 notice without to prejudge. Her
teeth are some sharper, and at times her eyes are more hard. But these are not
all, there is to her the silence now often; as so it was with Miss Lucy. She did
not speak, even when she wrote that which she wished to be known later. Now my
fear is this. If it be that she can, by our hypnotic trance, tell what the Count
see and hear, is it not more true that he who have hypnotise her first, and who
have drink of her very blood and make her drink of his, should, if he will,
compel her mind to disclose to him that which she know?« I nodded acquiescence;
he went on: -
    »Then what we must do is to prevent this; we must keep her ignorant of our
intent, and so she cannot tell what she know not. This is a painful task! Oh! so
painful that it heartbreak me to think of; but it must be. When to-day we meet,
I must tell her that for reason which we will not to speak she must not more be
of our council, but be simply guarded by us.« He wiped his forehead, which had
broken out in profuse perspiration at the thought of the pain which he might
have to inflict upon the poor soul already so tortured. I knew that it would be
some sort of comfort to him if I told him that I also had come to the same
conclusion; for at any rate it would take away the pain of doubt. I told him,
and the effect was as I expected.
    It is now close to the time of our general gathering. Van Helsing has gone
away to prepare for the meeting, and his painful part of it. I really believe
his purpose is to be able to pray alone.
    Later. - At the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief was
experienced by both Van Helsing and myself. Mrs. Harker had sent a message by
her husband to say that she would not join us at present, as she thought it
better that we should be free to discuss our movements without her presence to
embarrass us. The Professor and I looked at each other for an instant, and
somehow we both seemed relieved. For my own part, I thought that if Mrs. Harker
realised the danger herself, it was much pain as well as much dagger averted.
Under the circumstances we agreed, by a questioning look and answer, with finger
on lip, to preserve silence of our suspicions, until we should have
