Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
musty and close, but we did not somehow seem to mind, for our `
` attention was concentrated on the Professor. Taking from his box a `
` piece of the Sacred Wafer he laid it reverently on the earth, and then `
` shutting down the lid began to screw it home, we aiding him as he `
` worked. `
` `
` One by one we treated in the same way each of the great boxes, and `
` left them as we had found them to all appearance. But in each was a `
` portion of the Host. When we closed the door behind us, the Professor `
` said solemnly, "So much is already done. It may be that with all the `
` others we can be so successful, then the sunset of this evening may `
` shine of Madam Mina's forehead all white as ivory and with no stain!" `
` `
` As we passed across the lawn on our way to the station to catch our `
` train we could see the front of the asylum. I looked eagerly, and in `
` the window of my own room saw Mina. I waved my hand to her, and `
` nodded to tell that our work there was successfully accomplished. She `
` nodded in reply to show that she understood. The last I saw, she was `
` waving her hand in farewell. It was with a heavy heart that we sought `
` the station and just caught the train, which was steaming in as we `
` reached the platform. I have written this in the train. `
` `
` `
` Piccadilly, 12:30 o'clock.--Just before we reached Fenchurch Street `
` Lord Godalming said to me, "Quincey and I will find a locksmith. You `
` had better not come with us in case there should be any difficulty. `
` For under the circumstances it wouldn't seem so bad for us to break `
` into an empty house. But you are a solicitor and the Incorporated Law `
` Society might tell you that you should have known better." `
` `
` I demurred as to my not sharing any danger even of odium, but he went `
` on, "Besides, it will attract less attention if there are not too many `
` of us. My title will make it all right with the locksmith, and with `
` any policeman that may come along. You had better go with Jack and `
` the Professor and stay in the Green Park. Somewhere in sight of the `
` house, and when you see the door opened and the smith has gone away, `
` do you all come across. We shall be on the lookout for you, and shall `
` let you in." `
` `
` "The advice is good!" said Van Helsing, so we said no more. Godalming `
` and Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another. At the `
` corner of Arlington Street our contingent got out and strolled into `
` the Green Park. My heart beat as I saw the house on which so much of `
` our hope was centred, looming up grim and silent in its deserted `
` condition amongst its more lively and spruce-looking neighbours. We `
` sat down on a bench within good view, and began to smoke cigars so as `
` to attract as little attention as possible. The minutes seemed to `
` pass with leaden feet as we waited for the coming of the others. `
` `
` At length we saw a four-wheeler drive up. Out of it, in leisurely `
` fashion, got Lord Godalming and Morris. And down from the box `
` descended a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of tools. `
` Morris paid the cabman, who touched his hat and drove away. Together `
` the two ascended the steps, and Lord Godalming pointed out what he `
` wanted done. The workman took off his coat leisurely and hung it on `
` one of the spikes of the rail, saying something to a policeman who `
` just then sauntered along. The policeman nodded acquiescence, and the `
` man kneeling down placed his bag beside him. After searching through `
` it, he took out a selection of tools which he proceeded to lay beside `
` him in orderly fashion. Then he stood up, looked in the keyhole, blew `
` into it, and turning to his employers, made some remark. Lord `
` Godalming smiled, and the man lifted a good sized bunch of keys. `
` Selecting one of them, he began to probe the lock, as if feeling his `
` way with it. After fumbling about for a bit he tried a second, and `
` then a third. All at once the door opened under a slight push from `
` him, and he and the two others entered the hall. We sat still. My `
` own cigar burnt furiously, but Van Helsing's went cold altogether. We `
` waited patiently as we saw the workman come out and bring his bag. `
` Then he held the door partly open, steadying it with his knees, whilst `
` he fitted a key to the lock. This he finally handed to Lord `
` Godalming, who took out his purse and gave him something. The man `
` touched his hat, took his bag, put on his coat and departed. Not a `
` soul took the slightest notice of the whole transaction. `
` `
` When the man had fairly gone, we three crossed the street and knocked `
` at the door. It was immediately opened by Quincey Morris, beside whom `
` stood Lord Godalming lighting a cigar. `
` `
` "The place smells so vilely," said the latter as we came in. It did `
` indeed smell vilely. Like the old chapel at Carfax. And with our `
` previous experience it was plain to us that the Count had been using `
` the place pretty freely. We moved to explore the house, all keeping `
` together in case of attack, for we knew we had a strong and wily enemy `
` to deal with, and as yet we did not know whether the Count might not `
` be in the house. `
` `
` In the dining room, which lay at the back of the hall, we found eight `
` boxes of earth. Eight boxes only out of the nine which we sought! `
` Our work was not over, and would never be until we should have found `
` the missing box. `
` `
` First we opened the shutters of the window which looked out across a `
` narrow stone flagged yard at the blank face of a stable, pointed to `
` look like the front of a miniature house. There were no windows in `
` it, so we were not afraid of being overlooked. We did not lose any `
` time in examining the chests. With the tools which we had brought `
` with us we opened them, one by one, and treated them as we had treated `
` those others in the old chapel. It was evident to us that the Count `
` was not at present in the house, and we proceeded to search for any of `
` his effects. `
` `
` After a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms, from basement to `
` attic, we came to the conclusion that the dining room contained any `
` effects which might belong to the Count. And so we proceeded to `
` minutely examine them. They lay in a sort of orderly disorder on the `
` great dining room table. `
` `
` There were title deeds of the Piccadilly house in a great bundle, `
` deeds of the purchase of the houses at Mile End and Bermondsey, `
` notepaper, envelopes, and pens and ink. All were covered up in thin `
` wrapping paper to keep them from the dust. There were also a clothes `
` brush, a brush and comb, and a jug and basin. The latter containing `
` dirty water which was reddened as if with blood. Last of all was a `
` little heap of keys of all sorts and sizes, probably those belonging `
` to the other houses. `
` `
` When we had examined this last find, Lord Godalming and Quincey Morris `
` taking accurate notes of the various addresses of the houses in the `
` East and the South, took with them the keys in a great bunch, and set `
` out to destroy the boxes in these places. The rest of us are, with `
` what patience we can, waiting their return, or the coming of the `
` Count. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 23 `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 3 October.--The time seemed terribly long whilst we were waiting for `
` the coming of Godalming and Quincey Morris. The Professor tried to `
` keep our minds active by using them all the time. I could see his `
` beneficent purpose, by the side glances which he threw from time to `
` time at Harker. The poor fellow is overwhelmed in a misery that is `
` appalling to see. Last night he was a frank, happy-looking man, with `
` strong, youthful face, full of energy, and with dark brown hair. `
` Today he is a drawn, haggard old man, whose white hair matches well `
` with the hollow burning eyes and grief-written lines of his face. His `
` energy is still intact. In fact, he is like a living flame. This may `
` yet be his salvation, for if all go well, it will tide him over the `
` despairing period. He will then, in a kind of way, wake again to the `
` realities of life. Poor fellow, I thought my own trouble was bad `
` enough, but his . . . ! `
` `
` The Professor knows this well enough, and is doing his best to keep `
` his mind active. What he has been saying was, under the `
` circumstances, of absorbing interest. So well as I can remember, here `
` it is: `
` `
` "I have studied, over and over again since they came into my hands, `
` all the papers relating to this monster, and the more I have studied, `
` the greater seems the necessity to utterly stamp him out. All through `
` there are signs of his advance. Not only of his power, but of his `
` knowledge of it. As I learned from the researches of my friend `
` Arminius of Buda-Pesth, he was in life a most wonderful man. Soldier, `
` statesman, and alchemist--which latter was the highest development of `
` the science knowledge of his time. He had a mighty brain, a learning `
` beyond compare, and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse. He `
` dared even to attend the Scholomance, and there was no branch of `
` knowledge of his time that he did not essay. `
` `
` "Well, in him the brain powers survived the physical death. Though it `
` would seem that memory was not all complete. In some faculties of `
` mind he has been, and is, only a child. But he is growing, and some `
` things that were childish at the first are now of man's stature. He `
` is experimenting, and doing it well. And if it had not been that we `
` have crossed his path he would be yet, he may be yet if we fail, the `
` father or furtherer of a new order of beings, whose road must lead `
` through Death, not Life." `
` `
` Harker groaned and said, "And this is all arrayed against my darling! `
` But how is he experimenting? The knowledge may help us to defeat `
` him!" `
` `
` "He has all along, since his coming, been trying his power, slowly but `
` surely. That big child-brain of his is working. Well for us, it is `
` as yet a child-brain. For had he dared, at the first, to attempt `
` certain things he would long ago have been beyond our power. However, `
` he means to succeed, and a man who has centuries before him can afford `
` to wait and to go slow. Festina lente may well be his motto." `
` `
` "I fail to understand," said Harker wearily. "Oh, do be more plain to `
` me! Perhaps grief and trouble are dulling my brain." `
` `
` The Professor laid his hand tenderly on his shoulder as he spoke, "Ah, `
` my child, I will be plain. Do you not see how, of late, this monster `
` has been creeping into knowledge experimentally. How he has been `
` making use of the zoophagous patient to effect his entry into friend `
` John's home. For your Vampire, though in all afterwards he can come `
` when and how he will, must at the first make entry only when asked `
` thereto by an inmate. But these are not his most important `
` experiments. Do we not see how at the first all these so great boxes `
` were moved by others. He knew not then but that must be so. But all `
` the time that so great child-brain of his was growing, and he began to `
` consider whether he might not himself move the box. So he began to `
` help. And then, when he found that this be all right, he try to move `
` them all alone. And so he progress, and he scatter these graves of `
` him. And none but he know where they are hidden. `
` `
`
` attention was concentrated on the Professor. Taking from his box a `
` piece of the Sacred Wafer he laid it reverently on the earth, and then `
` shutting down the lid began to screw it home, we aiding him as he `
` worked. `
` `
` One by one we treated in the same way each of the great boxes, and `
` left them as we had found them to all appearance. But in each was a `
` portion of the Host. When we closed the door behind us, the Professor `
` said solemnly, "So much is already done. It may be that with all the `
` others we can be so successful, then the sunset of this evening may `
` shine of Madam Mina's forehead all white as ivory and with no stain!" `
` `
` As we passed across the lawn on our way to the station to catch our `
` train we could see the front of the asylum. I looked eagerly, and in `
` the window of my own room saw Mina. I waved my hand to her, and `
` nodded to tell that our work there was successfully accomplished. She `
` nodded in reply to show that she understood. The last I saw, she was `
` waving her hand in farewell. It was with a heavy heart that we sought `
` the station and just caught the train, which was steaming in as we `
` reached the platform. I have written this in the train. `
` `
` `
` Piccadilly, 12:30 o'clock.--Just before we reached Fenchurch Street `
` Lord Godalming said to me, "Quincey and I will find a locksmith. You `
` had better not come with us in case there should be any difficulty. `
` For under the circumstances it wouldn't seem so bad for us to break `
` into an empty house. But you are a solicitor and the Incorporated Law `
` Society might tell you that you should have known better." `
` `
` I demurred as to my not sharing any danger even of odium, but he went `
` on, "Besides, it will attract less attention if there are not too many `
` of us. My title will make it all right with the locksmith, and with `
` any policeman that may come along. You had better go with Jack and `
` the Professor and stay in the Green Park. Somewhere in sight of the `
` house, and when you see the door opened and the smith has gone away, `
` do you all come across. We shall be on the lookout for you, and shall `
` let you in." `
` `
` "The advice is good!" said Van Helsing, so we said no more. Godalming `
` and Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another. At the `
` corner of Arlington Street our contingent got out and strolled into `
` the Green Park. My heart beat as I saw the house on which so much of `
` our hope was centred, looming up grim and silent in its deserted `
` condition amongst its more lively and spruce-looking neighbours. We `
` sat down on a bench within good view, and began to smoke cigars so as `
` to attract as little attention as possible. The minutes seemed to `
` pass with leaden feet as we waited for the coming of the others. `
` `
` At length we saw a four-wheeler drive up. Out of it, in leisurely `
` fashion, got Lord Godalming and Morris. And down from the box `
` descended a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of tools. `
` Morris paid the cabman, who touched his hat and drove away. Together `
` the two ascended the steps, and Lord Godalming pointed out what he `
` wanted done. The workman took off his coat leisurely and hung it on `
` one of the spikes of the rail, saying something to a policeman who `
` just then sauntered along. The policeman nodded acquiescence, and the `
` man kneeling down placed his bag beside him. After searching through `
` it, he took out a selection of tools which he proceeded to lay beside `
` him in orderly fashion. Then he stood up, looked in the keyhole, blew `
` into it, and turning to his employers, made some remark. Lord `
` Godalming smiled, and the man lifted a good sized bunch of keys. `
` Selecting one of them, he began to probe the lock, as if feeling his `
` way with it. After fumbling about for a bit he tried a second, and `
` then a third. All at once the door opened under a slight push from `
` him, and he and the two others entered the hall. We sat still. My `
` own cigar burnt furiously, but Van Helsing's went cold altogether. We `
` waited patiently as we saw the workman come out and bring his bag. `
` Then he held the door partly open, steadying it with his knees, whilst `
` he fitted a key to the lock. This he finally handed to Lord `
` Godalming, who took out his purse and gave him something. The man `
` touched his hat, took his bag, put on his coat and departed. Not a `
` soul took the slightest notice of the whole transaction. `
` `
` When the man had fairly gone, we three crossed the street and knocked `
` at the door. It was immediately opened by Quincey Morris, beside whom `
` stood Lord Godalming lighting a cigar. `
` `
` "The place smells so vilely," said the latter as we came in. It did `
` indeed smell vilely. Like the old chapel at Carfax. And with our `
` previous experience it was plain to us that the Count had been using `
` the place pretty freely. We moved to explore the house, all keeping `
` together in case of attack, for we knew we had a strong and wily enemy `
` to deal with, and as yet we did not know whether the Count might not `
` be in the house. `
` `
` In the dining room, which lay at the back of the hall, we found eight `
` boxes of earth. Eight boxes only out of the nine which we sought! `
` Our work was not over, and would never be until we should have found `
` the missing box. `
` `
` First we opened the shutters of the window which looked out across a `
` narrow stone flagged yard at the blank face of a stable, pointed to `
` look like the front of a miniature house. There were no windows in `
` it, so we were not afraid of being overlooked. We did not lose any `
` time in examining the chests. With the tools which we had brought `
` with us we opened them, one by one, and treated them as we had treated `
` those others in the old chapel. It was evident to us that the Count `
` was not at present in the house, and we proceeded to search for any of `
` his effects. `
` `
` After a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms, from basement to `
` attic, we came to the conclusion that the dining room contained any `
` effects which might belong to the Count. And so we proceeded to `
` minutely examine them. They lay in a sort of orderly disorder on the `
` great dining room table. `
` `
` There were title deeds of the Piccadilly house in a great bundle, `
` deeds of the purchase of the houses at Mile End and Bermondsey, `
` notepaper, envelopes, and pens and ink. All were covered up in thin `
` wrapping paper to keep them from the dust. There were also a clothes `
` brush, a brush and comb, and a jug and basin. The latter containing `
` dirty water which was reddened as if with blood. Last of all was a `
` little heap of keys of all sorts and sizes, probably those belonging `
` to the other houses. `
` `
` When we had examined this last find, Lord Godalming and Quincey Morris `
` taking accurate notes of the various addresses of the houses in the `
` East and the South, took with them the keys in a great bunch, and set `
` out to destroy the boxes in these places. The rest of us are, with `
` what patience we can, waiting their return, or the coming of the `
` Count. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER 23 `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 3 October.--The time seemed terribly long whilst we were waiting for `
` the coming of Godalming and Quincey Morris. The Professor tried to `
` keep our minds active by using them all the time. I could see his `
` beneficent purpose, by the side glances which he threw from time to `
` time at Harker. The poor fellow is overwhelmed in a misery that is `
` appalling to see. Last night he was a frank, happy-looking man, with `
` strong, youthful face, full of energy, and with dark brown hair. `
` Today he is a drawn, haggard old man, whose white hair matches well `
` with the hollow burning eyes and grief-written lines of his face. His `
` energy is still intact. In fact, he is like a living flame. This may `
` yet be his salvation, for if all go well, it will tide him over the `
` despairing period. He will then, in a kind of way, wake again to the `
` realities of life. Poor fellow, I thought my own trouble was bad `
` enough, but his . . . ! `
` `
` The Professor knows this well enough, and is doing his best to keep `
` his mind active. What he has been saying was, under the `
` circumstances, of absorbing interest. So well as I can remember, here `
` it is: `
` `
` "I have studied, over and over again since they came into my hands, `
` all the papers relating to this monster, and the more I have studied, `
` the greater seems the necessity to utterly stamp him out. All through `
` there are signs of his advance. Not only of his power, but of his `
` knowledge of it. As I learned from the researches of my friend `
` Arminius of Buda-Pesth, he was in life a most wonderful man. Soldier, `
` statesman, and alchemist--which latter was the highest development of `
` the science knowledge of his time. He had a mighty brain, a learning `
` beyond compare, and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse. He `
` dared even to attend the Scholomance, and there was no branch of `
` knowledge of his time that he did not essay. `
` `
` "Well, in him the brain powers survived the physical death. Though it `
` would seem that memory was not all complete. In some faculties of `
` mind he has been, and is, only a child. But he is growing, and some `
` things that were childish at the first are now of man's stature. He `
` is experimenting, and doing it well. And if it had not been that we `
` have crossed his path he would be yet, he may be yet if we fail, the `
` father or furtherer of a new order of beings, whose road must lead `
` through Death, not Life." `
` `
` Harker groaned and said, "And this is all arrayed against my darling! `
` But how is he experimenting? The knowledge may help us to defeat `
` him!" `
` `
` "He has all along, since his coming, been trying his power, slowly but `
` surely. That big child-brain of his is working. Well for us, it is `
` as yet a child-brain. For had he dared, at the first, to attempt `
` certain things he would long ago have been beyond our power. However, `
` he means to succeed, and a man who has centuries before him can afford `
` to wait and to go slow. Festina lente may well be his motto." `
` `
` "I fail to understand," said Harker wearily. "Oh, do be more plain to `
` me! Perhaps grief and trouble are dulling my brain." `
` `
` The Professor laid his hand tenderly on his shoulder as he spoke, "Ah, `
` my child, I will be plain. Do you not see how, of late, this monster `
` has been creeping into knowledge experimentally. How he has been `
` making use of the zoophagous patient to effect his entry into friend `
` John's home. For your Vampire, though in all afterwards he can come `
` when and how he will, must at the first make entry only when asked `
` thereto by an inmate. But these are not his most important `
` experiments. Do we not see how at the first all these so great boxes `
` were moved by others. He knew not then but that must be so. But all `
` the time that so great child-brain of his was growing, and he began to `
` consider whether he might not himself move the box. So he began to `
` help. And then, when he found that this be all right, he try to move `
` them all alone. And so he progress, and he scatter these graves of `
` him. And none but he know where they are hidden. `
` `
`