"She said to me very sweetly, `I cannot tell you how I loathe talking
about myself.' I reminded her that a doctor's confidence was sacred, but that
you were grievously anxious about her. She caught on to my meaning at once, and
settled that matter in a word. `Tell Arthur everything you choose. I do not
care for myself, but for him!' So I am quite free.
"I could easily see that she was somewhat bloodless, but I could not
see the usual anemic signs, and by the chance ,I was able to test the actual
quality of her blood, for in opening a window which was stiff a cord gave way,
and she cut her hand slightly with broken glass. It was a slight matter in
itself, but it gave me an evident chance, and I secured a few drops of the
blood and have analysed them.
"The qualitative analysis give a quite normal condition, and shows, I
should infer, in itself a vigorous state of health. In other physical matters I
was quite satisfied that there is no need for anxiety, but as there must be a
cause somewhere, I have come to the conclusion that it must be something
mental.
"She complains of difficulty breathing satisfactorily at times, and of
heavy, lethargic sleep, with dreams that frighten her, but regarding which she
can remember nothing. She says that as a child, she used to walk in her sleep,
and that when in Whitby
the habit came back, and that once she walked out in the night and went to East
Cliff, where Miss Murray found her. But she assures me that of late the habit
has not returned.
"I am in doubt, and so have done the best thing I know of. I have
written to my old friend and master, Professor Van Helsing, of Amsterdam, who knows as much about obscure
diseases as any one in the world. I have asked him to come over, and as you
told me that all things were to be at your charge, I have mentioned to him who
you are and your relations to Miss Westenra. This, my dear fellow, is in
obedience to your wishes, for I am only too proud and happy to do anything I can
for her.
"Van Helsing would, I know, do anything for me for a personal reason,
so no matter on what ground he comes, we must accept his wishes. He is a
seemingly arbitrary man, this is because he knows what he is talking about
better than any one else. He is a philosopher and a metaphysician, and one of
the most advanced scientists of his day, and he has, I believe, an absolutely
open mind. This, with an iron nerve, a temper of the ice-brook, and indomitable
resolution, self-command, and toleration exalted from virtues to blessings, and
the kindliest and truest heart that beats, these form his equipment for the
noble work that he is doing for mankind, work both in theory and practice, for
his views are as wide as his all-embracing sympathy. I tell you these facts
that you may know why I have such confidence in him. I have asked him to come
at once. I shall see Miss Westenra tomorrow again. She is to meet me at the
Stores, so that I may not alarm her mother by too early a repetition of my
call.
"Yours always."
John Seward
LETTER, ABRAHAM VAN HELSING, MD, DPh, D. LiT, ETC, ETC, TO DR. SEWARD
2 September.
"My good Friend,
"When I received your letter I am already coming to
you. By good fortune I can leave just at once, without wrong to any of those
who have trusted me. Were fortune other, then it were bad for those who have
trusted, for I come to my friend when he call me to aid those he holds dear.
Tell your friend that when that time you suck from my wound so swiftly the
poison of the gangrene from that knife that our other friend, too nervous, let
slip, you did more for him when he wants my aids and you call for them than all
his great fortune could do. But it is pleasure added to do for him, your
friend, it is to you that I come. Have near at hand, and please it so arrange
that we may see the young lady not too