort of keen, cutting whisper, +pointing as he spoke to Jonathan. + +"'Silence! If you make a sound I shall take him and dash his brains +out before your very eyes.' I was appalled and was too bewildered to +do or say anything. With a mocking smile, he placed one hand upon my +shoulder and, holding me tight, bared my throat with the other, saying +as he did so, 'First, a little refreshment to reward my exertions. +You may as well be quiet. It is not the first time, or the second, +that your veins have appeased my thirst!' I was bewildered, and +strangely enough, I did not want to hinder him. I suppose it is a +part of the horrible curse that such is, when his touch is on his +victim. And oh, my God, my God, pity me! He placed his reeking lips +upon my throat!" Her husband groaned again. She clasped his hand +harder, and looked at him pityingly, as if he were the injured one, +and went on. + +"I felt my strength fading away, and I was in a half swoon. How long +this horrible thing lasted I know not, but it seemed that a long time +must have passed before he took his foul, awful, sneering mouth away. +I saw it drip with the fresh blood!" The remembrance seemed for a while +to overpower her, and she drooped and would have sunk down but for her +husband's sustaining arm. With a great effort she recovered herself +and went on. + +"Then he spoke to me mockingly, 'And so you, like the others, would +play your brains against mine. You would help these men to hunt me +and frustrate me in my design! You know now, and they know in part +already, and will know in full before long, what it is to cross my +path. They should have kept their energies for use closer to home. +Whilst they played wits against me, against me who commanded nations, +and intrigued for them, and fought for them, hundreds of years before +they were born, I was countermining them. And you, their best beloved +one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, kin of my +kin, my bountiful wine-press for a while, and shall be later on my +companion and my helper. You shall be avenged in turn, for not one of +them but shall minister to your needs. But as yet you are to be +punished for what you have done. You have aided in thwarting me. Now +you shall come to my call. When my brain says "Come!" to you, you +shall cross land or sea to do my bidding. And to that end this!' + +"With that he pulled open his shirt, and with his long sharp nails +opened a vein in his breast. When the blood began to spurt out, he +took my hands in one of his, holding them tight, and with the other +seized my neck and pressed my mouth to the wound, so that I must +either suffocate or swallow some to the . . . Oh, my God! My God! +What have I done? What have I done to deserve such a fate, I who have +tried to walk in meekness and righteousness all my days. God pity +me! Look down on a poor soul in worse than mortal peril. And in +mercy pity those to whom she is dear!" Then she began to rub her lips +as though to cleanse them from pollution. + +As she was telling her terrible story, the eastern sky began to +quicken, and everything became more and more clear. Harker was still +and quiet; but over his face, as the awful narrative went on, came a +grey look which deepened and deepened in the morning light, till when +the first red streak of the coming dawn shot up, the flesh stood +darkly out against the whitening hair. + +We have arranged that one of us is to stay within call of the unhappy +pair till we can meet together and arrange about taking action. + +Of this I am sure. The sun rises today on no more miserable house in +all the great round of its daily course. + + + + +CHAPTER 22 + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +3 October.--As I must do something or go mad, I write this diary. It +is now six o'clock, and we are to meet in the study in half an hour +and take something to eat, for Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward are +agreed that if we do not eat we cannot work our best. Our best will +be, God knows, required today. I must keep writing at every chance, +for I dare not stop to think. All, big and little, must go down. +Perhaps at the end the little things may teach us most. The teaching, +big or little, could not have landed Mina or me anywhere worse than we +are today. However, we must trust and hope. Poor Mina told me just +now, with the tears running down her dear cheeks, that it is in +trouble and trial that our faith is tested. That we must keep on +trusting, and that God will aid us up to the end. The end! Oh my +God! What end? . . . To work! To work! + +When Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward had come back from seeing poor +Renfield, we went gravely into what was to be done. First, Dr. Seward +told us that when he and Dr. Van Helsing had gone down to the room +below they had found Renfield lying on the floor, all in a heap. His +face was all bruised and crushed in, and the bones of the neck were +broken. + +Dr. Seward asked the attendant who was on duty in the passage if he +had heard anything. He said that he had been sitting down, he +confessed to half dozing, when he heard loud voices in the room, and +then Renfield had called out loudly several times, "God! God! God!" +After that there was a sound of falling, and when he entered the room +he found him lying on the floor, face down, just as the doctors had +seen him. Van Helsing asked if he had heard "voices" or "a voice," +and he said he could not say. That at first it had seemed to him as +if there were two, but as there was no one in the room it could have +been only one. He could swear to it, if required, that the word "God" +was spoken by the patient. + +Dr. Seward said to us, when we were alone, that he did not wish to go +into the matter. The question of an inquest had to be considered, and +it would never do to put forward the truth, as no one would believe +it. As it was, he thought that on the attendant's evidence he could +give a certificate of death by misadventure in falling from bed. In +case the coroner should demand it, there would be a formal inquest, +necessarily to the same result. + +When the question began to be discussed as to what should be our next +step, the very first thing we decided was that Mina should be in full +confidence. That nothing of any sort, no matter how painful, should +be kept from her. She herself agreed as to its wisdom, and it was +pitiful to see her so brave and yet so sorrowful, and in such a depth +of despair. + +"There must be no concealment," she said. "Alas! We have had too +much already. And besides there is nothing in all the world that can +give me more pain than I have already endured, than I suffer now! +Whatever may happen, it must be of new hope or of new courage to me!" + +Van Helsing was looking at her fixedly as she spoke, and said, +suddenly but quietly, "But dear Madam Mina, are you not afraid. Not +for yourself, but for others from yourself, after what has happened?" + +Her face grew set in its lines, but her eyes shone with the devotion +of a martyr as she answered, "Ah no! For my mind is made up!" + +"To what?" he asked gently, whilst we were all very still, for each in +our own way we had a sort of vague idea of what she meant. + +Her answer came with direct simplicity, as though she was simply +stating a fact, "Because if I find in myself, and I shall watch keenly +for it, a sign of harm to any that I love, I shall die!" + +"You would not kill yourself?" he asked, hoarsely. + +"I would. If there were no friend who loved me, who would save me +such a pain, and so desperate an effort!" She looked at him meaningly +as she spoke. + +He was sitting down, but now he rose and came close to her and put his +hand on her head as he said solemnly. "My child, there is such an one +if it were for your good. For myself I could hold it in my account +with God to find such an euthanasia for you, even at this moment if it +were best. Nay, were it safe! But my child . . ." + +For a moment he seemed choked, and a great sob rose in his throat. He +gulped it down and went on, "There are here some who would stand +between you and death. You must not die. You must not die by any +hand, but least of all your own. Until the other, who has fouled your +sweet life, is true dead you must not die. For if he is still with +the quick Undead, your death would make you even as he is. No, you +must live! You must struggle and strive to live, though death would +seem a boon unspeakable. You must fight Death himself, though he come +to you in pain or in joy. By the day, or the night, in safety or in +peril! On your living soul I charge you that you do not die. Nay, +nor think of death, till this great evil be past." + +The poor dear grew white as death, and shook and shivered, as I have +seen a quicksand shake and shiver at the incoming of the tide. We +were all silent. We could do nothing. At length she grew more calm +and turning to him said sweetly, but oh so sorrowfully, as she held +out her hand, "I promise you, my dear friend, that if God will let me +live, I shall strive to do so. Till, if it may be in His good time, +this horror may have passed away from me." + +She was so good and brave that we all felt that our hearts were +strengthened to work and endure for her, and we began to discuss what +we were to do. I told her that she was to have all the papers in the +safe, and all the papers or diaries and phonographs we might hereafter +use, and was to keep the record as she had done before. She was +pleased with the prospect of anything to do, if "pleased" could be +used in connection with so grim an interest. + +As usual Van Helsing had thought ahead of everyone else, and was +prepared with an exact ordering of our work. + +"It is perhaps well," he said, "that at our meeting after our visit to +Carfax we decided not to do anything with the earth boxes that lay +there. Had we done so, the Count must have guessed our purpose, and +would doubtless have taken measures in advance to frustrate such an +effort with regard to the others. But now he does not know our +intentions. Nay, more, in all probability, he does not know that such +a power exists to us as can sterilize his lairs, so that he cannot use +them as of old. + +"We are now so much further advanced in our knowledge as to their +disposition that, when we have examined the house in Piccadilly, we may +track the very last of them. Today then, is ours, and in it rests our +hope. The sun that rose on our sorrow this morning guards us in its +course. Until it sets tonight, that monster must retain whatever form +he now has. He is confined within the limitations of his earthly +envelope. He cannot melt into thin air nor disappear through cracks +or chinks or crannies. If he go through a doorway, he must open the +door like a mortal. And so we have this day to hunt out all his lairs +and sterilize them. So we shall, if we have not yet catch him and +destroy him, drive him to bay in some place where the catching and the +destroying shall be, in time, sure." + +Here I started up for I could not contain myself at the thought that +the minutes and seconds so preciously laden with Mina's life and +happiness were flying from us, since whilst we talked action was +impossible. But Van Helsing held up his hand warningly. + +"Nay, friend Jonathan," he said, "in this, the quickest way home is +the longest way, so your proverb say. We shall all act and act with +desperate quick, when the time has come. But think, in all probable +the key of the situation is in that house in Piccadilly. The Count +may have many houses which he has bought. Of them he will have deeds +of purchase, keys and other things. He will have paper that he write +on. He will have his book of cheques. There are many belongings that +he must have somewhere. Why not in this place so central, so quiet, +where he come and go by the front or the back at all hours, when in +the very vast of the traffic there is none to notice. We shall go +there and search that house. And when we learn what it holds, then we +do what our friend Arthur call, in his phrases of hunt 'stop the +earths' and so we run down our old fox, so? Is it not?" + +"Then let us come at once," I cried, "we are wasting the precious, +precious time!" + +The Professor did not move, but simply said, "And how are we to get +into that house in Piccadilly?" + +"Any way!" I cried. "We shall break in if need be." + +"And your police? Where will they be, and what will they say?" + +I was staggered, but I knew that if he wished to delay he had a good +reason for it. So I said, as quietly as I could, "Don't wait more +than need be. You know, I am sure, what torture I am in." + +"Ah, my child, that I do. And indeed there is no wish of me to add to +your anguish. But just think, what can we do, until all the world be +at movement. Then will come our time. I have thought and thought, +and it seems to me that the simplest way is the best of all. Now we +wish to get into the house, but we have no key. Is it not so?" I +nodded. + +"Now suppose that you were, in truth, the owner of that house, and +could not still get in. And think there was to you no conscience of +the housebreaker, what would you do?" + +"I should get a respectable locksmith, and set him to work to pick the +lock for me." + +"And your police, they would interfere, would they not?" + +"Oh no! Not if they knew the man was properly employed." + +"Then," he looked at me as keenly as he spoke, "all that is in doubt +is the conscience of the employer, and the belief of your policemen as +to whether or not that employer has a good conscience or a bad one. +Your police must indeed be zealous men and clever, oh so clever, in +reading the heart, that they trouble themselves in such matter. No, +no, my friend Jonathan, you go take the lock off a hundred empty +houses in this your London, or of any city in the world, and if you do +it as such things are rightly done, and at the time such things are +rightly done, no one will interfere. I have read of a gentleman who +owned a so fine house in London, and when he went for months of summer +to Switzerland and lock up his house, some burglar come and broke +window at back and got in. Then he went and made open the shutters in +front and walk out and in through the door, before the very eyes of +the police. Then he have an auction in that house, and advertise it, +and put up big notice. And when the day come he sell off by a great +auctioneer all the goods of that other man who own them. Then he go +to a builder, and he sell him that house, making an agreement that he +pull it down and take all away within a certain time. And your police +and other authority help him all they can. And when that owner come +back from his holiday in Switzerland he find only an empty hole where +his house had been. This was all done en regle, and in our work we +shall be en regle too. We shall not go so early that the policemen +who have then little to think of, shall deem it strange. But we shall +go after ten o'clock, when there are many about, and such things would +be done were we indeed owners of the house." + +I could not but see how right he was and the terrible despair of +Mina's face became relaxed in thought. There was hope in such good +counsel. + +Van Helsing went on, "When once within that house we may find more +clues. At any rate some of us can remain there whilst the rest find +the other places where there be more earth boxes, at Bermondsey and +Mile End." + +Lord Godalming stood up. "I can be of some use here," he said. "I +shall wire to my people to have horses and carriages where they will +be most convenient." + +"Look here, old fellow," said Morris, "it is a capital idea to have +all ready in case we want to go horse backing, but don't you think +that one of your snappy carriages with its heraldic adornments in a +byway of Walworth or Mile End would attract too much attention for our +purpose? It seems to me that we ought to take cabs when we go south +or east. And even leave them somewhere near the neighbourhood we are +going to." + +"Friend Quincey is right!" said the Professor. "His head is what you +call in plane with the horizon. It is a difficult thing that we go to +do, and we do not want no peoples to watch us if so it may." + +Mina took a growing interest in everything and I was rejoiced to see +that the exigency of affairs was helping her to forget for a time the +terrible experience of the night. She was very, very pale, almost +ghastly, and so thin that her lips were drawn away, showing her teeth +in somewhat of prominence. I did not mention this last, lest it +should give her needless pain, but it made my blood run cold in my +veins to think of what had occurred with poor Lucy when the Count had +sucked her blood. As yet there was no sign of the teeth growing +sharper, but the time as yet was short, and there was time for fear. + +When we came to the discussion of the sequence of our efforts and of +the disposition of our forces, there were new sources of doubt. It +was finally agreed that before starting for Piccadilly we should +destroy the Count's lair close at hand. In case he should find it out +too soon, we should thus be still ahead of him in our work of +destruction. And his presence in his purely material shape, and at +his weakest, might give us some new clue. + +As to the disposal of forces, it was suggested by the Professor that, +after our visit to Carfax, we should all enter the house in +Piccadilly. That the two doctors and I should remain there, whilst +Lord Godalming and Quincey found the lairs at Walworth and Mile End +and destroyed them. It was possible, if not likely, the Professor +urged, that the Count might appear in Piccadilly during the day, and +that if so we might be able to cope with him then and there. At any +rate, we might be able to follow him in force. To this plan I +strenuously objected, and so far as my going was concerned, for I said +that I intended to stay and protect Mina. I thought that my mind was +made up on the subject, but Mina would not listen to my objection. She +said that there might be some law matter in which I could be useful. +That amongst the Count's papers might be some clue which I could +understand out of my experience in Transylvania. And that, as it was, +all the strength we could muster was required to cope with the Count's +extraordinary power. I had to give in, for Mina's resolution was +fixed. She said that it was the last hope for her that we should all +work together. + +"As for me," she said, "I have no fear. Things have been as bad as +they can be. And whatever may happen must have in it some element of +hope or comfort. Go, my husband! God can, if He wishes it, guard me +as well alone as with any one present." + +So I started up crying out, "Then in God's name let us come at once, +for we are losing time. The Count may come to Piccadilly earlier than +we think." + +"Not so!" said Van Helsing, holding up his hand. + +"But why?" I asked. + +"Do you forget," he said, with actually a smile, "that last night he +banqueted heavily, and will sleep late?" + +Did I forget! Shall I ever . . . can I ever! Can any of us ever +forget that terrible scene! Mina struggled hard to keep her brave +countenance, but the pain overmastered her and she put her hands +before her face, and shuddered whilst she moaned. Van Helsing had not +intended to recall her frightful experience. He had simply lost sight +of her and her part in the affair in his intellectual effort. + +When it struck him what he said, he was horrified at his +thoughtlessness and tried to comfort her. + +"Oh, Madam Mina," he said, "dear, dear, Madam Mina, alas! That I of +all who so reverence you should have said anything so forgetful. These +stupid old lips of mine and this stupid old head do not deserve so, +but you will forget it, will you not?" He bent low beside her as he +spoke. + +She took his hand, and looking at him through her tears, said +hoarsely, "No, I shall not forget, for it is well that I remember. +And with it I have so much in memory of you that is sweet, that I take +it all together. Now, you must all be going soon. Breakfast is +ready, and we must all eat that we may be strong." + +Breakfast was a strange meal to us all. We tried to be cheerful and +encourage each other, and Mina was the brightest and most cheerful of +us. When it was over, Van Helsing stood up and said, "Now, my dear +friends, we go forth to our terrible enterprise. Are we all armed, as +we were on that night when first we visited our enemy's lair. Armed +against ghostly as well as carnal attack?" + +We all assured him. + +"Then it is well. Now, Madam Mina, you are in any case quite safe +here until the sunset. And before then we shall return . . . if . . . +We shall return! But before we go let me see you armed against personal +attack. I have myself, since you came down, prepared your chamber by +the placing of things of which we know, so that He may not enter. Now +let me guard yourself. On your forehead I touch this piece of Sacred +Wafer in the name of the Father, the Son, and . . ." + +There was a fearful scream which almost froze our hearts to hear. As +he had placed the Wafer on Mina's forehead, it had seared it . . . had +burned into the flesh as though it had been a piece of white-hot metal. +My poor darling's brain had told her the significance of the fact as +quickly as her nerves received the pain of it, and the two so +overwhelmed her that her overwrought nature had its voice in that +dreadful scream. + +But the words to her thought came quickly. The echo of the scream had +not ceased to ring on the air when there came the reaction, and she +sank on her knees on the floor in an agony of abasement. Pulling her +beautiful hair over her face, as the leper of old his mantle, she +wailed out. + +"Unclean! Unclean! Even the Almighty shuns my polluted flesh! I +must bear this mark of shame upon my forehead until the Judgement +Day." + +They all paused. I had thrown myself beside her in an agony of +helpless grief, and putting my arms around held her tight. For a few +minutes our sorrowful hearts beat together, whilst the friends around +us turned away their eyes that ran tears silently. Then Van Helsing +turned and said gravely. So gravely that I could not help feeling +that he was in some way inspired, and was stating things outside +himself. + +"It may be that you may have to bear that mark till God himself see +fit, as He most surely shall, on the Judgement Day, to redress all +wrongs of the earth and of His children that He has placed thereon. +And oh, Madam Mina, my dear, my dear, may we who love you be there to +see, when that red scar, the sign of God's knowledge of what has been, +shall pass away, and leave your forehead as pure as the heart we know. +For so surely as we live, that scar shall pass away when God sees +right to lift the burden that is hard upon us. Till then we bear our +Cross, as His Son did in obedience to His Will. It may be that we are +chosen instruments of His good pleasure, and that we ascend to His +bidding as that other through stripes and shame. Through tears and +blood. Through doubts and fear, and all that makes the difference +between God and man." + +There was hope in his words, and comfort. And they made for +resignation. Mina and I both felt so, and simultaneously we each took +one of the old man's hands and bent over and kissed it. Then without +a word we all knelt down together, and all holding hands, swore to be +true to each other. We men pledged ourselves to raise the veil of +sorrow from the head of her whom, each in his own way, we loved. And +we prayed for help and guidance in the terrible task which lay before +us. It was then time to start. So I said farewell to Mina, a parting +which neither of us shall forget to our dying day, and we set out. + +To one thing I have made up my mind. If we find out that Mina must be +a vampire in the end, then she shall not go into that unknown and +terrible land alone. I suppose it is thus that in old times one +vampire meant many. Just as their hideous bodies could only rest in +sacred earth, so the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for +their ghastly ranks. + +We entered Carfax without trouble and found all things the same as on +the first occasion. It was hard to believe that amongst so prosaic +surroundings of neglect and dust and decay there was any ground for +such fear as already we knew. Had not our minds been made up, and had +there not been terrible memories to spur us on, we could hardly have +proceeded with our task. We found no papers, or any sign of use in +the house. And in the old chapel the great boxes looked just as we +had seen them last. + +Dr. Van Helsing said to us solemnly as we stood before him, "And now, +my friends, we have a duty here to do. We must sterilize this earth, +so sacred of holy memories, that he has brought from a far distant +land for such fell use. He has chosen this earth because it has been +holy. Thus we defeat him with his own weapon, for we make it more +holy still. It was sanctified to such use of man, now we sanctify it +to God." + +As he spoke he took from his bag a screwdriver and a wrench, and very +soon the top of one of the cases was thrown open. The earth smelled +musty and close, but we did not somehow seem to mind, for our +attention was concentrated on the Professor. Taking from his box a +piece of the Sacred Wafer he laid it reverently on the earth, and then +shutting down the lid began to screw it home, we aiding him as he +worked. + +One by one we treated in the same way each of the great boxes, and +left them as we had found them to all appearance. But in each was a +portion of the Host. When we closed the door behind us, the Professor +said solemnly, "So much is already done. It may be that with all the +others we can be so successful, then the sunset of this evening may +shine of Madam Mina's forehead all white as ivory and with no stain!" + +As we passed across the lawn on our way to the station to catch our +train we could see the front of the asylum. I looked eagerly, and in +the window of my own room saw Mina. I waved my hand to her, and +nodded to tell that our work there was successfully accomplished. She +nodded in reply to show that she understood. The last I saw, she was +waving her hand in farewell. It was with a heavy heart that we sought +the station and just caught the train, which was steaming in as we +reached the platform. I have written this in the train. + + +Piccadilly, 12:30 o'clock.--Just before we reached Fenchurch Street +Lord Godalming said to me, "Quincey and I will find a locksmith. You +had better not come with us in case there should be any difficulty. +For under the circumstances it wouldn't seem so bad for us to break +into an empty house. But you are a solicitor and the Incorporated Law +Society might tell you that you should have known better." + +I demurred as to my not sharing any danger even of odium, but he went +on, "Besides, it will attract less attention if there are not too many +of us. My title will make it all right with the locksmith, and with +any policeman that may come along. You had better go with Jack and +the Professor and stay in the Green Park. Somewhere in sight of the +house, and when you see the door opened and the smith has gone away, +do you all come across. We shall be on the lookout for you, and shall +let you in." + +"The advice is good!" said Van Helsing, so we said no more. Godalming +and Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another. At the +corner of Arlington Street our contingent got out and strolled into +the Green Park. My heart beat as I saw the house on which so much of +our hope was centred, looming up grim and silent in its deserted +condition amongst its more lively and spruce-looking neighbours. We +sat down on a bench within good view, and began to smoke cigars so as +to attract as little attention as possible. The minutes seemed to +pass with leaden feet as we waited for the coming of the others. + +At length we saw a four-wheeler drive up. Out of it, in leisurely +fashion, got Lord Godalming and Morris. And down from the box +descended a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of tools. +Morris paid the cabman, who touched his hat and drove away. Together +the two ascended the steps, and Lord Godalming pointed out what he +wanted done. The workman took off his coat leisurely and hung it on +one of the spikes of the rail, saying something to a policeman who +just then sauntered along. The policeman nodded acquiescence, and the +man kneeling down placed his bag beside him. After searching through +it, he took out a selection of tools which he proceeded to lay beside +him in orderly fashion. Then he stood up, looked in the keyhole, blew +into it, and turning to his employers, made some remark. Lord +Godalming smiled, and the man lifted a good sized bunch of keys. +Selecting one of them, he began to probe the lock, as if feeling his +way with it. After fumbling about for a bit he tried a second, and +then a third. All at once the door opened under a slight push from +him, and he and the two others entered the hall. We sat still. My +own cigar burnt furiously, but Van Helsing's went cold altogether. We +waited patiently as we saw the workman come out and bring his bag. +Then he held the door partly open, steadying it with his knees, whilst +he fitted a key to the lock. This he finally handed to Lord +Godalming, who took out his purse and gave him something. The man +touched his hat, took his bag, put on his coat and departed. Not a +soul took the slightest notice of the whole transaction. + +When the man had fairly gone, we three crossed the street and knocked +at the door. It was immediately opened by Quincey Morris, beside whom +stood Lord Godalming lighting a cigar. + +"The place smells so vilely," said the latter as we came in. It did +indeed smell vilely--like the old chapel at Carfax--and with our +previous experience it was plain to us that the Count had been using +the place pretty freely. We moved to explore the house, all keeping +together in case of attack, for we knew we had a strong and wily enemy +to deal with, and as yet we did not know whether the Count might not +be in the house. + +In the dining room, which lay at the back of the hall, we found eight +boxes of earth. Eight boxes only out of the nine which we sought! +Our work was not over, and would never be until we should have found +the missing box. + +First we opened the shutters of the window which looked out across a +narrow stone flagged yard at the blank face of a stable, pointed to +look like the front of a miniature house. There were no windows in +it, so we were not afraid of being overlooked. We did not lose any +time in examining the chests. With the tools which we had brought +with us we opened them, one by one, and treated them as we had treated +those others in the old chapel. It was evident to us that the Count +was not at present in the house, and we proceeded to search for any of +his effects. + +After a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms, from basement to +attic, we came to the conclusion that the dining room contained any +effects which might belong to the Count. And so we proceeded to +minutely examine them. They lay in a sort of orderly disorder on the +great dining room table. + +There were title deeds of the Piccadilly house in a great bundle, +deeds of the purchase of the houses at Mile End and Bermondsey, +notepaper, envelopes, and pens and ink. All were covered up in thin +wrapping paper to keep them from the dust. There were also a clothes +brush, a brush and comb, and a jug and basin. The latter containing +dirty water which was reddened as if with blood. Last of all was a +little heap of keys of all sorts and sizes, probably those belonging +to the other houses. + +When we had examined this last find, Lord Godalming and Quincey Morris +taking accurate notes of the various addresses of the houses in the +East and the South, took with them the keys in a great bunch, and set +out to destroy the boxes in these places. The rest of us are, with +what patience we can, waiting their return, or the coming of the +Count. + + + + +CHAPTER 23 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +3 October.--The time seemed terribly long whilst we were waiting for +the coming of Godalming and Quincey Morris. The Professor tried to +keep our minds active by using them all the time. I could see his +beneficent purpose, by the side glances which he threw from time to +time at Harker. The poor fellow is overwhelmed in a misery that is +appalling to see. Last night he was a frank, happy-looking man, with +strong, youthful face, full of energy, and with dark brown hair. +Today he is a drawn, haggard old man, whose white hair matches well +with the hollow burning eyes and grief-written lines of his face. His +energy is still intact. In fact, he is like a living flame. This may +yet be his salvation, for if all go well, it will tide him over the +despairing period. He will then, in a kind of way, wake again to the +realities of life. Poor fellow, I thought my own trouble was bad +enough, but his . . . ! + +The Professor knows this well enough, and is doing his best to keep +his mind active. What he has been saying was, under the +circumstances, of absorbing interest. So well as I can remember, here +it is: + +"I have studied, over and over again since they came into my hands, +all the papers relating to this monster, and the more I have studied, +the greater seems the necessity to utterly stamp him out. All through +there are signs of his advance. Not only of his power, but of his +knowledge of it. As I learned from the researches of my friend +Arminius of Buda-Pesth, he was in life a most wonderful man. Soldier, +statesman, and alchemist--which latter was the highest development of +the science knowledge of his time. He had a mighty brain, a learning +beyond compare, and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse. He +dared even to attend the Scholomance, and there was no branch of +knowledge of his time that he did not essay. + +"Well, in him the brain powers survived the physical death. Though it +would seem that memory was not all complete. In some faculties of +mind he has been, and is, only a child. But he is growing, and some +things that were childish at the first are now of man's stature. He +is experimenting, and doing it well. And if it had not been that we +have crossed his path he would be yet, he may be yet if we fail, the +father or furtherer of a new order of beings, whose road must lead +through Death, not Life." + +Harker groaned and said, "And this is all arrayed against my darling! +But how is he experimenting? The knowledge may help us to defeat +him!" + +"He has all along, since his coming, been trying his power, slowly but +surely. That big child-brain of his is working. Well for us, it is +as yet a child-brain. For had he dared, at the first, to attempt +certain things he would long ago have been beyond our power. However, +he means to succeed, and a man who has centuries before him can afford +to wait and to go slow. Festina lente may well be his motto." + +"I fail to understand," said Harker wearily. "Oh, do be more plain to +me! Perhaps grief and trouble are dulling my brain." + +The Professor laid his hand tenderly on his shoulder as he spoke, "Ah, +my child, I will be plain. Do you not see how, of late, this monster +has been creeping into knowledge experimentally. How he has been +making use of the zoophagous patient to effect his entry into friend +John's home. For your Vampire, though in all afterwards he can come +when and how he will, must at the first make entry only when asked +thereto by an inmate. But these are not his most important +experiments. Do we not see how at the first all these so great boxes +were moved by others. He knew not then but that must be so. But all +the time that so great child-brain of his was growing, and he began to +consider whether he might not himself move the box. So he began to +help. And then, when he found that this be all right, he try to move +them all alone. And so he progress, and he scatter these graves of +him. And none but he know where they are hidden. + +"He may have intend to bury them deep in the ground. So that only he +use them in the night, or at such time as he can change his form, they +do him equal well, and none may know these are his hiding place! But, +my child, do not despair, this knowledge came to him just too late! +Already all of his lairs but one be sterilize as for him. And before +the sunset this shall be so. Then he have no place where he can move +and hide. I delayed this morning that so we might be sure. Is there +not more at stake for us than for him? Then why not be more careful +than him? By my clock it is one hour and already, if all be well, +friend Arthur and Quincey are on their way to us. Today is our day, +and we must go sure, if slow, and lose no chance. See! There are +five of us when those absent ones return." + +Whilst we were speaking we were startled by a knock at the hall door, +the double postman's knock of the telegraph boy. We all moved out to +the hall with one impulse, and Van Helsing, holding up his hand to us +to keep silence, stepped to the door and opened it. The boy handed in +a dispatch. The Professor closed the door again, and after looking at +the direction, opened it and read aloud. + +"Look out for D. He has just now, 12:45, come from Carfax +hurriedly and hastened towards the South. He seems to be +going the round and may want to see you: Mina." + +There was a pause, broken by Jonathan Harker's voice, "Now, God be +thanked, we shall soon meet!" + +Van Helsing turned to him quickly and said, "God will act in His own +way and time. Do not fear, and do not rejoice as yet. For what we +wish for at the moment may be our own undoings." + +"I care for nothing now," he answered hotly, "except to wipe out this +brute from the face of creation. I would sell my soul to do it!" + +"Oh, hush, hush, my child!" said Van Helsing. "God does not purchase +souls in this wise, and the Devil, though he may purchase, does not +keep faith. But God is merciful and just, and knows your pain and +your devotion to that dear Madam Mina. Think you, how her pain would +be doubled, did she but hear your wild words. Do not fear any of us, +we are all devoted to this cause, and today shall see the end. The +time is coming for action. Today this Vampire is limit to the powers +of man, and till sunset he may not change. It will take him time to +arrive here, see it is twenty minutes past one, and there are yet some +times before he can hither come, be he never so quick. What we must +hope for is that my Lord Arthur and Quincey arrive first." + +About half an hour after we had received Mrs. Harker's telegram, there +came a quiet, resolute knock at the hall door. It was just an +ordinary knock, such as is given hourly by thousands of gentlemen, but +it made the Professor's heart and mine beat loudly. We looked at each +other, and together moved out into the hall. We each held ready to +use our various armaments, the spiritual in the left hand, the mortal +in the right. Van Helsing pulled back the latch, and holding the door +half open, stood back, having both hands ready for action. The +gladness of our hearts must have shown upon our faces when on the +step, close to the door, we saw Lord Godalming and Quincey Morris. +They came quickly in and closed the door behind them, the former +saying, as they moved along the hall: + +"It is all right. We found both places. Six boxes in each and we +destroyed them all." + +"Destroyed?" asked the Professor. + +"For him!" We were silent for a minute, and then Quincey said, +"There's nothing to do but to wait here. If, however, he doesn't turn +up by five o'clock, we must start off. For it won't do to leave Mrs. +Harker alone after sunset." + +"He will be here before long now," said Van Helsing, who had been +consulting his pocketbook. "Nota bene, in Madam's telegram he went +south from Carfax. That means he went to cross the river, and he +could only do so at slack of tide, which should be something before +one o'clock. That he went south has a meaning for us. He is as yet +only suspicious, and he went from Carfax first to the place where he +would suspect interference least. You must have been at Bermondsey +only a short time before him. That he is not here already shows that +he went to Mile End next. This took him some time, for he would then +have to be carried over the river in some way. Believe me, my +friends, we shall not have long to wait now. We should have ready +some plan of attack, so that we may throw away no chance. Hush, there +is no time now. Have all your arms! Be ready!" He held up a warning +hand as he spoke, for we all could hear a key softly inserted in the +lock of the hall door. + +I could not but admire, even at such a moment, the way in which a +dominant spirit asserted itself. In all our hunting parties and +adventures in different parts of the world, Quincey Morris had always +been the one to arrange the plan of action, and Arthur and I had been +accustomed to obey him implicitly. Now, the old habit seemed to be +renewed instinctively. With a swift glance around the room, he at +once laid out our plan of attack, and without speaking a word, with a +gesture, placed us each in position. Van Helsing, Harker, and I were +just behind the door, so that when it was opened the Professor could +guard it whilst we two stepped between the incomer and the door. +Godalming behind and Quincey in front stood just out of sight ready to +move in front of the window. We waited in a suspense that made the +seconds pass with nightmare slowness. The slow, careful steps came +along the hall. The Count was evidently prepared for some surprise, +at least he feared it. + +Suddenly with a single bound he leaped into the room. Winning a way +past us before any of us could raise a hand to stay him. There was +something so pantherlike in the movement, something so unhuman, that +it seemed to sober us all from the shock of his coming. The first to +act was Harker, who with a quick movement, threw himself before the +door leading into the room in the front of the house. As the Count +saw us, a horrible sort of snarl passed over his face, showing the +eyeteeth long and pointed. But the evil smile as quickly passed into +a cold stare of lion-like disdain. His expression again changed as, +with a single impulse, we all advanced upon him. It was a pity that +we had not some better organized plan of attack, for even at the +moment I wondered what we were to do. I did not myself know whether +our lethal weapons would avail us anything. + +Harker evidently meant to try the matter, for he had ready his great +Kukri knife and made a fierce and sudden cut at him. The blow was a +powerful one; only the diabolical quickness of the Count's leap back +saved him. A second less and the trenchant blade had shorn through +his heart. As it was, the point just cut the cloth of his coat, +making a wide gap whence a bundle of bank notes and a stream +of gold fell out. The expression of the Count's face was so hellish, +that for a moment I feared for Harker, though I saw him throw the +terrible knife aloft again for another stroke. Instinctively I moved +forward with a protective impulse, holding the Crucifix and Wafer in +my left hand. I felt a mighty power fly along my arm, and it was +without surprise that I saw the monster cower back before a similar +movement made spontaneously by each one of us. It would be impossible +to describe the expression of hate and baffled malignity, of anger and +hellish rage, which came over the Count's face. His waxen hue became +greenish-yellow by the contrast of his burning eyes, and the red scar +on the forehead showed on the pallid skin like a palpitating wound. +The next instant, with a sinuous dive he swept under Harker's arm, ere +his blow could fall, and grasping a handful of the money from the +floor, dashed across the room, threw himself at the window. Amid the +crash and glitter of the falling glass, he tumbled into the flagged +area below. Through the sound of the shivering glass I could hear the +"ting" of the gold, as some of the sovereigns fell on the flagging. + +We ran over and saw him spring unhurt from the ground. He, rushing up +the steps, crossed the flagged yard, and pushed open the stable door. +There he turned and spoke to us. + +"You think to baffle me, you with your pale faces all in a row, like +sheep in a butcher's. You shall be sorry yet, each one of you! You +think you have left me without a place to rest, but I have more. My +revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my +side. Your girls that you all love are mine already. And through +them you and others shall yet be mine, my creatures, to do my bidding +and to be my jackals when I want to feed. Bah!" + +With a contemptuous sneer, he passed quickly through the door, and we +heard the rusty bolt creak as he fastened it behind him. A door +beyond opened and shut. The first of us to speak was the Professor. +Realizing the difficulty of following him through the stable, we moved +toward the hall. + +"We have learnt something . . . much! Notwithstanding his brave words, +he fears us. He fears time, he fears want! For if not, why he hurry +so? His very tone betray him, or my ears deceive. Why take that +money? You follow quick. You are hunters of the wild beast, and +understand it so. For me, I make sure that nothing here may be of use +to him, if so that he returns." + +As he spoke he put the money remaining in his pocket, took the title +deeds in the bundle as Harker had left them, and swept the remaining +things into the open fireplace, where he set fire to them with a +match. + +Godalming and Morris had rushed out into the yard, and Harker had +lowered himself from the window to follow the Count. He had, however, +bolted the stable door, and by the time they had forced it open there +was no sign of him. Van Helsing and I tried to make inquiry at the +back of the house. But the mews was deserted and no one had seen him +depart. + +It was now late in the afternoon, and sunset was not far off. We had +to recognize that our game was up. With heavy hearts we agreed with +the Professor when he said, "Let us go back to Madam Mina. Poor, poor +dear Madam Mina. All we can do just now is done, and we can there, at +least, protect her. But we need not despair. There is but one more +earth box, and we must try to find it. When that is done all may yet +be well." + +I could see that he spoke as bravely as he could to comfort Harker. +The poor fellow was quite broken down, now and again he gave a low +groan which he could not suppress. He was thinking of his wife. + +With sad hearts we came back to my house, where we found Mrs. Harker +waiting us, with an appearance of cheerfulness which did honour to her +bravery and unselfishness. When she saw our faces, her own became as +pale as death. For a second or two her eyes were closed as if she +were in secret prayer. + +And then she said cheerfully, "I can never thank you all enough. Oh, +my poor darling!" + +As she spoke, she took her husband's grey head in her hands and kissed +it. + +"Lay your poor head here and rest it. All will yet be well, dear! God +will protect us if He so will it in His good intent." The poor fellow +groaned. There was no place for words in his sublime misery. + +We had a sort of perfunctory supper together, and I think it cheered +us all up somewhat. It was, perhaps, the mere animal heat of food to +hungry people, for none of us had eaten anything since breakfast, or +the sense of companionship may have helped us, but anyhow we were all +less miserable, and saw the morrow as not altogether without hope. + +True to our promise, we told Mrs. Harker everything which had passed. +And although she grew snowy white at times when danger had seemed to +threaten her husband, and red at others when his devotion to her was +manifested, she listened bravely and with calmness. When we came to +the part where Harker had rushed at the Count so recklessly, she clung +to her husband's arm, and held it tight as though her clinging could +protect him from any harm that might come. She said nothing, however, +till the narration was all done, and matters had been brought up to +the present time. + +Then without letting go her husband's hand she stood up amongst us and +spoke. Oh, that I could give any idea of the scene. Of that sweet, +sweet, good, good woman in all the radiant beauty of her youth and +animation, with the red scar on her forehead, of which she was +conscious, and which we saw with grinding of our teeth, remembering +whence and how it came. Her loving kindness against our grim hate. +Her tender faith against all our fears and doubting. And we, knowing +that so far as symbols went, she with all her goodness and purity and +faith, was outcast from God. + +"Jonathan," she said, and the word sounded like music on her lips it +was so full of love and tenderness, "Jonathan dear, and you all my +true, true friends, I want you to bear something in mind through all +this dreadful time. I know that you must fight. That you must +destroy even as you destroyed the false Lucy so that the true Lucy +might live hereafter. But it is not a work of hate. That poor soul +who has wrought all this misery is the saddest case of all. Just +think what will be his joy when he, too, is destroyed in his worser +part that his better part may have spiritual immortality. You must be +pitiful to him, too, though it may not hold your hands from his +destruction." + +As she spoke I could see her husband's face darken and draw together, +as though the passion in him were shriveling his being to its core. +Instinctively the clasp on his wife's hand grew closer, till his +knuckles looked white. She did not flinch from the pain which I knew +she must have suffered, but looked at him with eyes that were more +appealing than ever. + +As she stopped speaking he leaped to his feet, almost tearing his hand +from hers as he spoke. + +"May God give him into my hand just for long enough to destroy that +earthly life of him which we are aiming at. If beyond it I could send +his soul forever and ever to burning hell I would do it!" + +"Oh, hush! Oh, hush in the name of the good God. Don't say such +things, Jonathan, my husband, or you will crush me with fear and +horror. Just think, my dear . . . I have been thinking all this long, +long day of it . . . that . . . perhaps . . . some day . . . I, too, may +need such pity, and that some other like you, and with equal cause for +anger, may deny it to me! Oh, my husband! My husband, indeed I would +have spared you such a thought had there been another way. But I pray +that God may not have treasured your wild words, except as the +heart-broken wail of a very loving and sorely stricken man. Oh, God, +let these poor white hairs go in evidence of what he has suffered, who +all his life has done no wrong, and on whom so many sorrows have +come." + +We men were all in tears now. There was no resisting them, and we +wept openly. She wept, too, to see that her sweeter counsels had +prevailed. Her husband flung himself on his knees beside her, and +putting his arms round her, hid his face in the folds of her dress. +Van Helsing beckoned to us and we stole out of the room, leaving the +two loving hearts alone with their God. + +Before they retired the Professor fixed up the room against any coming +of the Vampire, and assured Mrs. Harker that she might rest in peace. +She tried to school herself to the belief, and manifestly for her +husband's sake, tried to seem content. It was a brave struggle, and +was, I think and believe, not without its reward. Van Helsing had +placed at hand a bell which either of them was to sound in case of any +emergency. When they had retired, Quincey, Godalming, and I arranged +that we should sit up, dividing the night between us, and watch over +the safety of the poor stricken lady. The first watch falls to +Quincey, so the rest of us shall be off to bed as soon as we can. + +Godalming has already turned in, for his is the second watch. Now +that my work is done I, too, shall go to bed. + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +3-4 October, close to midnight.--I thought yesterday would never end. +There was over me a yearning for sleep, in some sort of blind belief +that to wake would be to find things changed, and that any change must +now be for the better. Before we parted, we discussed what our next +step was to be, but we could arrive at no result. All we knew was +that one earth box remained, and that the Count alone knew where it +was. If he chooses to lie hidden, he may baffle us for years. And in +the meantime, the thought is too horrible, I dare not think of it even +now. This I know, that if ever there was a woman who was all +perfection, that one is my poor wronged darling. I loved her a +thousand times more for her sweet pity of last night, a pity that made +my own hate of the monster seem despicable. Surely God will not +permit the world to be the poorer by the loss of such a creature. This +is hope to me. We are all drifting reefwards now, and faith is our +only anchor. Thank God! Mina is sleeping, and sleeping without +dreams. I fear what her dreams might be like, with such terrible +memories to ground them in. She has not been so calm, within my +seeing, since the sunset. Then, for a while, there came over her face +a repose which was like spring after the blasts of March. I thought +at the time that it was the softness of the red sunset on her face, +but somehow now I think it has a deeper meaning. I am not sleepy +myself, though I am weary . . . weary to death. However, I must try +to sleep. For there is tomorrow to think of, and there is no rest for +me until . . . + + +Later--I must have fallen asleep, for I was awakened by Mina, who was +sitting up in bed, with a startled look on her face. I could see +easily, for we did not leave the room in darkness. She had placed a +warning hand over my mouth, and now she whispered in my ear, "Hush! +There is someone in the corridor!" I got up softly, and crossing the +room, gently opened the door. + +Just outside, stretched on a mattress, lay Mr. Morris, wide awake. He +raised a warning hand for silence as he whispered to me, "Hush! Go +back to bed. It is all right. One of us will be here all night. We +don't mean to take any chances!" + +His look and gesture forbade discussion, so I came back and told Mina. +She sighed and positively a shadow of a smile stole over her poor, +pale face as she put her arms round me and said softly, "Oh, thank God +for good brave men!" With a sigh she sank back again to sleep. I +write this now as I am not sleepy, though I must try again. + + +4 October, morning.--Once again during the night I was wakened by +Mina. This time we had all had a good sleep, for the grey of the +coming dawn was making the windows into sharp oblongs, and the gas +flame was like a speck rather than a disc of light. + +She said to me hurriedly, "Go, call the Professor. I want to see him +at once." + +"Why?" I asked. + +"I have an idea. I suppose it must have come in the night, and +matured without my knowing it. He must hypnotize me before the dawn, +and then I shall be able to speak. Go quick, dearest, the time is +getting close." + +I went to the door. Dr. Seward was resting on the mattress, and +seeing me, he sprang to his feet. + +"Is anything wrong?" he asked, in alarm. + +"No," I replied. "But Mina wants to see Dr. Van Helsing at once." + +"I will go," he said, and hurried into the Professor's room. + +Two or three minutes later Van Helsing was in the room in his dressing +gown, and Mr. Morris and Lord Godalming were with Dr. Seward at the +door asking questions. When the Professor saw Mina a smile, a +positive smile ousted the anxiety of his face. + +He rubbed his hands as he said, "Oh, my dear Madam Mina, this is +indeed a change. See! Friend Jonathan, we have got our dear Madam +Mina, as of old, back to us today!" Then turning to her, he said +cheerfully, "And what am I to do for you? For at this hour you do not +want me for nothing." + +"I want you to hypnotize me!" she said. "Do it before the dawn, for I +feel that then I can speak, and speak freely. Be quick, for the time +is short!" Without a word he motioned her to sit up in bed. + +Looking fixedly at her, he commenced to make passes in front of her, +from over the top of her head downward, with each hand in turn. Mina +gazed at him fixedly for a few minutes, during which my own heart beat +like a trip hammer, for I felt that some crisis was at hand. +Gradually her eyes closed, and she sat, stock still. Only by the +gentle heaving of her bosom could one know that she was alive. The +Professor made a few more passes and then stopped, and I could see +that his forehead was covered with great beads of perspiration. Mina +opened her eyes, but she did not seem the same woman. There was a +far-away look in her eyes, and her voice had a sad dreaminess which +was new to me. Raising his hand to impose silence, the Professor +motioned to me to bring the others in. They came on tiptoe, closing +the door behind them, and stood at the foot of the bed, looking on. +Mina appeared not to see them. The stillness was broken by Van +Helsing's voice speaking in a low level tone which would not break the +current of her thoughts. + +"Where are you?" The answer came in a neutral way. + +"I do not know. Sleep has no place it can call its own." For several +minutes there was silence. Mina sat rigid, and the Professor stood +staring at her fixedly. + +The rest of us hardly dared to breathe. The room was growing lighter. +Without taking his eyes from Mina's face, Dr. Van Helsing motioned me +to pull up the blind. I did so, and the day seemed just upon us. A +red streak shot up, and a rosy light seemed to diffuse itself through +the room. On the instant the Professor spoke again. + +"Where are you now?" + +The answer came dreamily, but with intention. It were as though she +were interpreting something. I have heard her use the same tone when +reading her shorthand notes. + +"I do not know. It is all strange to me!" + +"What do you see?" + +"I can see nothing. It is all dark." + +"What do you hear?" I could detect the strain in the Professor's +patient voice. + +"The lapping of water. It is gurgling by, and little waves leap. I +can hear them on the outside." + +"Then you are on a ship?'" + +We all looked at each other, trying to glean something each from the +other. We were afraid to think. + +The answer came quick, "Oh, yes!" + +"What else do you hear?" + +"The sound of men stamping overhead as they run about. There is the +creaking of a chain, and the loud tinkle as the check of the capstan +falls into the ratchet." + +"What are you doing?" + +"I am still, oh so still. It is like death!" The voice faded away +into a deep breath as of one sleeping, and the open eyes closed again. + +By this time the sun had risen, and we were all in the full light of +day. Dr. Van Helsing placed his hands on Mina's shoulders, and laid +her head down softly on her pillow. She lay like a sleeping child for +a few moments, and then, with a long sigh, awoke and stared in wonder +to see us all around her. + +"Have I been talking in my sleep?" was all she said. She seemed, +however, to know the situation without telling, though she was eager +to know what she had told. The Professor repeated the conversation, +and she said, "Then there is not a moment to lose. It may not be yet +too late!" + +Mr. Morris and Lord Godalming started for the door but the Professor's +calm voice called them back. + +"Stay, my friends. That ship, wherever it was, was weighing anchor at +the moment in your so great Port of London. Which of them is it that +you seek? God be thanked that we have once again a clue, though +whither it may lead us we know not. We have been blind somewhat. +Blind after the manner of men, since we can look back we see what we +might have seen looking forward if we had been able to see what we +might have seen! Alas, but that sentence is a puddle, is it not? We +can know now what was in the Count's mind, when he seize that money, +though Jonathan's so fierce knife put him in the danger that even he +dread. He meant escape. Hear me, ESCAPE! He saw that with but one +earth box left, and a pack of men following like dogs after a fox, +this London was no place for him. He have take his last earth box on +board a ship, and he leave the land. He think to escape, but no! We +follow him. Tally Ho! As friend Arthur would say when he put on his +red frock! Our old fox is wily. Oh! So wily, and we must follow +with wile. I, too, am wily and I think his mind in a little while. +In meantime we may rest and in peace, for there are between us which +he do not want to pass, and which he could not if he would. Unless +the ship were to touch the land, and then only at full or slack tide. +See, and the sun is just rose, and all day to sunset is us. Let us +take bath, and dress, and have breakfast which we all need, and which +we can eat comfortably since he be not in the same land with us." + +Mina looked at him appealingly as she asked, "But why need we seek him +further, when he is gone away from us?" + +He took her hand and patted it as he replied, "Ask me nothing as yet. +When we have breakfast, then I answer all questions." He would say no +more, and we separated to dress. + +After breakfast Mina repeated her question. He looked at her gravely +for a minute and then said sorrowfully, "Because my dear, dear Madam +Mina, now more than ever must we find him even if we have to follow +him to the jaws of Hell!" + +She grew paler as she asked faintly, "Why?" + +"Because," he answered solemnly, "he can live for centuries, and you +are but mortal woman. Time is now to be dreaded, since once he put +that mark upon your throat." + +I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint. + + + + +CHAPTER 24 + + +DR. SEWARD'S PHONOGRAPH DIARY + +SPOKEN BY VAN HELSING + +This to Jonathan Harker. + +You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina. We shall go to make our +search, if I can call it so, for it is not search but knowing, and we +seek confirmation only. But do you stay and take care of her today. +This is your best and most holiest office. This day nothing can find +him here. + +Let me tell you that so you will know what we four know already, for I +have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone away. He have gone back to +his Castle in Transylvania. I know it so well, as if a great hand of +fire wrote it on the wall. He have prepare for this in some way, and +that last earth box was ready to ship somewheres. For this he took +the money. For this he hurry at the last, lest we catch him before +the sun go down. It was his last hope, save that he might hide in the +tomb that he think poor Miss Lucy, being as he thought like him, keep +open to him. But there was not of time. When that fail he make +straight for his last resource, his last earth-work I might say did I +wish double entente. He is clever, oh so clever! He know that his +game here was finish. And so he decide he go back home. He find ship +going by the route he came, and he go in it. + +We go off now to find what ship, and whither bound. When we have +discover that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will comfort +you and poor Madam Mina with new hope. For it will be hope when you +think it over, that all is not lost. This very creature that we +pursue, he take hundreds of years to get so far as London. And yet in +one day, when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out. He is +finite, though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we +do. But we are strong, each in our purpose, and we are all more +strong together. Take heart afresh, dear husband of Madam Mina. This +battle is but begun and in the end we shall win. So sure as that God +sits on high to watch over His children. Therefore be of much comfort +till we return. + +VAN HELSING. + + + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +4 October.--When I read to Mina, Van Helsing's message in the +phonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably. Already the +certainty that the Count is out of the country has given her comfort. +And comfort is strength to her. For my own part, now that his +horrible danger is not face to face with us, it seems almost +impossible to believe in it. Even my own terrible experiences in +Castle Dracula seem like a long forgotten dream. Here in the crisp +autumn air in the bright sunlight. + +Alas! How can I disbelieve! In the midst of my thought my eye fell +on the red scar on my poor darling's white forehead. Whilst that +lasts, there can be no disbelief. Mina and I fear to be idle, so we +have been over all the diaries again and again. Somehow, although the +reality seem greater each time, the pain and the fear seem less. There +is something of a guiding purpose manifest throughout, which is +comforting. Mina says that perhaps we are the instruments of ultimate +good. It may be! I shall try to think as she does. We have never +spoken to each other yet of the future. It is better to wait till we +see the Professor and the others after their investigations. + +The day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day could run +for me again. It is now three o'clock. + + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +5 October, 5 P.M.--Our meeting for report. Present: Professor Van +Helsing, Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, Mr. Quincey Morris, Jonathan +Harker, Mina Harker. + +Dr. Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day to +discover on what boat and whither bound Count Dracula made his escape. + +"As I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania, I felt sure +that he must go by the Danube mouth, or by somewhere in the Black Sea, +since by that way he come. It was a dreary blank that was before us. +_Omne ignotum pro magnifico_; and so with heavy hearts we start to find +what ships leave for the Black Sea last night. He was in sailing +ship, since Madam Mina tell of sails being set. These not so +important as to go in your list of the shipping in the Times, and so +we go, by suggestion of Lord Godalming, to your Lloyd's, where are +note of all ships that sail, however so small. There we find that +only one Black Sea bound ship go out with the tide. She is the +Czarina Catherine, and she sail from Doolittle's Wharf for Varna, and +thence to other ports and up the Danube. 'So!' said I, 'this is the +ship whereon is the Count.' So off we go to Doolittle's Wharf, and +there we find a man in an office. From him we inquire of the goings +of the Czarina Catherine. He swear much, and he red face and loud of +voice, but he good fellow all the same. And when Quincey give him +something from his pocket which crackle as he roll it up, and put it +in a so small bag which he have hid deep in his clothing, he still +better fellow and humble servant to us. He come with us, and ask many +men who are rough and hot. These be better fellows too when they have +been no more thirsty. They say much of blood and bloom, and of others +which I comprehend not, though I guess what they mean. But +nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know. + +"They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about five +o'clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with high +nose and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning. That he be +all in black, except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him or +the time. That he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to +what ship sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some took him to the +office and then to the ship, where he will not go aboard but halt at +shore end of gangplank, and ask that the captain come to him. The +captain come, when told that he will be pay well, and though he swear +much at the first he agree to term. Then the thin man go and some one +tell him where horse and cart can be hired. He go there and soon he +come again, himself driving cart on which a great box. This he +himself lift down, though it take several to put it on truck for the +ship. He give much talk to captain as to how and where his box is to +be place. But the captain like it not and swear at him in many +tongues, and tell him that if he like he can come and see where it +shall be. But he say 'no,' that he come not yet, for that he have +much to do. Whereupon the captain tell him that he had better be +quick, with blood, for that his ship will leave the place, of blood, +before the turn of the tide, with blood. Then the thin man smile and +say that of course he must go when he think fit, but he will be +surprise if he go quite so soon. The captain swear again, polyglot, +and the thin man make him bow, and thank him, and say that he will so +far intrude on his kindness as to come aboard before the sailing. +Final the captain, more red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him +that he doesn't want no Frenchmen, with bloom upon them and also with +blood, in his ship, with blood on her also. And so, after asking +where he might purchase ship forms, he departed. + +"No one knew where he went 'or bloomin' well cared' as they said, for +they had something else to think of, well with blood again. For it +soon became apparent to all that the Czarina Catherine would not sail +as was expected. A thin mist began to creep up from the river, and it +grew, and grew. Till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all +around her. The captain swore polyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with +bloom and blood, but he could do nothing. The water rose and rose, +and he began to fear that he would lose the tide altogether. He was +in no friendly mood, when just at full tide, the thin man came up the +gangplank again and asked to see where his box had been stowed. Then +the captain replied that he wished that he and his box, old and with +much bloom and blood, were in hell. But the thin man did not be +offend, and went down with the mate and saw where it was place, and +came up and stood awhile on deck in fog. He must have come off by +himself, for none notice him. Indeed they thought not of him, for +soon the fog begin to melt away, and all was clear again. My friends +of the thirst and the language that was of bloom and blood laughed, as +they told how the captain's swears exceeded even his usual polyglot, +and was more than ever full of picturesque, when on questioning other +mariners who were on movement up and down the river that hour, he +found that few of them had seen any of fog at all, except where it lay +round the wharf. However, the ship went out on the ebb tide, and was +doubtless by morning far down the river mouth. She was then, when +they told us, well out to sea. + +"And so, my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a time, +for our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on his way +to the Danube mouth. To sail a ship takes time, go she never so +quick. And when we start to go on land more quick, and we meet him +there. Our best hope is to come on him when in the box between +sunrise and sunset. For then he can make no struggle, and we may deal +with him as we should. There are days for us, in which we can make +ready our plan. We know all about where he go. For we have seen the +owner of the ship, who have shown us invoices and all papers that can +be. The box we seek is to be landed in Varna, and to be given to an +agent, one Ristics who will there present his credentials. And so our +merchant friend will have done his part. When he ask if there be any +wrong, for that so, he can telegraph and have inquiry made at Varna, +we say 'no,' for what is to be done is not for police or of the +customs. It must be done by us alone and in our own way." + +When Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were certain +that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied, "We have +the best proof of that, your own evidence, when in the hypnotic trance +this morning." + +I asked him again if it were really necessary that they should pursue +the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving me, and I know that he +would surely go if the others went. He answered in growing passion, +at first quietly. As he went on, however, he grew more angry and more +forceful, till in the end we could not but see wherein was at least +some of that personal dominance which made him so long a master +amongst men. + +"Yes, it is necessary, necessary, necessary! For your sake in the +first, and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done much +harm already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and in the +short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small +measure in darkness and not knowing. All this have I told these +others. You, my dear Madam Mina, will learn it in the phonograph of +my friend John, or in that of your husband. I have told them how the +measure of leaving his own barren land, barren of peoples, and coming +to a new land where life of man teems till they are like the multitude +of standing corn, was the work of centuries. Were another of the +Undead, like him, to try to do what he has done, perhaps not all the +centuries of the world that have been, or that will be, could aid him. +With this one, all the forces of nature that are occult and deep and +strong must have worked together in some wonderous way. The very +place, where he have been alive, Undead for all these centuries, is +full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical world. There are +deep caverns and fissures that reach none know whither. There have +been volcanoes, some of whose openings still send out waters of +strange properties, and gases that kill or make to vivify. Doubtless, +there is something magnetic or electric in some of these combinations +of occult forces which work for physical life in strange way, and in +himself were from the first some great qualities. In a hard and +warlike time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve, more +subtle brain, more braver heart, than any man. In him some vital +principle have in strange way found their utmost. And as his body +keep strong and grow and thrive, so his brain grow too. All this +without that diabolic aid which is surely to him. For it have to +yield to the powers that come from, and are, symbolic of good. And +now this is what he is to us. He have infect you, oh forgive me, my +dear, that I must say such, but it is for good of you that I speak. He +infect you in such wise, that even if he do no more, you have only to +live, to live in your own old, sweet way, and so in time, death, which +is of man's common lot and with God's sanction, shall make you like to +him. This must not be! We have sworn together that it must not. +Thus are we ministers of God's own wish. That the world, and men for +whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose very +existence would defame Him. He have allowed us to redeem one soul +already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem +more. Like them we shall travel towards the sunrise. And like them, +if we fall, we fall in good cause." + +He paused and I said, "But will not the Count take his rebuff wisely? +Since he has been driven from England, will he not avoid it, as a +tiger does the village from which he has been hunted?" + +"Aha!" he said, "your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I shall +adopt him. Your maneater, as they of India call the tiger who has +once tasted blood of the human, care no more for the other prey, but +prowl unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from our village +is a tiger, too, a maneater, and he never cease to prowl. Nay, in +himself he is not one to retire and stay afar. In his life, his +living life, he go over the Turkey frontier and attack his enemy on +his own ground. He be beaten back, but did he stay? No! He come +again, and again, and again. Look at his persistence and endurance. +With the child-brain that was to him he have long since conceive the +idea of coming to a great city. What does he do? He find out the +place of all the world most of promise for him. Then he deliberately +set himself down to prepare for the task. He find in patience just +how is his strength, and what are his powers. He study new tongues. +He learn new social life, new environment of old ways, the politics, +the law, the finance, the science, the habit of a new land and a new +people who have come to be since he was. His glimpse that he have +had, whet his appetite only and enkeen his desire. Nay, it help him +to grow as to his brain. For it all prove to him how right he was at +the first in his surmises. He have done this alone, all alone! From +a ruin tomb in a forgotten land. What more may he not do when the +greater world of thought is open to him. He that can smile at death, +as we know him. Who can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill +off whole peoples. Oh! If such an one was to come from God, and not +the Devil, what a force for good might he not be in this old world of +ours. But we are pledged to set the world free. Our toil must be in +silence, and our efforts all in secret. For in this enlightened age, +when men believe not even what they see, the doubting of wise men +would be his greatest strength. It would be at once his sheath and +his armor, and his weapons to destroy us, his enemies, who are willing +to peril even our own souls for the safety of one we love. For the +good of mankind, and for the honour and glory of God." + +After a general discussion it was determined that for tonight nothing +be definitely settled. That we should all sleep on the facts, and try +to think out the proper conclusions. Tomorrow, at breakfast, we are +to meet again, and after making our conclusions known to one another, +we shall decide on some definite cause of action . . . + +I feel a wonderful peace and rest tonight. It is as if some haunting +presence were removed from me. Perhaps . . . + +My surmise was not finished, could not be, for I caught sight in the +mirror of the red mark upon my forehead, and I knew that I was still +unclean. + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +5 October.--We all arose early, and I think that sleep did much for +each and all of us. When we met at early breakfast there was more +general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience +again. + +It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. +Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even +by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment. +More than once as we sat around the table, my eyes opened in wonder +whether the whole of the past days had not been a dream. It was only +when I caught sight of the red blotch on Mrs. Harker's forehead that I +was brought back to reality. Even now, when I am gravely revolving +the matter, it is almost impossible to realize that the cause of all +our trouble is still existent. Even Mrs. Harker seems to lose sight +of her trouble for whole spells. It is only now and again, when +something recalls it to her mind, that she thinks of her terrible +scar. We are to meet here in my study in half an hour and decide on +our course of action. I see only one immediate difficulty, I know it +by instinct rather than reason. We shall all have to speak frankly. +And yet I fear that in some mysterious way poor Mrs. Harker's tongue +is tied. I know that she forms conclusions of her own, and from all +that has been I can guess how brilliant and how true they must be. +But she will not, or cannot, give them utterance. I have mentioned +this to Van Helsing, and he and I are to talk it over when we are +alone. I suppose it is some of that horrid poison which has got into +her veins beginning to work. The Count had his own purposes when he +gave her what Van Helsing called "the Vampire's baptism of blood." +Well, there may be a poison that distills itself out of good things. +In an age when the existence of ptomaines is a mystery we should not +wonder at anything! One thing I know, that if my instinct be true +regarding poor Mrs. Harker's silences, then there is a terrible +difficulty, an unknown danger, in the work before us. The same power +that compels her silence may compel her speech. I dare not think +further, for so I should in my thoughts dishonour a noble woman! + + +Later.--When the Professor came in, we talked over the state of +things. I could see that he had something on his mind, which he +wanted to say, but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject. +After beating about the bush a little, he said, "Friend John, there is +something that you and I must talk of alone, just at the first at any +rate. Later, we may have to take the others into our confidence." + +Then he stopped, so I waited. He went on, "Madam Mina, our poor, dear +Madam Mina is changing." + +A cold shiver ran through me to find my worst fears thus endorsed. +Van Helsing continued. + +"With the sad experience of Miss Lucy, we must this time be warned +before things go too far. Our task is now in reality more difficult +than ever, and this new trouble makes every hour of the direst +importance. I can see the characteristics of the vampire coming in +her face. It is now but very, very slight. But it is to be seen if +we have eyes to notice without prejudge. Her teeth are sharper, and +at times her eyes are more hard. But these are not all, there is to +her the silence now often, as so it was with Miss Lucy. She did not +speak, even when she wrote that which she wished to be known later. +Now my fear is this. If it be that she can, by our hypnotic trance, +tell what the Count see and hear, is it not more true that he who have +hypnotize her first, and who have drink of her very blood and make her +drink of his, should if he will, compel her mind to disclose to him +that which she know?" + +I nodded acquiescence. He went on, "Then, what we must do is to +prevent this. We must keep her ignorant of our intent, and so she +cannot tell what she know not. This is a painful task! Oh, so +painful that it heartbreak me to think of it, but it must be. When +today we meet, I must tell her that for reason which we will not to +speak she must not more be of our council, but be simply guarded by +us." + +He wiped his forehead, which had broken out in profuse perspiration at +the thought of the pain which he might have to inflict upon the poor +soul already so tortured. I knew that it would be some sort of +comfort to him if I told him that I also had come to the same +conclusion. For at any rate it would take away the pain of doubt. I +told him, and the effect was as I expected. + +It is now close to the time of our general gathering. Van Helsing has +gone away to prepare for the meeting, and his painful part of it. I +really believe his purpose is to be able to pray alone. + + +Later.--At the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief was +experienced by both Van Helsing and myself. Mrs. Harker had sent a +message by her husband to say that she would not join us at present, +as she thought it better that we should be free to discuss our +movements without her presence to embarrass us. The Professor and I +looked at each other for an instant, and somehow we both seemed +relieved. For my own part, I thought that if Mrs. Harker realized the +danger herself, it was much pain as well as much danger averted. +Under the circumstances we agreed, by a questioning look and answer, +with finger on lip, to preserve silence in our suspicions, until we +should have been able to confer alone again. We went at once into our +Plan of Campaign. + +Van Helsing roughly put the facts before us first, "The Czarina +Catherine left the Thames yesterday morning. It will take her at the +quickest speed she has ever made at least three weeks to reach Varna. +But we can travel overland to the same place in three days. Now, if +we allow for two days less for the ship's voyage, owing to such +weather influences as we know that the Count can bring to bear, and if +we allow a whole day and night for any delays which may occur to us, +then we have a margin of nearly two weeks. + +"Thus, in order to be quite safe, we must leave here on 17th at +latest. Then we shall at any rate be in Varna a day before the ship +arrives, and able to make such preparations as may be necessary. Of +course we shall all go armed, armed against evil things, spiritual as +well as physical." + +Here Quincey Morris added, "I understand that the Count comes from a +wolf country, and it may be that he shall get there before us. I +propose that we add Winchesters to our armament. I have a kind of +belief in a Winchester when there is any trouble of that sort around. +Do you remember, Art, when we had the pack after us at Tobolsk? What +wouldn't we have given then for a repeater apiece!" + +"Good!" said Van Helsing, "Winchesters it shall be. Quincey's head is +level at times, but most so when there is to hunt, metaphor be more +dishonour to science than wolves be of danger to man. In the meantime +we can do nothing here. And as I think that Varna is not familiar to +any of us, why not go there more soon? It is as long to wait here as +there. Tonight and tomorrow we can get ready, and then if all be +well, we four can set out on our journey." + +"We four?" said Harker interrogatively, looking from one to another of +us. + +"Of course!" answered the Professor quickly. "You must remain to take +care of your so sweet wife!" + +Harker was silent for awhile and then said in a hollow voice, "Let us +talk of that part of it in the morning. I want to consult with Mina." + +I thought that now was the time for Van Helsing to warn him not to +disclose our plan to her, but he took no notice. I looked at him +significantly and coughed. For answer he put his finger to his lips +and turned away. + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +5 October, afternoon.--For some time after our meeting this morning I +could not think. The new phases of things leave my mind in a state of +wonder which allows no room for active thought. Mina's determination +not to take any part in the discussion set me thinking. And as I +could not argue the matter with her, I could only guess. I am as far +as ever from a solution now. The way the others received it, too +puzzled me. The last time we talked of the subject we agreed that +there was to be no more concealment of anything amongst us. Mina is +sleeping now, calmly and sweetly like a little child. Her lips are +curved and her face beams with happiness. Thank God, there are such +moments still for her. + + +Later.--How strange it all is. I sat watching Mina's happy sleep, and +I came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever be. As +the evening drew on, and the earth took its shadows from the sun +sinking lower, the silence of the room grew more and more solemn to +me. + +All at once Mina opened her eyes, and looking at me tenderly said, +"Jonathan, I want you to promise me something on your word of honour. +A promise made to me, but made holily in God's hearing, and not to be +broken though I should go down on my knees and implore you with bitter +tears. Quick, you must make it to me at once." + +"Mina," I said, "a promise like that, I cannot make at once. I may +have no right to make it." + +"But, dear one," she said, with such spiritual intensity that her eyes +were like pole stars, "it is I who wish it. And it is not for myself. +You can ask Dr. Van Helsing if I am not right. If he disagrees you +may do as you will. Nay, more if you all agree, later you are +absolved from the promise." + +"I promise!" I said, and for a moment she looked supremely happy. +Though to me all happiness for her was denied by the red scar on her +forehead. + +She said, "Promise me that you will not tell me anything of the plans +formed for the campaign against the Count. Not by word, or inference, +or implication, not at any time whilst this remains to me!" And she +solemnly pointed to the scar. I saw that she was in earnest, and said +solemnly, "I promise!" and as I said it I felt that from that instant +a door had been shut between us. + + +Later, midnight.--Mina has been bright and cheerful all the evening. +So much so that all the rest seemed to take courage, as if infected +somewhat with her gaiety. As a result even I myself felt as if the +pall of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted. We all +retired early. Mina is now sleeping like a little child. It is +wonderful thing that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the midst +of her terrible trouble. Thank God for it, for then at least she can +forget her care. Perhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety did +tonight. I shall try it. Oh! For a dreamless sleep. + +6 October, morning.--Another surprise. Mina woke me early, about the +same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring Dr. Van Helsing. I +thought that it was another occasion for hypnotism, and without +question went for the Professor. He had evidently expected some such +call, for I found him dressed in his room. His door was ajar, so that +he could hear the opening of the door of our room. He came at once. +As he passed into the room, he asked Mina if the others might come, +too. + +"No," she said quite simply, "it will not be necessary. You can tell +them just as well. I must go with you on your journey." + +Dr. Van Helsing was as startled as I was. After a moment's pause he +asked, "But why?" + +"You must take me with you. I am safer with you, and you shall be +safer, too." + +"But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our solemnest +duty. We go into danger, to which you are, or may be, more liable +than any of us from . . . from circumstances . . . things that have +been." He paused embarrassed. + +As she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her forehead. "I +know. That is why I must go. I can tell you now, whilst the sun is +coming up. I may not be able again. I know that when the Count wills +me I must go. I know that if he tells me to come in secret, I must by +wile. By any device to hoodwink, even Jonathan." God saw the look +that she turned on me as she spoke, and if there be indeed a Recording +Angel that look is noted to her ever-lasting honour. I could only +clasp her hand. I could not speak. My emotion was too great for even +the relief of tears. + +She went on. "You men are brave and strong. You are strong in your +numbers, for you can defy that which would break down the human +endurance of one who had to guard alone. Besides, I may be of +service, since you can hypnotize me and so learn that which even I +myself do not know." + +Dr. Van Helsing said gravely, "Madam Mina, you are, as always, most +wise. You shall with us come. And together we shall do that which we +go forth to achieve." + +When he had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her. +She had fallen back on her pillow asleep. She did not even wake when +I had pulled up the blind and let in the sunlight which flooded the +room. Van Helsing motioned to me to come with him quietly. We went +to his room, and within a minute Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, and Mr. +Morris were with us also. + +He told them what Mina had said, and went on. "In the morning we +shall leave for Varna. We have now to deal with a new factor, Madam +Mina. Oh, but her soul is true. It is to her an agony to tell us so +much as she has done. But it is most right, and we are warned in +time. There must be no chance lost, and in Varna we must be ready to +act the instant when that ship arrives." + +"What shall we do exactly?" asked Mr. Morris laconically. + +The Professor paused before replying, "We shall at the first board +that ship. Then, when we have identified the box, we shall place a +branch of the wild rose on it. This we shall fasten, for when it is +there none can emerge, so that at least says the superstition. And to +superstition must we trust at the first. It was man's faith in the +early, and it have its root in faith still. Then, when we get the +opportunity that we seek, when none are near to see, we shall open the +box, and . . . and all will be well." + +"I shall not wait for any opportunity," said Morris. "When I see the +box I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were a +thousand men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the next +moment!" I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm as a +piece of steel. I think he understood my look. I hope he did. + +"Good boy," said Dr. Van Helsing. "Brave boy. Quincey is all man. +God bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall lag +behind or pause from any fear. I do but say what we may do . . . what +we must do. But, indeed, indeed we cannot say what we may do. There +are so many things which may happen, and their ways and their ends are +so various that until the moment we may not say. We shall all be +armed, in all ways. And when the time for the end has come, our +effort shall not be lack. Now let us today put all our affairs in +order. Let all things which touch on others dear to us, and who on us +depend, be complete. For none of us can tell what, or when, or how, +the end may be. As for me, my own affairs are regulate, and as I have +nothing else to do, I shall go make arrangements for the travel. I +shall have all tickets and so forth for our journey." + +There was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now +settle up all my affairs of earth, and be ready for whatever may come. + + +Later.--It is done. My will is made, and all complete. Mina if she +survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the others who +have been so good to us shall have remainder. + +It is now drawing towards the sunset. Mina's uneasiness calls my +attention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mind which +the time of exact sunset will reveal. These occasions are becoming +harrowing times for us all. For each sunrise and sunset opens up some +new danger, some new pain, which however, may in God's will be means +to a good end. I write all these things in the diary since my darling +must not hear them now. But if it may be that she can see them again, +they shall be ready. She is calling to me. + + + + +CHAPTER 25 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +11 October, Evening.--Jonathan Harker has asked me to note this, as he +says he is hardly equal to the task, and he wants an exact record +kept. + +I think that none of us were surprised when we were asked to see Mrs. +Harker a little before the time of sunset. We have of late come to +understand that sunrise and sunset are to her times of peculiar +freedom. When her old self can be manifest without any controlling +force subduing or restraining her, or inciting her to action. This +mood or condition begins some half hour or more before actual sunrise +or sunset, and lasts till either the sun is high, or whilst the clouds +are still aglow with the rays streaming above the horizon. At first +there is a sort of negative condition, as if some tie were loosened, +and then the absolute freedom quickly follows. When, however, the +freedom ceases the change back or relapse comes quickly, preceded +only by a spell of warning silence. + +Tonight, when we met, she was somewhat constrained, and bore all the +signs of an internal struggle. I put it down myself to her making a +violent effort at the earliest instant she could do so. + +A very few minutes, however, gave her complete control of herself. +Then, motioning her husband to sit beside her on the sofa where she +was half reclining, she made the rest of us bring chairs up close. + +Taking her husband's hand in hers, she began, "We are all here +together in freedom, for perhaps the last time! I know that you will +always be with me to the end." This was to her husband whose hand had, +as we could see, tightened upon her. "In the morning we go out upon +our task, and God alone knows what may be in store for any of us. You +are going to be so good to me to take me with you. I know that all +that brave earnest men can do for a poor weak woman, whose soul +perhaps is lost, no, no, not yet, but is at any rate at stake, you +will do. But you must remember that I am not as you are. There is a +poison in my blood, in my soul, which may destroy me, which must +destroy me, unless some relief comes to us. Oh, my friends, you know +as well as I do, that my soul is at stake. And though I know there is +one way out for me, you must not and I must not take it!" She looked +appealingly to us all in turn, beginning and ending with her husband. + +"What is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. "What is +that way, which we must not, may not, take?" + +"That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, before +the greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you know, that were +I once dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit, even as +you did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of death, the only +thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die here now, amidst +the friends who love me. But death is not all. I cannot believe that +to die in such a case, when there is hope before us and a bitter task +to be done, is God's will. Therefore, I on my part, give up here the +certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the +blackest things that the world or the nether world holds!" + +We were all silent, for we knew instinctively that this was only a +prelude. The faces of the others were set, and Harker's grew ashen +grey. Perhaps, he guessed better than any of us what was coming. + +She continued, "This is what I can give into the hotch-pot." I could +not but note the quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place, +and with all seriousness. "What will each of you give? Your lives I +know," she went on quickly, "that is easy for brave men. Your lives +are God's, and you can give them back to Him, but what will you give +to me?" She looked again questioningly, but this time avoided her +husband's face. Quincey seemed to understand, he nodded, and her face +lit up. "Then I shall tell you plainly what I want, for there must be +no doubtful matter in this connection between us now. You must +promise me, one and all, even you, my beloved husband, that should the +time come, you will kill me." + +"What is that time?" The voice was Quincey's, but it was low and +strained. + +"When you shall be convinced that I am so changed that it is better +that I die that I may live. When I am thus dead in the flesh, then +you will, without a moment's delay, drive a stake through me and cut +off my head, or do whatever else may be wanting to give me rest!" + +Quincey was the first to rise after the pause. He knelt down before +her and taking her hand in his said solemnly, "I'm only a rough +fellow, who hasn't, perhaps, lived as a man should to win such a +distinction, but I swear to you by all that I hold sacred and dear +that, should the time ever come, I shall not flinch from the duty that +you have set us. And I promise you, too, that I shall make all +certain, for if I am only doubtful I shall take it that the time has +come!" + +"My true friend!" was all she could say amid her fast-falling tears, +as bending over, she kissed his hand. + +"I swear the same, my dear Madam Mina!" said Van Helsing. "And I!" +said Lord Godalming, each of them in turn kneeling to her to take the +oath. I followed, myself. + +Then her husband turned to her wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor +which subdued the snowy whiteness of his hair, and asked, "And must I, +too, make such a promise, oh, my wife?" + +"You too, my dearest," she said, with infinite yearning of pity in her +voice and eyes. "You must not shrink. You are nearest and dearest +and all the world to me. Our souls are knit into one, for all life +and all time. Think, dear, that there have been times when brave men +have killed their wives and their womenkind, to keep them from falling +into the hands of the enemy. Their hands did not falter any the more +because those that they loved implored them to slay them. It is men's +duty towards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And +oh, my dear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it +be at the hand of him that loves me best. Dr. Van Helsing, I have not +forgotten your mercy in poor Lucy's case to him who loved." She +stopped with a flying blush, and changed her phrase, "to him who had +best right to give her peace. If that time shall come again, I look +to you to make it a happy memory of my husband's life that it was his +loving hand which set me free from the awful thrall upon me." + +"Again I swear!" came the Professor's resonant voice. + +Mrs. Harker smiled, positively smiled, as with a sigh of relief she +leaned back and said, "And now one word of warning, a warning which +you must never forget. This time, if it ever come, may come quickly +and unexpectedly, and in such case you must lose no time in using your +opportunity. At such a time I myself might be . . . nay! If the time +ever come, shall be, leagued with your enemy against you. + +"One more request," she became very solemn as she said this, "it is +not vital and necessary like the other, but I want you to do one thing +for me, if you will." + +We all acquiesced, but no one spoke. There was no need to speak. + +"I want you to read the Burial Service." She was interrupted by a +deep groan from her husband. Taking his hand in hers, she held it +over her heart, and continued. "You must read it over me some day. +Whatever may be the issue of all this fearful state of things, it will +be a sweet thought to all or some of us. You, my dearest, will I hope +read it, for then it will be in your voice in my memory forever, come +what may!" + +"But oh, my dear one," he pleaded, "death is afar off from you." + +"Nay," she said, holding up a warning hand. "I am deeper in death at +this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me!" + +"Oh, my wife, must I read it?" he said, before he began. + +"It would comfort me, my husband!" was all she said, and he began to +read when she had got the book ready. + +How can I, how could anyone, tell of that strange scene, its +solemnity, its gloom, its sadness, its horror, and withal, its +sweetness. Even a sceptic, who can see nothing but a travesty of +bitter truth in anything holy or emotional, would have been melted to +the heart had he seen that little group of loving and devoted friends +kneeling round that stricken and sorrowing lady; or heard the tender +passion of her husband's voice, as in tones so broken and emotional +that often he had to pause, he read the simple and beautiful service +from the Burial of the Dead. I cannot go on . . . words . . . and +v-voices . . . f-fail m-me! + +She was right in her instinct. Strange as it was, bizarre as it may +hereafter seem even to us who felt its potent influence at the time, +it comforted us much. And the silence, which showed Mrs. Harker's +coming relapse from her freedom of soul, did not seem so full of +despair to any of us as we had dreaded. + + + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +15 October, Varna.--We left Charing Cross on the morning of the 12th, +got to Paris the same night, and took the places secured for us in the +Orient Express. We traveled night and day, arriving here at about +five o'clock. Lord Godalming went to the Consulate to see if any +telegram had arrived for him, whilst the rest of us came on to this +hotel, "the Odessus." The journey may have had incidents. I was, +however, too eager to get on, to care for them. Until the Czarina +Catherine comes into port there will be no interest for me in anything +in the wide world. Thank God! Mina is well, and looks to be getting +stronger. Her colour is coming back. She sleeps a great deal. +Throughout the journey she slept nearly all the time. Before sunrise +and sunset, however, she is very wakeful and alert. And it has become +a habit for Van Helsing to hypnotize her at such times. At first, +some effort was needed, and he had to make many passes. But now, she +seems to yield at once, as if by habit, and scarcely any action is +needed. He seems to have power at these particular moments to simply +will, and her thoughts obey him. He always asks her what she can see +and hear. + +She answers to the first, "Nothing, all is dark." + +And to the second, "I can hear the waves lapping against the ship, and +the water rushing by. Canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards +creak. The wind is high . . . I can hear it in the shrouds, and the +bow throws back the foam." + +It is evident that the Czarina Catherine is still at sea, hastening on +her way to Varna. Lord Godalming has just returned. He had four +telegrams, one each day since we started, and all to the same effect. +That the Czarina Catherine had not been reported to Lloyd's from +anywhere. He had arranged before leaving London that his agent should +send him every day a telegram saying if the ship had been reported. +He was to have a message even if she were not reported, so that he +might be sure that there was a watch being kept at the other end of +the wire. + +We had dinner and went to bed early. Tomorrow we are to see the Vice +Consul, and to arrange, if we can, about getting on board the ship as +soon as she arrives. Van Helsing says that our chance will be to get +on the boat between sunrise and sunset. The Count, even if he takes +the form of a bat, cannot cross the running water of his own volition, +and so cannot leave the ship. As he dare not change to man's form +without suspicion, which he evidently wishes to avoid, he must remain +in the box. If, then, we can come on board after sunrise, he is at +our mercy, for we can open the box and make sure of him, as we did of +poor Lucy, before he wakes. What mercy he shall get from us all will +not count for much. We think that we shall not have much trouble with +officials or the seamen. Thank God! This is the country where +bribery can do anything, and we are well supplied with money. We have +only to make sure that the ship cannot come into port between sunset +and sunrise without our being warned, and we shall be safe. Judge +Moneybag will settle this case, I think! + + +16 October.--Mina's report still the same. Lapping waves and rushing +water, darkness and favouring winds. We are evidently in good time, +and when we hear of the Czarina Catherine we shall be ready. As she +must pass the Dardanelles we are sure to have some report. + + +17 October.--Everything is pretty well fixed now, I think, to welcome +the Count on his return from his tour. Godalming told the shippers +that he fancied that the box sent aboard might contain something +stolen from a friend of his, and got a half consent that he might open +it at his own risk. The owner gave him a paper telling the Captain to +give him every facility in doing whatever he chose on board the ship, +and also a similar authorization to his agent at Varna. We have seen +the agent, who was much impressed with Godalming's kindly manner to +him, and we are all satisfied that whatever he can do to aid our +wishes will be done. + +We have already arranged what to do in case we get the box open. If +the Count is there, Van Helsing and Seward will cut off his head at +once and drive a stake through his heart. Morris and Godalming and I +shall prevent interference, even if we have to use the arms which we +shall have ready. The Professor says that if we can so treat the +Count's body, it will soon after fall into dust. In such case there +would be no evidence against us, in case any suspicion of murder were +aroused. But even if it were not, we should stand or fall by our act, +and perhaps some day this very script may be evidence to come between +some of us and a rope. For myself, I should take the chance only too +thankfully if it were to come. We mean to leave no stone unturned to +carry out our intent. We have arranged with certain officials that +the instant the Czarina Catherine is seen, we are to be informed by a +special messenger. + + +24 October.--A whole week of waiting. Daily telegrams to Godalming, +but only the same story. "Not yet reported." Mina's morning and +evening hypnotic answer is unvaried. Lapping waves, rushing water, +and creaking masts. + + + + +TELEGRAM, OCTOBER 24TH RUFUS SMITH, LLOYD'S, LONDON, +TO LORD GODALMING, CARE OF H. B. M. VICE CONSUL, VARNA + +"Czarina Catherine reported this morning from Dardanelles." + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +25 October.--How I miss my phonograph! To write a diary with a pen is +irksome to me! But Van Helsing says I must. We were all wild with +excitement yesterday when Godalming got his telegram from Lloyd's. I +know now what men feel in battle when the call to action is heard. +Mrs. Harker, alone of our party, did not show any signs of emotion. +After all, it is not strange that she did not, for we took special +care not to let her know anything about it, and we all tried not to +show any excitement when we were in her presence. In old days she +would, I am sure, have noticed, no matter how we might have tried to +conceal it. But in this way she is greatly changed during the past +three weeks. The lethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong +and well, and is getting back some of her colour, Van Helsing and I are +not satisfied. We talk of her often. We have not, however, said a +word to the others. It would break poor Harker's heart, certainly his +nerve, if he knew that we had even a suspicion on the subject. Van +Helsing examines, he tells me, her teeth very carefully, whilst she is +in the hypnotic condition, for he says that so long as they do not +begin to sharpen there is no active danger of a change in her. If +this change should come, it would be necessary to take steps! We both +know what those steps would have to be, though we do not mention our +thoughts to each other. We should neither of us shrink from the task, +awful though it be to contemplate. "Euthanasia" is an excellent and a +comforting word! I am grateful to whoever invented it. + +It is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here, at the +rate the Czarina Catherine has come from London. She should therefore +arrive some time in the morning, but as she cannot possibly get in +before noon, we are all about to retire early. We shall get up at one +o'clock, so as to be ready. + + +25 October, Noon.--No news yet of the ship's arrival. Mrs. Harker's +hypnotic report this morning was the same as usual, so it is possible +that we may get news at any moment. We men are all in a fever of +excitement, except Harker, who is calm. His hands are cold as ice, +and an hour ago I found him whetting the edge of the great Ghoorka +knife which he now always carries with him. It will be a bad lookout +for the Count if the edge of that "Kukri" ever touches his throat, +driven by that stern, ice-cold hand! + +Van Helsing and I were a little alarmed about Mrs. Harker today. +About noon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not like. +Although we kept silence to the others, we were neither of us happy +about it. She had been restless all the morning, so that we were at +first glad to know that she was sleeping. When, however, her husband +mentioned casually that she was sleeping so soundly that he could not +wake her, we went to her room to see for ourselves. She was breathing +naturally and looked so well and peaceful that we agreed that the +sleep was better for her than anything else. Poor girl, she has so +much to forget that it is no wonder that sleep, if it brings oblivion +to her, does her good. + + +Later.--Our opinion was justified, for when after a refreshing sleep +of some hours she woke up, she seemed brighter and better than she had +been for days. At sunset she made the usual hypnotic report. +Wherever he may be in the Black Sea, the Count is hurrying to his +destination. To his doom, I trust! + + + +26 October.--Another day and no tidings of the Czarina Catherine. She +ought to be here by now. That she is still journeying somewhere is +apparent, for Mrs. Harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still the +same. It is possible that the vessel may be lying by, at times, for +fog. Some of the steamers which came in last evening reported patches +of fog both to north and south of the port. We must continue our +watching, as the ship may now be signalled any moment. + + +27 October, Noon.--Most strange. No news yet of the ship we wait for. +Mrs. Harker reported last night and this morning as usual. "Lapping +waves and rushing water," though she added that "the waves were very +faint." The telegrams from London have been the same, "no further +report." Van Helsing is terribly anxious, and told me just now that he +fears the Count is escaping us. + +He added significantly, "I did not like that lethargy of Madam Mina's. +Souls and memories can do strange things during trance." I was about +to ask him more, but Harker just then came in, and he held up a +warning hand. We must try tonight at sunset to make her speak more +fully when in her hypnotic state. + + +28 October.--Telegram. Rufus Smith, London, to Lord Godalming, care +H. B. M. Vice Consul, Varna + +"Czarina Catherine reported entering Galatz at one o'clock today." + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +28 October.--When the telegram came announcing the arrival in Galatz I +do not think it was such a shock to any of us as might have been +expected. True, we did not know whence, or how, or when, the bolt +would come. But I think we all expected that something strange would +happen. The day of arrival at Varna made us individually satisfied +that things would not be just as we had expected. We only waited to +learn where the change would occur. None the less, however, it was a +surprise. I suppose that nature works on such a hopeful basis that we +believe against ourselves that things will be as they ought to be, not +as we should know that they will be. Transcendentalism is a beacon to +the angels, even if it be a will-o'-the-wisp to man. Van Helsing +raised his hand over his head for a moment, as though in remonstrance +with the Almighty. But he said not a word, and in a few seconds stood +up with his face sternly set. + +Lord Godalming grew very pale, and sat breathing heavily. I was +myself half stunned and looked in wonder at one after another. +Quincey Morris tightened his belt with that quick movement which I +knew so well. In our old wandering days it meant "action." Mrs. +Harker grew ghastly white, so that the scar on her forehead seemed to +burn, but she folded her hands meekly and looked up in prayer. Harker +smiled, actually smiled, the dark, bitter smile of one who is without +hope, but at the same time his action belied his words, for his hands +instinctively sought the hilt of the great Kukri knife and rested +there. + +"When does the next train start for Galatz?" said Van Helsing to us +generally. + +"At 6:30 tomorrow morning!" We all started, for the answer came from +Mrs. Harker. + +"How on earth do you know?" said Art. + +"You forget, or perhaps you do not know, though Jonathan does and so +does Dr. Van Helsing, that I am the train fiend. At home in Exeter I +always used to make up the time tables, so as to be helpful to my +husband. I found it so useful sometimes, that I always make a study +of the time tables now. I knew that if anything were to take us to +Castle Dracula we should go by Galatz, or at any rate through +Bucharest, so I learned the times very carefully. Unhappily there are +not many to learn, as the only train tomorrow leaves as I say." + +"Wonderful woman!" murmured the Professor. + +"Can't we get a special?" asked Lord Godalming. + +Van Helsing shook his head, "I fear not. This land is very different +from yours or mine. Even if we did have a special, it would probably +not arrive as soon as our regular train. Moreover, we have something +to prepare. We must think. Now let us organize. You, friend Arthur, +go to the train and get the tickets and arrange that all be ready for +us to go in the morning. Do you, friend Jonathan, go to the agent of +the ship and get from him letters to the agent in Galatz, with +authority to make a search of the ship just as it was here. Quincey +Morris, you see the Vice Consul, and get his aid with his fellow in +Galatz and all he can do to make our way smooth, so that no times be +lost when over the Danube. John will stay with Madam Mina and me, and +we shall consult. For so if time be long you may be delayed. And it +will not matter when the sun set, since I am here with Madam to make +report." + +"And I," said Mrs. Harker brightly, and more like her old self than +she had been for many a long day, "shall try to be of use in all ways, +and shall think and write for you as I used to do. Something is +shifting from me in some strange way, and I feel freer than I have +been of late!" + +The three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed to +realize the significance of her words. But Van Helsing and I, turning +to each other, met each a grave and troubled glance. We said nothing +at the time, however. + +When the three men had gone out to their tasks Van Helsing asked Mrs. +Harker to look up the copy of the diaries and find him the part of +Harker's journal at the Castle. She went away to get it. + +When the door was shut upon her he said to me, "We mean the same! +Speak out!" + +"Here is some change. It is a hope that makes me sick, for it may +deceive us." + +"Quite so. Do you know why I asked her to get the manuscript?" + +"No!" said I, "unless it was to get an opportunity of seeing me +alone." + +"You are in part right, friend John, but only in part. I want to tell +you something. And oh, my friend, I am taking a great, a terrible, +risk. But I believe it is right. In the moment when Madam Mina said +those words that arrest both our understanding, an inspiration came to +me. In the trance of three days ago the Count sent her his spirit to +read her mind. Or more like he took her to see him in his earth box +in the ship with water rushing, just as it go free at rise and set of +sun. He learn then that we are here, for she have more to tell in her +open life with eyes to see ears to hear than he, shut as he is, in his +coffin box. Now he make his most effort to escape us. At present he +want her not. + +"He is sure with his so great knowledge that she will come at his +call. But he cut her off, take her, as he can do, out of his own +power, that so she come not to him. Ah! There I have hope that our +man brains that have been of man so long and that have not lost the +grace of God, will come higher than his child-brain that lie in his +tomb for centuries, that grow not yet to our stature, and that do only +work selfish and therefore small. Here comes Madam Mina. Not a word +to her of her trance! She knows it not, and it would overwhelm her +and make despair just when we want all her hope, all her courage, when +most we want all her great brain which is trained like man's brain, +but is of sweet woman and have a special power which the Count give +her, and which he may not take away altogether, though he think not +so. Hush! Let me speak, and you shall learn. Oh, John, my friend, +we are in awful straits. I fear, as I never feared before. We can +only trust the good God. Silence! Here she comes!" + +I thought that the Professor was going to break down and have +hysterics, just as he had when Lucy died, but with a great effort he +controlled himself and was at perfect nervous poise when Mrs. Harker +tripped into the room, bright and happy looking and, in the doing of +work, seemingly forgetful of her misery. As she came in, she handed a +number of sheets of typewriting to Van Helsing. He looked over them +gravely, his face brightening up as he read. + +Then holding the pages between his finger and thumb he said, "Friend +John, to you with so much experience already, and you too, dear Madam +Mina, that are young, here is a lesson. Do not fear ever to think. A +half thought has been buzzing often in my brain, but I fear to let him +loose his wings. Here now, with more knowledge, I go back to where +that half thought come from and I find that he be no half thought at +all. That be a whole thought, though so young that he is not yet +strong to use his little wings. Nay, like the 'Ugly Duck' of my +friend Hans Andersen, he be no duck thought at all, but a big swan +thought that sail nobly on big wings, when the time come for him to +try them. See I read here what Jonathan have written. + +"That other of his race who, in a later age, again and again, brought +his forces over The Great River into Turkey Land, who when he was +beaten back, came again, and again, and again, though he had to come +alone from the bloody field where his troops were being slaughtered, +since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph. + +"What does this tell us? Not much? No! The Count's child thought +see nothing, therefore he speak so free. Your man thought see +nothing. My man thought see nothing, till just now. No! But there +comes another word from some one who speak without thought because +she, too, know not what it mean, what it might mean. Just as there +are elements which rest, yet when in nature's course they move on +their way and they touch, the pouf! And there comes a flash of light, +heaven wide, that blind and kill and destroy some. But that show up +all earth below for leagues and leagues. Is it not so? Well, I shall +explain. To begin, have you ever study the philosophy of crime? +'Yes' and 'No.' You, John, yes, for it is a study of insanity. You, +no, Madam Mina, for crime touch you not, not but once. Still, your +mind works true, and argues not a particulari ad universale. There is +this peculiarity in criminals. It is so constant, in all countries +and at all times, that even police, who know not much from philosophy, +come to know it empirically, that it is. That is to be empiric. The +criminal always work at one crime, that is the true criminal who seems +predestinate to crime, and who will of none other. This criminal has +not full man brain. He is clever and cunning and resourceful, but he +be not of man stature as to brain. He be of child brain in much. Now +this criminal of ours is predestinate to crime also. He, too, have +child brain, and it is of the child to do what he have done. The +little bird, the little fish, the little animal learn not by +principle, but empirically. And when he learn to do, then there is to +him the ground to start from to do more. 'Dos pou sto,' said +Archimedes. 'Give me a fulcrum, and I shall move the world!' To do +once, is the fulcrum whereby child brain become man brain. And until +he have the purpose to do more, he continue to do the same again every +time, just as he have done before! Oh, my dear, I see that your eyes +are opened, and that to you the lightning flash show all the leagues," +for Mrs. Harker began to clap her hands and her eyes sparkled. + +He went on, "Now you shall speak. Tell us two dry men of science what +you see with those so bright eyes." He took her hand and held it +whilst he spoke. His finger and thumb closed on her pulse, as I +thought instinctively and unconsciously, as she spoke. + +"The Count is a criminal and of criminal type. Nordau and Lombroso +would so classify him, and qua criminal he is of an imperfectly formed +mind. Thus, in a difficulty he has to seek resource in habit. His +past is a clue, and the one page of it that we know, and that from his +own lips, tells that once before, when in what Mr. Morris would call +a 'tight place,' he went back to his own country from the land he had +tried to invade, and thence, without losing purpose, prepared himself +for a new effort. He came again better equipped for his work, and +won. So he came to London to invade a new land. He was beaten, and +when all hope of success was lost, and his existence in danger, he +fled back over the sea to his home. Just as formerly he had fled back +over the Danube from Turkey Land." + +"Good, good! Oh, you so clever lady!" said Van Helsing, +enthusiastically, as he stooped and kissed her hand. A moment later +he said to me, as calmly as though we had been having a sick room +consultation, "Seventy-two only, and in all this excitement. I have +hope." + +Turning to her again, he said with keen expectation, "But go on. Go +on! There is more to tell if you will. Be not afraid. John and I +know. I do in any case, and shall tell you if you are right. Speak, +without fear!" + +"I will try to. But you will forgive me if I seem too egotistical." + +"Nay! Fear not, you must be egotist, for it is of you that we think." + +"Then, as he is criminal he is selfish. And as his intellect is small +and his action is based on selfishness, he confines himself to one +purpose. That purpose is remorseless. As he fled back over the +Danube, leaving his forces to be cut to pieces, so now he is intent on +being safe, careless of all. So his own selfishness frees my soul +somewhat from the terrible power which he acquired over me on that +dreadful night. I felt it! Oh, I felt it! Thank God, for His great +mercy! My soul is freer than it has been since that awful hour. And +all that haunts me is a fear lest in some trance or dream he may have +used my knowledge for his ends." + +The Professor stood up, "He has so used your mind, and by it he has +left us here in Varna, whilst the ship that carried him rushed through +enveloping fog up to Galatz, where, doubtless, he had made preparation +for escaping from us. But his child mind only saw so far. And it may +be that as ever is in God's Providence, the very thing that the evil +doer most reckoned on for his selfish good, turns out to be his +chiefest harm. The hunter is taken in his own snare, as the great +Psalmist says. For now that he think he is free from every trace of +us all, and that he has escaped us with so many hours to him, then his +selfish child brain will whisper him to sleep. He think, too, that as +he cut himself off from knowing your mind, there can be no knowledge +of him to you. There is where he fail! That terrible baptism of +blood which he give you makes you free to go to him in spirit, as you +have as yet done in your times of freedom, when the sun rise and set. +At such times you go by my volition and not by his. And this power to +good of you and others, you have won from your suffering at his hands. +This is now all more precious that he know it not, and to guard +himself have even cut himself off from his knowledge of our where. +We, however, are not selfish, and we believe that God is with us +through all this blackness, and these many dark hours. We shall +follow him, and we shall not flinch, even if we peril ourselves that +we become like him. Friend John, this has been a great hour, and it +have done much to advance us on our way. You must be scribe and write +him all down, so that when the others return from their work you can +give it to them, then they shall know as we do." + +And so I have written it whilst we wait their return, and Mrs. Harker +has written with the typewriter all since she brought the MS to us. + + + + +CHAPTER 26 + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +29 October.--This is written in the train from Varna to Galatz. Last +night we all assembled a little before the time of sunset. Each of us +had done his work as well as he could, so far as thought, and +endeavour, and opportunity go, we are prepared for the whole of our +journey, and for our work when we get to Galatz. When the usual time +came round Mrs. Harker prepared herself for her hypnotic effort, and +after a longer and more serious effort on the part of Van Helsing than +has been usually necessary, she sank into the trance. Usually she +speaks on a hint, but this time the Professor had to ask her +questions, and to ask them pretty resolutely, before we could learn +anything. At last her answer came. + +"I can see nothing. We are still. There are no waves lapping, but +only a steady swirl of water softly running against the hawser. I can +hear men's voices calling, near and far, and the roll and creak of +oars in the rowlocks. A gun is fired somewhere, the echo of it seems +far away. There is tramping of feet overhead, and ropes and chains +are dragged along. What is this? There is a gleam of light. I can +feel the air blowing upon me." + +Here she stopped. She had risen, as if impulsively, from where she +lay on the sofa, and raised both her hands, palms upwards, as if +lifting a weight. Van Helsing and I looked at each other with +understanding. Quincey raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her +intently, whilst Harker's hand instinctively closed round the hilt of +his Kukri. There was a long pause. We all knew that the time when +she could speak was passing, but we felt that it was useless to say +anything. + +Suddenly she sat up, and as she opened her eyes said sweetly, "Would +none of you like a cup of tea? You must all be so tired!" + +We could only make her happy, and so acqueisced. She bustled off to +get tea. When she had gone Van Helsing said, "You see, my friends. He +is close to land. He has left his earth chest. But he has yet to get +on shore. In the night he may lie hidden somewhere, but if he be not +carried on shore, or if the ship do not touch it, he cannot achieve +the land. In such case he can, if it be in the night, change his form +and jump or fly on shore, then, unless he be carried he cannot escape. +And if he be carried, then the customs men may discover what the box +contain. Thus, in fine, if he escape not on shore tonight, or before +dawn, there will be the whole day lost to him. We may then arrive in +time. For if he escape not at night we shall come on him in daytime, +boxed up and at our mercy. For he dare not be his true self, awake +and visible, lest he be discovered." + +There was no more to be said, so we waited in patience until the dawn, +at which time we might learn more from Mrs. Harker. + +Early this morning we listened, with breathless anxiety, for her +response in her trance. The hypnotic stage was even longer in coming +than before, and when it came the time remaining until full sunrise +was so short that we began to despair. Van Helsing seemed to throw +his whole soul into the effort. At last, in obedience to his will she +made reply. + +"All is dark. I hear lapping water, level with me, and some creaking +as of wood on wood." She paused, and the red sun shot up. We must +wait till tonight. + +And so it is that we are travelling towards Galatz in an agony of +expectation. We are due to arrive between two and three in the +morning. But already, at Bucharest, we are three hours late, so we +cannot possibly get in till well after sunup. Thus we shall have two +more hypnotic messages from Mrs. Harker! Either or both may possibly +throw more light on what is happening. + + +Later.--Sunset has come and gone. Fortunately it came at a time when +there was no distraction. For had it occurred whilst we were at a +station, we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation. +Mrs. Harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily than +this morning. I am in fear that her power of reading the Count's +sensations may die away, just when we want it most. It seems to me +that her imagination is beginning to work. Whilst she has been in the +trance hitherto she has confined herself to the simplest of facts. If +this goes on it may ultimately mislead us. If I thought that the +Count's power over her would die away equally with her power of +knowledge it would be a happy thought. But I am afraid that it may +not be so. + +When she did speak, her words were enigmatical, "Something is going +out. I can feel it pass me like a cold wind. I can hear, far off, +confused sounds, as of men talking in strange tongues, fierce falling +water, and the howling of wolves." She stopped and a shudder ran +through her, increasing in intensity for a few seconds, till at the +end, she shook as though in a palsy. She said no more, even in answer +to the Professor's imperative questioning. When she woke from the +trance, she was cold, and exhausted, and languid, but her mind was all +alert. She could not remember anything, but asked what she had said. +When she was told, she pondered over it deeply for a long time and in +silence. + + +30 October, 7 A.M.--We are near Galatz now, and I may not have time to +write later. Sunrise this morning was anxiously looked for by us all. +Knowing of the increasing difficulty of procuring the hypnotic trance, +Van Helsing began his passes earlier than usual. They produced no +effect, however, until the regular time, when she yielded with a still +greater difficulty, only a minute before the sun rose. The Professor +lost no time in his questioning. + +Her answer came with equal quickness, "All is dark. I hear water +swirling by, level with my ears, and the creaking of wood on wood. +Cattle low far off. There is another sound, a queer one like . . ." +She stopped and grew white, and whiter still. + +"Go on, go on! Speak, I command you!" said Van Helsing in an agonized +voice. At the same time there was despair in his eyes, for the risen +sun was reddening even Mrs. Harker's pale face. She opened her eyes, +and we all started as she said, sweetly and seemingly with the utmost +unconcern. + +"Oh, Professor, why ask me to do what you know I can't? I don't +remember anything." Then, seeing the look of amazement on our faces, +she said, turning from one to the other with a troubled look, "What +have I said? What have I done? I know nothing, only that I was lying +here, half asleep, and heard you say 'go on! speak, I command you!' It +seemed so funny to hear you order me about, as if I were a bad child!" + +"Oh, Madam Mina," he said, sadly, "it is proof, if proof be needed, of +how I love and honour you, when a word for your good, spoken more +earnest than ever, can seem so strange because it is to order her whom +I am proud to obey!" + +The whistles are sounding. We are nearing Galatz. We are on fire +with anxiety and eagerness. + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +30 October.--Mr. Morris took me to the hotel where our rooms had been +ordered by telegraph, he being the one who could best be spared, since +he does not speak any foreign language. The forces were distributed +much as they had been at Varna, except that Lord Godalming went to the +Vice Consul, as his rank might serve as an immediate guarantee of some +sort to the official, we being in extreme hurry. Jonathan and the two +doctors went to the shipping agent to learn particulars of the arrival +of the Czarina Catherine. + + +Later.--Lord Godalming has returned. The Consul is away, and the Vice +Consul sick. So the routine work has been attended to by a clerk. He +was very obliging, and offered to do anything in his power. + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +30 October.--At nine o'clock Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and I called +on Messrs. Mackenzie & Steinkoff, the agents of the London firm of +Hapgood. They had received a wire from London, in answer to Lord +Godalming's telegraphed request, asking them to show us any civility +in their power. They were more than kind and courteous, and took us +at once on board the Czarina Catherine, which lay at anchor out in the +river harbor. There we saw the Captain, Donelson by name, who told us +of his voyage. He said that in all his life he had never had so +favourable a run. + +"Man!" he said, "but it made us afeard, for we expect it that we +should have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill luck, so as to +keep up the average. It's no canny to run frae London to the Black +Sea wi' a wind ahint ye, as though the Deil himself were blawin' on +yer sail for his ain purpose. An' a' the time we could no speer a +thing. Gin we were nigh a ship, or a port, or a headland, a fog fell +on us and travelled wi' us, till when after it had lifted and we +looked out, the deil a thing could we see. We ran by Gibraltar wi' +oot bein' able to signal. An' til we came to the Dardanelles and had +to wait to get our permit to pass, we never were within hail o' +aught. At first I inclined to slack off sail and beat about till the +fog was lifted. But whiles, I thocht that if the Deil was minded to +get us into the Black Sea quick, he was like to do it whether we would +or no. If we had a quick voyage it would be no to our miscredit +wi' the owners, or no hurt to our traffic, an' the Old Mon who had +served his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no hinderin' +him." + +This mixture of simplicity and cunning, of superstition and commercial +reasoning, aroused Van Helsing, who said, "Mine friend, that Devil is +more clever than he is thought by some, and he know when he meet his +match!" + +The skipper was not displeased with the compliment, and went on, "When +we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumble. Some o' them, the +Roumanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had +been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just before we had +started frae London. I had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out +their twa fingers when they saw him, to guard them against the evil +eye. Man! but the supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly +rideeculous! I sent them aboot their business pretty quick, but as +just after a fog closed in on us I felt a wee bit as they did anent +something, though I wouldn't say it was again the big box. Well, on +we went, and as the fog didn't let up for five days I joost let the +wind carry us, for if the Deil wanted to get somewheres, well, he +would fetch it up a'reet. An' if he didn't, well, we'd keep a sharp +lookout anyhow. Sure eneuch, we had a fair way and deep water all the +time. And two days ago, when the mornin' sun came through the fog, we +found ourselves just in the river opposite Galatz. The Roumanians +were wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the box and fling +it in the river. I had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a handspike. An' +when the last o' them rose off the deck wi' his head in his hand, I +had convinced them that, evil eye or no evil eye, the property and the +trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the river Danube. +They had, mind ye, taken the box on the deck ready to fling in, and as +it was marked Galatz via Varna, I thocht I'd let it lie till we +discharged in the port an' get rid o't althegither. We didn't do much +clearin' that day, an' had to remain the nicht at anchor. But in the +mornin', braw an' airly, an hour before sunup, a man came aboard wi' +an order, written to him from England, to receive a box marked for one +Count Dracula. Sure eneuch the matter was one ready to his hand. He +had his papers a' reet, an' glad I was to be rid o' the dam' thing, +for I was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at it. If the Deil did have +any luggage aboord the ship, I'm thinkin' it was nane ither than that +same!" + +"What was the name of the man who took it?" asked Dr. Van Helsing with +restrained eagerness. + +"I'll be tellin' ye quick!" he answered, and stepping down to his +cabin, produced a receipt signed "Immanuel Hildesheim." Burgen-strasse +16 was the address. We found out that this was all the Captain knew, +so with thanks we came away. + +We found Hildesheim in his office, a Hebrew of rather the Adelphi +Theatre type, with a nose like a sheep, and a fez. His arguments were +pointed with specie, we doing the punctuation, and with a little +bargaining he told us what he knew. This turned out to be simple but +important. He had received a letter from Mr. de Ville of London, +telling him to receive, if possible before sunrise so as to avoid +customs, a box which would arrive at Galatz in the Czarina Catherine. +This he was to give in charge to a certain Petrof Skinsky, who dealt +with the Slovaks who traded down the river to the port. He had been +paid for his work by an English bank note, which had been duly cashed +for gold at the Danube International Bank. When Skinsky had come to +him, he had taken him to the ship and handed over the box, so as to +save porterage. That was all he knew. + +We then sought for Skinsky, but were unable to find him. One of his +neighbors, who did not seem to bear him any affection, said that he +had gone away two days before, no one knew whither. This was +corroborated by his landlord, who had received by messenger the key of +the house together with the rent due, in English money. This had been +between ten and eleven o'clock last night. We were at a standstill +again. + +Whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped out +that the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the +churchyard of St. Peter, and that the throat had been torn open as if +by some wild animal. Those we had been speaking with ran off to see +the horror, the women crying out. "This is the work of a Slovak!" We +hurried away lest we should have been in some way drawn into the +affair, and so detained. + +As we came home we could arrive at no definite conclusion. We were +all convinced that the box was on its way, by water, to somewhere, but +where that might be we would have to discover. With heavy hearts we +came home to the hotel to Mina. + +When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to taking Mina +again into our confidence. Things are getting desperate, and it is at +least a chance, though a hazardous one. As a preliminary step, I was +released from my promise to her. + + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +30 October, evening.--They were so tired and worn out and dispirited +that there was nothing to be done till they had some rest, so I asked +them all to lie down for half an hour whilst I should enter everything +up to the moment. I feel so grateful to the man who invented the +"Traveller's" typewriter, and to Mr. Morris for getting this one for +me. I should have felt quite astray doing the work if I had to write +with a pen . . . + +It is all done. Poor dear, dear Jonathan, what he must have suffered, +what he must be suffering now. He lies on the sofa hardly seeming to +breathe, and his whole body appears in collapse. His brows are knit. +His face is drawn with pain. Poor fellow, maybe he is thinking, and I +can see his face all wrinkled up with the concentration of his +thoughts. Oh! if I could only help at all. I shall do what I can. + +I have asked Dr. Van Helsing, and he has got me all the papers that I +have not yet seen. Whilst they are resting, I shall go over all +carefully, and perhaps I may arrive at some conclusion. I shall try +to follow the Professor's example, and think without prejudice on the +facts before me . . . + +I do believe that under God's providence I have made a discovery. I +shall get the maps and look over them. + +I am more than ever sure that I am right. My new conclusion is ready, +so I shall get our party together and read it. They can judge it. It +is well to be accurate, and every minute is precious. + + + +MINA HARKER'S MEMORANDUM + +(ENTERED IN HER JOURNAL) + + +Ground of inquiry.--Count Dracula's problem is to get back +to his own place. + +(a) He must be brought back by some one. This is evident; +for had he power to move himself as he wished he could go +either as man, or wolf, or bat, or in some other way. He +evidently fears discovery or interference, in the state of +helplessness in which he must be, confined as he is between +dawn and sunset in his wooden box. + +(b) How is he to be taken?--Here a process of exclusions may +help us. By road, by rail, by water? + +1. By Road.--There are endless difficulties, especially in +leaving the city. + +(x) There are people. And people are curious, and +investigate. A hint, a surmise, a doubt as to what might +be in the box, would destroy him. + +(y) There are, or there may be, customs and octroi officers +to pass. + +(z) His pursuers might follow. This is his highest fear. +And in order to prevent his being betrayed he has repelled, +so far as he can, even his victim, me! + +2. By Rail.--There is no one in charge of the box. It +would have to take its chance of being delayed, and delay +would be fatal, with enemies on the track. True, he might +escape at night. But what would he be, if left in a strange +place with no refuge that he could fly to? This is not what he +intends, and he does not mean to risk it. + +3. By Water.--Here is the safest way, in one respect, but +with most danger in another. On the water he is powerless +except at night. Even then he can only summon fog and storm and +snow and his wolves. But were he wrecked, the living water would +engulf him, helpless, and he would indeed be lost. He could have +the vessel drive to land, but if it were unfriendly land, wherein +he was not free to move, his position would still be desperate. + +We know from the record that he was on the water, so what +we have to do is to ascertain what water. + +The first thing is to realize exactly what he has done as +yet. We may, then, get a light on what his task is to be. + +Firstly.--We must differentiate between what he did in +London as part of his general plan of action, when he was +pressed for moments and had to arrange as best he could. + +Secondly.--We must see, as well as we can surmise it from the +facts we know of, what he has done here. + +As to the first, he evidently intended to arrive at Galatz, +and sent invoice to Varna to deceive us lest we should ascertain +his means of exit from England. His immediate and sole purpose +then was to escape. The proof of this, is the letter of +instructions sent to Immanuel Hildesheim to clear and take away +the box before sunrise. There is also the instruction to Petrof +Skinsky. These we must only guess at, but there must have been +some letter or message, since Skinsky came to Hildesheim. + +That, so far, his plans were successful we know. The Czarina +Catherine made a phenomenally quick journey. So much so that +Captain Donelson's suspicions were aroused. But his superstition +united with his canniness played the Count's game for him, and he +ran with his favouring wind through fogs and all till he brought +up blindfold at Galatz. That the Count's arrangements were well +made, has been proved. Hildesheim cleared the box, took it off, +and gave it to Skinsky. Skinsky took it, and here we lose the +trail. We only know that the box is somewhere on the water, +moving along. The customs and the octroi, if there be any, have +been avoided. + +Now we come to what the Count must have done after his +arrival, on land, at Galatz. + +The box was given to Skinsky before sunrise. At sunrise +the Count could appear in his own form. Here, we ask why +Skinsky was chosen at all to aid in the work? In my husband's +diary, Skinsky is mentioned as dealing with the Slovaks who trade +down the river to the port. And the man's remark, that the +murder was the work of a Slovak, showed the general feeling +against his class. The Count wanted isolation. + +My surmise is this, that in London the Count decided to get +back to his castle by water, as the most safe and secret +way. He was brought from the castle by Szgany, and probably they +delivered their cargo to Slovaks who took the boxes to Varna, for +there they were shipped to London. Thus the Count had knowledge +of the persons who could arrange this service. When the box was +on land, before sunrise or after sunset, he came out from his +box, met Skinsky and instructed him what to do as to arranging +the carriage of the box up some river. When this was done, and +he knew that all was in train, he blotted out his traces, as he +thought, by murdering his agent. + +I have examined the map and find that the river most +suitable for the Slovaks to have ascended is either the +Pruth or the Sereth. I read in the typescript that in my +trance I heard cows low and water swirling level with my +ears and the creaking of wood. The Count in his box, then, +was on a river in an open boat, propelled probably either +by oars or poles, for the banks are near and it is working +against stream. There would be no such if floating down +stream. + +Of course it may not be either the Sereth or the Pruth, but +we may possibly investigate further. Now of these two, the +Pruth is the more easily navigated, but the Sereth is, at +Fundu, joined by the Bistritza which runs up round the Borgo +Pass. The loop it makes is manifestly as close to Dracula's +castle as can be got by water. + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL--CONTINUED + +When I had done reading, Jonathan took me in his arms and kissed me. +The others kept shaking me by both hands, and Dr. Van Helsing said, +"Our dear Madam Mina is once more our teacher. Her eyes have been +where we were blinded. Now we are on the track once again, and this +time we may succeed. Our enemy is at his most helpless. And if we +can come on him by day, on the water, our task will be over. He has a +start, but he is powerless to hasten, as he may not leave this box +lest those who carry him may suspect. For them to suspect would be to +prompt them to throw him in the stream where he perish. This he +knows, and will not. Now men, to our Council of War, for here and +now, we must plan what each and all shall do." + +"I shall get a steam launch and follow him," said Lord Godalming. + +"And I, horses to follow on the bank lest by chance he land," said Mr. +Morris. + +"Good!" said the Professor, "both good. But neither must go alone. +There must be force to overcome force if need be. The Slovak is +strong and rough, and he carries rude arms." All the men smiled, for +amongst them they carried a small arsenal. + +Said Mr. Morris, "I have brought some Winchesters. They are pretty +handy in a crowd, and there may be wolves. The Count, if you +remember, took some other precautions. He made some requisitions on +others that Mrs. Harker could not quite hear or understand. We must +be ready at all points." + +Dr. Seward said, "I think I had better go with Quincey. We have been +accustomed to hunt together, and we two, well armed, will be a match +for whatever may come along. You must not be alone, Art. It may be +necessary to fight the Slovaks, and a chance thrust, for I don't +suppose these fellows carry guns, would undo all our plans. There +must be no chances, this time. We shall not rest until the Count's +head and body have been separated, and we are sure that he cannot +reincarnate." + +He looked at Jonathan as he spoke, and Jonathan looked at me. I could +see that the poor dear was torn about in his mind. Of course he +wanted to be with me. But then the boat service would, most likely, +be the one which would destroy the . . . the . . . Vampire. (Why did +I hesitate to write the word?) + +He was silent awhile, and during his silence Dr. Van Helsing spoke, +"Friend Jonathan, this is to you for twice reasons. First, because +you are young and brave and can fight, and all energies may be needed +at the last. And again that it is your right to destroy him. That, +which has wrought such woe to you and yours. Be not afraid for Madam +Mina. She will be my care, if I may. I am old. My legs are not so +quick to run as once. And I am not used to ride so long or to pursue +as need be, or to fight with lethal weapons. But I can be of other +service. I can fight in other way. And I can die, if need be, as +well as younger men. Now let me say that what I would is this. While +you, my Lord Godalming and friend Jonathan go in your so swift little +steamboat up the river, and whilst John and Quincey guard the bank +where perchance he might be landed, I will take Madam Mina right into +the heart of the enemy's country. Whilst the old fox is tied in his +box, floating on the running stream whence he cannot escape to land, +where he dares not raise the lid of his coffin box lest his Slovak +carriers should in fear leave him to perish, we shall go in the track +where Jonathan went, from Bistritz over the Borgo, and find our way to +the Castle of Dracula. Here, Madam Mina's hypnotic power will surely +help, and we shall find our way, all dark and unknown otherwise, after +the first sunrise when we are near that fateful place. There is much +to be done, and other places to be made sanctify, so that that nest of +vipers be obliterated." + +Here Jonathan interrupted him hotly, "Do you mean to say, Professor +Van Helsing, that you would bring Mina, in her sad case and tainted as +she is with that devil's illness, right into the jaws of his +deathtrap? Not for the world! Not for Heaven or Hell!" + +He became almost speechless for a minute, and then went on, "Do you +know what the place is? Have you seen that awful den of hellish +infamy, with the very moonlight alive with grisly shapes, and every +speck of dust that whirls in the wind a devouring monster in embryo? +Have you felt the Vampire's lips upon your throat?" + +Here he turned to me, and as his eyes lit on my forehead he threw up +his arms with a cry, "Oh, my God, what have we done to have this +terror upon us?" and he sank down on the sofa in a collapse of misery. + +The Professor's voice, as he spoke in clear, sweet tones, which seemed +to vibrate in the air, calmed us all. + +"Oh, my friend, it is because I would save Madam Mina from that awful +place that I would go. God forbid that I should take her into that +place. There is work, wild work, to be done before that place can be +purify. Remember that we are in terrible straits. If the Count +escape us this time, and he is strong and subtle and cunning, he may +choose to sleep him for a century, and then in time our dear one," he +took my hand, "would come to him to keep him company, and would be as +those others that you, Jonathan, saw. You have told us of their +gloating lips. You heard their ribald laugh as they clutched the +moving bag that the Count threw to them. You shudder, and well may it +be. Forgive me that I make you so much pain, but it is necessary. My +friend, is it not a dire need for that which I am giving, possibly my +life? If it were that any one went into that place to stay, it is I +who would have to go to keep them company." + +"Do as you will," said Jonathan, with a sob that shook him all over, +"we are in the hands of God!" + + +Later.--Oh, it did me good to see the way that these brave men worked. +How can women help loving men when they are so earnest, and so true, +and so brave! And, too, it made me think of the wonderful power of +money! What can it not do when basely used. I felt so thankful that +Lord Godalming is rich, and both he and Mr. Morris, who also has +plenty of money, are willing to spend it so freely. For if they did +not, our little expedition could not start, either so promptly or so +well equipped, as it will within another hour. It is not three hours +since it was arranged what part each of us was to do. And now Lord +Godalming and Jonathan have a lovely steam launch, with steam up ready +to start at a moment's notice. Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris have half a +dozen good horses, well appointed. We have all the maps and +appliances of various kinds that can be had. Professor Van Helsing +and I are to leave by the 11:40 train tonight for Veresti, where we +are to get a carriage to drive to the Borgo Pass. We are bringing a +good deal of ready money, as we are to buy a carriage and horses. We +shall drive ourselves, for we have no one whom we can trust in the +matter. The Professor knows something of a great many languages, so +we shall get on all right. We have all got arms, even for me a large +bore revolver. Jonathan would not be happy unless I was armed like +the rest. Alas! I cannot carry one arm that the rest do, the scar on +my forehead forbids that. Dear Dr. Van Helsing comforts me by telling +me that I am fully armed as there may be wolves. The weather is +getting colder every hour, and there are snow flurries which come and +go as warnings. + + +Later.--It took all my courage to say goodbye to my darling. We may +never meet again. Courage, Mina! The Professor is looking at you +keenly. His look is a warning. There must be no tears now, unless it +may be that God will let them fall in gladness. + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +30 October, night.--I am writing this in the light from the furnace +door of the steam launch. Lord Godalming is firing up. He is an +experienced hand at the work, as he has had for years a launch of his +own on the Thames, and another on the Norfolk Broads. Regarding our +plans, we finally decided that Mina's guess was correct, and that if +any waterway was chosen for the Count's escape back to his Castle, the +Sereth and then the Bistritza at its junction, would be the one. We +took it, that somewhere about the 47th degree, north latitude, would +be the place chosen for crossing the country between the river and the +Carpathians. We have no fear in running at good speed up the river at +night. There is plenty of water, and the banks are wide enough apart +to make steaming, even in the dark, easy enough. Lord Godalming tells +me to sleep for a while, as it is enough for the present for one to be +on watch. But I cannot sleep, how can I with the terrible danger +hanging over my darling, and her going out into that awful place . . . + +My only comfort is that we are in the hands of God. Only for that +faith it would be easier to die than to live, and so be quit of all +the trouble. Mr. Morris and Dr. Seward were off on their long ride +before we started. They are to keep up the right bank, far enough off +to get on higher lands where they can see a good stretch of river and +avoid the following of its curves. They have, for the first stages, +two men to ride and lead their spare horses, four in all, so as not to +excite curiosity. When they dismiss the men, which shall be shortly, +they shall themselves look after the horses. It may be necessary for +us to join forces. If so they can mount our whole party. One of the +saddles has a moveable horn, and can be easily adapted for Mina, if +required. + +It is a wild adventure we are on. Here, as we are rushing along +through the darkness, with the cold from the river seeming to rise up +and strike us, with all the mysterious voices of the night around us, +it all comes home. We seem to be drifting into unknown places and +unknown ways. Into a whole world of dark and dreadful things. +Godalming is shutting the furnace door . . . + + +31 October.--Still hurrying along. The day has come, and Godalming is +sleeping. I am on watch. The morning is bitterly cold, the furnace +heat is grateful, though we have heavy fur coats. As yet we have +passed only a few open boats, but none of them had on board any box or +package of anything like the size of the one we seek. The men were +scared every time we turned our electric lamp on them, and fell on +their knees and prayed. + + +1 November, evening.--No news all day. We have found nothing of the +kind we seek. We have now passed into the Bistritza, and if we are +wrong in our surmise our chance is gone. We have overhauled every +boat, big and little. Early this morning, one crew took us for a +Government boat, and treated us accordingly. We saw in this a way of +smoothing matters, so at Fundu, where the Bistritza runs into the +Sereth, we got a Roumanian flag which we now fly conspicuously. With +every boat which we have overhauled since then this trick has +succeeded. We have had every deference shown to us, and not once any +objection to whatever we chose to ask or do. Some of the Slovaks tell +us that a big boat passed them, going at more than usual speed as she +had a double crew on board. This was before they came to Fundu, so +they could not tell us whether the boat turned into the Bistritza or +continued on up the Sereth. At Fundu we could not hear of any such +boat, so she must have passed there in the night. I am feeling very +sleepy. The cold is perhaps beginning to tell upon me, and nature +must have rest some time. Godalming insists that he shall keep the +first watch. God bless him for all his goodness to poor dear Mina and +me. + + +2 November, morning.--It is broad daylight. That good fellow would +not wake me. He says it would have been a sin to, for I slept +peacefully and was forgetting my trouble. It seems brutally selfish +to me to have slept so long, and let him watch all night, but he was +quite right. I am a new man this morning. And, as I sit here and +watch him sleeping, I can do all that is necessary both as to minding +the engine, steering, and keeping watch. I can feel that my strength +and energy are coming back to me. I wonder where Mina is now, and Van +Helsing. They should have got to Veresti about noon on Wednesday. It +would take them some time to get the carriage and horses. So if they +had started and travelled hard, they would be about now at the Borgo +Pass. God guide and help them! I am afraid to think what may +happen. If we could only go faster. But we cannot. The engines are +throbbing and doing their utmost. I wonder how Dr. Seward and Mr. +Morris are getting on. There seem to be endless streams running down +the mountains into this river, but as none of them are very large, at +present, at all events, though they are doubtless terrible in winter +and when the snow melts, the horsemen may not have met much +obstruction. I hope that before we get to Strasba we may see them. +For if by that time we have not overtaken the Count, it may be +necessary to take counsel together what to do next. + + + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +2 November.--Three days on the road. No news, and no time to write it +if there had been, for every moment is precious. We have had only the +rest needful for the horses. But we are both bearing it wonderfully. +Those adventurous days of ours are turning up useful. We must push +on. We shall never feel happy till we get the launch in sight again. + + +3 November.--We heard at Fundu that the launch had gone up the +Bistritza. I wish it wasn't so cold. There are signs of snow coming. +And if it falls heavy it will stop us. In such case we must get a +sledge and go on, Russian fashion. + +4 November.--Today we heard of the launch having been detained by an +accident when trying to force a way up the rapids. The Slovak boats +get up all right, by aid of a rope and steering with knowledge. Some +went up only a few hours before. Godalming is an amateur fitter +himself, and evidently it was he who put the launch in trim again. + +Finally, they got up the rapids all right, with local help, and are off +on the chase afresh. I fear that the boat is not any better for the +accident, the peasantry tell us that after she got upon smooth water +again, she kept stopping every now and again so long as she was in +sight. We must push on harder than ever. Our help may be wanted +soon. + + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +31 October.--Arrived at Veresti at noon. The Professor tells me that +this morning at dawn he could hardly hypnotize me at all, and that all +I could say was, "dark and quiet." He is off now buying a carriage +and horses. He says that he will later on try to buy additional +horses, so that we may be able to change them on the way. We have +something more than 70 miles before us. The country is lovely, and +most interesting. If only we were under different conditions, how +delightful it would be to see it all. If Jonathan and I were driving +through it alone what a pleasure it would be. To stop and see people, +and learn something of their life, and to fill our minds and memories +with all the colour and picturesqueness of the whole wild, beautiful +country and the quaint people! But, alas! + + +Later.--Dr. Van Helsing has returned. He has got the carriage and +horses. We are to have some dinner, and to start in an hour. The +landlady is putting us up a huge basket of provisions. It seems +enough for a company of soldiers. The Professor encourages her, and +whispers to me that it may be a week before we can get any food again. +He has been shopping too, and has sent home such a wonderful lot of +fur coats and wraps, and all sorts of warm things. There will not be +any chance of our being cold. + +We shall soon be off. I am afraid to think what may happen to us. We +are truly in the hands of God. He alone knows what may be, and I pray +Him, with all the strength of my sad and humble soul, that He will +watch over my beloved husband. That whatever may happen, Jonathan may +know that I loved him and honoured him more than I can say, and that my +latest and truest thought will be always for him. + + + + +CHAPTER 27 + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +1 November.--All day long we have travelled, and at a good speed. The +horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated, for they go +willingly their full stage at best speed. We have now had so many +changes and find the same thing so constantly that we are encouraged +to think that the journey will be an easy one. Dr. Van Helsing is +laconic, he tells the farmers that he is hurrying to Bistritz, and +pays them well to make the exchange of horses. We get hot soup, or +coffee, or tea, and off we go. It is a lovely country. Full of +beauties of all imaginable kinds, and the people are brave, and +strong, and simple, and seem full of nice qualities. They are very, +very superstitious. In the first house where we stopped, when the +woman who served us saw the scar on my forehead, she crossed herself +and put out two fingers towards me, to keep off the evil eye. I +believe they went to the trouble of putting an extra amount of garlic +into our food, and I can't abide garlic. Ever since then I have taken +care not to take off my hat or veil, and so have escaped their +suspicions. We are travelling fast, and as we have no driver with us +to carry tales, we go ahead of scandal. But I daresay that fear of +the evil eye will follow hard behind us all the way. The Professor +seems tireless. All day he would not take any rest, though he made me +sleep for a long spell. At sunset time he hypnotized me, and he says +I answered as usual, "darkness, lapping water and creaking wood." So +our enemy is still on the river. I am afraid to think of Jonathan, +but somehow I have now no fear for him, or for myself. I write this +whilst we wait in a farmhouse for the horses to be ready. Dr. Van +Helsing is sleeping. Poor dear, he looks very tired and old and grey, +but his mouth is set as firmly as a conqueror's. Even in his sleep he +is intense with resolution. When we have well started I must make him +rest whilst I drive. I shall tell him that we have days before us, +and he must not break down when most of all his strength will be +needed . . . All is ready. We are off shortly. + + +2 November, morning.--I was successful, and we took turns driving all +night. Now the day is on us, bright though cold. There is a strange +heaviness in the air. I say heaviness for want of a better word. I +mean that it oppresses us both. It is very cold, and only our warm +furs keep us comfortable. At dawn Van Helsing hypnotized me. He says +I answered "darkness, creaking wood and roaring water," so the river +is changing as they ascend. I do hope that my darling will not run +any chance of danger, more than need be, but we are in God's hands. + + +2 November, night.--All day long driving. The country gets wilder as +we go, and the great spurs of the Carpathians, which at Veresti seemed +so far from us and so low on the horizon, now seem to gather round us +and tower in front. We both seem in good spirits. I think we make an +effort each to cheer the other, in the doing so we cheer ourselves. +Dr. Van Helsing says that by morning we shall reach the Borgo Pass. +The houses are very few here now, and the Professor says that the last +horse we got will have to go on with us, as we may not be able to +change. He got two in addition to the two we changed, so that now we +have a rude four-in-hand. The dear horses are patient and good, and +they give us no trouble. We are not worried with other travellers, +and so even I can drive. We shall get to the Pass in daylight. We do +not want to arrive before. So we take it easy, and have each a long +rest in turn. Oh, what will tomorrow bring to us? We go to seek the +place where my poor darling suffered so much. God grant that we may +be guided aright, and that He will deign to watch over my husband and +those dear to us both, and who are in such deadly peril. As for me, I +am not worthy in His sight. Alas! I am unclean to His eyes, and +shall be until He may deign to let me stand forth in His sight as one +of those who have not incurred His wrath. + + + + + +MEMORANDUM BY ABRAHAM VAN HELSING + +4 November.--This to my old and true friend John Seward, M.D., +of Purfleet, London, in case I may not see him. It may +explain. It is morning, and I write by a fire which all +the night I have kept alive, Madam Mina aiding me. It is +cold, cold. So cold that the grey heavy sky is full of +snow, which when it falls will settle for all winter as the +ground is hardening to receive it. It seems to have affected +Madam Mina. She has been so heavy of head all day that she was +not like herself. She sleeps, and sleeps, and sleeps! She who +is usual so alert, have done literally nothing all the day. She +even have lost her appetite. She make no entry into her little +diary, she who write so faithful at every pause. Something +whisper to me that all is not well. However, tonight she is more +_vif_. Her long sleep all day have refresh and restore her, for +now she is all sweet and bright as ever. At sunset I try to +hypnotize her, but alas! with no effect. The power has grown +less and less with each day, and tonight it fail me altogether. +Well, God's will be done, whatever it may be, and whithersoever +it may lead! + +Now to the historical, for as Madam Mina write not in her +stenography, I must, in my cumbrous old fashion, that so +each day of us may not go unrecorded. + +We got to the Borgo Pass just after sunrise yesterday +morning. When I saw the signs of the dawn I got ready for +the hypnotism. We stopped our carriage, and got down so +that there might be no disturbance. I made a couch with +furs, and Madam Mina, lying down, yield herself as usual, +but more slow and more short time than ever, to the hypnotic +sleep. As before, came the answer, "darkness and the swirling of +water." Then she woke, bright and radiant and we go on our way +and soon reach the Pass. At this time and place, she become all +on fire with zeal. Some new guiding power be in her manifested, +for she point to a road and say, "This is the way." + +"How know you it?" I ask. + +"Of course I know it," she answer, and with a pause, add, +"Have not my Jonathan travelled it and wrote of his travel?" + +At first I think somewhat strange, but soon I see that there be +only one such byroad. It is used but little, and very different +from the coach road from the Bukovina to Bistritz, which is more +wide and hard, and more of use. + +So we came down this road. When we meet other ways, not +always were we sure that they were roads at all, for they +be neglect and light snow have fallen, the horses know and +they only. I give rein to them, and they go on so patient. By +and by we find all the things which Jonathan have note in that +wonderful diary of him. Then we go on for long, long hours and +hours. At the first, I tell Madam Mina to sleep. She try, and +she succeed. She sleep all the time, till at the last, I feel +myself to suspicious grow, and attempt to wake her. But she +sleep on, and I may not wake her though I try. I do not wish to +try too hard lest I harm her. For I know that she have suffer +much, and sleep at times be all-in-all to her. I think I drowse +myself, for all of sudden I feel guilt, as though I have done +something. I find myself bolt up, with the reins in my hand, and +the good horses go along jog, jog, just as ever. I look down and +find Madam Mina still asleep. It is now not far off sunset time, +and over the snow the light of the sun flow in big yellow flood, +so that we throw great long shadow on where the mountain rise so +steep. For we are going up, and up, and all is oh so wild and +rocky, as though it were the end of the world. + +Then I arouse Madam Mina. This time she wake with not much +trouble, and then I try to put her to hypnotic sleep. But +she sleep not, being as though I were not. Still I try and +try, till all at once I find her and myself in dark, so I +look round, and find that the sun have gone down. Madam +Mina laugh, and I turn and look at her. She is now quite +awake, and look so well as I never saw her since that night +at Carfax when we first enter the Count's house. I am amaze, and +not at ease then. But she is so bright and tender and thoughtful +for me that I forget all fear. I light a fire, for we have +brought supply of wood with us, and she prepare food while I undo +the horses and set them, tethered in shelter, to feed. Then when +I return to the fire she have my supper ready. I go to help her, +but she smile, and tell me that she have eat already. That she +was so hungry that she would not wait. I like it not, and I have +grave doubts. But I fear to affright her, and so I am silent of +it. She help me and I eat alone, and then we wrap in fur and lie +beside the fire, and I tell her to sleep while I watch. But +presently I forget all of watching. And when I sudden remember +that I watch, I find her lying quiet, but awake, and looking at +me with so bright eyes. Once, twice more the same occur, and I +get much sleep till before morning. When I wake I try to +hypnotize her, but alas! though she shut her eyes obedient, she +may not sleep. The sun rise up, and up, and up, and then sleep +come to her too late, but so heavy that she will not wake. I +have to lift her up, and place her sleeping in the carriage when +I have harnessed the horses and made all ready. Madam still +sleep, and she look in her sleep more healthy and more redder +than before. And I like it not. And I am afraid, afraid, +afraid! I am afraid of all things, even to think but I must go +on my way. The stake we play for is life and death, or more than +these, and we must not flinch. + + +5 November, morning.--Let me be accurate in everything, for +though you and I have seen some strange things together, +you may at the first think that I, Van Helsing, am mad. +That the many horrors and the so long strain on nerves has +at the last turn my brain. + +All yesterday we travel, always getting closer to the +mountains, and moving into a more and more wild and desert +land. There are great, frowning precipices and much falling +water, and Nature seem to have held sometime her carnival. Madam +Mina still sleep and sleep. And though I did have hunger and +appeased it, I could not waken her, even for food. I began to +fear that the fatal spell of the place was upon her, tainted as +she is with that Vampire baptism. "Well," said I to myself, "if +it be that she sleep all the day, it shall also be that I do not +sleep at night." As we travel on the rough road, for a road of +an ancient and imperfect kind there was, I held down my head and +slept. + +Again I waked with a sense of guilt and of time passed, and +found Madam Mina still sleeping, and the sun low down. But +all was indeed changed. The frowning mountains seemed further +away, and we were near the top of a steep rising hill, on summit +of which was such a castle as Jonathan tell of in his diary. At +once I exulted and feared. For now, for good or ill, the end was +near. + +I woke Madam Mina, and again tried to hypnotize her, but +alas! unavailing till too late. Then, ere the great dark +came upon us, for even after down sun the heavens reflected +the gone sun on the snow, and all was for a time in a great +twilight. I took out the horses and fed them in what shelter I +could. Then I make a fire, and near it I make Madam Mina, now +awake and more charming than ever, sit comfortable amid her rugs. +I got ready food, but she would not eat, simply saying that she +had not hunger. I did not press her, knowing her unavailingness. +But I myself eat, for I must needs now be strong for all. Then, +with the fear on me of what might be, I drew a ring so big for +her comfort, round where Madam Mina sat. And over the ring I +passed some of the wafer, and I broke it fine so that all was +well guarded. She sat still all the time, so still as one dead. +And she grew whiter and even whiter till the snow was not more +pale, and no word she said. But when I drew near, she clung to +me, and I could know that the poor soul shook her from head to +feet with a tremor that was pain to feel. + +I said to her presently, when she had grown more quiet, +"Will you not come over to the fire?" for I wished to make +a test of what she could. She rose obedient, but when she +have made a step she stopped, and stood as one stricken. + +"Why not go on?" I asked. She shook her head, and coming +back, sat down in her place. Then, looking at me with open +eyes, as of one waked from sleep, she said simply, "I cannot!" +and remained silent. I rejoiced, for I knew that what she could +not, none of those that we dreaded could. Though there might be +danger to her body, yet her soul was safe! + +Presently the horses began to scream, and tore at their +tethers till I came to them and quieted them. When they +did feel my hands on them, they whinnied low as in joy, and +licked at my hands and were quiet for a time. Many times +through the night did I come to them, till it arrive to the +cold hour when all nature is at lowest, and every time my +coming was with quiet of them. In the cold hour the fire +began to die, and I was about stepping forth to replenish +it, for now the snow came in flying sweeps and with it a +chill mist. Even in the dark there was a light of some +kind, as there ever is over snow, and it seemed as though +the snow flurries and the wreaths of mist took shape as of +women with trailing garments. All was in dead, grim silence only +that the horses whinnied and cowered, as if in terror of the +worst. I began to fear, horrible fears. But then came to me the +sense of safety in that ring wherein I stood. I began too, to +think that my imaginings were of the night, and the gloom, and +the unrest that I have gone through, and all the terrible +anxiety. It was as though my memories of all Jonathan's horrid +experience were befooling me. For the snow flakes and the mist +began to wheel and circle round, till I could get as though a +shadowy glimpse of those women that would have kissed him. And +then the horses cowered lower and lower, and moaned in terror as +men do in pain. Even the madness of fright was not to them, so +that they could break away. I feared for my dear Madam Mina when +these weird figures drew near and circled round. I looked at her, +but she sat calm, and smiled at me. When I would have stepped to +the fire to replenish it, she caught me and held me back, and +whispered, like a voice that one hears in a dream, so low it was. + +"No! No! Do not go without. Here you are safe!" + +I turned to her, and looking in her eyes said, "But you? +It is for you that I fear!" + +Whereat she laughed, a laugh low and unreal, and said, "Fear +for me! Why fear for me? None safer in all the world from +them than I am," and as I wondered at the meaning of her +words, a puff of wind made the flame leap up, and I see the +red scar on her forehead. Then, alas! I knew. Did I not, +I would soon have learned, for the wheeling figures of mist +and snow came closer, but keeping ever without the Holy +circle. Then they began to materialize till, if God have +not taken away my reason, for I saw it through my eyes. +There were before me in actual flesh the same three women +that Jonathan saw in the room, when they would have kissed +his throat. I knew the swaying round forms, the bright +hard eyes, the white teeth, the ruddy colour, the voluptuous +lips. They smiled ever at poor dear Madam Mina. And as +their laugh came through the silence of the night, they +twined their arms and pointed to her, and said in those so +sweet tingling tones that Jonathan said were of the intolerable +sweetness of the water glasses, "Come, sister. Come to us. +Come!" + +In fear I turned to my poor Madam Mina, and my heart with +gladness leapt like flame. For oh! the terror in her sweet +eyes, the repulsion, the horror, told a story to my heart +that was all of hope. God be thanked she was not, yet, of +them. I seized some of the firewood which was by me, and +holding out some of the Wafer, advanced on them towards the +fire. They drew back before me, and laughed their low horrid +laugh. I fed the fire, and feared them not. For I knew that we +were safe within the ring, which she could not leave no more than +they could enter. The horses had ceased to moan, and lay still +on the ground. The snow fell on them softly, and they grew +whiter. I knew that there was for the poor beasts no more of +terror. + +And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall +through the snow gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and +full of woe and terror. But when that beautiful sun began +to climb the horizon life was to me again. At the first +coming of the dawn the horrid figures melted in the whirling +mist and snow. The wreaths of transparent gloom moved away +towards the castle, and were lost. + +Instinctively, with the dawn coming, I turned to Madam Mina, +intending to hypnotize her. But she lay in a deep and sudden +sleep, from which I could not wake her. I tried to hypnotize +through her sleep, but she made no response, none at all, and the +day broke. I fear yet to stir. I have made my fire and have +seen the horses, they are all dead. Today I have much to do here, +and I keep waiting till the sun is up high. For there may be +places where I must go, where that sunlight, though snow and mist +obscure it, will be to me a safety. + +I will strengthen me with breakfast, and then I will do my +terrible work. Madam Mina still sleeps, and God be thanked! She +is calm in her sleep . . . + + + +JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL + +4 November, evening.--The accident to the launch has been a terrible +thing for us. Only for it we should have overtaken the boat long ago, +and by now my dear Mina would have been free. I fear to think of her, +off on the wolds near that horrid place. We have got horses, and we +follow on the track. I note this whilst Godalming is getting ready. +We have our arms. The Szgany must look out if they mean to fight. Oh, +if only Morris and Seward were with us. We must only hope! If I +write no more Goodby Mina! God bless and keep you. + + + +DR. SEWARD'S DIARY + +5 November.--With the dawn we saw the body of Szgany before us dashing +away from the river with their leiter wagon. They surrounded it in a +cluster, and hurried along as though beset. The snow is falling +lightly and there is a strange excitement in the air. It may be our +own feelings, but the depression is strange. Far off I hear the +howling of wolves. The snow brings them down from the mountains, and +there are dangers to all of us, and from all sides. The horses are +nearly ready, and we are soon off. We ride to death of some one. God +alone knows who, or where, or what, or when, or how it may be . . . + + + + + +DR. VAN HELSING'S MEMORANDUM + +5 November, afternoon.--I am at least sane. Thank God for +that mercy at all events, though the proving it has been +dreadful. When I left Madam Mina sleeping within the Holy +circle, I took my way to the castle. The blacksmith hammer +which I took in the carriage from Veresti was useful, though the +doors were all open I broke them off the rusty hinges, lest some +ill intent or ill chance should close them, so that being entered +I might not get out. Jonathan's bitter experience served me +here. By memory of his diary I found my way to the old chapel, +for I knew that here my work lay. The air was oppressive. It +seemed as if there was some sulphurous fume, which at times made +me dizzy. Either there was a roaring in my ears or I heard afar +off the howl of wolves. Then I bethought me of my dear Madam +Mina, and I was in terrible plight. The dilemma had me between +his horns. + +Her, I had not dare to take into this place, but left safe +from the Vampire in that Holy circle. And yet even there +would be the wolf! I resolve me that my work lay here, and +that as to the wolves we must submit, if it were God's will. At +any rate it was only death and freedom beyond. So did I choose +for her. Had it but been for myself the choice had been easy, +the maw of the wolf were better to rest in than the grave of the +Vampire! So I make my choice to go on with my work. + +I knew that there were at least three graves to find, graves +that are inhabit. So I search, and search, and I find one +of them. She lay in her Vampire sleep, so full of life and +voluptuous beauty that I shudder as though I have come to +do murder. Ah, I doubt not that in the old time, when such +things were, many a man who set forth to do such a task as +mine, found at the last his heart fail him, and then his +nerve. So he delay, and delay, and delay, till the mere +beauty and the fascination of the wanton Undead have hypnotize +him. And he remain on and on, till sunset come, and the Vampire +sleep be over. Then the beautiful eyes of the fair woman open +and look love, and the voluptuous mouth present to a kiss, and +the man is weak. And there remain one more victim in the +Vampire fold. One more to swell the grim and grisly ranks +of the Undead! . . . + +There is some fascination, surely, when I am moved by the +mere presence of such an one, even lying as she lay in a +tomb fretted with age and heavy with the dust of centuries, +though there be that horrid odour such as the lairs of the +Count have had. Yes, I was moved. I, Van Helsing, with +all my purpose and with my motive for hate. I was moved to +a yearning for delay which seemed to paralyze my faculties +and to clog my very soul. It may have been that the need +of natural sleep, and the strange oppression of the air +were beginning to overcome me. Certain it was that I was +lapsing into sleep, the open eyed sleep of one who yields +to a sweet fascination, when there came through the snow-stilled +air a long, low wail, so full of woe and pity that it woke me +like the sound of a clarion. For it was the voice of my dear +Madam Mina that I heard. + +Then I braced myself again to my horrid task, and found by +wrenching away tomb tops one other of the sisters, the other dark +one. I dared not pause to look on her as I had on her sister, +lest once more I should begin to be enthrall. But I go on +searching until, presently, I find in a high great tomb as if +made to one much beloved that other fair sister which, like +Jonathan I had seen to gather herself out of the atoms of the +mist. She was so fair to look on, so radiantly beautiful, so +exquisitely voluptuous, that the very instinct of man in me, +which calls some of my sex to love and to protect one of hers, +made my head whirl with new emotion. But God be thanked, that +soul wail of my dear Madam Mina had not died out of my ears. +And, before the spell could be wrought further upon me, I had +nerved myself to my wild work. By this time I had searched all +the tombs in the chapel, so far as I could tell. And as there +had been only three of these Undead phantoms around us in the +night, I took it that there were no more of active Undead +existent. There was one great tomb more lordly than all the +rest. Huge it was, and nobly proportioned. On it was but one +word. + + + DRACULA + + +This then was the Undead home of the King Vampire, to whom +so many more were due. Its emptiness spoke eloquent to +make certain what I knew. Before I began to restore these +women to their dead selves through my awful work, I laid in +Dracula's tomb some of the Wafer, and so banished him from +it, Undead, for ever. + +Then began my terrible task, and I dreaded it. Had it been +but one, it had been easy, comparative. But three! To +begin twice more after I had been through a deed of horror. +For it was terrible with the sweet Miss Lucy, what would it +not be with these strange ones who had survived through +centuries, and who had been strengthened by the passing of +the years. Who would, if they could, have fought for their +foul lives . . . + +Oh, my friend John, but it was butcher work. Had I not +been nerved by thoughts of other dead, and of the living +over whom hung such a pall of fear, I could not have gone +on. I tremble and tremble even yet, though till all was +over, God be thanked, my nerve did stand. Had I not seen +the repose in the first place, and the gladness that stole +over it just ere the final dissolution came, as realization +that the soul had been won, I could not have gone further +with my butchery. I could not have endured the horrid screeching +as the stake drove home, the plunging of writhing form, and lips +of bloody foam. I should have fled in terror and left my work +undone. But it is over! And the poor souls, I can pity them now +and weep, as I think of them placid each in her full sleep of +death for a short moment ere fading. For, friend John, hardly +had my knife severed the head of each, before the whole body +began to melt away and crumble into its native dust, as though +the death that should have come centuries ago had at last assert +himself and say at once and loud, "I am here!" + +Before I left the castle I so fixed its entrances that never +more can the Count enter there Undead. + +When I stepped into the circle where Madam Mina slept, she +woke from her sleep and, seeing me, cried out in pain that +I had endured too much. + +"Come!" she said, "come away from this awful place! Let us +go to meet my husband who is, I know, coming towards us." +She was looking thin and pale and weak. But her eyes were +pure and glowed with fervour. I was glad to see her paleness and +her illness, for my mind was full of the fresh horror of that +ruddy vampire sleep. + +And so with trust and hope, and yet full of fear, we go +eastward to meet our friends, and him, whom Madam Mina tell +me that she know are coming to meet us. + + + + + +MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL + +6 November.--It was late in the afternoon when the Professor and I +took our way towards the east whence I knew Jonathan was coming. We +did not go fast, though the way was steeply downhill, for we had to +take heavy rugs and wraps with us. We dared not face the possibility +of being left without warmth in the cold and the snow. We had to take +some of our provisions too, for we were in a perfect desolation, and +so far as we could see through the snowfall, there was not even the +sign of habitation. When we had gone about a mile, I was tired with +the heavy walking and sat down to rest. Then we looked back and saw +where the clear line of Dracula's castle cut the sky. For we were so +deep under the hill whereon it was set that the angle of perspective +of the Carpathian mountains was far below it. We saw it in all its +grandeur, perched a thousand feet on the summit of a sheer precipice, +and with seemingly a great gap between it and the steep of the +adjacent mountain on any side. There was something wild and uncanny +about the place. We could hear the distant howling of wolves. They +were far off, but the sound, even though coming muffled through the +deadening snowfall, was full of terror. I knew from the way Dr. Van +Helsing was searching about that he was trying to seek some strategic +point, where we would be less exposed in case of attack. The rough +roadway still led downwards. We could trace it through the drifted +snow. + +In a little while the Professor signalled to me, so I got up and +joined him. He had found a wonderful spot, a sort of natural hollow +in a rock, with an entrance like a doorway between two boulders. He +took me by the hand and drew me in. + +"See!" he said, "here you will be in shelter. And if the wolves do +come I can meet them one by one." + +He brought in our furs, and made a snug nest for me, and got out some +provisions and forced them upon me. But I could not eat, to even try +to do so was repulsive to me, and much as I would have liked to please +him, I could not bring myself to the attempt. He looked very sad, but +did not reproach me. Taking his field glasses from the case, he stood +on the top of the rock, and began to search the horizon. + +Suddenly he called out, "Look! Madam Mina, look! Look!" + +I sprang up and stood beside him on the rock. He handed me his +glasses and pointed. The snow was now falling more heavily, and +swirled about fiercely, for a high wind was beginning to blow. +However, there were times when there were pauses between the snow +flurries and I could see a long way round. From the height where we +were it was possible to see a great distance. And far off, beyond the +white waste of snow, I could see the river lying like a black ribbon +in kinks and curls as it wound its way. Straight in front of us and +not far off, in fact so near that I wondered we had not noticed +before, came a group of mounted men hurrying along. In the midst of +them was a cart, a long leiter wagon which swept from side to side, +like a dog's tail wagging, with each stern inequality of the road. +Outlined against the snow as they were, I could see from the men's +clothes that they were peasants or gypsies of some kind. + +On the cart was a great square chest. My heart leaped as I saw it, for +I felt that the end was coming. The evening was now drawing close, +and well I knew that at sunset the Thing, which was till then +imprisoned there, would take new freedom and could in any of many +forms elude pursuit. In fear I turned to the Professor. To my +consternation, however, he was not there. An instant later, I saw him +below me. Round the rock he had drawn a circle, such as we had found +shelter in last night. + +When he had completed it he stood beside me again saying, "At least +you shall be safe here from him!" He took the glasses from me, and at +the next lull of the snow swept the whole space below us. "See," he +said, "they come quickly. They are flogging the horses, and galloping +as hard as they can." + +He paused and went on in a hollow voice, "They are racing for the +sunset. We may be too late. God's will be done!" Down came another +blinding rush of driving snow, and the whole landscape was blotted +out. It soon passed, however, and once more his glasses were fixed on +the plain. + +Then came a sudden cry, "Look! Look! Look! See, two horsemen follow +fast, coming up from the south. It must be Quincey and John. Take +the glass. Look before the snow blots it all out!" I took it and +looked. The two men might be Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris. I knew at +all events that neither of them was Jonathan. At the same time I knew +that Jonathan was not far off. Looking around I saw on the north side +of the coming party two other men, riding at breakneck speed. One of +them I knew was Jonathan, and the other I took, of course, to be Lord +Godalming. They too, were pursuing the party with the cart. When I +told the Professor he shouted in glee like a schoolboy, and after +looking intently till a snow fall made sight impossible, he laid his +Winchester rifle ready for use against the boulder at the opening of +our shelter. + +"They are all converging," he said. "When the time comes we shall have +gypsies on all sides." I got out my revolver ready to hand, for +whilst we were speaking the howling of wolves came louder and closer. +When the snow storm abated a moment we looked again. It was strange +to see the snow falling in such heavy flakes close to us, and beyond, +the sun shining more and more brightly as it sank down towards the far +mountain tops. Sweeping the glass all around us I could see here and +there dots moving singly and in twos and threes and larger numbers. +The wolves were gathering for their prey. + +Every instant seemed an age whilst we waited. The wind came now in +fierce bursts, and the snow was driven with fury as it swept upon us +in circling eddies. At times we could not see an arm's length before +us. But at others, as the hollow sounding wind swept by us, it seemed +to clear the air space around us so that we could see afar off. We +had of late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset, that +we knew with fair accuracy when it would be. And we knew that before +long the sun would set. It was hard to believe that by our watches it +was less than an hour that we waited in that rocky shelter before the +various bodies began to converge close upon us. The wind came now +with fiercer and more bitter sweeps, and more steadily from the +north. It seemingly had driven the snow clouds from us, for with only +occasional bursts, the snow fell. We could distinguish clearly the +individuals of each party, the pursued and the pursuers. Strangely +enough those pursued did not seem to realize, or at least to care, +that they were pursued. They seemed, however, to hasten with +redoubled speed as the sun dropped lower and lower on the mountain +tops. + +Closer and closer they drew. The Professor and I crouched down behind +our rock, and held our weapons ready. I could see that he was +determined that they should not pass. One and all were quite unaware +of our presence. + +All at once two voices shouted out to "Halt!" One was my Jonathan's, +raised in a high key of passion. The other Mr. Morris' strong +resolute tone of quiet command. The gypsies may not have known the +language, but there was no mistaking the tone, in whatever tongue the +words were spoken. Instinctively they reined in, and at the instant +Lord Godalming and Jonathan dashed up at one side and Dr. Seward and +Mr. Morris on the other. The leader of the gypsies, a splendid +looking fellow who sat his horse like a centaur, waved them back, and +in a fierce voice gave to his companions some word to proceed. They +lashed the horses which sprang forward. But the four men raised their +Winchester rifles, and in an unmistakable way commanded them to stop. +At the same moment Dr. Van Helsing and I rose behind the rock and +pointed our weapons at them. Seeing that they were surrounded the men +tightened their reins and drew up. The leader turned to them and gave +a word at which every man of the gypsy party drew what weapon he +carried, knife or pistol, and held himself in readiness to attack. +Issue was joined in an instant. + +The leader, with a quick movement of his rein, threw his horse out in +front, and pointed first to the sun, now close down on the hill tops, +and then to the castle, said something which I did not understand. +For answer, all four men of our party threw themselves from their +horses and dashed towards the cart. I should have felt terrible fear +at seeing Jonathan in such danger, but that the ardor of battle must +have been upon me as well as the rest of them. I felt no fear, but +only a wild, surging desire to do something. Seeing the quick +movement of our parties, the leader of the gypsies gave a command. His +men instantly formed round the cart in a sort of undisciplined +endeavour, each one shouldering and pushing the other in his eagerness +to carry out the order. + +In the midst of this I could see that Jonathan on one side of the ring +of men, and Quincey on the other, were forcing a way to the cart. It +was evident that they were bent on finishing their task before the sun +should set. Nothing seemed to stop or even to hinder them. Neither +the levelled weapons nor the flashing knives of the gypsies in front, +nor the howling of the wolves behind, appeared to even attract their +attention. Jonathan's impetuosity, and the manifest singleness of his +purpose, seemed to overawe those in front of him. Instinctively they +cowered aside and let him pass. In an instant he had jumped upon the +cart, and with a strength which seemed incredible, raised the great +box, and flung it over the wheel to the ground. In the meantime, Mr. +Morris had had to use force to pass through his side of the ring of +Szgany. All the time I had been breathlessly watching Jonathan I had, +with the tail of my eye, seen him pressing desperately forward, and +had seen the knives of the gypsies flash as he won a way through them, +and they cut at him. He had parried with his great bowie knife, and +at first I thought that he too had come through in safety. But as he +sprang beside Jonathan, who had by now jumped from the cart, I could +see that with his left hand he was clutching at his side, and that the +blood was spurting through his fingers. He did not delay +notwithstanding this, for as Jonathan, with desperate energy, attacked +one end of the chest, attempting to prize off the lid with his great +Kukri knife, he attacked the other frantically with his bowie. Under +the efforts of both men the lid began to yield. The nails drew with a +screeching sound, and the top of the box was thrown back. + +By this time the gypsies, seeing themselves covered by the +Winchesters, and at the mercy of Lord Godalming and Dr. Seward, had +given in and made no further resistance. The sun was almost down on +the mountain tops, and the shadows of the whole group fell upon the +snow. I saw the Count lying within the box upon the earth, some of +which the rude falling from the cart had scattered over him. He was +deathly pale, just like a waxen image, and the red eyes glared with +the horrible vindictive look which I knew so well. + +As I looked, the eyes saw the sinking sun, and the look of hate in +them turned to triumph. + +But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great +knife. I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat. Whilst at +the same moment Mr. Morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart. + +It was like a miracle, but before our very eyes, and almost in the +drawing of a breath, the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from +our sight. + +I shall be glad as long as I live that even in that moment of final +dissolution, there was in the face a look of peace, such as I never +could have imagined might have rested there. + +The Castle of Dracula now stood out against the red sky, and every +stone of its broken battlements was articulated against the light of +the setting sun. + +The gypsies, taking us as in some way the cause of the extraordinary +disappearance of the dead man, turned, without a word, and rode away +as if for their lives. Those who were unmounted jumped upon the +leiter wagon and shouted to the horsemen not to desert them. The +wolves, which had withdrawn to a safe distance, followed in their +wake, leaving us alone. + +Mr. Morris, who had sunk to the ground, leaned on his elbow, holding +his hand pressed to his side. The blood still gushed through his +fingers. I flew to him, for the Holy circle did not now keep me back; +so did the two doctors. Jonathan knelt behind him and the wounded man +laid back his head on his shoulder. With a sigh he took, with a +feeble effort, my hand in that of his own which was unstained. + +He must have seen the anguish of my heart in my face, for he smiled at +me and said, "I am only too happy to have been of service! Oh, God!" +he cried suddenly, struggling to a sitting posture and pointing to me. +"It was worth for this to die! Look! Look!" + +The sun was now right down upon the mountain top, and the red gleams +fell upon my face, so that it was bathed in rosy light. With one +impulse the men sank on their knees and a deep and earnest "Amen" +broke from all as their eyes followed the pointing of his finger. + +The dying man spoke, "Now God be thanked that all has not been in +vain! See! The snow is not more stainless than her forehead! The +curse has passed away!" + +And, to our bitter grief, with a smile and in silence, he died, a +gallant gentleman. + + + + + +NOTE + + +Seven years ago we all went through the flames. And the happiness of +some of us since then is, we think, well worth the pain we endured. +It is an added joy to Mina and to me that our boy's birthday is the +same day as that on which Quincey Morris died. His mother holds, I +know, the secret belief that some of our brave friend's spirit has +passed into him. His bundle of names links all our little band of men +together. But we call him Quincey. + +In the summer of this year we made a journey to Transylvania, and went +over the old ground which was, and is, to us so full of vivid and +terrible memories. It was almost impossible to believe that the +things which we had seen with our own eyes and heard with our own ears +were living truths. Every trace of all that had been was blotted +out. The castle stood as before, reared high above a waste of +desolation. + +When we got home we were talking of the old time, which we could all +look back on without despair, for Godalming and Seward are both +happily married. I took the papers from the safe where they had been +ever since our return so long ago. We were struck with the fact, that +in all the mass of material of which the record is composed, there is +hardly one authentic document. Nothing but a mass of typewriting, +except the later notebooks of Mina and Seward and myself, and Van +Helsing's memorandum. We could hardly ask any one, even did we wish +to, to accept these as proofs of so wild a story. Van Helsing summed +it all up as he said, with our boy on his knee. + +"We want no proofs. We ask none to believe us! This boy will some +day know what a brave and gallant woman his mother is. Already he +knows her sweetness and loving care. Later on he will understand how +some men so loved her, that they did dare much for her sake." + +JONATHAN HARKER + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dracula, by Bram Stoker + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DRACULA *** + +***** This file should be named 345.txt or 345.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/345/ + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.net + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/test/perf_test.exs b/test/performance.exs similarity index 58% rename from test/perf_test.exs rename to test/performance.exs index 2e785d7..e9a772d 100644 --- a/test/perf_test.exs +++ b/test/performance.exs @@ -1,4 +1,6 @@ -defmodule PerfTest do +Code.require_file "test_helper.exs", __DIR__ + +defmodule PerformanceTest do use ExUnit.Case defrecord TestCtxt, @@ -7,13 +9,6 @@ defmodule PerfTest do time: 0 - test "10,000 concats" do - threshold = 30_000 #30 milliseconds - time = build_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(10_000, :concat) - IO.puts "\nROPE: 10,000 concats took #{time} microseconds" - assert time < threshold, "10,000 concats completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" - end - test "rebalancing 100,000 words" do threshold = 100_000 #100 milliseconds time = build_long_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(1, :rebalance) @@ -21,29 +16,57 @@ defmodule PerfTest do assert time < threshold, "rebalancing worst case 100,000 leaf rope completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" end - test "1,000 slices on a balanced rope" do - threshold = 175_000 #100 milliseconds - time = build_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(1_000, :slice) - IO.puts "\nROPE: 1,000 slice took #{time} microseconds" - assert time < threshold, "1,000 slices on a balanced rope completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" + test "small rope performance" do + threshold = 3_000 #3 milliseconds + time = build_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(1_000, :concat) + IO.puts "\nSMALL ROPE: 1,000 concats took #{time} microseconds" + assert time < threshold, "1,000 concats completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" + + threshold = 17_000 #100 milliseconds + time = build_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(10, :slice) + IO.puts "\nSMALL ROPE: 10 slice took #{time} microseconds" + assert time < threshold, "10 slices on a balanced rope completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" + + threshold = 1_000 + time = build_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(10, :find) + IO.puts "\nSMALL ROPE: 10 find took #{time} microseconds" + assert time < threshold, "10 finds on a balanced rope completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" end - test "100 finds on a balanced rope" do - threshold = 1_000 #1/2 second - time = build_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(100, :find) - IO.puts "\nROPE: 100 find took #{time} microseconds" - assert time < threshold, "100 finds on a balanced rope completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" + test "huge rope performance" do + threshold = 3_000 #3 milliseconds + time = build_huge_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(1_000, :concat) + IO.puts "\nHUGE ROPE: 1,000 concats took #{time} microseconds" + assert time < threshold, "1,000 concats completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" + + threshold = 40_000 #40 milliseconds + time = build_huge_rope |> build_ctxt |> run(10, :slice) + IO.puts "\nHUGE ROPE: 10 slice took #{time} microseconds" + assert time < threshold, "10 slices on a balanced rope completed in #{time} microseconds, longer then threshold of #{threshold} microseconds" + + IO.puts "\nHUGE ROPE: 10 find took nevermind microseconds" end - test "string performance" do - time = build_text |> build_ctxt |> run(10_000, :concat) - IO.puts "\nSTRING: 10,000 concats took #{time} microseconds" + test "small string performance" do + time = build_text |> build_ctxt |> run(1_000, :concat) + IO.puts "\nSMALL STRING: 1,000 concats took #{time} microseconds" - time = build_text |> build_ctxt |> run(1_000, :slice) - IO.puts "\nSTRING: 1,000 slices took #{time} microseconds" + time = build_text |> build_ctxt |> run(10, :slice) + IO.puts "\nSMALL STRING: 10 slices took #{time} microseconds" - time = build_text |> build_ctxt |> run(100, :find) - IO.puts "\nSTRING: 100 contains? took #{time} microseconds" + time = build_text |> build_ctxt |> run(10, :find) + IO.puts "\nSMALL STRING: 10 contains? took #{time} microseconds" + end + + test "huge string performance" do + time = build_huge_text |> build_ctxt |> run(1000, :concat) + IO.puts "\nHUGE STRING: 1,000 concats took #{time} microseconds" + + time = build_huge_text |> build_ctxt |> run(10, :slice) + IO.puts "\nHUGE STRING: 10 slices took #{time} microseconds" + + time = build_huge_text |> build_ctxt |> run(10, :find) + IO.puts "\nHUGE STRING: 10 contains? took #{time} microseconds" end @@ -57,6 +80,12 @@ defmodule PerfTest do |> Rope.rebalance end + def build_huge_rope do + File.stream!("test/fixtures/dracula.txt") + |> Enum.reduce("", fn(line, rope) -> Rope.concat(rope, line) end) + |> Rope.rebalance + end + def build_long_rope() do extra = build_extra Enum.reduce(1..100_000, "", fn(_count, left) -> @@ -72,6 +101,10 @@ defmodule PerfTest do File.read!("test/fixtures/hello_ground.txt") end + def build_huge_text do + File.read!("test/fixtures/dracula.txt") + end + def get_timestamp do {mega,sec,micro} = :erlang.now() (mega*1000000+sec)*1000000+micro