In the records are such words as 'stregoica' witch, 'ordog' and 'pokol' Satan and hell, and in one manuscript this very Dracula is spoken of as 'wampyr,' which we all understand too wellThere have been from the loins of this very one great men and good women, and their graves make sacred the earth where alone this foulness can dwellFor it is not the least of its terrors that this evil thing is rooted deep in all good, in soil barren of holy memories it cannot rest
Whilst they were talking MrMorris was looking steadily at the window, and he now got up quietly, and went out of the roomThere was a little pause, and then the Professor went on
"And now we must settle what we doWe have here much data, and we must proceed to lay out our campaignWe know from the inquiry of Jonathan that from the castle to Whitby came fifty boxes of earth, all of which were delivered at Carfax, we also know that at least some of these boxes have been removedIt seems to me, that our first step should be to ascertain whether all the rest remain in the house beyond that wall where we look today, or whether any more have been removedIf the latter, we must trace?"
Here we were interrupted in a very startling wayOutside the house came the sound of a pistol shot, the glass of the window was shattered with a bullet, which ricochetting from the top of the embrasure, struck the far wall of the roomI am afraid I am at heart a coward, for I shrieked outThe men all jumped to their feet, Lord Godalming flew over to the window and threw up the sashAs he did so we heard MrMorris' voice without, "Sorry! I fear I have alarmed youI shall come in and tell you about it
A minute later he came in and said, "It was an idiotic thing of me to do, and I ask your pardon, MrsHarker, most sincerely, I fear I must have frightened you terriblyBut the fact is that whilst the Professor was talking there came a big bat and sat on the window sillI have got such a horror of the damned brutes from recent events that I cannot stand them, and I went out to have a shot, as I have been doing of late of evenings, whenever I have seen oneYou used to laugh at me for it then, Art
"Did you hit it?" asked Dr
"I don't know, I fancy not, for it flew away into the wood Without saying any more he took his seat, and the Professor began to resume his statement
"We must trace each of these boxes, and when we are ready, we must either capture or kill this monster in his lair, or we must, so to speak, sterilize the earth, so that no more he can seek safety in itThus in the end we may find him in his form of man between the hours of noon and sunset, and so engage with him when he is at his most weak
"And now for you, Madam Mina, this night is the end until all be wellYou are too precious to us to have such riskWhen we part tonight, you no more must questionWe shall tell you all in good timeWe are men and are able to bear, but you must be our star and our hope, and we shall act all the more free that you are not in the danger, such as we are
All the men, even Jonathan, seemed relieved, but it did not seem to me good that they should brave danger and, perhaps lessen their safety, strength being the best safety, through care of me, but their minds were made up, and though it was a bitter pill for me to swallow, I could say nothing, save to accept their chivalrous care of meMorris resumed the discussion, "As there is no time to lose, I vote we have a look at his house right nowTime is everything with him, and swift action on our part may save another victim
I own that my heart began to fail me when the time for action came so close, but I did not say anything, for I had a greater fear that if I appeared as a drag or a hindrance to their work, they might even leave me out of their counsels altogetherThey have now gone off to Carfax, with means to get into the house
Manlike, they had told me to go to bed and sleep, as if a woman can sleep when those she loves are in danger! I shall lie down, and pretend to sleep, lest Jonathan have added anxiety about me when he returnsSEWARD'S DIARY
1 October, 4 A-Just as we were about to leave the house, an urgent message was brought to me from Renfield to know if I would see him at once, as he had something of the utmost importance to say to
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