DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
5 June. --The case of Renfield grows more interesting the more I get to understand the man. He has certain qualities very largely developed, selfishness, secrecy, and purpose. I wish I could get at what is the object of the latter. He seems to have some settled scheme of his own, but what it is I do not know. His redeeming quality is a love of animals, though, indeed, he has such curious turns in it that I sometimes imagine he is only abnormally cruel. His pets are of odd sorts.
Just now his hobby is catching flies. He has at present such a quantity that I have had myself to expostulate. To my astonishment, he did not break out into a fury, as I expected, but took the matter in simple seriousness. He thought for a moment, and then said, "May I have three days? I shall clear them away." Of course, I said that would do. I must watch him.
Amazing when you remember that Stoker wrote the book while organising Irving's theatrical tour of the Wild West - booking sets on stagecoaches, negotiating with saloon keepers and actors, dealing with the railways, not to mention the notoriously drama-queeny Irving.
Posted by: heatseekers | June 10, 2007 at 05:12 AM