, he made a small hole, which was, however, big enough to admit the
point of the saw. I had expected a rush of gas from the week-old corpse. We
doctors, who have had to study our dangers, have to become accustomed to such
things, and I drew back towards the door. But the Professor never stopped for a
moment; he sawed down a couple of feet along one side of the lead coffin, and
then across, and down the other side. Taking the edge of the loose flange, he
bent it back towards the foot of the coffin, and holding up the candle into the
aperture, motioned to me to look.
    I drew near and looked. The coffin was empty.
    It was certainly a surprise to me, and gave me a considerable shock, but Van
Helsing was unmoved. He was now more sure than ever of his ground, and so
emboldened to proceed in his task. »Are you satisfied now, friend John?« he
asked.
    I felt all the dogged argumentativeness of my nature awake within me as I
answered him:
    »I am satisfied that Lucy's body is not in that coffin; but that only proves
one thing.«
    »And what is that, friend John?«
    »That it is not there.«
    »That is good logic,« he said, »so far as it goes. But how do you - how can
you - account for it not being there?«
    »Perhaps a body-snatcher,« I suggested. »Some of the undertaker's people may
have stolen it.« I felt that I was speaking folly, and yet it was the only real
cause which I could suggest. The Professor sighed. »Ah well!« he said, »we must
have more proof. Come with me.«
    He put on the coffin-lid again, gathered up all his things and placed them
in the bag, blew out the light, and placed the candle also in the bag. We opened
the door, and went out. Behind us he closed the door and locked it. He handed me
the key, saying: »Will you keep it? You had better be assured.« I laughed - it
was not a very cheerful laugh, I am bound to say - as I motioned him to keep it.
»A key is nothing,« I said; »there may be duplicates; and anyhow it is not
difficult to pick a lock of that kind.« He said nothing, but put the key in his
pocket
