 CHAPTER X Red by Dennis Sayers Ariel Lipshaw Letter Dr. Seward to Honorable Arthur Holmwood 6 September My dear Art, my news to-day is not so good. Lucy this morning had gone back a bit. There is, however, one good thing which has arisen from it. Mrs. Westenbra was, naturally, anxious concerning Lucy, and has consulted me professionally about her. I took advantage of the opportunity and told her that my old master, Van Helsing, the great specialist, was coming to stay with me, and that I would put her in his charge conjointly with myself. So now we can come and go without alarming her unduly. For a shock to her would mean sudden death, and this, in Lucy's weak condition, might be disastrous to her. We are hedged in with difficulties, all of us, my poor fellow. But, please God, we shall come through them all right. If any need, I shall write, so that, if you do not hear from me, take it for granted, that I am simply waiting for news. In haste, yours ever, John Seward. Dr. Seward's Diary 7 September The first thing Van Helsing said to me when we met at Liverpool Street was, Have you said anything to our young friend, to lover of her? No, I said. I waited till I had seen you, as I said in my telegram. I wrote him a letter simply telling him that you were coming, as Miss Westenbra was not so well, and that I should let him know if need be. Right, my friend, he said quite right. Better he not know as yet. Perhaps he will never know. I pray so, but if it be needed, then he shall know all. And, my good friend John, let me caution you. You deal with madmen. All men are mad in some way or the other, and in as much as you deal discreetly with your madmen, so deal with God's madmen, too, the rest of the world. You tell not your madmen what you do, nor why you do it. You tell them not what you think. So you shall keep knowledge in its place, where it may rest, where it may gather its kind around it, and breed. You and I shall keep as yet what we know here, and here he touched me on the heart and on the forehead, and then touched himself the same way. I have for myself thoughts at the present. Later I shall unfold to you. Why not now? I asked. It may do some good. We may arrive at some decision. He looked at me and said, My friend John, when the corn is grown, even before it has ripened, while the milk of its mother earth is in him, and the sunshine has not yet begun to paint him with his gold, the husbandman he pulled the ear and rub him between his rough hands and blow away the green chaff and say to you, Look, he's good corn. He will make a good crop when the time comes. I did not see the application and told him so. For reply he reached over and took my ear in his hand and pulled it playfully as he used long ago to do at lectures, and said, The good husbandman tell you so then, because he knows, but not till then. But you do not find the good husbandman dig up his planted corn to see if he grow. That is for the children who play at husbandry, and not for those who take it as of the work of their life. See you now, friend John. I have sown my corn, and nature has her work to do in making it sprout, if he sprout at all. There's some promise, and I wait till the ear begins to swell. He broke off, for he evidently saw that I understood. Then he went on gravely. You were always a careful student, and your case book was ever more full than the rest, and I trust that good habit have not failed. Remember, my friend, that knowledge is stronger than memory, and we should not trust the weaker. Even if you have not kept the good practice, let me tell you that this case of our dear miss is one that may be, mind I say, may be of such interest to us and others that all the rest may not make him kick the bean, as your people say. Take then good note of it. Nothing is too small. I counsel you. Put down in record even your doubts and surmises. Hereafter it may be of interest to you to see how true you guess. We learn from failure, not from success. When I described Lucy's symptoms the same as before, but infinitely more marked, he looked very grave, but said nothing. He took with him a bag in which were many instruments and drugs, the ghastly paraphernalia of our beneficial trade, as he once called, in one of his lectures, the equipment of a professor of the healing craft. When we were shown in, Mrs. Westenra met us. She was alarmed, but not nearly so much as I expected to find her. Nature, in one of her beneficent moods, has ordained that even death has some antidote to its own terrors. Here, in a case where any shock may prove fatal, matters are so ordered that, from some cause or other, the things not personal, even the terrible change in her daughter to whom she is so attached, do not seem to reach her. It is something like the way Dame Nature gathers round a foreign body, an envelope of some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm by contact. If this be an ordered selfishness, then we should pause before we condemn anyone for the vice of egoism, for there may be deeper root for its causes than we have knowledge of. I used my knowledge of this phase of spiritual pathology and set down a rule that she should not be present with Lucy, or think of her illness more than was absolutely required. She assented readily, so readily that I saw again the hand of Nature fighting for life. Ben Helsing and I were shown up to Lucy's room. If I was shocked when I saw her yesterday, I was horrified when I saw her today. She was ghastly, chocolatey, pale. The red seems to have gone even from her lips and gums, and the bones of her face stood out prominently. Her breathing was painful to see or hear. Ben Helsing's face grew set as marble, and his eyebrows converged till they almost touched over his nose. Lucy lay motionless and did not seem to have strength to speak, so for a while we were all silent. Then Ben Helsing beckoned to me and we went gently out of the room. The instant we had closed the door, he stepped quickly along the passage to the next door which was open. Then he pulled me quickly in with him and closed the door. My God! he said. This is dreadful. There is no time to be lost. She will die for sheer want of blood to keep the heart's action as it should be. There must be a transfusion of blood at once. Is it you or me? I am stronger and younger, Professor. It must be me. Then get ready at once. I will bring up my bag. I am prepared. I went downstairs with him, and as we were going there was a knock at the hall door. When we reached the hall, the maid had just opened the door, and Arthur was stepping quickly in. He rushed up to me, saying in an eager whisper, Jack, I was so anxious. I read between the lines of your letter, and have been in it agony. The dad was better, so I ran down here to see for myself. He is not that gentleman, Dr. Van Helsing. I am so thankful to you, sir, for coming. When first the Professor's eye had lit upon him, he had been angry at his interruption at such a time. But now, as he took in his stalwart proportions, and recognized the strong young manhood which seemed to emanate from him, his eyes gleamed. Without a pause, he said to him, as he held out his hand, Sir, you have come in time. You are the lover of our dear miss. She is bad. Very, very bad. Nay, my child, do not go like that. For he suddenly grew pale, and sat down in a chair almost fainting. You are to help her. You can do more than any that live, and your courage is your best help. What can I do? asked Arthur Horsley. Tell me, and I shall do it. My life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for her. The Professor has a strongly humorous side, and I could from old knowledge detect a trace of its origin in his answer. My young Sir, I do not ask so much as that. Not the last. What shall I do? There is fire in his eyes, and his open nostrils quivered with intent. Van Helsing slapped him on the shoulder. Come, he said, you are a man, and it is a man we want. You are better than me, better than my friend John. Arthur looked bewildered, and the Professor went on by explaining in a kindly way. Young Miss is bad. Very bad. She wants blood, and blood she must have, or die. My friend John, and I have consulted, and we are about to perform what we call transfusion of blood, to transfer from full veins of one to the empty veins which pine for him. John was to give his blood, as he is the more young and strong than me. Here Arthur took my hand, and rung it hard in silence. But now you are here. You are more good than us, old or young, who toil much in the world of thought. Our nerves are not so calm, and our blood so bright than yours. Arthur turned to him, and said, If you only knew how gladly I would die for her, you would understand. He stopped with a sort of choke in his voice. Good boy, said Bennett Helsing, in the not so far off, you will be happy that you have done all for her you love. Come now, and be silent. You shall kiss her once before it is done. But then you must go, and you must leave at my sign. Say no word to Madame. You know how it is with her. There must be no shock. Any knowledge of this would be one. Come. We all went up to Lucy's room. Arthur, by direction, remained outside. Lucy turned her head, and looked at us, but said nothing. She was not asleep, but she was simply too weak to make the effort. Her eyes spoke to us. That was all. Van Helsing took some things from his bag, and laid them on a little table out of sight. Then he mixed a narcotic, and, coming over to the bed, said cheerily, Now, little miss, here is your medicine. Drink it off like a good child. See, I lift you so that to swallow is easy, yes. She had made the effort with success. It astonished me how long the drug took to act. This, in fact, marked the extent of her weakness. The time seemed endless until sleep began to flicker in her eyelids. At last, however, the narcotic began to manifest its potency, and she fell into a deep sleep. When the professor was satisfied, he called Arthur into the room, and bade him strip off his coat. Then he said, You may take that one little kiss while I bring over the table. Friend John, help to me. So neither of us looked whilst he bent over her. Van Helsing, turning to me, said, He is so young and strong, and of blood so pure, That we need not defibrinate it. Then with swiftness, but with absolute method, Van Helsing performed the operation. As the transfusion went on, something like life seemed to come back to poor Lucy's cheeks, and through Arthur's growing pallor, the joy of his face seemed absolutely to shine. After a while, I began to grow anxious, for the loss of blood was telling on Arthur, strong man, as he was. It gave me an idea of what a terrible strain Lucy's system must have undergone, that what weakened Arthur only partially restored her. But the professor's face was set, and he stood watching hand, and with his eyes fixed, now on the patient, and now on Arthur. I could hear my own heart beat. Presently, he said in a soft voice, Do not stir an instant. It is enough. You attend him. I will look to her. When it was all over, I could see how much Arthur was weakened. I dressed the wound, and took his arm to bring him away. When Van Helsing spoke without turning around, the man seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. The brave lover, I think, deserve another kiss, which he shall have presently. And as he had now finished his operation, he adjusted the pillow to his patient's head. As he did so, the narrow black velvet band, which she seems always to wear around her throat, buckled with an old diamond buckle, which her lover had given her, was dragged a little up, and showed a red mark on her throat. Arthur did not notice it, but I could hear the deep hiss of in-drawn breath, which is one of Van Helsing's way of betraying emotion. He said nothing at the moment, but turned to me, saying, Now take down our brave young lover, give him of the port wine, and let him lie down a while. He must then go home and rest, sleep much and eat much, that he may be recruited of what he has so given to his love. He must not stay here. Hold a moment. I may take it, sir, you are anxious of the result. Then bring it with you, that in all ways the operation is successful. You have saved her life this time, and you can go home and rest easy in mind that all that can be is. I shall tell her all when she is well. She shall love you nonetheless for what you have done. Goodbye. When Arthur had gone, I went back to the room. Lucy was sleeping gently, but her breathing was stronger. I could see the counter-paying move as her breast heaved. By the bedside sat Van Helsing, looking at her intently. The velvet band again covered the red mark. I asked the professor in a whisper. What do you make of that mark on her throat? What do you make of it? I have not examined it yet, I answered, and then and there proceeded to loose the band. Just over the external jugular vein there were two punctures, not large, but not wholesome looking. There was no sign of disease, but the edges were white and worn looking, as if by some triteration. It at once occurred to me that this wound, or whatever it was, might be the means of that manifest lost blood, but I abandoned the idea as soon as it formed, for such a thing could not be. The whole bed would have been drenched to a scarlet, with the blood which the girl must have lost to leave such a power as she had before the transfusion. Well, said Van Helsing. Well, said I, I can make nothing of it. The professor stood up. I must go back to Amsterdam tonight. He said, There are books and things there which I want. You must remain here all night, and you must not let your sight pass from her. Shall I have a nurse? I asked. We are the best nurses, you and I. You keep watch all night. See that she is well fed, and that nothing disturbs her. You must not sleep all the night. Later on we can sleep, you and I. I shall be back as soon as possible, and then we may begin. May begin? I said. What on earth do you mean? We shall see. He answered as he hurried out. He came back a moment later and put his head inside the door, and said with a warning finger held up. Remember, she is in your charge. If you leave her and harm befall, you shall not sleep easy hereafter. Dr. Seward's diary continued. Eighth September. I sat up all night with Lucy. The opiate worked itself off towards dusk, and she waked naturally. She looked a different being from what she had been before the operation. Her spirits, even, were good, and she was full of happy vivacity. But I could see evidences of the absolute frustration which she had undergone. When I told Mrs. Westenra that Dr. Van Helsing had directed that I should sit up with her, she almost poo-pooed the idea, pointing out her daughter's renewed strength and excellent spirits. I was firm, however, and made preparations for my long vigil. When her maid had prepared her for the night, I came in, having in the meantime had supper, and took a seat by the bedside. She did not in any way make objection, but looked at me gratefully. Whenever I caught her eye, after a long spell, she seemed sinking off to sleep, but with an effort seemed to pull herself together and shook it off. It was apparent that she did not want to sleep, so I tackled the subject at once. You do not want to sleep? No, I am afraid. Afraid to go to sleep? Why so? It is the boon we all crave for. Not if you were like me, if sleep was to you a presage of horror. A presage of horror? What on earth do you mean? I don't know. Oh, I don't know, and that is what is so terrible. All this weakness comes to me in sleep, until I dread the very thought. But, my dear girl, you may sleep tonight. I am here watching you, and I can promise that nothing will happen. I can trust you, she said. I seized the opportunity, and said, I promise that if I see any evidence of bad dreams, I will wake you at once. You will? Oh, will you really? How good you are to me! Then I will sleep, and almost at the word she gave a deep sigh of relief, and sank back asleep. All night long I watched her, she never stirred, but slept on, and on, in a deep, tranquil, life-giving, health-giving sleep. Her lips were slightly parted, and her breast rose and fell with the regularity of a pendulum. There was a smile on her face, and it was evident that no bad dreams had come to disturb her mind. In the early morning her maid came, and I left her in her care, and took myself back home, for I was anxious about many things. I sent a short wire to Ben Helsing and to Arthur, telling them of the excellent result of the operation. My own work, with its manifold arrears, took me all day to clear off. It was dark when I was able to inquire about my Zoophagus patient. The report was good. He had been quite quiet for the past day and night. A telegram came from Ben Helsing at Amsterdam whilst I was at dinner, suggesting that I should be at Hillingham tonight, as it might be well to be at hand, and stating that he was leaving by the night mail, and would join me early in the morning. 9 September. I was pretty tired and worn out when I got to Hillingham. For two nights I had hardly had a wink of sleep, and my brain was beginning to feel that numbness which marks cerebral exhaustion. Lucy was up and in cheerful spirits. When she shook hands with me, she looked sharply in my face and said, No sitting up to-night for you, you are worn out. I am quite well again. Indeed I am, and if there is to be any sitting up, it is I who will sit up with you. I would not argue the point, but went and had my supper. Lucy came with me, and, enlivened by her charming presence, I made an excellent meal, and had a couple of glasses of the more than excellent port. Then Lucy took me upstairs, and showed me a room next her own, where a cozy fire was burning. Now, she said, you must stay here. I shall leave this door open in my door too. You can lie on the sofa, for I know that nothing would induce any of you doctors to go to bed whilst there is a patient, above the horizon. If I want anything, I shall call out, and you can come to me at once. I could not but acquiesce for I was dog-tired, and could not have sat up had I tried. So, on her renewing her promise to call me, if she should want anything, I lay on the sofa and forgot all about everything. 9th of September. I feel so happy to-night. I have been so miserably weak that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky. Somehow Arthur feels very, very close to me. I seem to feel his presence warm about me. I suppose it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things, and turn our inner eyes and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strength give love rain, and in thought and feeling he can wonder where he wills. I know where my thoughts are, if only Arthur knew. My dear, my dear, your ears must tingle as you sleep as mine do, waking. Oh, the blissful rest of last night! How I slept, with that dear good Dr. Seward watching me. And to-night I shall not fear to sleep, since he is close at hand and within core. Thank everybody for being so good to me. Thank God. Good-night, Arthur. Dr. Seward's Diary. 10 September. I was conscious of the professor's hand on my head, and started awake, all in a second. That is one of the things that we learn in an asylum at any rate. And how is our patient? Well, when I left her, or rather when she left me, I answered, Come, let us see, he said. And together we went into the room. The blind was down, and I went over to raise it gently, whilst Van Helsing stepped with his soft cat-like tread over to the bed. As I raised the blind, and the morning sunlight flooded the room, I heard the professor's low hiss of inspiration, and knowing its rarity, a deadly fear shot through my heart. As I passed over, he moved back, and his exclamation of horror got in him. Needed no enforcement from his agonized face. He raised his hand and pointed to the bed, and his iron face was drawn and ash and white. I felt my knees begin to tremble. There, on the bed, seemingly in a swoon, lay poor Lucy, more horribly white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the guns seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see in a corpse after a prolonged illness. Van Helsing raised his foot to stamp in anger, but the instinct of his life and all the long years of habit stood to him, and he put it down again softly. Quick, he said, bring the brandy. I flew to the dining-room and returned with the decanter. He wetted the poor white lips with it. Together we rubbed palm and wrist and heart, he felt her heart, and after a few moments of agonizing, suspense said, it is not too late. It beats, though but feebly. All our work was undone. We must begin again. There is no young Arthur here now. I have to call on you yourself this time, friend John. As he spoke, he was dipping into his bag and producing the instruments of transfusion. I had taken off my coat and rolled up my shirt sleeve. There was no possibility of an opiate just at present, and no need of one. And so, without a moment's delay, we began the operation. After a time it did not seem a short time, either, for the draining away of one's blood, no matter how willingly it be given, is a terrible feeling, and Helsing held up a warning finger. Do not stir, he said. But I fear that with growing strength she may wake, and that would make danger. Oh, so much danger. But I shall precaution take. I shall give hypodermic injection of morphia. He proceeded then swiftly and deftly to carry out his intent. The effect on Lucy was not bad, for the faint seemed to merge subtly into the narcotic sleep. It was with a feeling of personal pride that I could see a faint tinge of color steal back into the pallid cheeks and lips. No man knows, till he experiences it, what it is to feel his own life blood drawn away into the veins of the woman he loves. The professor watched me critically. That will do, he said. Already, I remonstrated, you took a great deal more from art. To which he smiled a sad sort of smile, as he replied, he is her lover, her fiance. You have worked much work to do for her and for others, and the present will suffice. When we stopped the operation he attended to Lucy, whilst I applied digital pressure to my own incision, I laid down while I waited his leisure to attend me, for I felt faint and a little sick. By and by he bound up my wound and sent me downstairs to get a glass of wine for myself. As I was leaving the room, he came after me and half whispered, mind, nothing must be said of this, if our young lover should turn up unexpected, as before, nowhere to him. It would have once frightened him, and in jealous him, too. There must be none. So, when I came back he looked at me carefully and then said, You are not much the worst. Go into the room and lie on your sofa, and rest a while, and then have much breakfast, and come here to me. I followed out his orders, for I knew how right and wise they were. I had done my part, and now my next duty was to keep up my strength. I felt very weak, and in the weakness lost something of the amazement at what had occurred. I fell asleep on the sofa, however, wondering over and over again how Lucy had made such a retrograde movement, and how she could have been drained of so much blood, with no sign anywhere to show for it. I think I must have continued my wonder and my dreams, for sleeping and waking, my thoughts always came back to the little punctures in her throat, and the ragged, exhausted appearance of their edges, tiny though they were. Lucy slept well into the day, and when she woke she was fairly well and strong, though not nearly so much as the day before. When Van Helsing had seen her, he went out for a walk, leaving me in charge, with strict injunctions that I was not to leave her for a moment. I could hear his voice in the hall, asking the way to the nearest telegraph office. Lucy chatted with me freely, and seemed quite unconscious that anything had happened. I tried to keep her amused and interested. When her mother came up to see her, she did not seem to notice any change, whatever, but said to me gratefully, We owe so much, Dr. Seward, for all you have done, but you really must take care not to overwork yourself. You are looking pale yourself. You want a wife to nurse and look after you a bit. That you do. As she spoke, Lucy turned crimson, though was only momentarily, for her poor, wasted veins could not stand for long an unwanted drain to the head. The reaction came in excessive power as she turned imploring eyes on me. I smiled and nodded and laid my finger on my lips. With this eye she sank back amid her pillows. Van Helsing returned in a couple of hours, and presently said to me, Now you go home and eat much and drink enough. Make yourself strong. I stay here tonight, and I shall sit up with little miss myself. You and I must watch the case, and we must have none other to know. I have grave reasons. No, do not ask me. Think what you will. Do not fear to think even the most not improbable. Good night. In the hall two of the maids came to me, and asked if they or either of them might not sit up with Miss Lucy. They implored me to let them, and when I said it was Dr. Van Helsing's wish that either he or I should sit up, they asked me quite piteously to intercede with the foreign gentleman. I was much touched by their kindness. Perhaps it is because I am weak at present, and perhaps because it was on Lucy's account that their devotion was manifested. For over and over again have I seen similar instances of women's kindness. I got back here in time for a late dinner, went my rounds, all well, and set this down whilst waiting for sleep. It is coming. 11 September. This afternoon I went over to Hillingham, found Van Helsing and excellent spirits, and Lucy much better. Shortly after I had arrived a big parcel from abroad came for the professor. He opened it with such impressment, assumed, of course, and showed a great bundle of white flowers. These are for you, Miss Lucy? He said. For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing! Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines. Here Lucy made a writhe face. Nay, but they are not to take in a decoction or a nauseous form. So you need not snub that so charming a nose, or I shall point out to my friend, Arthur, what woes he may have to endure in seeing so much beauty that he loves so much distort. Aha, my pretty miss, that brings the nice nose all straight again. This is medicinal, but you do not know how. I put them in your window. I make pretty wreath, and hang them around your neck. So you sleep well. Oh yes, they like the lotus flower, make your trouble forgotten. It smells so like the waters of Letha, and of that fountain of youth that the conquistadores sought for in the Florida's, and find him all too late. Whilst he was speaking, Lucy had been examining the flowers and smelling them. Now she threw them down with half laughter and half disgust. Oh, Professor, I believe you are putting up a joke on me. Why, these flowers are only common garlic. To my surprise, Van Helsing rose up and said with all his sternness, his iron jaw set, and his eyebrows meeting, no trifling with me. I never jest. There is grim purpose in what I do, and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care for the sake of others, if not for your own. Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she might well be, he went on more gently. Oh, little miss, my dear, do not fear me. I only do for your good, but there is much virtue to you in those so common flowers. See, I place them myself in your room. I make myself the wreath that you are to wear. But hush, no telling to others that makes so inquisitive questions. We must obey, and silence is part of obedience, and obedience is to bring you strong and well into loving arms that wait for you. Now, sit still a while. Come with me, my friend John, and you shall help me deck the room with my garlic, which is all the way from Haerlem, where my friend Vanderpool raised herb in his glass houses all the year. I had to telegraph yesterday, or they would not have been here. We went into the room, taking the flowers with us. The professor's actions were certainly odd, and not to be found in any pharmacopia that I had ever heard of. First he fastened up the windows and latched them securely. Next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with the wisp he rubbed all over the jam of the door, above, below, and at each side, and round the fireplace in the same way. It all seemed grotesque to me, and presently I said, well, professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. It is well we have no skeptic here, or he would say that you were working some spell to keep out an evil spirit. Perhaps I am, he answered quietly, as he began to make the wreath which Lucy was to wear round her neck. We then waited while Lucy made her toilet for the night, and when she was in bed he came and himself fixed the wreath of garlic round her neck. The last words he said to her were, take care that you do not disturb it, and even if the room feel close, do not open the window or the door. I promise, said Lucy, and thank you both a thousand times for all your kindness to me. Oh, what have I done to be blessed with such friends? As we left the house in my fly, which was waiting, then Helsing said, tonight I can sleep in peace, and sleep I want, two nights of travel, much reading in the day between, and much anxiety on the day to follow, and a night to sit up without to wink. Tomorrow in the morning early, you call for me, and we come together to see our pretty miss, so much more strong for my spell which I have worked. Oh, he seemed so confident that I, remembering my own confidence two nights before, and with the baneful result, felt awe and vague terror. It must have been my weakness that made me hesitate to tell it to my friend, but I felt it all the more like unshed tears. 12 September. How good they all are to me. I quite love that dear Dr. Van Helsing. I wonder why he was so anxious about these flowers. He positively frightened me he was so face, and yet he must have been right, for I feel comfort from them already. Somehow I do not dread being alone to-night, and I can go to sleep without fear. I shall not mind any flapping outside the window. Oh, the terrible struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late, the pain of sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such unknown horrors as it has for me. How blessed are some people whose lives have no fears, no dreads, to whom sleep is a blessing that comes nightly and brings nothing but sweet dreams. While here I am to-night, hoping for sleep, and lying like a filia in the play, with virgin cramps and maiden-struments. I never liked garlic before, but to-night it is delightful. There is peace in its smell. I feel sleep coming already. Good night, everybody. Dr. Seward's Diary, 13 September. Called at the Barclay, and found Van Hilsing, as usual, up to time. The carriage ordered from the hotel was waiting. The Professor took his bag, which he always brings with him now. Let all be put down exactly. Van Hilsing and I arrived at Hillingham at eight o'clock. It was a lovely morning. The bright sunshine and all the fresh feeling of early autumn seemed like the completion of nature's annual work. The leaves were turning to all kinds of beautiful colors, but had, not yet, begun to drop from the trees. When we entered, we met with Mrs. Westenra, coming out of the morning room. She is always an early riser. She greeted us warmly, and said, You will be glad to know that Lucy is better. The dear child is still asleep. I looked into her room and saw her, but did not go in, lest I should disturb her. The Professor smiled, and looked quite jubilant. He rubbed his hands together and said, Ah! I thought I had diagnosed the case. My treatment is working. To which, she replied, You must not take all the credit to yourself, Dr. Lucy's state this morning is due, in part, to me. How do you mean, ma'am? asked the Professor. Well, I was anxious about the dear child in the night, and went into her room. She was sleeping soundly, so soundly that even my coming did not wake her. But the room was awfully stuffy. There were a lot of those horrible, strong-smelling flowers about everywhere, and she had actually a bunch of them round her neck. I feared that the heavy odor would be too much for the dear child in her weak state, so I took them all away and opened a bit of the window, to let in a little fresh air. You will be pleased with her, I am sure. She moved off into her boudoir, where she usually breakfasted early. As she had spoken, I watched the Professor's face, and saw it turn ashen gray. He had been able to retain his self-command whilst the poor lady was present, for he knew her state, and how mischievous a shock would be. He actually smiled on her as he held open the door for her to pass into her room. But the instant she had disappeared, he pulled me suddenly and forcibly into the dining room and closed the door. Then, for the first time in my life, I saw Van Helsing break down. He raised his hands over his head in a sort of mute despair, and then beat his palms together in a helpless way. Finally he sat down on a chair, and putting his hands before his face, began to sob with loud dry sobs that seemed to come from the very racking of his heart. Then he raised his arms again, as though appealing to the whole universe. God! God! God! He said, What have we done, but has this poor thing done that we are so sword-beset? Is there fate amongst us still? Send down from the pagan world of old, that such things must be, and in such a way, this poor mother, all unknowing, and all for the best, as she think, does such thing as lose her daughter, body and soul. And we must not tell her, we must not even warn her, or she die, then both die. Oh, how we are beset! How are all the powers of the devils against us? Suddenly he jumped to his feet. Come, he said, Come, we must see and act. Devils, or no devils, or all the devils at once, yet matters not. We must fight him all the same. He went to the hall door for his bag, and together we went up to Lucy's room. Once again I drew up the blind, whilst Van Helsing went towards the bed. This time he did not start as he looked on the poor face, with the same awful wax and pallor as before. He wore a look of stern sadness and infinite pity. As I expected, he murmured, with that hissing inspiration of his which meant so much. Without a word he went and locked the door, and then began to set out on the table the instruments for yet another operation of transfusion of blood. I had long ago recognized the necessity, and begun to take off my coat. But he stopped me with a warning hand. No, he said, Today you must operate. I shall provide. You are weakened already. As he spoke he took off his coat, and rolled up his shirt sleeve. Again the operation. Again the narcotic. Again some return of color to the ashy cheeks, and the regular breathing of healthy sleep. This time I watched whilst Van Helsing recruited himself and rested. Presently he took an opportunity of telling Mrs. Westenra that she must not remove anything from Lucy's room without consulting him. That the flowers were of medicinal value, and that the breathing of their odor was a part of the system of cure. Then he took over the care of the case himself, saying that he would watch this night and the next, and would send me word when to come. After another hour Lucy waked from her sleep, fresh and bright, and seemingly not much the worse for her terrible ordeal. What does it all mean? I am beginning to wonder if my long habit of life amongst the insane is beginning to tell upon my own brain. Lucy Westenra's Diary 17 September Four days and nights of peace. I am getting so strong again that I hardly know myself. It is as if I had passed through some long nightmare, and had just awakened to see the beautiful sunshine and feel the fresh air of the morning around me. I have a dim half remembrance of long, anxious times of waiting and fearing, darkness in which there was not even the pain of hope to make present distress more poignant, and then long spells of oblivion, and the rising back to life as a diver coming up through a great press of water. Since, however, Dr. Van Helsing has been with me, all this bad dreaming seems to have passed away, the noises that used to frighten me out of my wits, the flapping against the windows, the distant voices which seemed so close to me, the harsh sounds that came from my no-not-wear and commanded me to do my no-not-what have all ceased. I go to bed now without any fear of sleep. I do not even try to keep awake. I have grown quite fond of the garlic, and a boxful arrives for me every day from Harlem. Tonight Dr. Van Helsing is going away, as he has to be for a day in Amsterdam, but I need not be watched. I am well enough to be left alone. Thank God for Mother's sake, and dear Arthas, and for all our friends who have been so kind. I shall not even feel the change, for last night Dr. Van Helsing slept in his chair a lot of the time. I found him asleep twice when I awoke, but I did not fear to go to sleep again, although the boughs or bats or something flapped almost angrily against the window-pains. The Palmal Gazette, 18th September, The Escaped Wolf, Perilous Adventure of Our Interview Interview with the Keeper in the Zoological Gardens After many inquiries and almost as many refusals, and perpetually using the words Palmal Gazette as a sort of talisman, I managed to find the keeper of the section of the Zoological Gardens in which the wolf department is included. Thomas Bilder lives in one of the cottages in the enclosure behind the Elephant House, and was just sitting down to his tea when I found him. Thomas and his wife are hospitable folk, elderly and without children, and if the specimen I enjoyed of their hospitality be of the average kind, their lives must be pretty comfortable. The keeper would not enter on what he called business until the supper was over, and we were all satisfied. Then when the table was cleared and he had lit his pipe, he said, Now, sir, you can go on and ask me what you want. You'll excuse me refusing to talk of professional subjects of four meals. I give the wolves and the jackals and the hyenas in all our sections their tea, afore I begin to ask them questions. How do you mean ask them questions, I queried, wishful to get him into a talkative humour. Eating of them over the head with a pole is one way. Scratching of their ears is another, when gents as his flush wants a bit of a show-off to their gals. I don't so much mind the fust, the eating of the pole part, afore I chucks in their dinner, but I wait till they've had their sherry and coffee, so to speak, afore I tries on with the ear scratching. Mind you, he added philosophically. There's a deal of the same nature in us as in them dear animals. Here's you are coming and asking of me questions about my business. And I that grump like that only for your blooming half-quid, I'd have seen you blowed first, for I'd answer. Not even when you ask me sarcastic-like, if I'd like you to ask the superintendent if you might ask me questions. Without offence, did I tell you to go to El? You did. And when you said you'd report me for using a obscene language, that was eating me over the head, but the half-quid made that all right. I weren't a going to fight, so I waited for the food, and did with my all as the wolves and lions and tigers does. But law love your art, now that the old blooming ooman has stuck a chunk of her teacake in me, and rinsed me out with her blooming ol' teapot, and I've lit up, you may scratch my ears for all your worth, and won't even get a growl at me. Drive along with your questions, I know what you're coming at, that ear escaped wolf. Exactly. I want you to give me your view of it. Just tell me how it happened, and when I know the facts, I'll get you to say what you consider was the cause of it, and how you think the whole affair will end. All right, Governor. This ear is about the ol' story. That ear wolf, what we called Bersika, was one of the three grey ones that came from Norway to Jimrax, which we brought off him four years ago. He was a nice well-behaved wolf that never gave no trouble to talk of. I'm more surprised in for wanting to get out, nor any other animal in the place. But there, you can't trust wolves no more, nor women. Don't you mind him, sir? Broken Mrs. Tom with a cheery laugh. He's got mind in the animal so long that blessed if he ate like an old wolf himself, but there ain't no harm in him. Well, sir. It was about two hours after feeding yesterday when I first hear my disturbance. I was making up a litter in the monkey-house for a young puma which is ill, but when I heard the yelp in an owl-in, I came away straight. There was Bersika a tearing like a mad thing at the bars as if he wanted to get out. There wasn't much people about that day, and close to hand was only one man, a tall thin chap with an oak nose and a pointed beard, with a few white hairs running through it. He had a hard cold look and red eyes, and I took a sort of mislike to him, for it seemed as if it was him as they was irritated at. He had white-keed gloves on his hands, and he pointed out the animals to me, and says, Keeper, these wolves seem upset at something. Maybe it's you, says I, for I did not like the heirs as he give himself. He didn't get angry, as I hoped he would, but he smiled a kind of insolent smile with a mouth full of white, sharp teeth. Oh, no, they wouldn't like me, he says. Oh, yes they would, says I, at imitating of him. They always like a bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea-time, which you as a bagful. Well, it was a odd thing, but when the animals see us are talking, they lay down, and when I went over to Bersika, he let me stroke his ears same as ever. That their man came over, and blessed but if he didn't put his hand in, and stroke the old wolf's ears too. Tight care, says I, Bersika is quick. Never mind, he says. I'm used to him. Are you in the business yourself, I says, typing off my at, for a man what trades in wolves, etc., is a good friend to keep us. No, says he, not exactly in the business, but I have made pets of several, and with that he lifts his at as polite as a lord and walks away. Old Bersika kept looking at him till he was out of sight, and then went and lay down in a corner, and wouldn't come out the whole evening. Well, last night, so soon as the moon was up, the wolves here all began howling. There weren't nothing for them to howl at. There weren't no one near, except someone that was evidently a calling a dog somewhere, out back of the gardens in the park road. One saw twice and went out to see that all was right, and it was, and then the howling stopped. Just before twelve o'clock I took a look around before turning in, and bust me, but when I came up as it to our Bersika's cage, I see the rails broken and twisted about, and the cage empty, and that's all I know for certain. Did anyone else see anything? One of our gardeners was a coming home about that time from our armourly. When he sees a big grey dog coming out through the garden edges, at least so he says, but I don't give much fruit myself, for if he did he never said a word about it to his mrs. when he got home, and it was only after the escape that the wolf was made known, and we had been up all night at hunting of the park for Bersika that he remembered seeing anything. My own belief was that the armourly had got into his head. Now, Mr. Builder, can you account in any way for the escape of the wolf? Well, sir, he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty. I think I can, but I don't know as how you'd be satisfied with the theory. Certainly I shall, if a man like you, who knows the animals from experience, can't have such a good guess at any rate, who is even to try? Well then, sir, I account for it this way. It seems to me that year wolf escaped, simply because he wanted to get out. From the hearty way that both Thomas and his wife laughed at the joke, I could see that it had done service before, and that the whole explanation was simply an elaborate sell. I couldn't cope in bad an age with the worthy Thomas, but I thought I knew a sure way to his heart, so I said, Now, Mr. Builder, we'll consider the first half sovereign worked off, and this brother of his is waiting to be claimed when you've told me what you think will happen. Right you are, sir, he said briskly. You'll excuse me, I know, for a chaffing of ye, but the old woman here winked at me, which was as much as telling me to go on. Well, I never, said the old lady. My opinion is this. That year wolf is at eyeing of somewheres. The guard know what didn't remember said he was a galloping northward faster than a horse could go, but I don't believe him, for, you see, sir. Wolves don't gallop no more nor dogs does. They not being built that way. Wolves is fine things in a storybook, and I dare say when they get in packs and does be chivvy in something that's more afraid than they is, they can make a devil of a noise and chop it up, whatever it is. But, Lord bless you, in real life a wolf is only a low creature, not half so clever or bold as a good dog, and not half a quarter so much fighting him. This one ain't been used to fighting, or even to providing for himself, and more like he's somewhere round the park a hiding and a shivering of, and if he thinks at all, wondering where he's to get his breakfast from. Or maybe he's got down some area and is in a cold cellar. My eye won't some cook get a rum start when she sees his green eyes are shining at her out of the dark. If he can't get food he's bound to look for it, and may have he may chance to lighten a butcher's shop in time. If he doesn't, and some nurse may goes out walking, or off with a soldier, leaving of a infant in the perambulator. Well, then I shouldn't be surprised if the census is one babby the less. That's all. I was handing him the half sovereign, when something came bobbing up against the window, and Mr. Builder's face doubled its natural length with surprise. God bless me, he said. If there ain't old Bursick had come back by yourself. He went to the door and opened it, and most unnecessary proceeding it seemed to me. I have always thought that a wild animal never looks so well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us. A personal experience has intensified, rather than diminish that idea. After all, however, there is nothing like custom, for neither Builder nor his wife thought any more of the wolf than I should of a dog. The animal itself was a peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all picture-wolves, Red Riding Hood's quantum friend, whilst moving her confidence in masquerade. The whole scene was that unutterable mixture of comedy and pathos. The wicked wolf that for half a day had paralysed London, and set all the children in town shivering in their shoes, was there in a sort of penitent mood, and was received and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal son. Old Builder examined him all over with most tender solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent said, There. I knew the poor old chap were getting some kind of trouble. Didn't I say it all along? Here's his head all cut and full of broken glass. He's been getting over some blooming wall or other. It's a shame that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles. This is what comes of it. Come along, Bersica. He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece of meat that satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary conditions of the fatigued calf, and went off to report. I came off too, to report the only exclusive information that is given today regarding the strange escapade at the zoo. Dr. Seward's Diary 17 September I was engaged after dinner in my study, posting up my books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy, had fallen sadly into a rear. Suddenly the door was burst open, and in rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord, into the superintendent's study, is almost unknown. Without an instant's notice he made straight at me. He had a dinner knife in his hand, and as I saw he was dangerous, I tried to keep the table between us. He was too quick and too strong for me, however, for before I could get my balance, he had struck at me, and cut my left wrist, rather severely, before he could strike again, however. I got in my right hand, and he was sprawling on his back on the floor. My wrist bled freely, and quite a little pool trickled onto the carpet. I saw that my friend was not intent on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my wrist, keeping a very wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time. When the attendance rushed in, and we turned our attention to him, his employment positively sickened me. He was lying on his belly on the floor, licking up like a dog, the blood which had fallen from my wounded wrist. He was easily secured, and to my surprise, went with the attendance quite placidly, simply repeating over and over again. The blood is the life. The blood is the life. I cannot afford to lose blood just at present. I have lost too much of late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain of Lucy's illness and its horrible phases is telling on me. I am overexcited and weary, and I need rest, rest, rest. Happily Van Helsing has not summoned me, so I need not forgo my sleep. Tonight I could not well do without it. Telegram Van Helsing Antwerp To Seward Carfax Sent to Carfax Sussex as no county given, delivered late by 22 hours. 17 September Do not fail to be at Healingham tonight. If not watching all the time, frequently visit and see that flowers are as placed. Very important, do not fail. Shall be with you as soon as possible after arrival. Dr. Seward's Diary 18 September Just off train to London, the arrival of Van Helsing's Telegram filled me with dismay, a whole night loss, and I know by bitter experience what may happen in a night. Of course it is possible that all may be well, but what may have happened? Surely there is some horrible doom, hanging over us, that every possible accident should thwart us in all we try to do. I shall take the cylinder with me, and then I can complete my entry on Lucy's phonograph. Memorandum Left by Lucy Westenra 17 September Night I write this and leave it to be seen, so that no one may by any chance get into trouble through me. This is an exact record of what took place tonight. I feel I am dying of weakness, and have barely strength to write, but it must be done if I die in the doing. I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were placed as Dr. Van Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep. I was waked by the flapping at the window, which had begun after that sleepwalking on the cliff at Whitby when Mina saved me, and which now I know so well. I was not afraid, but I did wish that Dr. Seward was in the next room, as Dr. Van Helsing said he would be, so that I might have called him. I tried to sleep, but I could not. Then there came to me the old fear of sleep, and I determined to keep awake. Perversely sleep would try to come then when I did not want it. So, as I feared to be alone, I opened my door and called out, is there anybody there? There was no answer. I was afraid to wake mother and so close my door again. Then outside in the shrubbery, I heard a sort of howl like a dog's, but more fierce and deeper. I went to the window and looked out, but could see nothing except a big bat, which had evidently been buffeting its wings against the window. So I went back to bed again, but determined not to go to sleep. Presently the door opened, and mother looked in. Seeing by my moving that I was not asleep, she came in and sat by me. She said to me even more sweetly and softly than her want, I was uneasy about you, darling, and came in to see that you were all right. I feared she might catch cold sitting there, and asked her to come in and sleep with me, so she came into bed and lay down beside me. She did not take off her dressing gown, for she said she would only stay a while and then go back to her own bed. As she lay there in my arms, and I in hers, the flapping and buffeting came to the window again. She was startled and a little frightened, and cried out, What is that? I tried to pacify her, and at last succeeded, and she lay quiet. But I could hear her poor dear heart still beating terribly. After a while there was the howl again out in the shrubbery, and shortly after there was a crash at the window, and a lot of broken glass was hurled on the floor. The window-blind blew back with the wind that rushed in, and in the aperture of the broken panes there was the head of a great gaunt grey wolf. Mother cried out in a fright, and struggled up into a sitting posture, and clutched wildly at anything that would help her. Amongst other things, she clutched the wreath of flowers that Dr. Van Helsing insisted on my wearing round by neck, and tore it away from me. For a second or two she sat up, pointing at the wolf, and there was a strange and horrible gurgling in her throat. Then she fell over, as if struck with lightning, and her head hit my forehead, and made me dizzy for a moment or two. The room and all round seemed to spin round. I kept my eyes fixed on the window, but the wolf drew his head back, and a whole myriad of little specks seemed to come blowing in through the broken window, and wheeling and circling round like the pillar of dust that travellers describe when there is a sea-moon in the desert. I tried to stir, but there was some spell upon me, and dear mother's poor body, which seemed to grow cold already, for her dear heart had ceased to beat, weighed me down, and I remembered no more for a while. The time did not seem long, but very, very awful till I recovered consciousness again. Somewhere near our passing bell was tolling. The dogs all round the neighbourhood were howling, and in our shrubbery, seemingly just outside, a nightingale was singing. I was dazed and stupid with pain and terror and weakness, but the sound of the nightingale seemed like the voice of my dead mother come back to comfort me. The sounds seemed to have awakened the maids, too, for I could hear their bare feet pattering outside my door. I called to them, and they came in, and when they saw what had happened and what it was that lay over me on the bed, they screamed out. The wind rushed in through the broken window, and the door slammed, too. They lifted off the body of my dear mother, and laid her covered up with a sheet on the bed after I had got up. They were all so frightened and nervous that I directed them to go to the dining-room and each have a glass of wine. The door flew open for an instant and closed again. The maids shrieked, and then went in a body to the dining-room, and I laid what flowers I had on my dear mother's breast. When they were there I remembered what Dr. Van Helsing had told me, but I didn't like to remove them, and besides I would have some of the servants to sit up with me now. I was surprised that the maids did not come back. I called them, but got no answer, so I went to the dining-room to look for them. My heart sank when I saw what had happened. They all four lay helpless on the floor, breathing heavily. The decanter of Sherry was on the table half full, but there was a queer acrid smell about. I was suspicious and examined the decanter. It smelt of Lordinum, and looking on the sideboard I found that the bottle which Mother's Doctor uses for her—oh!—did use—was empty. What am I to do? What am I to do? I am back in the room with Mother. I cannot leave her, and I am alone, save for the sleeping servants whom some one has drugged, alone with the dead. I dare not go out, for I can hear the low howl of the wolf through the broken window. The air seems full of specks, floating and circling in the draught from the window, and the lights burn blue and dim. What am I to do? God shields me from harm this night. I shall hide this paper in my breast, where they shall find it when they come to lay me out. My dear Mother gone! It is time that I go too. Goodbye, dear Arthur, if I should not survive this night. God keep you dear, and God help me.