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1"There was the old party what engaged me a-waitin' in the 'ouse at Purfleet. He 'elped me to lift the boxes and put them
2in the dray. Curse me, but he was the strongest chap I ever struck, an' him a old feller, with a white moustache, one
3that thin you would think he couldn't throw a shadder." How this phrase thrilled through me! "Why, 'e took up 'is end o'
4the boxes like they was pounds of tea, and me a-puffin' an' a-blowin' afore I could up-end mine anyhow--an' I'm no
5chicken, neither." "How did you get into the house in Piccadilly?" I asked. "He was there too. He must 'a' started off
6and got there afore me, for when I rung of the bell he kem an' opened the door 'isself an' 'elped me to carry the boxes
7into the 'all." "The whole nine?" I asked. "Yus; there was five in the first load an' four in the second. It was main
8dry work, an' I don't so well remember 'ow I got 'ome." I interrupted him:-- "Were the boxes left in the hall?" "Yus; it
9was a big 'all, an' there was nothin' else in it." I made one more attempt to further matters:-- "You didn't have any
10key?" "Never used no key nor nothink. The old gent, he opened the door 'isself an' shut it again when I druv off. I
11don't remember the last time--but that was the beer." "And you can't remember the number of the house?" "No, sir. But ye
12needn't have no difficulty about that. It's a 'igh 'un with a stone front with a bow on it, an' 'igh steps up to the
13door. I know them steps, 'avin' 'ad to carry the boxes up with three loafers what come round to earn a copper. The old
14gent give them shillin's, an' they seein' they got so much, they wanted more; but 'e took one of them by the shoulder
15and was like to throw 'im down the steps, till the lot of them went away cussin'." I thought that with this description
16I could find the house, so, having paid my friend for his information, I started off for Piccadilly. I had gained a new
17painful experience; the Count could, it was evident, handle the earth-boxes himself. If so, time was precious; for, now
18that he had achieved a certain amount of distribution, he could, by choosing his own time, complete the task unobserved.
19At Piccadilly Circus I discharged my cab, and walked westward; beyond the Junior Constitutional I came across the house
20described, and was satisfied that this was the next of the lairs arranged by Dracula. The house looked as though it had
21been long untenanted. The windows were encrusted with dust, and the shutters were up. All the framework was black with
22time, and from the iron the paint had mostly scaled away. It was evident that up to lately there had been a large
23notice-board in front of the balcony; it had, however, been roughly torn away, the uprights which had supported it still
24remaining. Behind the rails of the balcony I saw there were some loose boards, whose raw edges looked white. I would
25have given a good deal to have been able to see the notice-board intact, as it would, perhaps, have given some clue to
26the ownership of the house. I remembered my experience of the investigation and purchase of Carfax, and I could not but
27feel that if I could find the former owner there might be some means discovered of gaining access to the house. There
28was at present nothing to be learned from the Piccadilly side, and nothing could be done; so I went round to the back to
29see if anything could be gathered from this quarter. The mews were active, the Piccadilly houses being mostly in
30occupation. I asked one or two of the grooms and helpers whom I saw around if they could tell me anything about the
31empty house. One of them said that he heard it had lately been taken, but he couldn't say from whom. He told me,
32however, that up to very lately there had been a notice-board of "For Sale" up, and that perhaps Mitchell, Sons, &
33Candy, the house agents, could tell me something, as he thought he remembered seeing the name of that firm on the board.
34I did not wish to seem too eager, or to let my informant know or guess too much, so, thanking him in the usual manner, I
35strolled away. It was now growing dusk, and the autumn night was closing in, so I did not lose any time. Having learned
36the address of Mitchell, Sons, & Candy from a directory at the Berkeley, I was soon at their office in Sackville Street.
37The gentleman who saw me was particularly suave in manner, but uncommunicative in equal proportion. Having once told me
38that the Piccadilly house--which throughout our interview he called a "mansion"--was sold, he considered my business as
39concluded. When I asked who had purchased it, he opened his eyes a thought wider, and paused a few seconds before
40replying:-- "It is sold, sir." "Pardon me," I said, with equal politeness, "but I have a special reason for wishing to
41know who purchased it." Again he paused longer, and raised his eyebrows still more. "It is sold, sir," was again his
42laconic reply. "Surely," I said, "you do not mind letting me know so much." "But I do mind," he answered. "The affairs
43of their clients are absolutely safe in the hands of Mitchell, Sons, & Candy." This was manifestly a prig of the first
44water, and there was no use arguing with him. I thought I had best meet him on his own ground, so I said:-- "Your
45clients, sir, are happy in having so resolute a guardian of their confidence. I am myself a professional man." Here I
46handed him my card. "In this instance I am not prompted by curiosity; I act on the part of Lord Godalming, who wishes to
47know something of the property which was, he understood, lately for sale." These words put a different complexion on
48affairs. He said:-- "I would like to oblige you if I could, Mr. Harker, and especially would I like to oblige his
49lordship. We once carried out a small matter of renting some chambers for him when he was the Honourable Arthur
50Holmwood. If you will let me have his lordship's address I will consult the House on the subject, and will, in any case,
51communicate with his lordship by to-night's post. It will be a pleasure if we can so far deviate from our rules as to
52give the required information to his lordship." I wanted to secure a friend, and not to make an enemy, so I thanked him,
53gave the address at Dr. Seward's and came away. It was now dark, and I was tired and hungry. I got a cup of tea at the
54Aërated Bread Company and came down to Purfleet by the next train. I found all the others at home. Mina was looking
55tired and pale, but she made a gallant effort to be bright and cheerful, it wrung my heart to think that I had had to
56keep anything from her and so caused her inquietude. Thank God, this will be the last night of her looking on at our
57conferences, and feeling the sting of our not showing our confidence. It took all my courage to hold to the wise
58resolution of keeping her out of our grim task. She seems somehow more reconciled; or else the very subject seems to
59have become repugnant to her, for when any accidental allusion is made she actually shudders. I am glad we made our
60resolution in time, as with such a feeling as this, our growing knowledge would be torture to her. I could not tell the
61others of the day's discovery till we were alone; so after dinner--followed by a little music to save appearances even
62amongst ourselves--I took Mina to her room and left her to go to bed. The dear girl was more affectionate with me than
63ever, and clung to me as though she would detain me; but there was much to be talked of and I came away. Thank God, the
64ceasing of telling things has made no difference between us. When I came down again I found the others all gathered
65round the fire in the study. In the train I had written my diary so far, and simply read it off to them as the best
66means of letting them get abreast of my own information; when I had finished Van Helsing said:--
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