to know that He had been taking the life out of her. I could feel that
the rest quivered, as I did, but we remained otherwise still. So when
He came to-night I was ready for Him. I saw the mist stealing in, and I
grabbed it tight. I had heard that madmen have unnatural strength; and
as I knew I was a madman--at times anyhow--I resolved to use my power.
Ay, and He felt it too, for He had to come out of the mist to struggle
with me. I held tight; and I thought I was going to win, for I didn t
mean Him to take any more of her life, till I saw His eyes. They burned
into me, and my strength became like water. He slipped through it, and
when I tried to cling to Him, He raised me up and flung me down. There
was a red cloud before me, and a noise like thunder, and the mist seemed
to steal away under the door. His voice was becoming fainter and his
breath more stertorous. Van Helsing stood up instinctively.
We know the worst now, he said. He is here, and we know his purpose.
It may not be too late. Let us be armed--the same as we were the other
night, but lose no time; there is not an instant to spare. There was no
need to put our fear, nay our conviction, into words--we shared them in
common. We all hurried and took from our rooms the same things that we
had when we entered the Count s house. The Professor had his ready, and
as we met in the corridor he pointed to them significantly as he said:--
They never leave me; and they shall not till this unhappy business is
over. Be wise also, my friends. It is no common enemy that we deal with.
Alas! alas! that that dear Madam Mina should suffer! He stopped; his
voice was breaking, and I do not know if rage or terror predominated in
my own heart.
Outside the Harkers door we paused. Art and Quincey held back, and the
latter said:--
Should we disturb her?
We must, said Van Helsing grimly. If the door be locked, I shall
break it in.
May it not frighten her terribly? It is unusual to break into a lady s
room!
Van Helsing said solemnly, You are always right; but this is life and
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