Van Helsing has come and gone.

LETTER, DR. SEWARD TO HON. ARTHUR HOLMWOOD

3 September

"My dear Art,

"Van Helsing has come and gone. He came on with me to Hillingham, and found that, by Lucy's discretion, her mother was lunching out, so that we were alone with her.

"Van Helsing made a very careful examination of the patient. He is to report to me, and I shall advise you, for of course I was not present all the time. He is, I fear, much concerned, but says he must think. When I told him of our friendship and how you trust to me in the matter,he said, `You must tell him all you think. Tell him him what I think, if you can guess it, if you will. Nay, I am not jesting. This is no jest, but life and death, perhaps more.' I asked what he meant by that, for he was very serious. This was when we had come back to town,and he was having a cup of tea before starting on his return to Amsterdam.He would not give me any further clue. You must not be angry with me, Art, because his very reticence means that all his brains are working for her good. He will speak plainly enough when the time comes, be sure.So I told him I would simply write an account of our visit, just as if I were doing a descriptive special article for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH.He seemed not to notice, but remarked that the smuts of London were not quite so bad as they used to be when he was a student here. I am to get his report tomorrow if he can possibly make it. In any case I am to have a letter.

"Well, as to the visit, Lucy was more cheerful than on the day I first saw her, and certainly looked better. She had lost something of the ghastly look that so upset you,and her breathing was normal.She was very sweet to the Professor (as she always is),and tried to make him feel at ease,though I could see the poor girl was making a hard struggle for it.

"I believe Van Helsing saw it, too, for I saw the quick look under his bushy brows that I knew of old. Then he began to chat of all things except ourselves and diseases and with such an infinite geniality that I could see poor Lucy's pretense of animation merge into reality. Then, without any seeming change, he brought the conversation gently round to his visit, and sauvely said,

"`My dear young miss, I have the so great pleasure because you are so much beloved. That is much, my dear, even were there that which I do not see. They told me you were down in the spirit, and that you were of a ghastly pale. To them I say "Pouf!" ' And he snapped his fingers at me and went on. `But you and I shall show them how wrong they are. How can he', and he pointed at me with the same look and gesture as that with which he pointed me out in his class, on, or rather after, a particular occasion which he never fails to remind me of, `know anything of a young ladies? He has his madmen to play with,and to bring them back to happiness, and to those that love them. It is much to do, and, oh, but there are rewards in that we can bestow such happiness.But the young ladies! He has no wife nor daughter, and the young do not tell themselves to the young, but to the old, like me, who have known so many sorrows and the causes of them.So, my dear, we will send him away to smoke the cigarette in the garden, whiles you and I have little talk all to ourselves.' I took the hint, and strolled about, and presently the professor came to the window and called me in. He looked grave, but said, ` I have made careful examination, but there is no functional cause.With you I agree that there has been much blood lost, it has been but is not. But the conditions of her are in no way anemic. I have asked her to send me her maid, that I may ask just one or two questions, that so I may not chance to miss nothing. I know well what she will say. And yet there is cause. There is always cause for everything. I must go back home and think. You must send me the telegram every day, and if there be cause I shall come again. The disease, for not to be well is a disease, interest me, and the sweet, young dear, she interest me too. She charm me, and for her, if not for you or disease, I come.'

"As I tell you, he would not say a word more, even when we were alone. And so now, Art, you know all I know. I shall keep stern watch.I trust your poor father is rallying. It must be a terrible thing to you,my dear old fellow, to be placed in such a position between two people who are both so dear to you. I know your idea of duty to your father, and you are right to stick to it. But if need be, I shall send you word to come at once to Lucy, so do not be over-anxious unless you hear from me."

Comments

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 2 Van Helsing - Amsterdam to London:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.000470d434b2e30352005&ll=52.160455,2.307129&spn=3.187854,7.042236&t=p&z=7

Sept 3 Drs. Seward and Van Helsing, London to Hillingham, Dr. Van Helsing to Amsterdam

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.000470e5f375afbce4dbd&t=p&ll=51.569388,0.068665&spn=0.454961,0.883026&z=10

[abe]

poor lucy

[abe]

thats not a short distance

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 7 Van Helsing returns from Amsterdam again, teams up with Dr. Seward to attend to Lucy at Hillingham and then Van Helsing returns to Amsterdam that evening (the good doctor travels a lot in one day [several times in September]).

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004715f9629c2e122fc5&ll=51.57707,0.201874&spn=0.628987,1.229095&z=10

[Andrew Connell]

Also, as September rolls on and all the characters start arriving in London, the maps get more complex. Here is the Character Color Key to help keep them straight:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8JEGg_OIUsgSiJ3Q_JatKpgi-dTeMn_k3VOQyyYzd4o?feat=directlink

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 10 Van Helsing returns to Hillingham from Amsterdam (again) to relieve Dr. Seward in watching over Lucy. Dr. Seward heads back to Purfleet to rest for the night.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.00047200e924b6ba7179f&ll=51.70831,0.359802&spn=1.254337,2.458191&z=9

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 11 Dr. Seward returns to Hillingham, Dr. Van Helsing receives his parcel of garlic flowers from the Netherlands and he and Dr. Seward return to Liverpool Street/Purfleet to rest.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004720183076de368fc2&ll=51.534377,-0.006866&spn=0.214417,0.438766&z=11

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 17 CHAPTER 11: The Count visits the Zoo to secure the help of a grey wolf named Bersicker. He then heads for Hillingham. Dr. Van Helsing leaves London for Amsterdam.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004732f0f08a6f1781b4&ll=51.511307,0.11261&spn=0.629896,1.229095&z=10

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 17 CHAPTER 12 Letter from Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra (unopened) Jonathan and Mina return to Exeter and stay with Mr. Hawkins.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004742bee29a180a5077&ll=50.724564,-3.532635&spn=0.005006,0.009602&z=17

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 18 CHAPTER 12 Dr. Seward's Diary. Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward and Quincey Morris to Hillingham.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004741f368d8d71d5592&ll=51.538221,-0.039825&spn=0.214398,0.438766&z=11

[gucci 2011]

I love the way you directly get to the point,inspired

[Andrew Connell]

I like that the Gucci corporation is following the blog... ;-)

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 22 CHAPTER 13 Mina Harker's Journal. Jonathan and Mina walk around London after attending the funeral of Mr. Hawkins. Jonathan believes he sees the Count outside Guiliano's. They then take the train back to Exeter. Dr. Van Helsing heads back to Amsterdam.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004746d5a6619d9c7687&z=7

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 23 CHAPTER 13 Dr. Seward's Diary cont. Dr. Van Helsing returns to London from Amsterdam.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004748fa958d621ce1bf&z=7

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 25 CHAPTER 14 TELEGRAM, MRS. HARKER TO VAN HELSING Dr. Van Helsing visits Mina Harker in Exeter.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004749021e7f35b00445&t=p&z=7

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 26 CHAPTER 14 Jonathan Harker's Diary and Dr. Seward's Diary - Dr. Van Helsing returns to Exeter to meet with Jonathan and Mina Harker then returns to Purfleet to convince Dr. Seward that Lucy is the Bloofer Lady.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.00047496d2361d2f73390&t=p&z=7

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 26/27 CHAPTER 15 Dr. Seward's Diary - Drs. Seward and Van Helsing go to the Cemetery and see Lucy.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.000474ac4261c3708f76a&ll=51.555728,-0.144882&spn=0.107158,0.219383&z=12

[babyjinx]

I've flown from London to Amsterdam. The trip takes all of about 30 minutes. To drive it (were it not over water) might take 1-1/2 to 2 hours. It's entirely possible that Van Helsing could come to London in the morning and then return in the evening. London and Amsterdam are not that far apart.

[Andrew Connell]

Thanks babyjinx - glad you confirmed it's possible seeing as how VH rolls too and fro so many times he must have been dizzy.

Leslie Klinger (and previous authors he cites in The New Annotated Dracula) wonder why he must make so many trips back to Amsterdam. It is curious.

I wonder how long it really must have taken in hours to make the trip from Amsterdam to Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland) by train, then to Harwich by Ferry, then to London by train and then on to Hillingham (by carriage)?

Today, a default route from London to Amsterdam planned with Google Maps takes you south through the Chunnel and then north through France and Belgium (http://goo.gl/maps/CQZA) and takes 6 hrs and 6 mins (and probably considerably faster by today's high-speed rail).

Dragging the route away from the Chunnel and over the Harwich in order to take the ferry (http://goo.gl/maps/4HW9), the trip then takes 7 hrs and 38 mins. [Note that this is by car and not by rail.] I expect that today's autoroute is probably faster (avg. 70mph/112kph) than the rails of the 1890's as you not only had to contend with train departure schedules, but also numerous stops along the way. I reckon this 7 and a half hours back then might have been more like 9 or 10 hours door to door and that's if you planned the train and ferry schedules just right (and then had a fast carriage through London to/from Hillingham).

Very interesting indeed.

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 28 CHAPTER 16 Dr. Seward's Diary. Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward meet up with Quincey Morris and Arthur Holmwood to confront Lucy Westenra at the cemetery.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.000474bf27b7a8ab7bbde&ll=51.527115,0.024719&spn=0.31484,0.614548&t=p&z=11

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 29 CHAPTERS 16 and 17 Dr. Seward's Diary - Dr. Seward, Dr. Van Helsing, Quincey Morris and Arthur Holmwood go back to the cemetery to put Lucy to rest. Jonathan travels to Whitby and Mina travels to London.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.000474bfded5fdb8f4676&z=6

[Andrew Connell]

Sept 30 CHAPTER 18 Jonathan Harker questions station-master at King's cross and Van Helsing arrives at Purfleet and a council of all characters is held.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004902cc5935eb693d2f&z=11

Refresher for character colors... Character Color Key:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8JEGg_OIUsgSiJ3Q_JatKpgi-dTeMn_k3VOQyyYzd4o?feat=directlink

[Andrew Connell]

Oct 1 CHAPTER 20 Jonathan Harker's Journal - Jonathan interviews Thomas Snelling and Joseph Smollet.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&geocode=&mrt=all&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004902dc2a25862a04cb&z=11

[Andrew Connell]

Oct 2 CHAPTER 21 Jonathan Harker's Journal, Letter from Mitchell, Sons & Candy to Lord Godalming and Dr. Seward's Diary. The search for the locations of the Count's boxes of earth is continued.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004902e190bc2b0e5985&z=11

[Andrew Connell]

Oct 3 CHAPTER 22-23 Jonathan Harker's Journal. The hunt to destroy the Count's boxes of earth is afoot.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116960626459271343990.0004904036e83d08cce81&z=11