DRACULA
Bram
Stoker
CHAPTER
XXV.
DR.
SEWARD'S DIARY.
11 October, Evening.- Jonathan Harker has asked me to note
this, as he says 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 to understand that sunrise and sunset are to her times of
peculiar freedom; when her old self can be manifest without any
controlling force subduing or restraining her, or inciting her to
action. This mood or condition begins some half hour or more before
actual sunrise or sunset, and lasts till either the sun is high, or
whilst the clouds are still aglow with the rays streaming above the
horizon. At first there is a sort of negative condition, as if some
tie were loosened, and then the absolute freedom quickly follows;
when, however, the freedom ceases the change-back or relapse comes
quickly, preceded only by a spell of warning silence.
To-night, when we met she was somewhat constrained, and bore
all the signs of an internal struggle. I put it down myself to her
making a violent effort at the earliest instant she could do so. A
very few minutes, however, gave her complete control of herself, then,
motioning her 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 hand in 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 to her husband whose hand had, as we could see,
tightened upon hers. "In the morning we go out upon our task, and
God alone knows what may be in store for any of us. You are going to
be so good to me as to take me with you. I know that all that brave
earnest men can do for a poor weak woman, whose soul perhaps is lost-
no, no, not yet, but is at any rate at 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; which must destroy me, unless some
relief comes to us. Oh, my friends, you know as well as I do, that my
soul is at stake; and though I know there is one way out for me, you
must not and I must not take it!" She looked appealingly to us
all in turn, beginning and ending with her husband.
"What is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse
voice. "What is that way, which we must not- may not- take?"
"That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of
another, before the greater evil is entirely wrought. I know, and you
know, that were I once dead you could and would set free my immortal
spirit, even as you did my poor Lucy's. Were death, or the fear of
death, the only thing that stood in the way I would not shrink to die
here, now, amidst the friends who love me. But death is not all. I
cannot believe that to die in such a case, when there is hope before
us and a bitter task to be done, is God's will. Therefore, I on my
part, give up here the certainty of eternal rest, and go out into the
dark where may be the blackest things that the world or the nether
world holds!" We were all silent, for we knew instinctively that
this was only a prelude. The faces of the others were set, and
Harker's grew ashen grey; perhaps he guessed 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 the quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place,
and with all seriousness. "What will each of you give? Your lives
I know," she went on quickly, "that is easy for brave men.
Your lives are God's, and you can give them back to Him; but what will
you give to me?" She looked again questioningly, but this time
avoided her husband's face. Quincey seemed to understand; he nodded,
and her face lit up. "Then I shall tell you plainly what I want,
for there must be no doubtful matter in this connection 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 was
low and strained.
"When you shall be convinced that I am so changed that it
is better that I 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 her and taking her hand in his said solemnly:-
"I'm only a rough fellow, who hasn't, perhaps, lived as a
man should to win such a distinction, but I swear to you by all that I
hold sacred and dear that, should the time ever come, I shall not
flinch from the duty that you have set us. And I promise you, too,
that I shall make all certain, for if I am only doubtful I shall take
it that the time has come!"
"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 to take the oath. I followed, myself. Then her husband
turned to her wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which subdued the
snowy whiteness of his 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 her voice and eyes. "You must not shrink. You
are nearest and dearest and all the world to me; our souls are knit
into one, for all life and all time. Think dear, that there have been
times when brave men have killed their wives and their womenkind, to
keep them from failing into the hands of the enemy. Their hands did
not falter any the more because those that they loved implored them to
slay them. It is men's
duty towards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And
oh, my dear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it
be at the hand of him that loves me best. Dr. Van Helsing, I have not
forgotten your mercy in poor Lucy's case to him who loved"- she
stopped with a flying blush, and changed her phrase-"to him who
had best right to give her peace. If that time shall come again, I
look to you to make it a happy memory of my husband's life that it was
his loving hand which set me free from the awful thrall upon me."
"Again I swear!" came the Professor's resonant voice.
Mrs. Harker smiled, positively smiled, as with a sigh of relief she
leaned back and said:-
"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 in such case you must lose no time in using your
opportunity. At such a time I myself might be- nay! If the time ever
comes, shall be- leagued with your enemy against you."
"One more request;" she became very solemn as she
said this, "it is not vital and necessary like the other, but I
want you to do one thing for me, if you will." We all acquiesced,
but no one spoke; there was no need to speak:-
"I want you to read the Burial Service." She was
interrupted by a deep groan from her husband; taking his hand in hers,
she held it over her heart, and continued. "You must read it over
me some day. Whatever may be the issue of all this fearful state of
things, it will be a sweet thought to all or some of us. You, my
dearest, will I hope read it, for then it will be in your voice in my
memory for ever- come what may!"
"But oh, my dear one," he pleaded, "death afar
off from you."
"Nay," she said, holding up a warning hand. "I
am deeper in death at this 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 to read when she had got the book ready.
"How can I- how could any one- tell of that strange scene,
its solemnity, its gloom, its sadness, its horror; and withal, its
sweetness. Even a sceptic, who can see nothing but travesty of bitter
truth in anything holy or emotional, would have been melted to the
heart had he seen that little group of loving and devoted friends
kneeling round that stricken and sorrowing lady; or heard the tender
passion of her husband's voice, as in tones so broken with emotion
that often he had to pause, he read the simple and beautiful service
from the Burial of 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 may hereafter seem even to us who felt its potent influence at
the time, it comforted us much; and the silence, which showed Mrs.
Harker's coming relapse from her freedom of soul, did not seem
so full of despair to any of 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 the Orient Express. We travelled night and day, arriving here at
about five o'clock. Lord Godalming went to the Consulate to see if any
telegram had arrived for him, whilst the rest of us came on to this
hotel- "the Odessus." The journey may have had incidents; I
was, however, too eager to get on, to care for them. Until the Czarina
Catherine comes into port 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 is coming back. She sleeps a great deal;
throughout the journey she slept nearly all the time. Before sunrise
and sunset, however, she is very wakeful and alert; and it has become
a habit for Van Helsing to hypnotise her at such times. At first, some
effort was needed, and he had to make many passes; but now, she seems
to yeild at once, as if by habit, and scarcely any action is needed.
He seems to have power at these particular moments to simply will, and
her thoughts obey him. He always 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 rushing by. Canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards creak.
The wind is high- I can hear it in the shrouds, and the bow throws
back the foam." It is evident that the Czarina Catherine is still
a sea, hastening on her way to Varna. Lord Godalming has just
returned. He had four telegrams, one each day since we started, and
all to the same effect: that the Czarina Catherine had not been
reported to Lloyd's from anywhere. He had arranged before leaving
London that his agent should send him every day a telegram saying if
the ship had been reported. He was to have a message even if she were
not reported, so that he might be sure 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
the Vice-Counsul, and to arrange, if we can, about getting on board
the ship as soon as she arrives. Van Helsing says that our chance will
be to get on the boat between sunrise and sunset. The Count, even if
he takes the form of a bat, cannot cross the running water of his own
volition, and so cannot leave the ship. As he dare not change to man's
form without suspicion- which he evidently washes to avoid- he must
remain in the box. 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 for much. We think that we shall not have much trouble with
officials or the seamen. Thank God! this is the country where bibery
can do anything, and we are well supplied with money. We have only to
make sure that the ship cannot come into port between sunset and
sunrise without our being warned, and we shall be safe. Judge Moneybag
will settle this case, I think!
16 October.- Mina's report still the same: lapping waves and
rushing water, darkness and favouring winds. We are evidently in good
time, and when we hear of the Czarina Catherine we shall be ready. As
she must pass the Dardanelles we are sure to have some report.
17 October.- Everything is pretty well fixed now, I think, to
welcome the Count on his return from his tour. Godalming told the
shippers that he fancied that the box sent aboard might contain
something stolen from a friend of his, and got a half consent that he
might open it at his own risk. The owner gave him a paper telling the
Captain to give him every facility in doing whatever he chose on board
the ship, and also a similar authorisation to his agent at Varna. We
have seen the agent, who was much impressed with Godalming's kindly
manner to him, and we are all satisfied that whatever he can do to aid
our wishes will be done. We have already arranged what to do in case
we get the box open. If the Count is there, Van Helsing and Seward
will cut off his head at once and drive a stake through his heart.
Morris and Godalming and I shall prevent interference, even if we have
to use the arms which we shall have 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 no evidence against us, in case any
suspicion of murder were aroused. But even if it were not, we should
stand or fall by our act, and perhaps some day this very script may be
evidence to come between some of us and a rope. For myself, I should
take the chance only too thankfully if it were to come. We mean to
leave no stone unturned to carry out our intent. We have arranged with
certain officials that the instant the Czarina Catherine is seen, we
are to be informed by a special messenger.
24 October.- A whole week of waiting. Dally telegrams to
Godalming, but only the same story: "Not yet reported."
Mina's morning and evening hypnotic answer is unvaried: lapping waves,
rushing water, and creaking masts.
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 is irksome to me; but Van Helsing says I must. We were all wild
with excitement yesterday when Godalming got his telegram from
Lloyd's. I know 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.
After all, it is not strange that she did not; for we took
special care not to let her know anything about it, and we all tried
not to show any excitement when we were in her presence. In old days
she would, I am sure, have noticed, no matter how we might have tried
to conceal it; but in this way she is greatly changed during the past
three weeks. The lethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong
and well, and is getting back some of her colour, Van Helsing and I
are not satisfied. We talk of her often; we have not, however, said a
word to the others. It would break poor Harker's heart-certainly his
nerve- if he knew that we had even a suspicion on the subject. Van
Helsing examines, he tells me, her teeth very carefully, whilst she is
in the hypnotic condition, for he says that so long as they do not
begin to sharpen there is no active danger of a change in her. If this
change should come, it would be necessary to take steps!... We both
know what those steps would have to be, though we do not mention our
thoughts to each other. We should neither of us shrink from the task-
awful though it be to contemplate.
"Euthanasia" is an excellent and a comforting word! I
am grateful to whoever invented it.
It is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here,
at the rate the Czarina Catherine has come from London. She should
therefore arrive some time in the morning; but as she cannot possibly
get in before then, we are all about to retire early. We shall get up
at one o'clock, so as to be ready.
25 October, Noon.- No news yet of the ship's arrival. Mrs.
Harker's hypnotic report this morning was the same as usual, so
it is possible that we may get news at any moment. We men are all in a
fever of excitement, except Harker, who is calm; his hands are as cold
as ice, and an hour ago I found him whetting the edge of the great
Ghoorka knife which he now always carries with him. It will be a bad
look out for the Count if the edge of that "Kukri" ever
touches his throat, driven by that stern, ice-cold hand!
Van Helsing and I were a little alarmed about Mrs. Harker
to-day. About noon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not
like; although we kept silence to the others, we were neither of us
happy about it. She had been restless all the morning, so that we were
at first glad to know that she was sleeping. When, however, her
husband mentioned casually that she was sleeping so soundly that he
could not wake her, we went to her room to see for ourselves. She was
breathing naturally and looked so well and peaceful that we agreed
that the sleep was better for her than anything else. Poor girl, she
has so much to forget that it is no wonder that sleep, if it brings
oblivion to her, does her good.
Later.- Our opinion was justified, for when after a refreshing
sleep of some hours she woke up, she seemed brighter and better than
she had been for days. At sunset she made the usual hypnotic report.
Wherever he may be in the Black Sea, the Count is hurrying to
his destination. To his 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 is apparent,
for Mrs. Harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still the same. 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 fog both
to north and south of the port. We must continue our watching, as the
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:
"lapping waves and rushing water," though she added that
"the waves were very faint." The telegrams from London have
been the same: "no further report." Van Helsing is terribly
anxious, and told me just now that he fears the Count is escaping us.
He added significantly:-
"I did not like that lethargy of Madam Mina's. Souls and
memories can do strange things during trance." I was about to ask
him more, but Harker just then came in, and he held up a warning hand.
We must try to-night at 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 I do not think it was such a shock to any of us as might have
been expected. True, we did not know whence, or how, or when, the bolt
would come; but I think we all expected that something strange would
happen. The delay of arrival at Varna made us individually satisfied
that things would not be just as we had expected; we only waited to
learn where the change would occur. None the less, however, was it a
surprise. I suppose that nature works on such a hopeful basis that we
believe against ourselves that things will be as they ought to be, not
as we should know that they will be. Transcendentalism is a beacon to
the angels, even if it be a will-o'-the-wisp to man. It was an odd
experience and we all took it differently. Van Helsing raised his hand
over his head for a moment, as though in remonstrance with the
Almighty; but he said not a word, and in a few second stood up with
his face sternly set. Lord Godalming grew very pale, and sat breathing
heavily. I was myself half stunned and looked in wonder at one after
another. Quincey Morris tightened his belt with that quick movement
which I knew so well; in our old wandering days it meant
"action." Mrs. Harker grew ghastly white, so that the scar
on her forehead seemed to burn, but she folded her hands meekly and
looked up in prayer. Harker smiled- actually smiled- the dark, bitter
smile of one who is without hope; but at the same time his action
belied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the hilt of the
great Kukri knife and rested there. "When does the next train
start for Galatz?" said Van Helsing to us generally.
"At 6:30 to-morrow morning!" We all stared, for the
answer came from Mrs. Harker.
"How on earth do you know?" said Art.
"You forget- or perhaps you do not know, though Jonathan
does and so does Dr. Van Helsing- that I am the train fiend. At home
in Exeter I always used to make up the time-tables, so as to be
helpful to my husband. I found it so useful sometimes, that I always
make a study of the timetables now. I knew that if anything were to
take us to Castle Dracula we should go by Galatz, or at any rate
through Bucharest, so I learned the times very carefully. Unhappily
there are not many to learn, as the only train tomorrow leaves as I
say."
"Wonderful woman!" murmured the Professor.
"Can't we get a special?" asked Lord Godalming. Van
Helsing shook his head: "I fear not. This land is very different
from your's or mine; even if we did have a special, it would probably
not arrive as soon as our regular train. Moreover, we have something
to prepare. We must
think. Now let us organize. You, friend Arthur, go to the train and
get the tickets and arrange that all be ready for us to go in the
morning. Do you, friend Jonathan, go to the agent of the ship and get
from him letters to the agent in Galatz, with authority to make search
the ship just as it was here. Morris Quincey, you see the Vice-Consul,
and get his aid with his fellow in Galatz and all he can do to make
our way smooth, so that no times be lost when over the Danube. John
will stay with Madam Mina and me, and we shall consult. For so if time
be long you may be delayed; and it will not matter when the sun set,
since I am here with Madam to make report."
"And I," said Mrs. Harker brightly, and more like her
old self than she had been for many a long day, "shall try to be
of use in all ways, and shall think and write for you as I used to do.
Something is shifting from 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 to realise the significance of her words;
but Van Helsing and I, turning to each other, met each a grave and
troubled glance. We said nothing at the time, 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 of Harker's journal at the Castle. She went away to get it; when
the door was 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 may deceive 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 tell you 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 those words that arrest both our understanding, an
inspiration came to me. In the trance of three days ago the Count sent
her his spirit to read her mind; or more like he took her to see him
in his earth-box in the ship with water rushing, just as it go free at
rise and set of sun. He learn then that we are here; for she have more
to tell in her open life with eyes 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, that so she come not to him. Ah! there I have hope that our
man-brains that have been of man so long and that have not lost the
grace of God, will come, 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 and therefore 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 when we want all her hope all her courage; when most
we want all her great brain which is trained like man's brain, but is
of sweet woman and have a special power which the Count give her, and
which he may not take away altogether- though he think not so.
Hush! let me speak, and you shall learn. Oh, John, my friend,
we are in awful straits. I fear, as I never feared 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
controlled himself and was at perfect nervous poise when Mrs. Harker
tripped into the room, bright and happy-looking and, in the doing of
work, seemingly forgetful of her misery. As she came in, she handed a
number of sheets of typewriting to Van Helsing. He looked over them
gravely, his face brightening up as he read. Then holding the pages
between his finger and thumb 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 to think. A half-thought has been buzzing often in my
brain, but I fear to let him loose his wings. Here now, with more
knowledge, I go back to where that half-thought come from, and I find
that he be no half-thought at all; that be a whole thought, though so
young that he is not yet strong to use his little wings. Nay, like the
"Ugly Duck" of my friend Hans Andersen, he be no
duck-thought at all, but a big swan-thought that sail nobly on big
wings, when the time come for him to try them. See I read here what
Jonathan have written:-
"That other of his race who, in a later age, again and
again, brought his forces over The Great River into Turkey Land; who,
when he was beaten back, came again, and again, and again, though he
had to come alone 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 see nothing; therefore he speak so free. Your
man-thought see nothing; my man-thought see nothing, till just now.
No! But there comes another word from some one who speak without
thought because she, too, know not what it 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- then pouf! and there comes a
flash of light, heaven wide, that blind and kill and destroy some: but
that show up all earth below for leagues and leagues. Is it not so?
Well, I shall explain. To begin, have you ever study the philosophy of
crime. 'Yes' and 'No.' You, John, yes; for it is a study of insanity.
You, no, Madam Mina; for crime touch you not- not but once. Still,
your mind works true, and argues not a particulari and universale.
There is this pecularity in criminals. It is so constant, in all
countries and at all times, that even police, who know not much from
philosophy, come to know it empirically, that it Is. That is to be
empiric. The criminal always work at one crime- that is the true
criminal who seems predestinate to crime, and who will of none other.
This criminal has not full man-brain. He is clever and cunning and
resourceful; but he be not of man-stature as to brain. He be of
child-brain in much. Now this criminal of ours is predestinate to
crime also; he, too, have child-brain, and it is of the child to do
what he have done. The little bird, the little fish, the little animal
learn not by principle, but empirically; and when he learn to do, then
there is to him the ground to start from to do more. 'Dos pou sto,'
said Archimedes. '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 have the 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 are opened, and that to you the lightning flash show all the
leagues," for Mrs. 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 with those 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 and unconsciously, as she spoke:-
"The Count is a criminal and of criminal type. Nordau and
Lombroso would so 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 a clue, and the one page of it that we know- and that from
his own lips- 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
had tried to invade, and thence, without losing purpose, prepared
himself for 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 all hope of success was lost, and his existence in danger, he
fled back over the sea to his home; just as formerly he had fled back
over the Danube from Turkey Land."
"Good, good! oh, you so clever lady?" said Van
Helsing, enthusiastically, as he stooped and kissed her hand. A moment
later he said to me, as calmly as though we had been having a sickroom
consultation:-
"Seventy-two only; and in all this excitement. I have
hope." Turning to her 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 small and his action is based on selfishness, he confines
himself to one purpose. 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 being safe, careless of all. So, his own selfishness frees
my soul somewhat from the terrible power which he acquired over me on
that dreadful night. I felt it! Oh, I felt it! Thank God, for His
great mercy! My soul is freer than it has been since that awful hour;
and all that haunts me is a fear lest in some trance or dream he may
have used my knowledge for his 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 to Galatz, 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 in God's Providence, the very thing that the
evil-doer most reckoned on for his selfish good, turns out to be his
chiefest harm. The hunter is taken in his own snare, as the great
Psalmist says, For now that he think he is free from every trace of us
all, and that he has escaped us with so many hours to him, then his
selfish child-brain will whisper him to sleep. 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 fall! That terrible baptism of blood
which he give you makes you free to go to him in spirit, as you have
as yet done in your times of freedom, when the sun rise and set. At
such times you go by my volition and not by his; and this power to
good of you and others, you have won from your suffering at his hands.
This is now all more precious that he know it not, and to guard
himself have even cut himself off from his knowledge of our where. We,
however, are not selfish, and we believe that God is with us through
all this blackness, and these many dark hours. We shall follow him;
and we shall not flinch; even if we peril ourselves that we become
like him. Friend John, this has been a great hour, and it have done
much to advance us on our way. You must be scribe and write him all
down, so that when the others return from their work you 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. Harker has written with her typewriter all since she brought
the MS. to us.
