Page 275 - DRACULA

Dracula

‘Ten days! Then I guess, Jack Seward, that that poor
pretty creature that we all love has had put into her veins
within that time the blood of four strong men. Man alive,
her whole body wouldn’t hold it.’ Then coming close to

me, he spoke in a fierce half-whisper. ‘What took it out?’
I shook my head. ‘That,’ I said, ‘is the crux. Van
Helsing is simply frantic about it, and I am at my wits’
end. I can’t even hazard a guess. There has been a series of
little circumstances which have thrown out all our
calculations as to Lucy being properly watched. But these
shall not occur again. Here we stay until all be well, or ill.’
Quincey held out his hand. ‘Count me in,’ he said.
‘You and the Dutchman will tell me what to do, and I’ll
do it.’
When she woke late in the afternoon, Lucy’s first
movement was to feel in her breast, and to my surprise,
produced the paper which Van Helsing had given me to
read. The careful Professor had replaced it where it had
come from, lest on waking she should be alarmed. Her
eyes then lit on Van Helsing and on me too, and
gladdened. Then she looked round the room, and seeing
where she was, shuddered. She gave a loud cry, and put
her poor thin hands before her pale face.

274 of 684