| "I'll answer for the ProfessorI don't quite see... 580 |
[Jan. 27th, 2010|02:08 am] |
"I'll answer for the ProfessorI don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest, and that's good enough for me
"I thank you, Sir," said Van Helsing proudly"I have done myself the honour of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is dear to me He held out a hand, which Quincey took
Then Arthur spoke out, "DrVan Helsing, I don't quite like to 'buy a pig in a poke', as they say in Scotland, and if it be anything in which my honour as a gentleman or my faith as a Christian is concerned, I cannot make such a promiseIf you can assure me that what you intend does not violate either of these two, then I give my consent at once, though for the life of me, I cannot understand what you are driving at
"I accept your limitation," said Van Helsing, "and all I ask of you is that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will first consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your reservations
"Agreed!" said ArthurAnd now that the pourparlers are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?"
"I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard at Kingstead
Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way,
"Where poor Lucy is buried?"
The Professor bowed
Arthur went on, "And when there?"
"To enter the tomb!"
Arthur stood up"Professor, are you in earnest, or is it some monstrous joke? Pardon me, I see that you are in earnest He sat down again, but I could see that he sat firmly and proudly, as one who is on his dignityThere was silence until he asked again, "And when in the tomb?"
"To open the coffin
"This is too much!" he said, angrily rising again"I am willing to be patient in all things that are reasonable, but in this, this desecration of the grave, of one who?" He fairly choked with indignation
The Professor looked pityingly at him"If I could spare you one pang, my poor friend," he said, "God knows I wouldBut this night our feet must tread in thorny paths, or later, and for ever, the feet you love must walk in paths of flame!"
Arthur looked up with set white face and said, "Take care, sir, take care!"
"Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing"And then you will at least know the limit of my purposeShall I go on?"
"That's fair enough," broke in Morris
After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort, "Miss Lucy is dead, is it not so? Yes! Then there can be no wrong to herBut if she be not dead?"
Arthur jumped to his feet, "Good God!" he cried"What do you mean? Has there been any mistake, has she been buried alive?" He groaned in anguish that not even hope could soften
"I did not say she was alive, my childI go no further than to say that she might be UnDead
"UnDead! Not alive! What do you mean? Is this all a nightmare, or what is it?"
"There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age they may solve only in partBelieve me, we are now on the verge of oneMay I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?"
"Heavens and earth, no!" cried Arthur in a storm of passion"Not for the wide world will I consent to any mutilation of her dead bodyVan Helsing, you try me too farWhat have I done to you that you should torture me so? What did that poor, sweet girl do that you should want to cast such dishonour on her grave? Are you mad, that you speak of such things, or am I mad to listen to them? Don't dare think more of such a desecrationI shall not give my consent to anything you doI have a duty to do in protecting her grave from outrage, and by God, I shall do it!"
Van Helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated, and said, gravely and sternly, "My Lord Godalming, I too, have a duty to do, a duty to others, a duty to you, a duty to the dead, and by God, I shall do it! All I ask you now is that you come with me, that you look and listen, and if when later I make the same request you do not be more eager for its fulfillment even than I am, then, I shall do my duty, whatever it may seem to meAnd then, to follow your Lordship's wishes I shall hold myself at your disposal to render an account to you, when and where you will His voice broke a little, and he went on with a voice full of pity
"But I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with meIn a long life of acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did wring my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as |
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