Dr. Seward’s Diary

           17September. —Iwasengagedafterdinnerinmystudypostingupmybooks,which,throughpressofotherworkandthemanyvisitstoLucy,hadfallensadlyintoarrear. Suddenlythedoorwasburstopen,andinrushedmypatient,withhisfacedistortedwithpassion. Iwasthunderstruck,forsuchathingasapatientgettingofhisownaccordintotheSuperintendent’sstudyisalmostunknown. 

           Withoutaninstant’snoticehemadestraightatme. Hehadadinnerknifeinhishand,andasIsawhewasdangerous,Itriedtokeepthetablebetweenus. Hewastooquickandtoostrongforme,however,forbeforeIcouldgetmybalancehehadstruckatmeandcutmyleftwristratherseverely. 

           Beforehecouldstrikeagain,however,Igotinmyrighthandandhewassprawlingonhisbackonthefloor. Mywristbledfreely,andquitealittlepooltrickledontothecarpet. Isawthatmyfriendwasnotintentonfurthereffort,andoccupiedmyselfbindingupmywrist,keepingawaryeyeontheprostratefigureallthetime. Whentheattendantsrushedin,andweturnedourattentiontohim,hisemploymentpositivelysickenedme. Hewaslyingonhisbellyonthefloorlickingup,likeadog,thebloodwhichhadfallenfrommywoundedwrist. Hewaseasilysecured,andtomysurprise,wentwiththeattendantsquiteplacidly,simplyrepeatingoverandoveragain, "Thebloodisthelife!Thebloodisthelife!" 

           Icannotaffordtolosebloodjustatpresent. Ihavelosttoomuchoflateformyphysicalgood,andthentheprolongedstrainofLucy’sillnessanditshorriblephasesistellingonme. Iamoverexcitedandweary,andIneedrest,rest,rest. HappilyVanHelsinghasnotsummonedme,soIneednotforegomysleep. TonightIcouldnotwelldowithoutit.