CHAPTER IX

Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra.

“Buda-Pesth, 24 August.
“My dearest Lucy,—
“I know you will be anxious to hear all that has happened since
we parted at the railway station at Whitby. Well, my dear, I got to
Hull all right, and caught the boat to Hamburg, and then the train
on here. I feel that I can hardly recall anything of the journey,
except that I knew I was coming to Jonathan, and, that as I should
have to do some nursing, I had better get all the sleep I could.... I
found my dear one, oh, so thin and pale and weak-looking. All the
resolution has gone out of his dear eyes, and that quiet dignity
which I told you was in his face has vanished. He is only a wreck of
himself, and he does not remember anything that has happened to
him for a long time past. At least, he wants me to believe so, and I
shall never ask. He has had some terrible shock, and I fear it might
tax his poor brain if he were to try to recall it. Sister Agatha, who is
a good creature and a born nurse, tells me that he raved of dreadful
things whilst he was off his head. I wanted her to tell me what they
were; but she would only cross herself, and say she would never tell;
that the ravings of the sick were the secrets of God, and that if a
350 FRANKENSTEIN, DRACUL A, AND GOTHIC LITERATURE

nurse through her vocation should hear them, she should respect
her trust. She is a sweet, good soul, and the next day, when she saw I
was troubled, she opened up the subject again, and after saying that
she could never mention what my poor dear raved about, added: ‘I
can tell you this much, my dear: that it was not about anything
which he has done wrong himself; and you, as his wife to be, have
no cause to be concerned. He has not forgotten you or what he owes
to you. His fear was of great and terrible things, which no mortal
can treat of.’ I do believe the dear soul thought I might be jealous
lest my poor dear should have fallen in love with any other girl. The
idea of my being jealous about Jonathan! And yet, my dear, let me
whisper, I felt a thrill of joy through me when I knew that no other
woman was a cause of trouble. I am now sitting by his bedside,
where I can see his face while he sleeps. He is waking!...
“When he woke he asked me for his coat, as he wanted to get
something from the pocket; I asked Sister Agatha, and she brought
all his things. I saw that amongst them was his note-book, and was
going to ask him to let me look at it—for I knew then that I might
find some clue to his trouble—but I suppose he must have seen my
wish in my eyes, for he sent me over to the window, saying he
wanted to be quite alone for a moment. Then he called me back,
and when I came he had his hand over the note-book, and he said
to me very solemnly:—
“ ‘Wilhelmina’—I knew then that he was in deadly earnest, for
he has never called me by that name since he asked me to marry
him—‘you know, dear, my ideas of the trust between husband and
wife: there should be no secret, no concealment. I have had a great
shock, and when I try to think of what it is I feel my head spin
round, and I do not know if it was all real or the dreaming of a
madman. You know I have had brain fever, and that is to be mad.
The secret is here, and I do not want to know it. I want to take up
my life here, with our marriage.’ For, my dear, we had decided to be
married as soon as the formalities are complete. ‘Are you willing,
Wilhelmina, to share my ignorance? Here is the book. Take it and
keep it, read it if you will, but never let me know; unless, indeed,
some solemn duty should come upon me to go back to the bitter
 CHAPTER IX 351

hours, asleep or awake, sane or mad, recorded here.’ He fell back

exhausted, and I put the book under his pillow, and kissed him. I
have asked Sister Agatha to beg the Superior to let our wedding be
this afternoon, and am waiting her reply....

“She has come and told me that the chaplain of the English
mission church has been sent for. We are to be married in an hour,
or as soon after as Jonathan awakes....

“Lucy, the time has come and gone. I feel very solemn, but very,
very happy. Jonathan woke a little after the hour, and all was ready,
and he sat up in bed, propped up with pillows. He answered his ‘I
will’ firmly and strongly. I could hardly speak; my heart was so full
that even those words seemed to choke me. The dear sisters were so
kind. Please God, I shall never, never forget them, nor the grave and
sweet responsibilities I have taken upon me. I must tell you of my
wedding present. When the chaplain and the sisters had left me
alone with my husband—oh, Lucy, it is the first time I have written
the words ‘my husband’—left me alone with my husband, I took the
book from under his pillow, and wrapped it up in white paper, and
tied it with a little bit of pale blue ribbon which was round my neck,
and sealed it over the knot with sealing-wax, and for my seal I used
my wedding ring. Then I kissed it and showed it to my husband,
and told him that I would keep it so, and then it would be an
outward and visible sign for us all our lives that we trusted each
other; that I would never open it unless it were for his own dear sake
or for the sake of some stern duty. Then he took my hand in his,
and oh, Lucy, it was the first time he took his wife’s hand, and said
that it was the dearest thing in all the wide world, and that he would
go through all the past again to win it, if need be. The poor dear
meant to have said a part of the past, but he cannot think of time
yet, and I shall not wonder if at first he mixes up not only the
month, but the year.
“Well, my dear, what could I say? I could only tell him that I was
the happiest woman in all the wide world, and that I had nothing to
give him except myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these
352 FRANKENSTEIN, DRACUL A, AND GOTHIC LITERATURE

went my love and duty for all the days of my life. And, my dear,
when he kissed me, and drew me to him with his poor weak hands,
it was like a very solemn pledge between us....
“Lucy dear, do you know why I tell you all this? It is not only
because it is all sweet to me, but because you have been, and are,
very dear to me. It was my privilege to be your friend and guide
when you came from the schoolroom to prepare for the world of
life. I want you to see now, and with the eyes of a very happy wife,
whither duty has led me; so that in your own married life you too
may be all happy as I am. My dear, please Almighty God, your life
may be all it promises: a long day of sunshine, with no harsh wind,
no forgetting duty, no distrust. I must not wish you no pain, for that
can never be; but I do hope you will be always as happy as I am now.
Good-bye, my dear. I shall post this at once, and, perhaps, write you
very soon again. I must stop, for Jonathan is waking—I must attend
to my husband!
“Your ever-loving “Mina Harker.”
Letter, Lucy Westenra to Mina Harker.
“Whitby, 30 August.
“My dearest Mina,—
“Oceans of love and millions of kisses, and may you soon be in
your own home with your husband. I wish you could be coming
home soon enough to stay with us here. The strong air would soon
restore Jonathan; it has quite restored me. I have an appetite like a
cormorant, am full of life, and sleep well. You will be glad to know
that I have quite given up walking in my sleep. I think I have not
stirred out of my bed for a week, that is when I once got into it at
night. Arthur says I am getting fat. By the way, I forgot to tell you
that Arthur is here. We have such walks and drives, and rides, and
rowing, and tennis, and fishing together; and I love him more than
ever. He tells me that he loves me more, but I doubt that, for at first
he told me that he couldn’t love me more than he did then. But this
is nonsense. There he is, calling to me. So no more just at present
from your loving
“Lucy.
“P. S.—Mother sends her love. She seems better, poor dear.
 CHAPTER IX 353

“P. P. S.—We are to be married on 28 September.”

Dr. Seward’s Diary.
20 August.—The case of Renfield grows even more interesting.
He has now so far quieted that there are spells of cessation from his
passion. For the first week after his attack he was perpetually violent.
Then one night, just as the moon rose, he grew quiet, and kept
murmuring to himself: “Now I can wait; now I can wait.” The
attendant came to tell me, so I ran down at once to have a look at
him. He was still in the strait-waistcoat and in the padded room, but
the suffused look had gone from his face, and his eyes had some‐
thing of their old pleading—I might almost say, “cringing”—soft‐
ness. I was satisfied with his present condition, and directed him to
be relieved. The attendants hesitated, but finally carried out my
wishes without protest. It was a strange thing that the patient had
humour enough to see their distrust, for, coming close to me, he said
in a whisper, all the while looking furtively at them:—
“They think I could hurt you! Fancy me hurting you! The fools!”
It was soothing, somehow, to the feelings to find myself dissoci‐
ated even in the mind of this poor madman from the others; but all
the same I do not follow his thought. Am I to take it that I have
anything in common with him, so that we are, as it were, to stand
together; or has he to gain from me some good so stupendous that
my well-being is needful to him? I must find out later on. To-night
he will not speak. Even the offer of a kitten or even a full-grown cat
will not tempt him. He will only say: “I don’t take any stock in cats. I
have more to think of now, and I can wait; I can wait.”
After a while I left him. The attendant tells me that he was quiet
until just before dawn, and that then he began to get uneasy, and at
length violent, until at last he fell into a paroxysm which exhausted
him so that he swooned into a sort of coma.

... Three nights has the same thing happened—violent all day
then quiet from moonrise to sunrise. I wish I could get some clue to
the cause. It would almost seem as if there was some influence
which came and went. Happy thought! We shall to-night play sane
wits against mad ones. He escaped before without our help; to-night
354 FRANKENSTEIN, DRACUL A, AND GOTHIC LITERATURE

he shall escape with it. We shall give him a chance, and have the
men ready to follow in case they are required....

23 August.—“The unexpected always happens.” How well

Disraeli knew life. Our bird when he found the cage open would not
fly, so all our subtle arrangements were for nought. At any rate, we
have proved one thing; that the spells of quietness last a reasonable
time. We shall in future be able to ease his bonds for a few hours
each day. I have given orders to the night attendant merely to shut
him in the padded room, when once he is quiet, until an hour
before sunrise. The poor soul’s body will enjoy the relief even if his
mind cannot appreciate it. Hark! The unexpected again! I am
called; the patient has once more escaped.

Later.—Another night adventure. Renfield artfully waited until

the attendant was entering the room to inspect. Then he dashed out
past him and flew down the passage. I sent word for the attendants
to follow. Again he went into the grounds of the deserted house, and
we found him in the same place, pressed against the old chapel door.
When he saw me he became furious, and had not the attendants
seized him in time, he would have tried to kill me. As we were
holding him a strange thing happened. He suddenly redoubled his
efforts, and then as suddenly grew calm. I looked round instinctively,
but could see nothing. Then I caught the patient’s eye and followed
it, but could trace nothing as it looked into the moonlit sky except a
big bat, which was flapping its silent and ghostly way to the west.
Bats usually wheel and flit about, but this one seemed to go straight
on, as if it knew where it was bound for or had some intention of its
own. The patient grew calmer every instant, and presently said:—
“You needn’t tie me; I shall go quietly!” Without trouble we
came back to the house. I feel there is something ominous in his
calm, and shall not forget this night....
Lucy Westenra’s Diary
Hillingham, 24 August.—I must imitate Mina, and keep writing
things down. Then we can have long talks when we do meet. I
wonder when it will be. I wish she were with me again, for I feel so
 CHAPTER IX 355

unhappy. Last night I seemed to be dreaming again just as I was at

Whitby. Perhaps it is the change of air, or getting home again. It is
all dark and horrid to me, for I can remember nothing; but I am full
of vague fear, and I feel so weak and worn out. When Arthur came
to lunch he looked quite grieved when he saw me, and I hadn’t the
spirit to try to be cheerful. I wonder if I could sleep in mother’s
room to-night. I shall make an excuse and try.

25 August.—Another bad night. Mother did not seem to take to

my proposal. She seems not too well herself, and doubtless she fears
to worry me. I tried to keep awake, and succeeded for a while; but
when the clock struck twelve it waked me from a doze, so I must
have been falling asleep. There was a sort of scratching or flapping
at the window, but I did not mind it, and as I remember no more, I
suppose I must then have fallen asleep. More bad dreams. I wish I
could remember them. This morning I am horribly weak. My face
is ghastly pale, and my throat pains me. It must be something wrong
with my lungs, for I don’t seem ever to get air enough. I shall try to
cheer up when Arthur comes, or else I know he will be miserable to
see me so.
Letter, Arthur Holmwood to Dr. Seward.
“Albemarle Hotel, 31 August.
“My dear Jack,—
“I want you to do me a favour. Lucy is ill; that is, she has no
special disease, but she looks awful, and is getting worse every day.
I have asked her if there is any cause; I do not dare to ask her
mother, for to disturb the poor lady’s mind about her daughter in
her present state of health would be fatal. Mrs. Westenra has
confided to me that her doom is spoken—disease of the heart—
though poor Lucy does not know it yet. I am sure that there is
something preying on my dear girl’s mind. I am almost distracted
when I think of her; to look at her gives me a pang. I told her I
should ask you to see her, and though she demurred at first—I
know why, old fellow—she finally consented. It will be a painful
task for you, I know, old friend, but it is for her sake, and I must not
hesitate to ask, or you to act. You are to come to lunch at
356 FRANKENSTEIN, DRACUL A, AND GOTHIC LITERATURE

Hillingham to-morrow, two o’clock, so as not to arouse any suspi‐

cion in Mrs. Westenra, and after lunch Lucy will take an opportu‐
nity of being alone with you. I shall come in for tea, and we can
go away together; I am filled with anxiety, and want to consult
with you alone as soon as I can after you have seen her. Do
not fail!
“Arthur.”
Telegram, Arthur Holmwood to Seward.
“1 September.
“Am summoned to see my father, who is worse. Am writing.
Write me fully by to-night’s post to Ring. Wire me if necessary.”
Letter from Dr. Seward to Arthur Holmwood.
“2 September.
“My dear old fellow,—
“With regard to Miss Westenra’s health I hasten to let you know
at once that in my opinion there is not any functional disturbance or
any malady that I know of. At the same time, I am not by any
means satisfied with her appearance; she is woefully different from
what she was when I saw her last. Of course you must bear in mind
that I did not have full opportunity of examination such as I should
wish; our very friendship makes a little difficulty which not even
medical science or custom can bridge over. I had better tell you
exactly what happened, leaving you to draw, in a measure, your own
conclusions. I shall then say what I have done and propose doing.
“I found Miss Westenra in seemingly gay spirits. Her mother
was present, and in a few seconds I made up my mind that she was
trying all she knew to mislead her mother and prevent her from
being anxious. I have no doubt she guesses, if she does not know,
what need of caution there is. We lunched alone, and as we all
exerted ourselves to be cheerful, we got, as some kind of reward for
our labours, some real cheerfulness amongst us. Then Mrs. West‐
enra went to lie down, and Lucy was left with me. We went into her
boudoir, and till we got there her gaiety remained, for the servants
were coming and going. As soon as the door was closed, however,
the mask fell from her face, and she sank down into a chair with a
great sigh, and hid her eyes with her hand. When I saw that her
 CHAPTER IX 357

high spirits had failed, I at once took advantage of her reaction to

make a diagnosis. She said to me very sweetly:—
“ ‘I cannot tell you how I loathe talking about myself.’ I
reminded her that a doctor’s confidence was sacred, but that you
were grievously anxious about her. She caught on to my meaning at
once, and settled that matter in a word. ‘Tell Arthur everything you
choose. I do not care for myself, but all for him!’ So I am quite free.
“I could easily see that she is somewhat bloodless, but I could
not see the usual anæmic signs, and by a chance I was actually able
to test the quality of her blood, for in opening a window which was
stiff a cord gave way, and she cut her hand slightly with broken
glass. It was a slight matter in itself, but it gave me an evident
chance, and I secured a few drops of the blood and have analysed
them. The qualitative analysis gives a quite normal condition, and
shows, I should infer, in itself a vigorous state of health. In other
physical matters I was quite satisfied that there is no need for anxi‐
ety; but as there must be a cause somewhere, I have come to the
conclusion that it must be something mental. She complains of diffi‐
culty in breathing satisfactorily at times, and of heavy, lethargic
sleep, with dreams that frighten her, but regarding which she can
remember nothing. She says that as a child she used to walk in her
sleep, and that when in Whitby the habit came back, and that once
she walked out in the night and went to East Cliff, where Miss
Murray found her; but she assures me that of late the habit has not
returned. I am in doubt, and so have done the best thing I know of;
I have written to my old friend and master, Professor Van Helsing,
of Amsterdam, who knows as much about obscure diseases as any
one in the world. I have asked him to come over, and as you told me
that all things were to be at your charge, I have mentioned to him
who you are and your relations to Miss Westenra. This, my dear
fellow, is in obedience to your wishes, for I am only too proud and
happy to do anything I can for her. Van Helsing would, I know, do
anything for me for a personal reason, so, no matter on what ground
he comes, we must accept his wishes. He is a seemingly arbitrary
man, but this is because he knows what he is talking about better
than any one else. He is a philosopher and a metaphysician, and
358 FRANKENSTEIN, DRACUL A, AND GOTHIC LITERATURE

one of the most advanced scientists of his day; and he has, I believe,
an absolutely open mind. This, with an iron nerve, a temper of the
ice-brook, an indomitable resolution, self-command, and toleration
exalted from virtues to blessings, and the kindliest and truest heart
that beats—these form his equipment for the noble work that he is
doing for mankind—work both in theory and practice, for his views
are as wide as his all-embracing sympathy. I tell you these facts that
you may know why I have such confidence in him. I have asked him
to come at once. I shall see Miss Westenra to-morrow again. She is
to meet me at the Stores, so that I may not alarm her mother by too
early a repetition of my call.
“Yours always, “John Seward.”
Letter, Abraham Van Helsing, M. D., D. Ph., D. Lit., etc., etc., to Dr.
Seward.
“2 September.
“My good Friend,—
“When I have received your letter I am already coming to you.
By good fortune I can leave just at once, without wrong to any of
those who have trusted me. Were fortune other, then it were bad for
those who have trusted, for I come to my friend when he call me to
aid those he holds dear. Tell your friend that when that time you
suck from my wound so swiftly the poison of the gangrene from that
knife that our other friend, too nervous, let slip, you did more for
him when he wants my aids and you call for them than all his great
fortune could do. But it is pleasure added to do for him, your friend;
it is to you that I come. Have then rooms for me at the Great
Eastern Hotel, so that I may be near to hand, and please it so
arrange that we may see the young lady not too late on to-morrow,
for it is likely that I may have to return here that night. But if need
be I shall come again in three days, and stay longer if it must. Till
then good-bye, my friend John.
“Van Helsing.”
Letter, Dr. Seward to Hon. Arthur Holmwood.
“3 September.
“My dear Art,—
“Van Helsing has come and gone. He came on with me to
 CHAPTER IX 359

Hillingham, and found that, by Lucy’s discretion, her mother was

lunching out, so that we were alone with her. Van Helsing made a
very careful examination of the patient. He is to report to me, and I
shall advise you, for of course I was not present all the time. He is, I
fear, much concerned, but says he must think. When I told him of
our friendship and how you trust to me in the matter, he said: ‘You
must tell him all you think. Tell him what I think, if you can guess it,
if you will. Nay, I am not jesting. This is no jest, but life and death,
perhaps more.’ I asked what he meant by that, for he was very seri‐
ous. This was when we had come back to town, and he was having a
cup of tea before starting on his return to Amsterdam. He would
not give me any further clue. You must not be angry with me, Art,
because his very reticence means that all his brains are working for
her good. He will speak plainly enough when the time comes, be
sure. So I told him I would simply write an account of our visit, just
as if I were doing a descriptive special article for The Daily Telegraph.
He seemed not to notice, but remarked that the smuts in London
were not quite so bad as they used to be when he was a student
here. I am to get his report to-morrow if he can possibly make it. In
any case I am to have a letter.
“Well, as to the visit. Lucy was more cheerful than on the day I
first saw her, and certainly looked better. She had lost something of
the ghastly look that so upset you, and her breathing was normal.
She was very sweet to the professor (as she always is), and tried to
make him feel at ease; though I could see that the poor girl was
making a hard struggle for it. I believe Van Helsing saw it, too, for I
saw the quick look under his bushy brows that I knew of old. Then
he began to chat of all things except ourselves and diseases and with
such an infinite geniality that I could see poor Lucy’s pretense of
animation merge into reality. Then, without any seeming change, he
brought the conversation gently round to his visit, and suavely said:
—
“ ‘My dear young miss, I have the so great pleasure because you
are so much beloved. That is much, my dear, ever were there that
which I do not see. They told me you were down in the spirit, and
that you were of a ghastly pale. To them I say: “Pouf !” ’ And he
360 FRANKENSTEIN, DRACUL A, AND GOTHIC LITERATURE

snapped his fingers at me and went on: ‘But you and I shall show
them how wrong they are. How can he’—and he pointed at me with
the same look and gesture as that with which once he pointed me
out to his class, on, or rather after, a particular occasion which he
never fails to remind me of—‘know anything of a young ladies? He
has his madams to play with, and to bring them back to happiness,
and to those that love them. It is much to do, and, oh, but there are
rewards, in that we can bestow such happiness. But the young ladies!
He has no wife nor daughter, and the young do not tell themselves
to the young, but to the old, like me, who have known so many
sorrows and the causes of them. So, my dear, we will send him away
to smoke the cigarette in the garden, whiles you and I have little talk
all to ourselves.’ I took the hint, and strolled about, and presently
the professor came to the window and called me in. He looked
grave, but said: ‘I have made careful examination, but there is no
functional cause. With you I agree that there has been much blood
lost; it has been, but is not. But the conditions of her are in no way
anæmic. I have asked her to send me her maid, that I may ask just
one or two question, that so I may not chance to miss nothing. I
know well what she will say. And yet there is cause; there is always
cause for everything. I must go back home and think. You must send
to me the telegram every day; and if there be cause I shall come
again. The disease—for not to be all well is a disease—interest me,
and the sweet young dear, she interest me too. She charm me, and
for her, if not for you or disease, I come.’
“As I tell you, he would not say a word more, even when we
were alone. And so now, Art, you know all I know. I shall keep stern
watch. I trust your poor father is rallying. It must be a terrible thing
to you, my dear old fellow, to be placed in such a position between
two people who are both so dear to you. I know your idea of duty to
your father, and you are right to stick to it; but, if need be, I shall
send you word to come at once to Lucy; so do not be over-anxious
unless you hear from me.”
Dr. Seward’s Diary.
4 September.—Zoöphagous patient still keeps up our interest in
him. He had only one outburst and that was yesterday at an unusual
 CHAPTER IX 361

time. Just before the stroke of noon he began to grow restless. The
attendant knew the symptoms, and at once summoned aid. Fortu‐
nately the men came at a run, and were just in time, for at the stroke
of noon he became so violent that it took all their strength to hold
him. In about five minutes, however, he began to get more and
more quiet, and finally sank into a sort of melancholy, in which state
he has remained up to now. The attendant tells me that his screams
whilst in the paroxysm were really appalling; I found my hands full
when I got in, attending to some of the other patients who were
frightened by him. Indeed, I can quite understand the effect, for the
sounds disturbed even me, though I was some distance away. It is
now after the dinner-hour of the asylum, and as yet my patient sits
in a corner brooding, with a dull, sullen, woe-begone look in his
face, which seems rather to indicate than to show something directly.
I cannot quite understand it.

Later.—Another change in my patient. At five o’clock I looked in

on him, and found him seemingly as happy and contented as he
used to be. He was catching flies and eating them, and was keeping
note of his capture by making nail-marks on the edge of the door
between the ridges of padding. When he saw me, he came over and
apologised for his bad conduct, and asked me in a very humble,
cringing way to be led back to his own room and to have his note-
book again. I thought it well to humour him: so he is back in his
room with the window open. He has the sugar of his tea spread out
on the window-sill, and is reaping quite a harvest of flies. He is not
now eating them, but putting them into a box, as of old, and is
already examining the corners of his room to find a spider. I tried to
get him to talk about the past few days, for any clue to his thoughts
would be of immense help to me; but he would not rise. For a
moment or two he looked very sad, and said in a sort of far-away
voice, as though saying it rather to himself than to me:—
“All over! all over! He has deserted me. No hope for me now
unless I do it for myself !” Then suddenly turning to me in a resolute
way, he said: “Doctor, won’t you be very good to me and let me have
a little more sugar? I think it would be good for me.”
362 FRANKENSTEIN, DRACUL A, AND GOTHIC LITERATURE

“And the flies?” I said.

“Yes! The flies like it, too, and I like the flies; therefore I like it.”
And there are people who know so little as to think that madmen do
not argue. I procured him a double supply, and left him as happy a
man as, I suppose, any in the world. I wish I could fathom his mind.

Midnight.—Another change in him. I had been to see Miss West‐

enra, whom I found much better, and had just returned, and was
standing at our own gate looking at the sunset, when once more I
heard him yelling. As his room is on this side of the house, I could
hear it better than in the morning. It was a shock to me to turn from
the wonderful smoky beauty of a sunset over London, with its lurid
lights and inky shadows and all the marvellous tints that come on
foul clouds even as on foul water, and to realise all the grim stern‐
ness of my own cold stone building, with its wealth of breathing
misery, and my own desolate heart to endure it all. I reached him
just as the sun was going down, and from his window saw the red
disc sink. As it sank he became less and less frenzied; and just as it
dipped he slid from the hands that held him, an inert mass, on the
floor. It is wonderful, however, what intellectual recuperative power
lunatics have, for within a few minutes he stood up quite calmly and
looked around him. I signalled to the attendants not to hold him, for
I was anxious to see what he would do. He went straight over to the
window and brushed out the crumbs of sugar; then he took his fly-
box, and emptied it outside, and threw away the box; then he shut
the window, and crossing over, sat down on his bed. All this
surprised me, so I asked him: “Are you not going to keep flies
any more?”
“No,” said he; “I am sick of all that rubbish!” He certainly is a
wonderfully interesting study. I wish I could get some glimpse of his
mind or of the cause of his sudden passion. Stop; there may be a
clue after all, if we can find why to-day his paroxysms came on at
high noon and at sunset. Can it be that there is a malign influence
of the sun at periods which affects certain natures—as at times the
moon does others? We shall see.
Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam.
 CHAPTER IX 363

“4 September.—Patient still better to-day.”

Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam.
“5 September.—Patient greatly improved. Good appetite; sleeps
naturally; good spirits; colour coming back.”
Telegram, Seward, London, to Van Helsing, Amsterdam.
“6 September.—Terrible change for the worse. Come at once; do
not lose an hour. I hold over telegram to Holmwood till have
seen you.”