Dracula - Bram Stoker (classic novels .txt) š
- Author: Bram Stoker
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ā āMaybe itās you,ā says I, for I did not like the airs as he give āisself. He didnāt git angry, as I āoped he would, but he smiled a kind of insolent smile, with a mouth full of white, sharp teeth. āOh no, they wouldnāt like me,ā āe says.
ā āOw yes, they would,ā says I, a-imitatinā of him. āThey always likes a bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea-time, which you āas a bagful.ā
āWell, it was a odd thing, but when the animiles see us a-talkinā they lay down, and when I went over to Bersicker he let me stroke his ears same as ever. That there man kem over, and blessed but if he didnāt put in his hand and stroke the old wolfās ears too!
ā āTyke care,ā says I. āBersicker is quick.ā
ā āNever mind,ā he says. āIām used to āem!ā
ā āAre you in the business yourself?ā I says, tyking off my āat, for a man what trades in wolves, anceterer, is a good friend to keepers.
ā āNoā says he, ānot exactly in the business, but I āave made pets of several.ā And with that he lifts his āat as perlite as a lord, and walks away. Old Bersicker kepā a-lookinā arter āim till āe was out of sight, and then went and lay down in a corner and wouldnāt come hout the āole hevening. Well, larst night, so soon as the moon was hup, the wolves here all began a-āowling. There warnāt nothing for them to āowl at. There warnāt no one near, except some one that was evidently a-callinā a dog somewheres out back of the gardings in the Park road. Once or twice I went out to see that all was right, and it was, and then the āowling stopped. Just before twelve oāclock I just took a look round afore turninā in, anā, bust me, but when I kem opposite to old Bersickerās cage I see the rails broken and twisted about and the cage empty. And thatās all I know for certing.ā
āDid any one else see anything?ā
āOne of our gardāners was a-cominā āome about that time from a āarmony, when he sees a big grey dog cominā out through the garding āedges. At least, so he says, but I donāt give much for it myself, for if he did āe never said a word about it to his missis when āe got āome, and it was only after the escape of the wolf was made known, and we had been up all night-a-huntinā of the Park for Bersicker, that he remembered seeinā anything. My own belief was that the āarmony āad got into his āead.ā
āNow, Mr. Bilder, can you account in any way for the escape of the wolf?ā
āWell, sir,ā he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty, āI think I can; but I donāt know as āow youād be satisfied with the theory.ā
āCertainly I shall. If a man like you, who knows the animals from experience, canāt hazard a good guess at any rate, who is even to try?ā
āWell then, sir, I accounts for it this way; it seems to me that āere wolf escapedāsimply because he wanted to get out.ā
From the hearty way that both Thomas and his wife laughed at the joke I could see that it had done service before, and that the whole explanation was simply an elaborate sell. I couldnāt cope in badinage with the worthy Thomas, but I thought I knew a surer way to his heart, so I said:ā
āNow, Mr. Bilder, weāll consider that first half-sovereign worked off, and this brother of his is waiting to be claimed when youāve told me what you think will happen.ā
āRight yāare, sir,ā he said briskly. āYeāll excoose me, I know, for a-chaffinā of ye, but the old woman here winked at me, which was as much as telling me to go on.ā
āWell, I never!ā said the old lady.
āMy opinion is this: that āere wolf is a-āidinā of, somewheres. The gardāner wot didnāt remember said he was a-gallopinā northward faster than a horse could go; but I donāt believe him, for, yer see, sir, wolves donāt gallop no more nor dogs does, they not beinā built that way. Wolves is fine things in a storybook, and I dessay when they gets in packs and does be chivyinā somethinā thatās more afeared than they is they can make a devil of a noise and chop it up, whatever it is. But, Lorā bless you, in real life a wolf is only a low creature, not half so clever or bold as a good dog; and not half a quarter so much fight in āim. This one aināt been used to fightinā or even to providinā for hisself, and more like heās somewhere round the Park a-āidinā anā a-shiverinā of, and, if he thinks at all, wonderinā where he is to get his breakfast from; or maybe heās got down some area and is in a coal-cellar. My eye, wonāt some cook get a rum start when she sees his green eyes a-shining at her out of the dark! If he canāt get food heās bound to look for it, and mayhap he may chance to light on a butcherās shop in time. If he doesnāt, and some nursemaid goes a-walkinā orf with a soldier, leavinā of the hinfant in the perambulatorāwell, then I shouldnāt be surprised if the census is one babby the less. Thatās all.ā
I was handing him the half-sovereign, when something came bobbing up against the window, and Mr. Bilderās face doubled its natural length with surprise.
āGod bless me!ā he said. āIf there aināt old Bersicker come back by āisself!ā
He went to the door and opened it; a most unnecessary proceeding it seemed to me. I have always thought that a wild animal never looks so well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us; a personal experience has intensified rather than diminished that idea.
After all, however, there is nothing like custom, for neither Bilder nor his wife thought any more of the wolf than I should of a dog. The animal itself was as peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all picture-wolvesāRed Riding Hoodās quondam friend, whilst moving her confidence in masquerade.
The whole scene was an unutterable mixture of comedy and pathos. The wicked wolf that for half a day had paralysed London and set all the children in the town shivering in their shoes, was there in a sort of penitent mood, and was received and petted like a sort of vulpine prodigal son. Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent said:ā
āThere, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of trouble; didnāt I say it all along? Hereās his head all cut and full of broken glass. āEās been a-gettinā over some bloominā wall or other. Itās a shyme that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles. This āereās what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker.ā
He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece of meat that satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary conditions of the fatted calf, and went off to report.
I came off, too, to report the only exclusive information that is given to-day regarding the strange escapade at the Zoo.
Dr. Sewardās Diary.
17 September.āI was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy, had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open, and in rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord into the Superintendentās study is almost unknown. Without an instantās pause he made straight at me. He had a dinner-knife in his hand, and, as I saw he was dangerous, I tried to keep the table between us. He was too quick and too strong for me, however; for before I could get my balance he had struck at me and cut my left wrist rather severely. Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right and he was sprawling on his back on the floor. My wrist bled freely, and quite a little pool trickled on to the carpet. I saw that my friend was not intent on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my wrist, keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time. When the attendants rushed in, and we turned our attention to him, his employment positively sickened me. He was lying on his belly on the floor licking up, like a dog, the blood which had fallen from my wounded wrist. He was easily secured, and, to my surprise, went with the attendants quite placidly, simply repeating over and over again: āThe blood is the life! The blood is the life!ā
I cannot afford to lose blood just at present; I have lost too much of late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain of Lucyās illness and its horrible phases is telling on me. I am over-excited and weary, and I need rest, rest, rest. Happily Van Helsing has not summoned me, so I need not forego my sleep; to-night I could not well do without it.
Telegram, Van Helsing, Antwerp, to Seward, Carfax.
(Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given; delivered late by twenty-two hours.)
ā17 September.āDo not fail to be at Hillingham to-night. If not watching all the time frequently, visit and see that flowers are as placed; very important; do not fail. Shall be with you as soon as possible after arrival.ā
Dr. Sewardās Diary.
18 September.āJust off for train to London. The arrival of Van Helsingās telegram filled me with dismay. A whole night lost, and I know by bitter experience what may happen in a night. Of course it is possible that all may be well, but what may have happened? Surely there is some horrible doom hanging over us that every possible accident should thwart us in all we try to do. I shall take this cylinder with me, and then I can complete my entry on Lucyās phonograph.
Memorandum left by Lucy Westenra.
17 September. Night.āI write this and leave it to be seen, so that no one may by any chance get into trouble through me. This is an exact record of what took place to-night. I feel I am dying of weakness, and have barely strength to write, but it must be done if I die in the doing.
I went to bed as usual, taking care that the flowers were placed as Dr. Van Helsing directed, and soon fell asleep.
I was waked by the flapping at the window, which had begun after that sleep-walking on the cliff at Whitby when Mina saved me, and which now I know so well. I was not afraid, but I did wish that Dr. Seward was in the next roomāas Dr. Van Helsing said he would beāso that I might have called him. I tried to go to sleep, but could not. Then there came to me the old fear of sleep, and I determined to keep awake. Perversely sleep would try to come then when I did not want it; so, as I feared to be alone, I opened my door and called out: āIs there anybody there?ā There was no answer. I was afraid to wake mother, and so closed my door again. Then outside in the shrubbery I heard a sort of howl like a dogās, but more fierce and deeper. I went to the window and looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat, which had evidently been buffeting its wings against the window. So I went back to
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