“It is Mina Murray that I came to see that was friend of that poor dear child Lucy Westenra. Madam Mina, it is on account of the dead I come.”

“Sir,” I said, “you could have no better claim on me than that you were a friend and helper of Lucy Westenra.” And I held out my hand. He took it and said tenderly:⁠—

“Oh, Madam Mina, I knew that the friend of that poor lily girl must be good, but I had yet to learn⁠—” He finished his speech with a courtly bow. I asked him what it was that he wanted to see me about, so he at once began:⁠—