in his hand of twenty men, even we four who gave our
strength to Miss Lucy it also is all to him.
Besides, he can summon his wolf and I know not what.
So if it be that he came thither on this night he
shall find me. But none other shall, until it
be too late. But it may be that he will not attempt
the place. There is no reason why he should.
His hunting ground is more full of game than the
churchyard where the UnDead woman sleeps, and the
one old man watch.
“Therefore I write this in case . . . Take
the papers that are with this, the diaries of Harker
and the rest, and read them, and then find this great
UnDead, and cut off his head and burn his heart or
drive a stake through it, so that the world may rest
from him.
“If it be so, farewell.
“Van Helsing.”
28 September.—It is wonderful what a good
night’s sleep will do for one. Yesterday
I was almost willing to accept Van Helsing’s
monstrous ideas, but now they seem to start out lurid
before me as outrages on common sense. I have
no doubt that he believes it all. I wonder if
his mind can have become in any way unhinged.
Surely there must be some rational explanation of
all these mysterious things. Is it possible
that the Professor can have done it himself?
He is so abnormally clever that if he went off his
head he would carry out his intent with regard to
some fixed idea in a wonderful way. I am loathe
to think it, and indeed it would be almost as great
a marvel as the other to find that Van Helsing was
mad, but anyhow I shall watch him carefully.
I may get some light on the mystery.
29 September.—Last night, at a little before
ten o’clock, Arthur and Quincey came into Van
Helsing’s room. He told us all what he
wanted us to do, but especially addressing himself
to Arthur, as if all our wills were centred in his.
He began by saying that he hoped we would all come
with him too, “for,” he said, “there
is a grave duty to be done there. You were doubtless
surprised at my letter?” This query was directly
addressed to Lord Godalming.
“I was. It rather upset me for a bit.
There has been so much trouble around my house of
late that I could do without any more. I have
been curious, too, as to what you mean.
“Quincey and I talked it over, but the more
we talked, the more puzzled we got, till now I can
say for myself that 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 of you, than friend
John here, who has to go a long way back before he
can even get so far as to begin.”
It was evident that he recognized my return to my
old doubting frame of mind without my saying a word.
Then, turning to the other two, he said with intense
gravity,
“I want your permission to do what I think good
this night. It is, I know, much to ask, and
when you know what it is I propose to do you will
know, and only then how much. Therefore may I
ask that you promise me in the dark, so that afterwards,
though you may be angry with me for a time, I must
not disguise from myself the possibility that such
may be, you shall not blame yourselves for anything.”
