Dracula

_Dr. Seward's Diary._

_28 September._--It is wonderful what a good night's sleep will do forone. Yesterday I was almost willing to accept Van Helsing's monstrousideas; but now they seem to start out lurid before me as outrages oncommon sense. I have no doubt that he believes it all. I wonder if hismind can have become in any way unhinged. Surely there must be _some_rational explanation of all these mysterious things. Is it possible thatthe Professor can have done it himself? He is so abnormally clever thatif he went off his head he would carry out his intent with regard tosome fixed idea in a wonderful way. I am loath to think it, and indeedit would be almost as great a marvel as the other to find that VanHelsing was mad; but anyhow I shall watch him carefully. I may get somelight on the mystery.

* * * * *

_29 September, morning._.... Last night, at a little before ten o'clock,Arthur and Quincey came into Van Helsing's room; he told us all that hewanted us to do, but especially addressing himself to Arthur, as if allour wills were centred in his. He began by saying that he hoped we wouldall come with him too, ”for,” he said, ”there is a grave duty to be donethere. You were doubtless surprised at my letter?” This query wasdirectly addressed to Lord Godalming.

”I was. It rather upset me for a bit. There has been so much troublearound my house of late that I could do without any more. I have beencurious, too, as to what you mean. Quincey and I talked it over; but themore we talked, the more puzzled we got, till now I can say for myselfthat I'm about up a tree as to any meaning about anything.”

”Me too,” said Quincey Morris laconically.

”Oh,” said the Professor, ”then you are nearer the beginning, both ofyou, than friend John here, who has to go a long way back before he caneven get so far as to begin.”

It was evident that he recognised my return to my old doubting frame ofmind without my saying a word. Then, turning to the other two, he saidwith intense gravity:--

”I want your permission to do what I think good this night. It is, Iknow, much to ask; and when you know what it is I propose to do you willknow, and only then, how much. Therefore may I ask that you promise mein the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry with me for atime--I must not disguise from myself the possibility that such maybe--you shall not blame yourselves for anything.”

”That's frank anyhow,” broke in Quincey. ”I'll answer for the Professor.I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest; and that's goodenough for me.”

”I thank you, sir,” said Van Helsing proudly. ”I have done myself thehonour of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is dearto me.” He held out a hand, which Quincey took.

Then Arthur spoke out:--

”Dr. Van Helsing, I don't quite like to 'buy a pig in a poke,' as theysay in Scotland, and if it be anything in which my honour as a gentlemanor my faith as a Christian is concerned, I cannot make such a promise.If you can assure me that what you intend does not violate either ofthese two, then I give my consent at once; though for the life of me, Icannot understand what you are driving at.”

”I accept your limitation,” said Van Helsing, ”and all I ask of you isthat if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will firstconsider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate yourreservations.”

”Agreed!” said Arthur; ”that is only fair. And now that the_pourparlers_ are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?”

”I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard atKingstead.”

Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way:--

”Where poor Lucy is buried?” The Professor bowed. Arthur went on: ”Andwhen there?”

”To enter the tomb!” Arthur stood up.

”Professor, are you in earnest; or it is some monstrous joke? Pardon me,I see that you are in earnest.” He sat down again, but I could see thathe sat firmly and proudly, as one who is on his dignity. There wassilence until he asked again:--

”And when in the tomb?”

”To open the coffin.”

”This is too much!” he said, angrily rising again. ”I am willing to bepatient in all things that are reasonable; but in this--this desecrationof the grave--of one who----” He fairly choked with indignation. TheProfessor looked pityingly at him.

”If I could spare you one pang, my poor friend,” he said, ”God knows Iwould. But this night our feet must tread in thorny paths; or later, andfor ever, the feet you love must walk in paths of flame!”

Arthur looked up with set white face and said:--

”Take care, sir, take care!”

”Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?” said Van Helsing.”And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose. Shall I goon?”

”That's fair enough,” broke in Morris.

After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort:--

”Miss Lucy is dead; is it not so? Yes! Then there can be no wrong toher. But if she be not dead----”

Arthur jumped to his feet.

”Good God!” he cried. ”What do you mean? Has there been any mistake; hasshe been buried alive?” He groaned in anguish that not even hope couldsoften.

”I did not say she was alive, my child; I did not think it. I go nofurther than to say that she might be Un-Dead.”

”Un-Dead! Not alive! What do you mean? Is this all a nightmare, or whatis it?”

”There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age theymay solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of one. ButI have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?”

”Heavens and earth, no!” cried Arthur in a storm of passion. ”Not forthe wide world will I consent to any mutilation of her dead body. Dr.Van Helsing, you try me too far. What have I done to you that you shouldtorture me so? What did that poor, sweet girl do that you should want tocast such dishonour on her grave? Are you mad that speak such things, oram I mad to listen to them? Don't dare to think more of such adesecration; I shall not give my consent to anything you do. I have aduty to do in protecting her grave from outrage; and, by God, I shall doit!”

Van Helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated, andsaid, gravely and sternly:--

”My Lord Godalming, I, too, have a duty to do, a duty to others, a dutyto you, a duty to the dead; and, by God, I shall do it! All I ask younow is that you come with me, that you look and listen; and if whenlater I make the same request you do not be more eager for itsfulfilment even than I am, then--then I shall do my duty, whatever itmay seem to me. And then, to follow of your Lordship's wishes I shallhold myself at your disposal to render an account to you, when and whereyou will.” His voice broke a little, and he went on with a voice full ofpity:--

”But, I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life ofacts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did wringmy heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now. Believe me that ifthe time comes for you to change your mind towards me, one look fromyou will wipe away all this so sad hour, for I would do what a man canto save you from sorrow. Just think. For why should I give myself somuch of labour and so much of sorrow? I have come here from my own landto do what I can of good; at the first to please my friend John, andthen to help a sweet young lady, whom, too, I came to love. For her--Iam ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness--I gave what yougave; the blood of my veins; I gave it, I, who was not, like you, herlover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave to her my nightsand days--before death, after death; and if my death can do her goodeven now, when she is the dead Un-Dead, she shall have it freely.” Hesaid this with a very grave, sweet pride, and Arthur was much affectedby it. He took the old man's hand and said in a broken voice:--

”Oh, it is hard to think of it, and I cannot understand; but at least Ishall go with you and wait.”