But even if it were not, we should stand or fall by our act, and perhaps some day this very script may be evidence to come between some of us and a ropeFor myself, I should take the chance only too thankfully if it were to comeWe mean to leave no stone unturned to carry out our intentWe have arranged with certain officials that the instant the Czarina Catherine is seen, we are to be informed by a special messenger-A whole week of waitingDaily telegrams to Godalming, but only the same story Mina's morning and evening hypnotic answer is unvariedLapping waves, rushing water, and creaking masts
TELEGRAM, OCTOBER 24TH RUFUS SMITH, LLOYD'S, LONDON, TO LORD GODALMING, CARE OF HVICE CONSUL, VARNA
"Czarina Catherine reported this morning from DardanellesSEWARD'S DIARY
25 October-How I miss my phonograph! To write a diary with a pen is irksome to me! But Van Helsing says I mustWe were all wild with excitement yesterday when Godalming got his telegram from Lloyd'sI know now what men feel in battle when the call to action is heardHarker, alone of our party, did not show any signs of emotionAfter all, it is not strange that she did not, for we took special care not to let her know anything about it, and we all tried not to show any excitement when we were in her presenceIn old days she would, I am sure, have noticed, no matter how we might have tried to conceal itBut in this way she is greatly changed during the past three weeksThe lethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong and well, and is getting back some of her colour, Van Helsing and I are not satisfiedWe have not, however, said a word to the othersIt would break poor Harker's heart, certainly his nerve, if he knew that we had even a suspicion on the subjectVan Helsing examines, he tells me, her teeth very carefully, whilst she is in the hypnotic condition, for he says that so long as they do not begin to sharpen there is no active danger of a change in herIf this change should come, it would be necessary to take steps! We both know what those steps would have to be, though we do not mention our thoughts to each otherWe should neither of us shrink from the task, awful though it be to contemplate"Euthanasia" is an excellent and a comforting word! I am grateful to whoever invented it
It is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here, at the rate the Czarina Catherine has come from LondonShe should therefore arrive some time in the morning, but as she cannot possibly get in before noon, we are all about to retire earlyWe shall get up at one o'clock, so as to be ready
25 October, Noon-No news yet of the ship's arrivalHarker's hypnotic report this morning was the same as usual, so it is possible that we may get news at any momentWe men are all in a fever of excitement, except Harker, who is calmHis hands are cold as ice, and an hour ago I found him whetting the edge of the great Ghoorka knife which he now always carries with himIt will be a bad lookout for the Count if the edge of that "Kukri" ever touches his throat, driven by that stern, ice-cold hand!
Van Helsing and I were a little alarmed about MrsAbout noon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not likeAlthough we kept silence to the others, we were neither of us happy about itShe had been restless all the morning, so that we were at first glad to know that she was sleepingWhen, however, her husband mentioned casually that she was sleeping so soundly that he could not wake her, we went to her room to see for ourselvesShe was breathing naturally and looked so well and peaceful that we agreed that the sleep was better for her than anything elsePoor girl, she has so much to forget that it is no wonder that sleep, if it brings oblivion to her, does her
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