登陆注册
4709600000079

第79章

It was evident that he recognized my return to my old doubting frame of mind without my saying a word. Then, turning to the other two, he said with intense gravity, "I want your permission to do what I think good this night.

It is, I know, much to ask, and when you know what it is I propose to do you will know, and only then how much.

Therefore may I ask that you promise me in the dark, so that afterwards, though you may be angry with me for a time, I must not disguise from myself the possibility that such may be, you shall not blame yourselves for anything."

"That's frank anyhow," broke in Quincey. "I'll answer for the Professor.

I don't quite see his drift, but I swear he's honest, and that's good enough for me."

"I thank you, Sir," said Van Helsing proudly. "I have done myself the honor of counting you one trusting friend, and such endorsement is dear to me."

He held out a hand, which Quincey took.

Then Arthur spoke out, "Dr. Van Helsing, I don't quite like to `buy a pig in a poke', as they say in Scotland, and if it be anything in which my honour as a gentleman or my faith as a Christian is concerned, I cannot make such a promise.

If you can assure me that what you intend does not violate either of these two, then I give my consent at once, though for the life of me, I cannot understand what you are driving at."

"I accept your limitation," said Van Helsing, "and all I ask of you is that if you feel it necessary to condemn any act of mine, you will first consider it well and be satisfied that it does not violate your reservations."

"Agreed!" said Arthur. "That is only fair. And now that the pourparlers are over, may I ask what it is we are to do?"

"I want you to come with me, and to come in secret, to the churchyard at Kingstead."

Arthur's face fell as he said in an amazed sort of way, "Where poor Lucy is buried?"

The Professor bowed.

Arthur went on, "And when there?"

"To enter the tomb!"

Arthur stood up. "Professor, are you in earnest, or is it some monstrous joke? Pardon me, I see that you are in earnest."

He sat down again, but I could see that he sat firmly and proudly, as one who is on his dignity. There was silence until he asked again, "And when in the tomb?"

"To open the coffin."

"This is too much!" he said, angrily rising again.

"I am willing to be patient in all things that are reasonable, but in this, this desecration of the grave, of one who. . ." He fairly choked with indignation.

The Professor looked pityingly at him."If I could spare you one pang, my poor friend," he said, "God knows I would.

But this night our feet must tread in thorny paths, or later, and for ever, the feet you love must walk in paths of flame!"

Arthur looked up with set white face and said, "Take care, sir, take care!"

"Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?" said Van Helsing.

"And then you will at least know the limit of my purpose.

Shall I go on?"

"That's fair enough," broke in Morris.

After a pause Van Helsing went on, evidently with an effort, "Miss Lucy is dead, is it not so? Yes! Then there can be no wrong to her.

But if she be not dead. . ."

Arthur jumped to his feet, "Good God!" he cried. "What do you mean?

Has there been any mistake, has she been buried alive?"

He groaned in anguish that not even hope could soften.

"I did not say she was alive, my child. I did not think it.

I go no further than to say that she might be UnDead."

"UnDead! Not alive! What do you mean? Is this all a nightmare, or what is it?"

"There are mysteries which men can only guess at, which age by age they may solve only in part. Believe me, we are now on the verge of one.

But I have not done. May I cut off the head of dead Miss Lucy?"

"Heavens and earth, no!" cried Arthur in a storm of passion.

"Not for the wide world will I consent to any mutilation of her dead body. Dr. Van Helsing, you try me too far.

What have I done to you that you should torture me so?

What did that poor, sweet girl do that you should want to cast such dishonor on her grave? Are you mad, that you speak of such things, or am I mad to listen to them? Don't dare think more of such a desecration. I shall not give my consent to anything you do.

I have a duty to do in protecting her grave from outrage, and by God, I shall do it!"

Van Helsing rose up from where he had all the time been seated, and said, gravely and sternly, "My Lord Godalming, I too, have a duty to do, a duty to others, a duty to you, a duty to the dead, and by God, I shall do it!

All I ask you now is that you come with me, that you look and listen, and if when later I make the same request you do not be more eager for its fulfillment even than I am, then, I shall do my duty, whatever it may seem to me. And then, to follow your Lordship's wishes I shall hold myself at your disposal to render an account to you, when and where you will."

His voice broke a little, and he went on with a voice full of pity.

"But I beseech you, do not go forth in anger with me. In a long life of acts which were often not pleasant to do, and which sometimes did wring my heart, I have never had so heavy a task as now.

Believe me that if the time comes for you to change your mind towards me, one look from you will wipe away all this so sad hour, for I would do what a man can to save you from sorrow. Just think.

For why should I give myself so much labor and so much of sorrow?

I have come here from my own land to do what I can of good, at the first to please my friend John, and then to help a sweet young lady, whom too, I come to love. For her, I am ashamed to say so much, but I say it in kindness, I gave what you gave, the blood of my veins.

I gave it, I who was not, like you, her lover, but only her physician and her friend. I gave her my nights and days, before death, after death, and if my death can do her good even now, when she is the dead UnDead, she shall have it freely."

He said this with a very grave, sweet pride, and Arthur was much affected by it.

He took the old man's hand and said in a broken voice, "Oh, it is hard to think of it, and I cannot understand, but at least I shall go with you and wait."

同类推荐
  • 洗冤集录

    洗冤集录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 浔阳秋怀,赠许明府

    浔阳秋怀,赠许明府

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Dora Thorne

    Dora Thorne

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一山文集

    一山文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说炽盛光大威德消灾吉祥陀罗尼经

    佛说炽盛光大威德消灾吉祥陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 萌妃有喜

    萌妃有喜

    她因为穿越到一个异世还成为了一个孩子他妈,一个帅气的夫君王爷,这等好事是何等的幸福,可是她却想着要回去,在樱花树下喝着茶,跳着舞,那个在樱花树下等她的男人,当一切来临的时候才发现其实那个男人就在身边,正是应了那句话:梦里寻他千百遍,那人在灯火阑珊处。
  • 倾城儍妃:王爷,别逼姐扔鞋

    倾城儍妃:王爷,别逼姐扔鞋

    听老师话的好孩子穿越了,可是她穿越成了一个婴儿不成,还成了一个庶出之女。没有人爱,没有疼的,乖乖,这里还有那么高深的武功,她怎么可能会错过呢?结果武功、医术都还成。可是却遇到了他们......
  • 快穿之总有炮灰在作死

    快穿之总有炮灰在作死

    作为天道联盟的轮回者,苏溪的任务就是维护剧情,保护男主女主,顺便怼一怼那些想要逆袭的炮灰们……作为正经轮回者,苏溪表示,没有攻略任务,不乱搞CP,凭实力单身,就是这么任性!
  • 重刻药师七佛供养仪轨经

    重刻药师七佛供养仪轨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神御诸天

    神御诸天

    大千世界,神君为尊。天界黑莲神帝与圣界天光神帝大战遭到第一神帝混沌神帝的偷袭,生死时刻,黑莲神帝触动黑暗本源,其元神法宝化为碎片,黑莲神帝陨落后葬于葬神之地,其黑莲碎片携带黑莲神帝一道意念吸收无尽幽暗之力,孕育成新生黑莲。黑莲穿梭无尽虚空伴随云天而生,云天天生大黑暗神体,开始了他的修行之路。
  • 从小培养清华男孩的23堂课

    从小培养清华男孩的23堂课

    你的家庭教育完美吗?你的宝贝孩子独立吗?谁能给予他广博的引导?深刻的启发?谁在用18年的钻研来做一件事情?是你,更是《从小培养清华男孩的23堂课》!
  • 美国年度畅销悬疑小说精选集(全集)

    美国年度畅销悬疑小说精选集(全集)

    美国年度畅销悬疑小说系列,令人无法呼吸的紧张体验,不翻到最后一页就无法探知真相!《大美人》美国亚马逊畅销作家榜No1、《今日美国》超级畅销作家詹姆斯·哈金斯新作!《蝴蝶花园》一部难得的高人气高分心理悬疑惊悚小说。出版即被好莱坞买下电影版权的超爆惊悚悬疑小说。《爱因斯坦的预言》依据真实史料,再现二战真实场景!发售后蝉联美国亚马逊电子图书畅销总榜数十周!《死钥匙》美国亚马逊2014年度悬疑惊悚类“图书突破大奖”作品。《致命绑架》一部让人背脊发寒的小说,挑战你神经官能的承受力!《黑暗诱惑》多次入围悬疑推理类大奖达芙妮杜穆里埃大奖,美国亚马逊年度编辑推荐书籍!
  • 我们不问岁月,只愿意活得任性

    我们不问岁月,只愿意活得任性

    任性,不是为所欲为,而是在这个充斥着危机、面临着诱惑的社会上,守住真我,用心去活。每个人都有过一段奢侈的日子,后来又变得一贫如洗。那段过去的时光,便是青春。四个主人公,他们的命运相互交织,织成蜘蛛网,时间在上面爬行。他们在大学里相识,笑过、哭过、伤过、痛过,他们与许许多多的大学生一样,在任性的青春里品尝着喜悦与得意、疯癫与疼痛。幸运的是,不管命运最后将他们置于何处,他们始终没有忘记最初的梦想;不管曾经被撕裂的伤口有多深,他们依然勇敢任性地活着爱着。
  • 把你的情绪变成诗

    把你的情绪变成诗

    生活有时让人觉得挺乏味,但有时又有意想不到的人或事情出现。当你的想象力跟不上生活的变化时,至少说明你被生活磨灭了很多原本属于你的天性。你原本是谁?你原本是来做什么的?你曾经和谁牵手,但最后又为什么不得不放弃?透过那天边的云彩,你试图想看清点什么,但那云总是多变而美丽,引你泪下,让你对她的丰富生出无限的期待。所以沐浴她吧,让她刺激你的心灵,让你做个追梦仙子。绽放你的身体,绽放你的心灵,绽放你的眼泪,让你的生命更生动,更有灵性。
  • 父亲要去福州

    父亲要去福州

    相关新闻:2005年8月8日14点30分左右,福建省福州市5路公共汽车在由东向西行驶至闹市中心东街口时,发生爆炸,一人当场死亡,另有23人被送往医院抢救。目前,爆炸原因正在调查中。星期三的上午,我给母亲办理了出院手续。按说,母亲还不能出院,还要等病理分析报告出来之后,我们才能走。可主治医师徐主任说,回家吧,回家好好伺候老人家。往后的话徐主任不说了,徐主任只说,那个报告不重要了。就这样,我搀着母亲,走出了医院的大门。那是夏天,人伏了,太阳照着白花花的医院,明亮的阳光晃得母亲睁不开眼睛。