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