go with you on your journey."

Dr. Van Helsing was as startled as I was. After a moment's pause he
asked, "But why?"

"You must take me with you. I am safer with you, and you shall be
safer, too."

"But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our solemnest
duty. We go into danger, to which you are, or may be, more liable
than any of us from . . . from circumstances . . . things that have
been." He paused embarrassed.

As she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her forehead. "I
know. That is why I must go. I can tell you now, whilst the sun is
coming up. I may not be able again. I know that when the Count wills
me I must go. I know that if he tells me to come in secret, I must by
wile. By any device to hoodwink, even Jonathan." God saw the look
that she turned on me as she spoke, and if there be indeed a Recording
Angel that look is noted to her ever-lasting honour. I could only
clasp her hand. I could not speak. My emotion was too great for even
the relief of tears.

She went on. "You men are brave and strong. You are strong in your
numbers, for you can defy that which would break down the human
endurance of one who had to guard alone. Besides, I may be of
service, since you can hypnotize me and so learn that which even I
myself do not know."

Dr. Van Helsing said gravely, "Madam Mina, you are, as always, most
wise. You shall with us come. And together we shall do that which we
go forth to achieve."

When he had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her.
She had fallen back on her pillow asleep. She did not even wake when
I had pulled up the blind and let in the sunlight which flooded the
room. Van Helsing motioned to me to come with him quietly. We went
to his room, and within a minute Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, and Mr.
Morris were with us also.

He told them what Mina had said, and went on. "In the morning we
shall leave for Varna. We have now to deal with a new factor, Madam
Mina. Oh, but her soul is true. It is to her an agony to tell us so
much as she has done. But it is most right, and we are warned in
time. There must be no chance lost, and in Varna we must be ready to
act the instant when that ship arrives."

"What shall we do exactly?" asked Mr. Morris laconically.

The Professor paused before replying, "We shall at the first board
that ship. Then, when we have identified the box, we shall place a
branch of the wild rose on it. T