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 to-night, 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 the sleeplessness, or
the pain of the fear of sleep, 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 to-night, hoping for sleep, and lying like Ophelia in the
play, with "virgin crants and maiden strewments." I never liked
garlic before, but to-night it is delightful! There is peace in its
smell; I feel sleep coming already. Good-night, everybody.
Dr. Seward's Diary.
13 September.—Called at the Berkeley and found Van
Helsing, as usual, up to time. The carriage ordered from thehotel 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 colours, 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 answered:—
"You must not take all the credit to yourself, doctor. Lucy's state
this morning is due in part to me."
"How you do 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 odour would be too much for thedear 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 grey. 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, sent 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; andwe must not tell her, we must not even warn her, or she die, and
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 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 recognised the necessity, and begun to take off
my coat, but he stopped me with a warning hand. "No!" he said.
"To- day you must operate. I shall provide. You are weakened
already." As he spoke he took off his coat and rolled up his
shirt-sleeve.
Again the operation; again the narcotic; again some return of
colour 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 odour 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.
Lucy Westenra's Diary.
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 ofmy 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. To-
night 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 napped almost angrily against the window-panes.
"The Pall Mall Gazette," 18 September. THE ESCAPED WOLF.
PERILOUS ADVENTURE OF OUR INTERVIEWER.
Interview with the Keeper in the Zoölogical 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
Zoölogical Gardens in which the wolf 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 oftheir 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 subjects 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 humour.
" 'Ittin' of them over the 'ead with a pole is one way; scratchin'
of their hears is 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'
with a pole 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 grumpy-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 theSuperintendent 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' of 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 git even 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 grey 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 git 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
likes 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.
" 'No' 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 grey 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 here 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-'idin' 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-shining 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 a- walkin' orf with a soldier, leavin' of thehinfant 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 as 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 an unutterable mixture of comedy and
pathos. The wicked wolf that for half a day had paralysed
London and set all the children in the 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 Bilderexamined 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 to- day regarding the strange escapade at the Zoo.
Dr. Seward's Diary.
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 pause 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 ratherseverely. Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right
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; to-night I could not well do without it.
Telegram, Van Helsing, Antwerp, to Seward, Carfax.
(Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given; delivered late by
twenty-two hours.)
"17 September.—Do not fail to be at Hillingham to-night. If not
watching all the time frequently, visit and see that flowers areas placed; very important; do not fail. Shall be with you as soon
as possible after arrival."
Dr. Seward's Diary.
18 September.—Just off for 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.
Memorandum left by Lucy Westenra.
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 to-night. 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
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 go to sleep, but 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, 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
me, and which now Iher poor dear heart still beating terribly. After a while there was
the low 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 grey 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
seemed 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 recoveredconsciousness again. Somewhere near, a passing bell was
tolling; the dogs all round the neighbourhood 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 have each 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