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.
 

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