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