I know it was hard for you to quite trust me then, for to trust such
violence needs to understand; and I take it that you do not--that you
cannot--trust me now, for you do not yet understand. And there may be
more times when I shall want you to trust when you cannot--and may
not--and must not yet understand. But the time will come when your trust
shall be whole and complete in me, and when you shall understand as
though the sunlight himself shone through. Then you shall bless me from
first to last for your own sake, and for the sake of others and for her
dear sake to whom I swore to protect.
And, indeed, indeed, sir, said Arthur warmly, I shall in all ways
trust you. I know and believe you have a very noble heart, and you are
Jack s friend, and you were hers. You shall do what you like.
The Professor cleared his throat a couple of times, as though about to
speak, and finally said:--
May I ask you something now?
Certainly.
You know that Mrs. Westenra left you all her property?
No, poor dear; I never thought of it.
And as it is all yours, you have a right to deal with it as you will. I
want you to give me permission to read all Miss Lucy s papers and
letters. Believe me, it is no idle curiosity. I have a motive of which,
be sure, she would have approved. I have them all here. I took them
before we knew that all was yours, so that no strange hand might touch
them--no strange eye look through words into her soul. I shall keep
them, if I may; even you may not see them yet, but I shall keep them
safe. No word shall be lost; and in the good time I shall give them back
to you. It s a hard thing I ask, but you will do it, will you not, for
Lucy s sake?
Arthur spoke out heartily, like his old self:--
Dr. Van Helsing, you may do what you will. I feel that in saying this I
am doing what my dear one would have approved. I shall not trouble you
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