She was ghastly, chalkily pale. The red seemed to have gone even from her
lips and gums, and the bones of her face stood out prominently. Her breathing
was painful to see or hear. Van Helsing's face grew set as marble, and his
eyebrows converged till they almost touched over his nose. Lucy lay motionless,
and did not seem to have strength to speak, so for a while we were all silent.
Then Van Helsing beckoned to me, and we went gently out of the room. The
instant we had closed the door he stepped quickly along the passage to the next
door, which was open. Then he pulled me quickly in with him and closed the
door. "My god!" he said. "This is dreadful. There is not time to
be lost. She will die for sheer want of blood to keep the heart's action as it
should be. There must be a transfusion of blood at once. Is it you or me?"
"I am younger and stronger, Professor. It must be me."
"Then get ready at once. I will bring up my bag. I am prepared."
I went downstairs with him, and as we were going there was a knock at the
hall door. When we reached the hall, the maid had just opened the door, and
Arthur was stepping quickly in. He rushed up to me, saying in an eager whisper,
"Jack, I was so anxious. I read between the lines of your letter, and
have been in an agony. The dad was better, so I ran down here to see for
myself. Is not that gentleman Dr. Van Helsing? I am so thankful to you, sir,
for coming."
When first the Professor's eye had lit upon him, he had been angry at his
interruption at such a time, but now, as he took in his stalwart proportions
and recognized the strong young manhood which seemed to emanate from him, his
eyes gleamed. Without a pause he said to him as he held out his hand,
"Sir, you have come in time. You are the lover of our dear miss. She is
bad, very, very bad. Nay, my child, do not go like that."For he suddenly
grew pale and sat down in a chair almost fainting. "You are to help her.
You can do more than any that live, and your courage is your best help."
"What can I do?" asked Arthur hoarsely. "Tell me, and I shall
do it. My life is hers' and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for
her."
The Professor has a strongly humorous side, and I could from old knowledge
detect a trace of its origin in his answer.
"My young sir, I do not ask so much as that, not the last!"
"What shall I do?" There was fire in his eyes, and his open
nostrils quivered with intent. Van Helsing slapped him on the shoulder.
"Come!" he said. "You are a man, and it is a man we want. You
are better than me, better than my friend John." Arthur looked bewildered,
and the Professor went on by explaining in a kindly way.
"Young miss is bad, very bad. She wants blood, and blood she must have
or die. My friend John and I have consulted, and we are about to perform what
we call transfusion of blood, to transfer from full veins of one to the empty
veins which pine for him. John was to give his blood, as he is the more young
and strong than me."--Here Arthur took my hand and wrung it hard in silence.--"But
now you are here, you are more good than us, old or young, who toil much in the
world of thought. Our nerves are not so calm and our blood so bright than
yours!"
Arthur turned to him and said, "If you only knew how gladly I would die
for her you would understand . . ." He stopped with a sort of choke in his
voice.
"Good boy!" said Van Helsing. "In the
not-so-far-off you will be happy that you have done all for her you love. Come
now and be silent. You shall kiss her once before it is done, but then you must
go, and you must leave at my sign. Say