him as he worked.
One by one we treated in the same way each of the great boxes,
and left them as we had found them to all appearance. But in each
was a portion of the Host. When we closed the door behind us, the
Professor said solemnly, "So much is already done. It may be that
with all the others we can be so successful, then the sunset of
this evening may shine of Madam Mina's forehead all white as ivory
and with no stain!"
As we passed across the lawn on our way to the station to catch
our train we could see the front of the asylum. I looked eagerly,
and in the window of my own room saw Mina. I waved my hand to her,
and nodded to tell that our work there was successfully
accomplished. She nodded in reply to show that she understood. The
last I saw, she was waving her hand in farewell. It was with a
heavy heart that we sought the station and just caught the train,
which was steaming in as we reached the platform. I have written
this in the train.
Piccadilly, 12:30 o'clock.—Just before we reached Fenchurch
Street Lord Godalming said to me, "Quincey and I will find a
locksmith. You had better not come with us in case there should be
any difficulty. For under the circumstances it wouldn't seem so bad
for us to break into an empty house. But you are a solicitor and
the Incorporated Law Society might tell you that you should have
known better."
I demurred as to my not sharing any danger even of odium, but he
went on, "Besides, it will attract less attention if there are not
too many of us. My title will make it all right with the locksmith,
and with any policeman that may come along. You had better go with
Jack and the Professor and stay in the Green Park. Somewhere in
sight of the house, and when you see the door opened and the smith
has gone away, do you all come across. We shall be on the lookout
for you, and shall let you in."
"The advice is good!" said Van Helsing, so we said no more.
Godalming and Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another.Godalming and Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another.
At the corner of Arlington Street our contingent got out and
strolled into the Green Park. My heart beat as I saw the house on
which so much of our hope was centered, looming up grim and silent
in its deserted condition amongst its more lively and
spruce-looking neighbors. We sat down on a bench within good view ,
and began to smoke cigars so as to attract as little attention as
possible. The minutes seemed to pass with leaden feet as we waited
for the coming of the others.
At length we saw a four-wheeler drive up. Out of it, in
leisurely fashion, got Lord Godalming and Morris. And down from the
box descended a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of
tools. Morris paid the cabman, who touched his hat and drove away.
Together the two ascended the steps, and Lord Godalming pointed out
what he wanted done. The workman took off his coat leisurely and
hung it on one of the spikes of the rail, saying something to a
policeman who just then sauntered along. The policeman nodded
acquiescence, and the man kneeling down placed his bag beside him.
After searching through it, he took out a selection of tools which
he proceeded to lay beside him in orderly fashion. Then he stood
up, looked in the keyhole, blew into it, and turning to his
employers, made some remark. Lord Godalming smiled, and the man
lifted a good sized bunch of keys. Selecting one of them, he began
to probe the lock, as if feeling his way with it. After fumbling
about for a bit he tried a second, and then a third. All at once
the door opened under a slight push from him, and he and the two
others entered the hall. We sat still. My own cigar burnt
furiously, but Van Helsing's went cold altogether. We waited
patiently as we saw the workman come out and bring his bag. Then he
held the door partly open, steadying it with his knees, whilst he
fitted a key to the lock. This he finally handed to Lord Godalming,
who took out his purse and gave him something. The man touched hiswho took out his purse and gave him something. The man touched his
hat, took his bag, put on his coat and departed. Not a soul took
the slightest notice of the whole transaction.
When the man had fairly gone, we three crossed the street and
knocked at the door. It was immediately opened by Quincey Morris,
beside whom stood Lord Godalming lighting a cigar.
"The place smells so vilely," said the latter as we came in. It
did indeed smell vilely. Like the old chapel at Carfax. And with
our previous experience it was plain to us that the Count had been
using the place pretty freely. We moved to explore the house, all
keeping together in case of attack, for we knew we had a strong and
wily enemy to deal with, and as yet we did not know whether the
Count might not be in the house.
In the dining room, which lay at the back of the hall, we found
eight boxes of earth. Eight boxes only out of the nine which we
sought! Our work was not over, and would never be until we should
have found the missing box.
First we opened the shutters of the window which looked out
across a narrow stone flagged yard at the blank face of a stable,
pointed to look like the front of a miniature house. There were no
windows in it, so we were not afraid of being overlooked. We did
not lose any time in examining the chests. With the tools which we
had brought with us we opened them, one by one, and treated them as
we had treated those others in the old chapel. It was evident to us
that the Count was not at present in the house, and we proceeded to
search for any of his effects.
After a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms, from basement
to attic, we came to the conclusion that the dining room contained
any effects which might belong to the Count. And so we proceeded to
minutely examine them. They lay in a sort of orderly disorder on
the great dining room table.
There were title deeds of the Piccadilly house in a great
bundle, deeds of the purchase of the houses at Mile End and
Bermondsey, notepaper, envelopes, and pens and ink. All wereBermondsey, notepaper, envelopes, and pens and ink. All were
covered up in thin wrapping paper to keep them from the dust. There
were also a clothes brush, a brush and comb, and a jug and basin.
The latter containing dirty water which was reddened as if with
blood. Last of all was a little heap of keys of all sorts and
sizes, probably those belonging to the other houses.
When we had examined this last find, Lord Godalming and Quincey
Morris taking accurate notes of the various addresses of the houses
in the East and the South, took with them the keys in a great
bunch, and set out to destroy the boxes in these places. The rest
of us are, with what patience we can, waiting their return, or the
coming of the Count.