just as it was here. Quincey Morris, 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 realize 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!"
"Here 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 ears to
hear than he, shut as he is, in his coffin box. Now he make hishear 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 knows 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 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 youngno 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, the 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 ad
universale. There is this peculiarity 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