| I felt impotent, and in the dark, and... 548 |
[Jan. 27th, 2010|02:08 am] |
I felt impotent, and in the dark, and distrustfulBut, now that I know, I am not afraid, even of the CountHe has succeeded after all, then, in his design in getting to London, and it was he I sawHe has got younger, and how? Van Helsing is the man to unmask him and hunt him out, if he is anything like what Mina saysWe sat late, and talked it overMina is dressing, and I shall call at the hotel in a few minutes and bring him over
He was, I think, surprised to see meWhen I came into the room where he was, and introduced myself, he took me by the shoulder, and turned my face round to the light, and said, after a sharp scrutiny,
"But Madam Mina told me you were ill, that you had had a shock
It was so funny to hear my wife called 'Madam Mina' by this kindly, strong-faced old manI smiled, and said, "I was ill, I have had a shock, but you have cured me already
"And how?"
"By your letter to Mina last nightI was in doubt, and then everything took a hue of unreality, and I did not know what to trust, even the evidence of my own sensesNot knowing what to trust, I did not know what to do, and so had only to keep on working in what had hitherto been the groove of my lifeThe groove ceased to avail me, and I mistrusted myselfDoctor, you don't know what it is to doubt everything, even yourselfNo, you don't, you couldn't with eyebrows like yours
He seemed pleased, and laughed as he said, "So! You are a physiognomistI learn more here with each hourI am with so much pleasure coming to you to breakfast, and, oh, sir, you will pardon praise from an old man, but you are blessed in your wife
I would listen to him go on praising Mina for a day, so I simply nodded and stood silent
"She is one of God's women, fashioned by His own hand to show us men and other women that there is a heaven where we can enter, and that its light can be here on earthSo true, so sweet, so noble, so little an egoist, and that, let me tell you, is much in this age, so sceptical and selfishAnd you, sir? I have read all the letters to poor Miss Lucy, and some of them speak of you, so I know you since some days from the knowing of others, but I have seen your true self since last nightYou will give me your hand, will you not? And let us be friends for all our lives
We shook hands, and he was so earnest and so kind that it made me quite choky
"And now," he said, "may I ask you for some more help? I have a great task to do, and at the beginning it is to knowCan you tell me what went before your going to Transylvania? Later on I may ask more help, and of a different kind, but at first this will do
"Look here, Sir," I said, "does what you have to do concern the Count?"
"It does," he said solemnly
"Then I am with you heart and soulAs you go by the 10:30 train, you will not have time to read them, but I shall get the bundle of papersYou can take them with you and read them in the train
After breakfast I saw him to the stationWhen we were parting he said, "Perhaps you will come to town if I send for you, and take Madam Mina too
"We shall both come when you will," I said
I had got him the morning papers and the London papers of the previous night, and while we were talking at the carriage window, waiting for the train to start, he was turning them overHis eyes suddenly seemed to catch something in one of them, "The Westminster Gazette", I knew it by the colour, and he grew quite whiteHe read something intently, groaning to himself, "Mein Gott! Mein Gott! So soon! So soon!" I do not think he remembered me at the momentJust then the whistle blew, and the train moved offThis recalled him to himself, and he leaned out of the window and waved his hand, calling out, "Love to Madam MinaI shall write so soon as ever I |
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