Dracula

CHAPTER XXV

DR. SEWARD'S DIARY

_11 October, Evening._--Jonathan Harker has asked me to note this, as hesays he is hardly equal to the task, and he wants an exact record kept.

I think that none of us were surprised when we were asked to see Mrs.Harker a little before the time of sunset. We have of late come tounderstand that sunrise and sunset are to her times of peculiar freedom;when her old self can be manifest without any controlling force subduingor restraining her, or inciting her to action. This mood or conditionbegins some half hour or more before actual sunrise or sunset, and laststill either the sun is high, or whilst the clouds are still aglow withthe rays streaming above the horizon. At first there is a sort ofnegative condition, as if some tie were loosened, and then the absolutefreedom quickly follows; when, however, the freedom ceases thechange-back or relapse comes quickly, preceded only by a spell ofwarning silence.

To-night, when we met, she was somewhat constrained, and bore all thesigns of an internal struggle. I put it down myself to her making aviolent effort at the earliest instant she could do so. A very fewminutes, however, gave her complete control of herself; then, motioningher husband to sit beside her on the sofa where she was half reclining,she made the rest of us bring chairs up close. Taking her husband's handin hers began:--

”We are all here together in freedom, for perhaps the last time! I know,dear; I know that you will always be with me to the end.” This was toher husband whose hand had, as we could see, tightened upon hers. ”Inthe morning we go out upon our task, and God alone knows what may be instore for any of us. You are going to be so good to me as to take mewith you. I know that all that brave earnest men can do for a poor weakwoman, whose soul perhaps is lost--no, no, not yet, but is at any rateat stake--you will do. But you must remember that I am not as you are.There is a poison in my blood, in my soul, which may destroy me; whichmust destroy me, unless some relief comes to us. Oh, my friends, youknow as well as I do, that my soul is at stake; and though I know thereis one way out for me, you must not and I must not take it!” She lookedappealingly to us all in turn, beginning and ending with her husband.

”What is that way?” asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. ”What is thatway, which we must not--may not--take?”

”That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, beforethe greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you know, that were Ionce dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit, even as youdid my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of death, the only thingthat stood in the way I would not shrink to die here, now, amidst thefriends who love me. But death is not all. I cannot believe that to diein such a case, when there is hope before us and a bitter task to bedone, is God's will. Therefore, I, on my part, give up here thecertainty of eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be theblackest things that the world or the nether world holds!” We were allsilent, for we knew instinctively that this was only a prelude. Thefaces of the others were set and Harker's grew ashen grey; perhaps heguessed better than any of us what was coming. She continued:--

”This is what I can give into the hotch-pot.” I could not but note thequaint legal phrase which she used in such a place, and with allseriousness. ”What will each of you give? Your lives I know,” she wenton quickly, ”that is easy for brave men. Your lives are God's, and youcan give them back to Him; but what will you give to me?” She lookedagain questioningly, but this time avoided her husband's face. Quinceyseemed to understand; he nodded, and her face lit up. ”Then I shall tellyou plainly what I want, for there must be no doubtful matter in thisconnection between us now. You must promise me, one and all--even you,my beloved husband--that, should the time come, you will kill me.”

”What is that time?” The voice was Quincey's, but it was low andstrained.

”When you shall be convinced that I am so changed that it is better thatI die that I may live. When I am thus dead in the flesh, then you will,without a moment's delay, drive a stake through me and cut off my head;or do whatever else may be wanting to give me rest!”

Quincey was the first to rise after the pause. He knelt down before herand taking her hand in his said solemnly:--

”I'm only a rough fellow, who hasn't, perhaps, lived as a man should towin such a distinction, but I swear to you by all that I hold sacred anddear that, should the time ever come, I shall not flinch from the dutythat you have set us. And I promise you, too, that I shall make allcertain, for if I am only doubtful I shall take it that the time hascome!”

”My true friend!” was all she could say amid her fast-falling tears, as,bending over, she kissed his hand.

”I swear the same, my dear Madam Mina!” said Van Helsing.

”And I!” said Lord Godalming, each of them in turn kneeling to her totake the oath. I followed, myself. Then her husband turned to herwan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which subdued the snowy whiteness ofhis hair, and asked:--

”And must I, too, make such a promise, oh, my wife?”

”You too, my dearest,” she said, with infinite yearning of pity in hervoice and eyes. ”You must not shrink. You are nearest and dearest andall the world to me; our souls are knit into one, for all life and alltime. Think, dear, that there have been times when brave men have killedtheir wives and their womenkind, to keep them from falling into thehands of the enemy. Their hands did not falter any the more becausethose that they loved implored them to slay them. It is men's dutytowards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And oh, mydear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it be atthe hand of him that loves me best. Dr. Van Helsing, I have notforgotten your mercy in poor Lucy's case to him who loved”--she stoppedwith a flying blush, and changed her phrase--”to him who had best rightto give her peace. If that time shall come again, I look to you to makeit a happy memory of my husband's life that it was his loving hand whichset me free from the awful thrall upon me.”

”Again I swear!” came the Professor's resonant voice. Mrs. Harkersmiled, positively smiled, as with a sigh of relief she leaned back andsaid:--

”And now one word of warning, a warning which you must never forget:this time, if it ever come, may come quickly and unexpectedly, and insuch case you must lose no time in using your opportunity. At such atime I myself might be--nay! if the time ever comes, _shall be_--leaguedwith your enemy against you.”

”One more request;” she became very solemn as she said this, ”it is notvital and necessary like the other, but I want you to do one thing forme, if you will.” We all acquiesced, but no one spoke; there was no needto speak:--

”I want you to read the Burial Service.” She was interrupted by a deepgroan from her husband; taking his hand in hers, she held it over herheart, and continued: ”You must read it over me some day. Whatever maybe the issue of all this fearful state of things, it will be a sweetthought to all or some of us. You, my dearest, will I hope read it, forthen it will be in your voice in my memory for ever--come what may!”

”But oh, my dear one,” he pleaded, ”death is afar off from you.”

”Nay,” she said, holding up a warning hand. ”I am deeper in death atthis moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me!”

”Oh, my wife, must I read it?” he said, before he began.

”It would comfort me, my husband!” was all she said; and he began toread when she had got the book ready.

”How can I--how could any one--tell of that strange scene, itssolemnity, its gloom, its sadness, its horror; and, withal, itssweetness. Even a sceptic, who can see nothing but a travesty of bittertruth in anything holy or emotional, would have been melted to the hearthad he seen that little group of loving and devoted friends kneelinground that stricken and sorrowing lady; or heard the tender passion ofher husband's voice, as in tones so broken with emotion that often hehad to pause, he read the simple and beautiful service from the Burialof the Dead. I--I cannot go on--words--and--v-voice--f-fail m-me!”

* * * * *

She was right in her instinct. Strange as it all was, bizarre as it mayhereafter seem even to us who felt its potent influence at the time, itcomforted us much; and the silence, which showed Mrs. Harker's comingrelapse from her freedom of soul, did not seem so full of despair to anyof us as we had dreaded.

_Jonathan Harker's Journal._

_15 October, Varna._--We left Charing Cross on the morning of the 12th,got to Paris the same night, and took the places secured for us in theOrient Express. We travelled night and day, arriving here at about fiveo'clock. Lord Godalming went to the Consulate to see if any telegram hadarrived for him, whilst the rest of us came on to this hotel--”theOdessus.” The journey may have had incidents; I was, however, too eagerto get on, to care for them. Until the _Czarina Catherine_ comes intoport there will be no interest for me in anything in the wide world.Thank God! Mina is well, and looks to be getting stronger; her colour iscoming back. She sleeps a great deal; throughout the journey she sleptnearly all the time. Before sunrise and sunset, however, she is verywakeful and alert; and it has become a habit for Van Helsing tohypnotise her at such times. At first, some effort was needed, and hehad to make many passes; but now, she seems to yield at once, as if byhabit, and scarcely any action is needed. He seems to have power atthese particular moments to simply will, and her thoughts obey him. Healways asks her what she can see and hear. She answers to the first:--

”Nothing; all is dark.” And to the second:--

”I can hear the waves lapping against the ship, and the water rushingby. Canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards creak. The wind ishigh--I can hear it in the shrouds, and the bow throws back the foam.”It is evident that the _Czarina Catherine_ is still at sea, hastening onher way to Varna. Lord Godalming has just returned. He had fourtelegrams, one each day since we started, and all to the same effect:that the _Czarina Catherine_ had not been reported to Lloyd's fromanywhere. He had arranged before leaving London that his agent shouldsend him every day a telegram saying if the ship had been reported. Hewas to have a message even if she were not reported, so that he might besure that there was a watch being kept at the other end of the wire.

We had dinner and went to bed early. To-morrow we are to see theVice-Consul, and to arrange, if we can, about getting on board the shipas soon as she arrives. Van Helsing says that our chance will be to geton the boat between sunrise and sunset. The Count, even if he takes theform of a bat, cannot cross the running water of his own volition, andso cannot leave the ship. As he dare not change to man's form withoutsuspicion--which he evidently wishes to avoid--he must remain in thebox. If, then, we can come on board after sunrise, he is at our mercy;for we can open the box and make sure of him, as we did of poor Lucy,before he wakes. What mercy he shall get from us will not count formuch. We think that we shall not have much trouble with officials or theseamen. Thank God! this is the country where bribery can do anything,and we are well supplied with money. We have only to make sure that theship cannot come into port between sunset and sunrise without our beingwarned, and we shall be safe. Judge Moneybag will settle this case, Ithink!

* * * * *

_16 October._--Mina's report still the same: lapping waves and rushingwater, darkness and favouring winds. We are evidently in good time, andwhen we hear of the _Czarina Catherine_ we shall be ready. As she mustpass the Dardanelles we are sure to have some report.

* * * * *

_17 October._--Everything is pretty well fixed now, I think, to welcomethe Count on his return from his tour. Godalming told the shippers thathe fancied that the box sent aboard might contain something stolen froma friend of his, and got a half consent that he might open it at his ownrisk. The owner gave him a paper telling the Captain to give him everyfacility in doing whatever he chose on board the ship, and also asimilar authorisation to his agent at Varna. We have seen the agent, whowas much impressed with Godalming's kindly manner to him, and we are allsatisfied that whatever he can do to aid our wishes will be done. Wehave already arranged what to do in case we get the box open. If theCount is there, Van Helsing and Seward will cut off his head at once anddrive a stake through his heart. Morris and Godalming and I shallprevent interference, even if we have to use the arms which we shallhave ready. The Professor says that if we can so treat the Count's body,it will soon after fall into dust. In such case there would be noevidence against us, in case any suspicion of murder were aroused. Buteven if it were not, we should stand or fall by our act, and perhapssome day this very script may be evidence to come between some of us anda rope. For myself, I should take the chance only too thankfully if itwere to come. We mean to leave no stone unturned to carry out ourintent. We have arranged with certain officials that the instant the_Czarina Catherine_ is seen, we are to be informed by a specialmessenger.

* * * * *

_24 October._--A whole week of waiting. Daily telegrams to Godalming,but only the same story: ”Not yet reported.” Mina's morning and eveninghypnotic answer is unvaried: lapping waves, rushing water, and creakingmasts.

_Telegram, October 24th._

_Rufus Smith, Lloyd's, London, to Lord Godalming, care of H. B. M.Vice-Consul, Varna._

”_Czarina Catherine_ reported this morning from Dardanelles.”

_Dr. Seward's Diary._

_25 October._--How I miss my phonograph! To write diary with a pen isirksome to me; but Van Helsing says I must. We were all wild withexcitement yesterday when Godalming got his telegram from Lloyd's. Iknow now what men feel in battle when the call to action is heard. Mrs.Harker, alone of our party, did not show any signs of emotion. Afterall, it is not strange that she did not; for we took special care not tolet her know anything about it, and we all tried not to show anyexcitement when we were in her presence. In old days she would, I amsure, have noticed, no matter how we might have tried to conceal it; butin this way she is greatly changed during the past three weeks. Thelethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong and well, and isgetting back some of her colour, Van Helsing and I are not satisfied. Wetalk of her often; we have not, however, said a word to the others. Itwould break poor Harker's heart--certainly his nerve--if he knew that wehad even a suspicion on the subject. Van Helsing examines, he tells me,her teeth very carefully, whilst she is in the hypnotic condition, forhe says that so long as they do not begin to sharpen there is no activedanger of a change in her. If this change should come, it would benecessary to take steps!... We both know what those steps would have tobe, though we do not mention our thoughts to each other. We shouldneither of us shrink from the task--awful though it be to contemplate.”Euthanasia” is an excellent and a comforting word! I am grateful towhoever invented it.

It is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here, at therate the _Czarina Catherine_ has come from London. She should thereforearrive some time in the morning; but as she cannot possibly get inbefore then, we are all about to retire early. We shall get up at oneo'clock, so as to be ready.

* * * * *

_25 October, Noon_.--No news yet of the ship's arrival. Mrs. Harker'shypnotic report this morning was the same as usual, so it is possiblethat we may get news at any moment. We men are all in a fever ofexcitement, except Harker, who is calm; his hands are cold as ice, andan hour ago I found him whetting the edge of the great Ghoorka knifewhich he now always carries with him. It will be a bad lookout for theCount if the edge of that ”Kukri” ever touches his throat, driven bythat stern, ice-cold hand!

Van Helsing and I were a little alarmed about Mrs. Harker to-day. Aboutnoon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not like; although wekept silence to the others, we were neither of us happy about it. Shehad been restless all the morning, so that we were at first glad to knowthat she was sleeping. When, however, her husband mentioned casuallythat she was sleeping so soundly that he could not wake her, we went toher room to see for ourselves. She was breathing naturally and looked sowell and peaceful that we agreed that the sleep was better for her thananything else. Poor girl, she has so much to forget that it is no wonderthat sleep, if it brings oblivion to her, does her good.

* * * * *

_Later._--Our opinion was justified, for when after a refreshing sleepof some hours she woke up, she seemed brighter and better than she hadbeen for days. At sunset she made the usual hypnotic report. Wherever hemay be in the Black Sea, the Count is hurrying to his destination. Tohis doom, I trust!

* * * * *

_26 October._--Another day and no tidings of the _Czarina Catherine_.She ought to be here by now. That she is still journeying _somewhere_ isapparent, for Mrs. Harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still thesame. It is possible that the vessel may be lying by, at times, for fog;some of the steamers which came in last evening reported patches of fogboth to north and south of the port. We must continue our watching, asthe ship may now be signalled any moment.

* * * * *

_27 October, Noon._--Most strange; no news yet of the ship we wait for.Mrs. Harker reported last night and this morning as usual: ”lappingwaves and rushing water,” though she added that ”the waves were veryfaint.” The telegrams from London have been the same: ”no furtherreport.” Van Helsing is terribly anxious, and told me just now that hefears the Count is escaping us. He added significantly:--

”I did not like that lethargy of Madam Mina's. Souls and memories can dostrange things during trance.” I was about to ask him more, but Harkerjust then came in, and he held up a warning hand. We must try to-nightat sunset to make her speak more fully when in her hypnotic state.

* * * * *

_28 October._--Telegram. _Rufus Smith, London, to Lord Godalming, care H. B. M. Vice Consul, Varna._

”_Czarina Catherine_ reported entering Galatz at one o'clock to-day.”

_Dr. Seward's Diary._

_28 October._--When the telegram came announcing the arrival in Galatz Ido not think it was such a shock to any of us as might have beenexpected. True, we did not know whence, or how, or when, the bolt wouldcome; but I think we all expected that something strange would happen.The delay of arrival at Varna made us individually satisfied that thingswould not be just as we had expected; we only waited to learn where thechange would occur. None the less, however, was it a surprise. I supposethat nature works on such a hopeful basis that we believe againstourselves that things will be as they ought to be, not as we should knowthat they will be. Transcendentalism is a beacon to the angels, even ifit be a will-o'-the-wisp to man. It was an odd experience and we alltook it differently. Van Helsing raised his hand over his head for amoment, as though in remonstrance with the Almighty; but he said not aword, and in a few seconds stood up with his face sternly set. LordGodalming grew very pale, and sat breathing heavily. I was myself halfstunned and looked in wonder at one after another. Quincey Morristightened his belt with that quick movement which I knew so well; in ourold wandering days it meant ”action.” Mrs. Harker grew ghastly white, sothat the scar on her forehead seemed to burn, but she folded her handsmeekly and looked up in prayer. Harker smiled--actually smiled--thedark, bitter smile of one who is without hope; but at the same time hisaction belied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the hilt ofthe great Kukri knife and rested there. ”When does the next train startfor Galatz?” said Van Helsing to us generally.

”At 6:30 to-morrow morning!” We all started, for the answer came fromMrs. Harker.

”How on earth do you know?” said Art.

”You forget--or perhaps you do not know, though Jonathan does and sodoes Dr. Van Helsing--that I am the train fiend. At home in Exeter Ialways used to make up the time-tables, so as to be helpful to myhusband. I found it so useful sometimes, that I always make a study ofthe time-tables now. I knew that if anything were to take us to CastleDracula we should go by Galatz, or at any rate through Bucharest, so Ilearned the times very carefully. Unhappily there are not many to learn,as the only train to-morrow leaves as I say.”

”Wonderful woman!” murmured the Professor.

”Can't we get a special?” asked Lord Godalming. Van Helsing shook hishead: ”I fear not. This land is very different from yours or mine; evenif we did have a special, it would probably not arrive as soon as ourregular train. Moreover, we have something to prepare. We must think.Now let us organize. You, friend Arthur, go to the train and get thetickets and arrange that all be ready for us to go in the morning. Doyou, friend Jonathan, go to the agent of the ship and get from himletters to the agent in Galatz, with authority to make search the shipjust as it was here. Morris Quincey, you see the Vice-Consul, and gethis aid with his fellow in Galatz and all he can do to make our waysmooth, so that no times be lost when over the Danube. John will staywith Madam Mina and me, and we shall consult. For so if time be long youmay be delayed; and it will not matter when the sun set, since I am herewith Madam to make report.”

”And I,” said Mrs. Harker brightly, and more like her old self than shehad been for many a long day, ”shall try to be of use in all ways, andshall think and write for you as I used to do. Something is shiftingfrom me in some strange way, and I feel freer than I have been of late!”The three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed torealise the significance of her words; but Van Helsing and I, turning toeach other, met each a grave and troubled glance. We said nothing at thetime, however.

When the three men had gone out to their tasks Van Helsing asked Mrs.Harker to look up the copy of the diaries and find him the part ofHarker's journal at the Castle. She went away to get it; when the doorwas shut upon her he said to me:--

”We mean the same! speak out!”

”There is some change. It is a hope that makes me sick, for it maydeceive us.”

”Quite so. Do you know why I asked her to get the manuscript?”

”No!” said I, ”unless it was to get an opportunity of seeing me alone.”

”You are in part right, friend John, but only in part. I want to tellyou something. And oh, my friend, I am taking a great--a terrible--risk;but I believe it is right. In the moment when Madam Mina said thosewords that arrest both our understanding, an inspiration came to me. Inthe trance of three days ago the Count sent her his spirit to read hermind; or more like he took her to see him in his earth-box in the shipwith water rushing, just as it go free at rise and set of sun. He learnthen that we are here; for she have more to tell in her open life witheyes to see and ears to hear than he, shut, as he is, in his coffin-box.Now he make his most effort to escape us. At present he want her not.

”He is sure with his so great knowledge that she will come at his call;but he cut her off--take her, as he can do, out of his own power, thatso she come not to him. Ah! there I have hope that our man-brains thathave been of man so long and that have not lost the grace of God, willcome higher than his child-brain that lie in his tomb for centuries,that grow not yet to our stature, and that do only work selfish andtherefore small. Here comes Madam Mina; not a word to her of her trance!She know it not; and it would overwhelm her and make despair just whenwe want all her hope, all her courage; when most we want all her greatbrain which is trained like man's brain, but is of sweet woman and havea special power which the Count give her, and which he may not take awayaltogether--though he think not so. Hush! let me speak, and you shalllearn. Oh, John, my friend, we are in awful straits. I fear, as I neverfeared before. We can only trust the good God. Silence! here she comes!”

I thought that the Professor was going to break down and have hysterics,just as he had when Lucy died, but with a great effort he controlledhimself and was at perfect nervous poise when Mrs. Harker tripped intothe room, bright and happy-looking and, in the doing of work, seeminglyforgetful of her misery. As she came in, she handed a number of sheetsof typewriting to Van Helsing. He looked over them gravely, his facebrightening up as he read. Then holding the pages between his finger andthumb he said:--

”Friend John, to you with so much of experience already--and you, too,dear Madam Mina, that are young--here is a lesson: do not fear ever tothink. A half-thought has been buzzing often in my brain, but I fear tolet him loose his wings. Here now, with more knowledge, I go back towhere that half-thought come from and I find that he be no half-thoughtat all; that be a whole thought, though so young that he is not yetstrong to use his little wings. Nay, like the ”Ugly Duck” of my friendHans Andersen, he be no duck-thought at all, but a big swan-thought thatsail nobly on big wings, when the time come for him to try them. See Iread here what Jonathan have written:--

”That other of his race who, in a later age, again and again, broughthis forces over The Great River into Turkey Land; who, when he wasbeaten back, came again, and again, and again, though he had to comealone from the bloody field where his troops were being slaughtered,since he knew that he alone could ultimately triumph.”

”What does this tell us? Not much? no! The Count's child-thought seenothing; therefore he speak so free. Your man-thought see nothing; myman-thought see nothing, till just now. No! But there comes another wordfrom some one who speak without thought because she, too, know not whatit mean--what it _might_ mean. Just as there are elements which rest,yet when in nature's course they move on their way and they touch--thenpouf! and there comes a flash of light, heaven wide, that blind and killand destroy some; but that show up all earth below for leagues andleagues. Is it not so? Well, I shall explain. To begin, have you everstudy the philosophy of crime? 'Yes' and 'No.' You, John, yes; for it isa study of insanity. You, no, Madam Mina; for crime touch you not--notbut once. Still, your mind works true, and argues not _a particulari aduniversale_. There is this peculiarity in criminals. It is so constant,in all countries and at all times, that even police, who know not muchfrom philosophy, come to know it empirically, that _it is_. That is tobe empiric. The criminal always work at one crime--that is the truecriminal who seems predestinate to crime, and who will of none other.This criminal has not full man-brain. He is clever and cunning andresourceful; but he be not of man-stature as to brain. He be ofchild-brain in much. Now this criminal of ours is predestinate to crimealso; he, too, have child-brain, and it is of the child to do what hehave done. The little bird, the little fish, the little animal learn notby principle, but empirically; and when he learn to do, then there is tohim the ground to start from to do more. '_Dos pou sto_,' saidArchimedes. 'Give me a fulcrum, and I shall move the world!' To do once,is the fulcrum whereby child-brain become man-brain; and until he havethe purpose to do more, he continue to do the same again every time,just as he have done before! Oh, my dear, I see that your eyes areopened, and that to you the lightning flash show all the leagues,” forMrs. Harker began to clap her hands and her eyes sparkled. He went on:--

”Now you shall speak. Tell us two dry men of science what you see withthose so bright eyes.” He took her hand and held it whilst she spoke.His finger and thumb closed on her pulse, as I thought instinctively andunconsciously, as she spoke:--

”The Count is a criminal and of criminal type. Nordau and Lombroso wouldso classify him, and _qua_ criminal he is of imperfectly formed mind.Thus, in a difficulty he has to seek resource in habit. His past is aclue, and the one page of it that we know--and that from his ownlips--tells that once before, when in what Mr. Morris would call a'tight place,' he went back to his own country from the land he hadtried to invade, and thence, without losing purpose, prepared himselffor a new effort. He came again better equipped for his work; and won.So he came to London to invade a new land. He was beaten, and when allhope of success was lost, and his existence in danger, he fled back overthe sea to his home; just as formerly he had fled back over the Danubefrom Turkey Land.”

”Good, good! oh, you so clever lady!” said Van Helsing,enthusiastically, as he stooped and kissed her hand. A moment later hesaid to me, as calmly as though we had been having a sick-roomconsultation:--

”Seventy-two only; and in all this excitement. I have hope.” Turning toher again, he said with keen expectation:--

”But go on. Go on! there is more to tell if you will. Be not afraid;John and I know. I do in any case, and shall tell you if you are right.Speak, without fear!”

”I will try to; but you will forgive me if I seem egotistical.”

”Nay! fear not, you must be egotist, for it is of you that we think.”

”Then, as he is criminal he is selfish; and as his intellect is smalland his action is based on selfishness, he confines himself to onepurpose. That purpose is remorseless. As he fled back over the Danube,leaving his forces to be cut to pieces, so now he is intent on beingsafe, careless of all. So his own selfishness frees my soul somewhatfrom the terrible power which he acquired over me on that dreadfulnight. I felt it! Oh, I felt it! Thank God, for His great mercy! My soulis freer than it has been since that awful hour; and all that haunts meis a fear lest in some trance or dream he may have used my knowledge forhis ends.” The Professor stood up:--

”He has so used your mind; and by it he has left us here in Varna,whilst the ship that carried him rushed through enveloping fog up toGalatz, where, doubtless, he had made preparation for escaping from us.But his child-mind only saw so far; and it may be that, as ever is inGod's Providence, the very thing that the evil-doer most reckoned on forhis selfish good, turns out to be his chiefest harm. The hunter is takenin his own snare, as the great Psalmist says. For now that he think heis free from every trace of us all, and that he has escaped us with somany hours to him, then his selfish child-brain will whisper him tosleep. He think, too, that as he cut himself off from knowing your mind,there can be no knowledge of him to you; there is where he fail! Thatterrible baptism of blood which he give you makes you free to go to himin spirit, as you have as yet done in your times of freedom, when thesun rise and set. At such times you go by my volition and not by his;and this power to good of you and others, as you have won from yoursuffering at his hands. This is now all the more precious that he knowit not, and to guard himself have even cut himself off from hisknowledge of our where. We, however, are not selfish, and we believethat God is with us through all this blackness, and these many darkhours. We shall follow him; and we shall not flinch; even if we perilourselves that we become like him. Friend John, this has been a greathour; and it have done much to advance us on our way. You must be scribeand write him all down, so that when the others return from their workyou can give it to them; then they shall know as we do.”

And so I have written it whilst we wait their return, and Mrs. Harkerhas written with her typewriter all since she brought the MS. to us.