great perplexity then I come to you, and ask you out of your so much
kindness to tell me all of it that you can remember.
I can tell you, I think, Dr. Van Helsing, all about it.
Ah, then you have good memory for facts, for details? It is not always
so with young ladies.
No, doctor, but I wrote it all down at the time. I can show it to you
if you like.
Oh, Madam Mina, I will be grateful; you will do me much favour. I
could not resist the temptation of mystifying him a bit--I suppose it is
some of the taste of the original apple that remains still in our
mouths--so I handed him the shorthand diary. He took it with a grateful
bow, and said:--
May I read it?
If you wish, I answered as demurely as I could. He opened it, and for
an instant his face fell. Then he stood up and bowed.
Oh, you so clever woman! he said. I knew long that Mr. Jonathan was a
man of much thankfulness; but see, his wife have all the good things.
And will you not so much honour me and so help me as to read it for me?
Alas! I know not the shorthand. By this time my little joke was over,
and I was almost ashamed; so I took the typewritten copy from my
workbasket and handed it to him.
Forgive me, I said: I could not help it; but I had been thinking that
it was of dear Lucy that you wished to ask, and so that you might not
have time to wait--not on my account, but because I know your time must
be precious--I have written it out on the typewriter for you.
He took it and his eyes glistened. You are so good, he said. And may
I read it now? I may want to ask you some things when I have read.
By all means, I said, read it over whilst I order lunch; and then you
can ask me questions whilst we eat. He bowed and settled himself in a
chair with his back to the light, and became absorbed in the papers,
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