He believes it all himself. I remember how on
our wedding day he said “Unless some solemn
duty come upon me to go back to the bitter hours,
asleep or awake, mad or sane . . .” There
seems to be through it all some thread of continuity.
That fearful Count was coming to London. If
it should be, and he came to London, with its teeming
millions . . . There may be a solemn duty, and
if it come we must not shrink from it. I shall
be prepared. I shall get my typewriter this very
hour and begin transcribing. Then we shall be
ready for other eyes if required. And if it
be wanted, then, perhaps, if I am ready, poor Jonathan
may not be upset, for I can speak for him and never
let him be troubled or worried with it at all.
If ever Jonathan quite gets over the nervousness
he may want to tell me of it all, and I can ask him
questions and find out things, and see how I may comfort
him.
LETTER, VAN HELSING TO MRS. HARKER
24 September
(Confidence)
“Dear Madam,
“I pray you to pardon my writing, in that I
am so far friend as that I sent to you sad news of
Miss Lucy Westenra’s death. By the kindness
of Lord Godalming, I am empowered to read her letters
and papers, for I am deeply concerned about certain
matters vitally important. In them I find some
letters from you, which show how great friends you
were and how you love her. Oh, Madam Mina, by
that love, I implore you, help me. It is for
others’ good that I ask, to redress great wrong,
and to lift much and terrible troubles, that may be
more great than you can know. May it be that
I see you? You can trust me. I am friend
of Dr. John Seward and of Lord Godalming (that was
Arthur of Miss Lucy). I must keep it private
for the present from all. I should come to Exeter
to see you at once if you tell me I am privilege to
come, and where and when. I implore your pardon,
Madam. I have read your letters to poor Lucy,
and know how good you are and how your husband suffer.
So I pray you, if it may be, enlighten him not, least
it may harm. Again your pardon, and forgive me.
“VanHelsing”
TELEGRAM, MRS. HARKER TO VAN HELSING
25 September.—Come today by quarter past
ten train if you can catch it. Can see you any
time you call. “WilhelminaHarker”
MINA HARKER’S JOURNAL
25 September.—I cannot help feeling terribly
excited as the time draws near for the visit of Dr.
Van Helsing, for somehow I expect that it will throw
some light upon Jonathan’s sad experience, and
as he attended poor dear Lucy in her last illness,
he can tell me all about her. That is the reason
of his coming. It is concerning Lucy and her
sleep-walking, and not about Jonathan. Then I
shall never know the real truth now! How silly
