She grew paler as she asked faintly, “Why?”

“Because,” he answered solemnly, “he can live for centuries, and you are but mortal woman.  Time is now to be dreaded, since once he put that mark upon your throat.”

I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint.

CHAPTER 24

DR. SEWARD’S PHONOGRAPH DIARY

SPOKEN BY VAN HELSING

This to Jonathan Harker.

You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina.  We shall go to make our search, if I can call it so, for it is not search but knowing, and we seek confirmation only.  But do you stay and take care of her today.  This is your best and most holiest office.  This day nothing can find him here.

Let me tell you that so you will know what we four know already, for I have tell them.  He, our enemy, have gone away.  He have gone back to his Castle in Transylvania.  I know it so well, as if a great hand of fire wrote it on the wall.  He have prepare for this in some way, and that last earth box was ready to ship somewheres.  For this he took the money.  For this he hurry at the last, lest we catch him before the sun go down.  It was his last hope, save that he might hide in the tomb that he think poor Miss Lucy, being as he thought like him, keep open to him.  But there was not of time.  When that fail he make straight for his last resource, his last earth-work I might say did I wish double entente.  He is clever, oh so clever!  He know that his game here was finish.  And so he decide he go back home.  He find ship going by the route he came, and he go in it.

We go off now to find what ship, and whither bound.  When we have discover that, we come back and tell you all.  Then we will comfort you and poor Madam Mina with new hope.  For it will be hope when you think it over, that all is not lost.  This very creature that we pursue, he take hundreds of years to get so far as London.  And yet in one day, when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out.  He is finite, though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do.  But we are strong, each in our purpose, and we are all more strong together.  Take heart afresh, dear husband of Madam Mina.  This battle is but begun and in the end we shall win.  So sure as that God sits on high to watch over His children.  Therefore be of much comfort till we return.

Van Helsing.

JONATHAN HARKER’S JOURNAL

4 October.—­When I read to Mina, Van Helsing’s message in the phonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably.  Already the certainty that the Count is out of the country has given her comfort.  And comfort is strength to her.  For my own part, now that his horrible danger is not face to face with us, it seems almost impossible to believe in it.  Even my own terrible experiences in Castle Dracula seem like a long forgotten dream.  Here in the crisp autumn air in the bright sunlight.