30 September.—I got home at five o’clock, and found that
30 September.—I got home at five o’clock, and found that
Godalming and Morris had not only arrived, but had already studied
the transcript of the various diaries and letters which Harker had
not yet returned from his visit to the carriers’ men, of whom Dr.
Hennessey had written to me. Mrs. Harker gave us a cup of tea, and
I can honestly say that, for the first time since I have lived in
it, this old house seemed like home. When we had finished, Mrs.
Harker said,
“Dr. Seward, may I ask a favor? I want to see your patient, Mr.
Renfield. Do let me see him. What you have said of him in your
diary interests me so much!”
She looked so appealing and so pretty that I could not refuse
her, and there was no possible reason why I should, so I took her
with me. When I went into the room, I told the man that a lady
would like to see him, to which he simply answered, “Why?”
“She is going through the house, and wants to see every one in
it,” I answered.
“Oh, very well,” he said,”let her come in, by all means, but
just wait a minute till I tidy up the place.”
His method of tidying was peculiar, he simply swallowed all the
flies and spiders in the boxes before I could stop him. It was
quite evident that he feared, or was jealous of, some interference.
When he had got through his disgusting task, he said cheerfully,
“Let the lady come in,” and sat down on the edge of his bed with
his head down, but with his eyelids raised so that he could see her
as she entered. For a moment I thought that he might have some
homicidal intent. I remembered how quiet he had been just before he
attacked me in my own study, and I took care to stand where I could
seize him at once if he attempted to make a spring at her.
She came into the room with an easy gracefulness which would at
once command the respect of any lunatic, for easiness is one of the
qualities mad people most respect. She walked over to him, smiling
pleasantly, and held out her hand.
“Good evening, Mr. Renfield,” said she. “You see, I know you,
for Dr. Seward has told me of you.” He made no immediate reply, but
eyed her all over intently with a set frown on his face. This look
gave way to one of wonder, which merged in doubt, then to my
intense astonishment he said, “You’re not the girl the doctor
wanted to marry, are you? You can’t be, you know, for she’s
dead.”
Mrs. Harker smiled sweetly as she replied, “Oh no! I have a
husband of my own, to whom I was married before I ever saw Dr.
Seward, or he me. I am Mrs. Harker.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“My husband and I are staying on a visit with Dr. Seward.”
“Then don’t stay.”
“But why not?”
I thought that this style of conversation might not be pleasant
to Mrs. Harker, any more than it was to me, so I joined in, “How
did you know I wanted to marry anyone?”
His reply was simply contemptuous, given in a pause in which he
turned his eyes from Mrs. Harker to me, instantly turning them back
again, “What an asinine question!”
“I don’t see that at all, Mr. Renfield,”said Mr