Dracula/Chapter 11

12 September.--How good they all are to me. I quite love that dear
Dr. Van Helsing. I wonder why he was so anxious about these flowers.
He positively frightened me, he was so fierce. And yet he must
have been right, for I feel comfort from them already. Somehow, I do
not dread being alone tonight, and I can go to sleep without fear.
I shall not mind any flapping outside the window. Oh, the terrible
struggle that I have had against sleep so often of late, the pain
of sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep, and with such
unknown horrors as it has for me! How blessed are some people,
whose lives have no fears, no dreads, to whom sleep is a blessing
that comes nightly, and brings nothing but sweet dreams. Well, here I
am tonight, hoping for sleep, and lying like Ophelia in the play,
with`virgin crants and maiden strewments.' I never liked garlic before,
but tonight it is delightful! There is peace in its smell.
I feel sleep coming already. Goodnight, everybody.
13 September.--Called at the Berkeley and found Van Helsing, as usual,
up to time. The carriage ordered from the hotel was waiting.
The Professor took his bag, which he always brings with him now.
Let all be put down exactly. Van Helsing and I arrived
at Hillingham at eight o'clock. It was a lovely morning.
The bright sunshine and all the fresh feeling of early
autumn seemed like the completion of nature's annual work.
The leaves were turning to all kinds of beautiful colors,
but had not yet begun to drop from the trees. When we
entered we met Mrs. Westenra coming out of the morning room.
She is always an early riser. She greeted us warmly and said,
"You will be glad to know that Lucy is better. The dear child
is still asleep. I looked into her room and saw her, but did
not go in, lest I should disturb her." The Professor smiled,
and looked quite jubilant. He rubbed his hands together,
and said, "Aha! I thought I had diagnosed the case.
My treatment is working."
To which she replied, "You must not take all the credit to yourself, doctor.
Lucy's state this morning is due in part to me."
"How do you mean, ma'am?" asked the Professor.
"Well, I was anxious about the dear child in the night, and went
into her room. She was sleeping soundly, so soundly that even
my coming did not wake her. But the room was awfully stuffy.
There were a lot of those horrible, strong-smelling flowers
about everywhere, and she had actually a bunch of them round
her neck. I feared that the heavy odor would be too much
for the dear child in her weak state, so I took them all away
and opened a bit of the window to let in a little fresh air.
You will be pleased with her, I am sure."
She moved off into her boudoir, where she usually breakfasted early. As she
had spoken, I watched the Professor's face, and saw it turn ashen gray.
He had been able to retain his self-command whilst the poor lady was present,
for he knew her state and how mischievous a shock would be. He actually
smiled on her as he held open the door for her to pass into her room.
But the instant she had disappeared he pulled me, suddenly and forcibly,
into the dining room and closed the door.
Then, for the first time in my life, I saw Van Helsing break down.
He raised his hands over his head in a sort of mute despair,
and then beat his palms together in a helpless way.
Finally he sat down on a chair, and putting his hands before
his face, began to sob, with loud, dry sobs that seemed to come
from the very racking of his heart.
Then he raised his arms again, as though appealing to the
whole universe. "God! God! God!" he said. "What have we done,
what has this poor thing done, that we are so sore beset?
Is there fate amongst us still, send down from the pagan
world of old, that such things must be, and in such way?
This poor mother, all unknowing, and all for the best as she think,
does such thing as lose her daughter body and soul, and we
must not tell her, we must not even warn her, or she die,
then both die. Oh, how we are beset! How are all the powers
of the devils against us!"
Suddenly he jumped to his feet. "Come," he said."come, we must see and act.
Devils or no devils, or all the devils at once, it matters not.
We must fight him all the same." He went to the hall door for his bag,
and together we went up to Lucy's room.
Once again I drew up the blind, whilst Van Helsing went towards the bed.
This time he did not start as he looked on the poor face with the same awful,
waxen pallor as before. He wore a look of stern sadness and infinite pity.
"As I expected," he murmured, with that hissing inspiration
of his which meant so much. Without a word he went and locked
the door, and then began to set out on the little table the
instruments for yet another operation of transfusion of blood.
I had long ago recognized the necessity, and begun to take
off my coat, but he stopped me with a warning hand.
"No!" he said. "Today you must operate. I shall provide.
You are weakened already." As he spoke he took off his coat
and rolled up his shirtsleeve.
Again the operation. Again the narcotic. Again some return of color
to the ashy cheeks, and the regular breathing of healthy sleep.
This time I watched whilst Van Helsing recruited himself and rested.
Presently he took an opportunity of telling Mrs. Westenra that she
must not remove anything from Lucy's room without consulting him.
That the flowers were of medicinal value, and that the breathing
of their odor was a part of the system of cure. Then he took
over the care of the case himself, saying that he would watch this
night and the next, and would send me word when to come.
After another hour Lucy waked from her sleep, fresh and bright and seemingly
not much the worse for her terrible ordeal.
What does it all mean? I am beginning to wonder if my long habit
of life amongst the insane is beginning to tell upon my own brain.
17 September.--Four days and nights of peace. I am getting so strong
again that I hardly know myself. It is as if I had passed through some
long nightmare, and had just awakened to see the beautiful sunshine and feel
the fresh air of the morning around me. I have a dim half remembrance
of long, anxious times of waiting and fearing, darkness in which there
was not even the pain of hope to make present distress more poignant.
And then long spells of oblivion, and the rising back to life as a diver
coming up through a great press of water. Since, however, Dr. Van Helsing
has been with me, all this bad dreaming seems to have passed away.
The noises that used to frighten me out of my wits, the flapping against
the windows, the distant voices which seemed so close to me, the harsh
sounds that came from I know not where and commanded me to do I know
not what, have all ceased. I go to bed now without any fear of sleep.
I do not even try to keep awake. I have grown quite fond of the garlic,
and a boxful arrives for me every day from Haarlem. Tonight Dr. Van
Helsing is going away, as he has to be for a day in Amsterdam.
But I need not be watched. I am well enough to be left alone.
Thank God for Mother's sake, and dear Arthur's, and for all our
friends who have been so kind! I shall not even feel the change,
for last night Dr. Van Helsing slept in his chair a lot of the time.
I found him asleep twice when I awoke. But I did not fear to go
to sleep again, although the boughs or bats or something flapped
almost angrily against the window panes.
 PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF OUR INTERVIEWER
 WITH THE KEEPER IN THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS
After many inquiries and almost as many refusals, and perpetually
using the words `PALL MALL GAZETTE ' as a sort of talisman,
I managed to find the keeper of the section of the Zoological Gardens
in which the wold department is included. Thomas Bilder lives
in one of the cottages in the enclosure behind the elephant house,
and was just sitting down to his tea when I found him.
Thomas and his wife are hospitable folk, elderly, and without
children, and if the specimen I enjoyed of their hospitality
be of the average kind, their lives must be pretty comfortable.
The keeper would not enter on what he called business
until the supper was over, and we were all satisfied.
Then when the table was cleared, and he had lit his pipe, he said,
"Now, Sir, you can go on and arsk me what you want. You'll excoose
me refoosin' to talk of perfeshunal subjucts afore meals.
I gives the wolves and the jackals and the hyenas in all our section
their tea afore I begins to arsk them questions."
"How do you mean, ask them questions?" I queried, wishful to get
him into a talkative humor.
" `Ittin' of them over the `ead with a pole is one way.
Scratchin' of their ears in another, when gents as is flush
wants a bit of a show-orf to their gals. I don't so much
mind the fust, the `ittin of the pole part afore I chucks
in their dinner, but I waits till they've `ad their sherry
and kawffee, so to speak, afore I tries on with the ear
scratchin'. Mind you," he added philosophically, "there's a
deal of the same nature in us as in them theer animiles.
Here's you a-comin' and arskin' of me questions about
my business, and I that grump-like that only for your bloomin'
`arf-quid I'd `a' seen you blowed fust `fore I'd answer.
Not even when you arsked me sarcastic like if I'd like you
to arsk the Superintendent if you might arsk me questions.
Without offence did I tell yer to go to `ell?"
"You did."
"An' when you said you'd report me for usin' obscene language that was `ittin'
me over the `ead. But the `arf-quid made that all right. I weren't a-goin'
to fight, so I waited for the food, and did with my `owl as the wolves
and lions and tigers does. But, lor' love yer `art, now that the old `ooman
has stuck a chunk of her tea-cake in me, an' rinsed me out with her bloomin'
old teapot, and I've lit hup, you may scratch my ears for all you're worth,
and won't even get a growl out of me. Drive along with your questions.
I know what yer a-comin' at, that `ere escaped wolf."
"Exactly. I want you to give me your view of it.
Just tell me how it happened, and when I know the facts
I'll get you to say what you consider was the cause of it,
and how you think the whole affair will end."
"All right, guv'nor. This `ere is about the `ole story.
That`ere wolf what we called Bersicker was one of three gray ones that
came from Norway to Jamrach's, which we bought off him four years ago.
He was a nice well-behaved wolf, that never gave no trouble to talk of.
I'm more surprised at `im for wantin' to get out nor any other animile
in the place. But, there, you can't trust wolves no more nor women."
"Don't you mind him, Sir!" broke in Mrs. Tom, with a cheery laugh.
" `E's got mindin' the animiles so long that blest if he ain't
like a old wolf `isself! But there ain't no `arm in `im."
"Well, Sir, it was about two hours after feedin'
yesterday when I first hear my disturbance. I was makin'
up a litter in the monkey house for a young puma which is ill.
But when I heard the yelpin' and `owlin' I kem away straight.
There was Bersicker a-tearin' like a mad thing at the bars as if
he wanted to get out. There wasn't much people about that day,
and close at hand was only one man, a tall, thin chap, with a `ook
nose and a pointed beard, with a few white hairs runnin' through it.
He had a `ard, cold look and red eyes, and I took a sort of mislike
to him, for it seemed as if it was `im as they was hirritated at.
He `ad white kid gloves on `is `ands, and he pointed out the animiles
to me and says, `Keeper, these wolves seem upset at something.'
"`Maybe it's you,' says I, for I did not like the airs as he give
`isself. He didn't get angry, as I `oped he would, but he smiled
a kind of insolent smile, with a mouth full of white, sharp teeth.
`Oh no, they wouldn't like me,' `e says.
" `Ow yes, they would,' says I, a-imitatin'of him.`They always
like a bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea time,
which you `as a bagful.'
"Well, it was a odd thing, but when the animiles see us a-talkin'
they lay down, and when I went over to Bersicker he let me
stroke his ears same as ever. That there man kem over,
and blessed but if he didn't put in his hand and stroke the old
wolf's ears too!
" `Tyke care,' says I. `Bersicker is quick.'
" `Never mind,' he says. I'm used to `em!'
" `Are you in the business yourself?" I says, tyking off my `at, for a man
what trades in wolves, anceterer, is a good friend to keepers.
" `Nom' says he, `not exactly in the business, but I `ave made
pets of several.' and with that he lifts his `at as perlite
as a lord, and walks away. Old Bersicker kep' a-lookin'
arter `im till `e was out of sight, and then went and lay
down in a corner and wouldn't come hout the `ole hevening.
Well, larst night, so soon as the moon was hup, the wolves here
all began a-`owling. There warn't nothing for them to `owl at.
There warn't no one near, except some one that was evidently a-callin'
a dog somewheres out back of the gardings in the Park road.
Once or twice I went out to see that all was right, and it was,
and then the `owling stopped. Just before twelve o'clock
I just took a look round afore turnin' in, an', bust me,
but when I kem opposite to old Bersicker's cage I see
the rails broken and twisted about and the cage empty.
And that's all I know for certing."
"Did any one else see anything?"
"One of our gard`ners was a-comin' `ome about that time from a `armony,
when he sees a big gray dog comin' out through the garding `edges. At least,
so he says, but I don't give much for it myself, for if he did `e never
said a word about it to his missis when `e got `ome, and it was only after
the escape of the wolf was made known, and we had been up all night a-huntin'
of the Park for Bersicker, that he remembered seein' anything. My own belief
was that the `armony `ad got into his `ead."
"Now, Mr. Bilder, can you account in any way for the escape of the wolf?"
"Well, Sir," he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty, "I think I can,
but I don't know as `ow you'd be satisfied with the theory."
"Certainly I shall. If a man like you, who knows the animals from experience,
can't hazard a good guess at any rate, who is even to try?"
"well then, Sir, I accounts for it this way. It seems to me that `ere
wolf escaped--simply because he wanted to get out."
From the hearty way that both Thomas and his wife laughed
at the joke I could see that it had done service before,
and that the whole explanation was simply an elaborate sell.
I couldn't cope in badinage with the worthy Thomas, but I thought
I knew a surer way to his heart, so I said, "Now, Mr. Bilder,
we'll consider that first half-sovereign worked off, and this
brother of his is waiting to be claimed when you've told me
what you think will happen."
"Right y`are, Sir," he said briskly. "Ye`ll excoose me, I know,
for a-chaffin' of ye, but the old woman her winked at me,
which was as much as telling me to go on."
"Well, I never!" said the old lady.
"My opinion is this. That `ere wolf is a`idin' of, somewheres.
The gard`ner wot didn't remember said he was a-gallopin'
northward faster than a horse could go, but I don't believe him,
for, yer see, Sir, wolves don't gallop no more nor dogs does,
they not bein' built that way. Wolves is fine things in
a storybook, and I dessay when they gets in packs and does
be chivyin' somethin' that's more afeared than they is they
can make a devil of a noise and chop it up, whatever it is.
But, Lor' bless you, in real life a wolf is only a low creature,
not half so clever or bold as a good dog, and not half a quarter
so much fight in `im. This one ain't been used to fightin'
or even to providin' for hisself, and more like he's somewhere
round the Park a'hidin' an' a'shiverin' of, and if he thinks
at all, wonderin' where he is to get his breakfast from.
Or maybe he's got down some area and is in a coal cellar.
My eye, won't some cook get a rum start when she sees
his green eyes a-shinin' at her out of the dark!
If he can't get food he's bound to look for it, and mayhap
he may chance to light on a butcher's shop in time.
If he doesn't, and some nursemaid goes out walkin' or orf
with a soldier, leavin' of the hinfant in the perambulator--
well, then I shouldn't be surprised if the census is one babby
the less. That's all."
I was handing him the half-sovereign, when something came bobbing
up against the window, and Mr. Bilder's face doubled its natural
length with surprise.
"God bless me!" he said. "If there ain't old Bersicker come
back by `isself!"
He went to the door and opened it, a most unnecessary proceeding it
seemed to me. I have always thought that a wild animal never looks
so well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us.
A personal experience has intensified rather than diminished that idea.
After all, however, there is nothing like custom, for neither Bilder
nor his wife thought any more of the wolf than I should of a dog.
The animal itself was a peaceful and well-behaved as that father
of all picture-wolves, Red Riding Hood's quondam friend, whilst moving
her confidence in masquerade.
The whole scene was a unutterable mixture of comedy and pathos.
The wicked wolf that for a half a day had paralyzed London
and set all the children in town shivering in their shoes,
was there in a sort of penitent mood, and was received
and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal son.
Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender solicitude,
and when he had finished with his penitent said,
"There, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of trouble.
Didn't I say it all along? Here's his head all cut and full of broken glass.
`E's been a-gettin' over some bloomin' wall or other. It's a shyme
that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles.
This `ere's what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker."
He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece of meat
that satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary conditions
of the fatted calf, and went off to report.
I came off too, to report the only exclusive information that is given
today regarding the strange escapade at the Zoo.
17 September.--I was engaged after dinner in my study posting up
my books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy,
had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open,
and in rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion.
I was thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his
own accord into the Superintendent's study is almost unknown.
Without an instant's notice he made straight at me.
He had a dinner knife in his hand, and as I saw he was dangerous,
I tried to keep the table between us. He was too quick and
too strong for me, however, for before I could get my balance
he had struck at me and cut my left wrist rather severely.
Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right
hand and he was sprawling on his back on the floor.
My wrist bled freely, and quite a little pool trickled
on to the carpet. I saw that my friend was not intent
on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my wrist,
keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time.
When the attendants rushed in, and we turned our attention
to him, his employment positively sickened me. He was lying
on his belly on the floor licking up, like a dog, the blood
which had fallen from my wounded wrist. He was easily secured,
and to my surprise, went with the attendants quite placidly,
simply repeating over and over again, "The blood is the life!
The blood is the life!"
I cannot afford to lose blood just at present. I have lost too
much of late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain
of Lucy's illness and its horrible phases is telling on me.
I am over excited and weary, and I need rest, rest, rest.
Happily Van Helsing has not summoned me, so I need not forego my sleep.
Tonight I could not well do without it.
(Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given, delivered late
by twenty-two hours.)
17 September.--Do not fail to be at Hilllingham tonight.
If not watching all the time, frequently visit and see
that flowers are as placed, very important, do not fail.
Shall be with you as soon as possible after arrival.
18 September.--Just off train to London. The arrival of Van
Helsing's telegram filled me with dismay. A whole night lost,
and I know by bitter experience what may happen in a night.
Of course it is possible that all may be well, but what may
have happened? Surely there is some horrible doom hanging over us
that every possible accident should thwart us in all we try to do.
I shall take this cylinder with me, and then I can complete
my entry on Lucy's phonograph.
17 September, Night.--I write this and leave it to be seen,
so that no one may by any chance get into trouble through me.
This is an exact record of what took place tonight.
I feel I am dying of weakness, and have barely strength to write,
but it must be done if I die in the doing.
I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were placed as Dr. Van
Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep.
I was waked by the flapping at the window, which had begun
after that sleep-walking on the cliff at Whitby when Mina
saved me, and which now I know so well. I was not afraid,
but I did wish that Dr. Seward was in the next room, as Dr. Van
Helsing said he would be, so that I might have called him.
I tried to sleep, but I could not. Then there came to me
the old fear of sleep, and I determined to keep awake.
Perversely sleep would try to come then when I did not want it.
So, as I feared to be alone, I opened my door and called out.
"Is there anybody there?" There was no answer.
I was afraid to wake mother, and so closed my door again.
Then outside in the shrubbery I heard a sort of howl like
a dog's, but more fierce and deeper. I went to the window
and looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat,
which had evidently been buffeting its wings against the window.
So I went back to bed again, but determined not to go to sleep.
Presently the door opened, and mother looked in. Seeing by my
moving that I was not asleep, she came in and sat by me.
She said to me even more sweetly and softly than her wont,
"I was uneasy about you, darling, and came in to see that you
were all right."
I feared she might catch cold sitting there, and asked her to come
in and sleep with me, so she came into bed, and lay down beside me.
She did not take off her dressing gown, for she said she would only stay
a while and then go back to her own bed. As she lay there in my arms,
and I in hers the flapping and buffeting came to the window again.
She was startled and a little frightened, and cried out, "What is that?"
I tried to pacify her, and at last succeeded, and she lay quiet.
But I could hear her poor dear heart still beating terribly.
After a while there was the howl again out in the shrubbery,
and shortly after there was a crash at the window,
and a lot of broken glass was hurled on the floor.
The window blind blew back with the wind that rushed in,
and in the aperture of the broken panes there was the head
of a great, gaunt gray wolf.
Mother cried out in a fright, and struggled up into a sitting
posture, and clutched wildly at anything that would help her.
Amongst other things, she clutched the wreath of flowers that Dr. Van
Helsing insisted on my wearing round my neck, and tore it away
from me. For a second or two she sat up, pointing at the wolf,
and there was a strange and horrible gurgling in her throat.
Then she fell over, as if struck with lightning, and her head hit
my forehead and made me dizzy for a moment or two.
The room and all round seemed to spin round. I kept my eyes fixed
on the window, but the wolf drew his head back, and a whole myriad
of little specks seems to come blowing in through the broken window,
and wheeling and circling round like the pillar of dust that travellers
describe when there is a simoon in the desert. I tried to stir,
but there was some spell upon me, and dear Mother's poor body,
which seemed to grow cold already, for her dear heart had ceased
to beat, weighed me down, and I remembered no more for a while.
The time did not seem long, but very, very awful, till I recovered
consciousness again. Somewhere near, a passing bell was tolling.
The dogs all round the neighborhood were howling, and in
our shrubbery, seemingly just outside, a nightingale was singing.
I was dazed and stupid with pain and terror and weakness,
but the sound of the nightingale seemed like the voice
of my dead mother come back to comfort me. The sounds seemed
to have awakened the maids, too, for I could hear their bare
feet pattering outside my door. I called to them, and they
came in, and when they saw what had happened, and what it
was that lay over me on the bed, they screamed out. The wind
rushed in through the broken window, and the door slammed to.
They lifted off the body of my dear mother, and laid her,
covered up with a sheet, on the bed after I had got up.
They were all so frightened and nervous that I directed them
to go to the dining room and each have a glass of wine.
The door flew open for an instant and closed again.
The maids shrieked, and then went in a body to the dining room,
and I laid what flowers I had on my dear mother's breast.
When they were there I remembered what Dr. Van Helsing
had told me, but I didn't like to remove them, and besides,
I would have some of the servants to sit up with me now.
I was surprised that the maids did not come back.
I called them, but got no answer, so I went to the dining room
to look for them.
My heart sank when I saw what had happened. They all four
lay helpless on the floor, breathing heavily. The decanter
of sherry was on the table half full, but there was a queer,
acrid smell about. I was suspicious, and examined the decanter.
It smelt of laudanum, and looking on the sideboard,
I found that the bottle which Mother's doctor uses for her--
oh! did use--was empty. What am I to do? What am I to do?
I am back in the room with Mother. I cannot leave her, and I
am alone, save for the sleeping servants, whom some one has drugged.
Alone with the dead! I dare not go out, for I can hear the low
howl of the wolf through the broken window.
The air seems full of specks, floating and circling in the
draught from the window, and the lights burn blue and dim.
What am I to do? God shield me from harm this night!
I shall hide this paper in my breast, where they shall find
it when they come to lay me out. My dear mother gone!
It is time that I go too. Goodbye, dear Arthur, if I should
not survive this night. God keep you, dear, and God help me!