| 'Fifty cases of common earth, to be used for... 970 |
[Jan. 27th, 2010|02:16 am] |
'Fifty cases of common earth, to be used for experimental purposes'Also the copy of the letter to Carter Paterson, and their replyOf both these I got copiesThis was all the information MrBillington could give me, so I went down to the port and saw the coastguards, the Customs Officers and the harbour master, who kindly put me in communication with the men who had actually received the boxesTheir tally was exact with the list, and they had nothing to add to the simple description 'fifty cases of common earth', except that the boxes were 'main and mortal heavy', and that shifting them was dry workOne of them added that it was hard lines that there wasn't any gentleman 'such like as like yourself, squire', to show some sort of appreciation of their efforts in a liquid formAnother put in a rider that the thirst then generated was such that even the time which had elapsed had not completely allayed itNeedless to add, I took care before leaving to lift, forever and adequately, this source of reproach-The station master was good enough to give me a line to his old companion the station master at King's Cross, so that when I arrived there in the morning I was able to ask him about the arrival of the boxesHe, too put me at once in communication with the proper officials, and I saw that their tally was correct with the original invoiceThe opportunities of acquiring an abnormal thirst had been here limitedA noble use of them had, however, been made, and again I was compelled to deal with the result in ex post facto manner
From thence I went to Carter Paterson's central office, where I met with the utmost courtesyThey looked up the transaction in their day book and letter book, and at once telephoned to their King's Cross office for more detailsBy good fortune, the men who did the teaming were waiting for work, and the official at once sent them over, sending also by one of them the way-bill and all the papers connected with the delivery of the boxes at CarfaxHere again I found the tally agreeing exactlyThe carriers' men were able to supplement the paucity of the written words with a few more detailsThese were, I shortly found, connected almost solely with the dusty nature of the job, and the consequent thirst engendered in the operatorsOn my affording an opportunity, through the medium of the currency of the realm, of the allaying, at a later period, this beneficial evil, one of the men remarked,
"That 'ere 'ouse, guv'nor, is the rummiest I ever was inBlyme! But it ain't been touched sence a hundred yearsThere was dust that thick in the place that you might have slep' on it without 'urtin' of yer bonesAn' the place was that neglected that yer might 'ave smelled ole Jerusalem in itBut the old chapel, that took the cike, that did! Me and my mate, we thort we wouldn't never git out quick enoughLor', I wouldn't take less nor a quid a moment to stay there arter dark
Having been in the house, I could well believe him, but if he knew what I know, he would, I think have raised his terms
Of one thing I am now satisfiedThat all those boxes which arrived at Whitby from Varna in the Demeter were safely deposited in the old chapel at CarfaxThere should be fifty of them there, unless any have since been removed, as from DrSeward's diary I fear-Mina and I have worked all day, and we have put all the papers into order
MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL
30 September-I am so glad that I hardly know how to contain myselfIt is, I suppose, the reaction from the haunting fear which I have had, that this terrible affair and the reopening of his old wound might act detrimentally on JonathanI saw him leave for Whitby with as brave a face as could, but I was sick with apprehensionThe effort has, however, done him goodHe was never so resolute, never so strong, never so full of volcanic energy, as at presentIt is just as that dear, good Professor Van Helsing said, he is true grit, and he improves under strain that would kill a weaker natureHe came back full of life and hope and determinationWe have got everything in order for |
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