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