Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
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 `
`
` 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 `
`