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