Дракула

           Shemovedoffintoherboudoir,wheresheusuallybreakfastedearly. Asshehadspoken,IwatchedtheProfessor’sface,andsawitturnashengray. Hehadbeenabletoretainhisself-commandwhilstthepoorladywaspresent,forheknewherstateandhowmischievousashockwouldbe. Heactuallysmiledonherasheheldopenthedoorforhertopassintoherroom. Buttheinstantshehaddisappearedhepulledme,suddenlyandforcibly,intothediningroomandclosedthedoor. 

           Then,forthefirsttimeinmylife,IsawVanHelsingbreakdown. Heraisedhishandsoverhisheadinasortofmutedespair,andthenbeathispalmstogetherinahelplessway. Finallyhesatdownonachair,andputtinghishandsbeforehisface,begantosob,withloud,drysobsthatseemedtocomefromtheveryrackingofhisheart. 

           Thenheraisedhisarmsagain,asthoughappealingtothewholeuniverse. "God!God!God!"hesaid. "Whathavewedone,whathasthispoorthingdone,thatwearesosorebeset? Istherefateamongstusstill,senddownfromthepaganworldofold,thatsuchthingsmustbe,andinsuchway? Thispoormother,allunknowing,andallforthebestasshethink,doessuchthingasloseherdaughterbodyandsoul,andwemustnottellher,wemustnotevenwarnher,orshedie,thenbothdie. Oh,howwearebeset! Howareallthepowersofthedevilsagainstus!" 

           Suddenlyhejumpedtohisfeet. "Come,"hesaid,"come,wemustseeandact. Devilsornodevils,orallthedevilsatonce,itmattersnot.Wemustfighthimallthesame." Hewenttothehalldoorforhisbag,andtogetherwewentuptoLucy’sroom. 

           OnceagainIdrewuptheblind,whilstVanHelsingwenttowardsthebed. Thistimehedidnotstartashelookedonthepoorfacewiththesameawful,waxenpallorasbefore. Heworealookofsternsadnessandinfinitepity.