“Why?”

“Because,” he answered solemnly, “he can live for centuries, and you are but mortal woman. Time is now to be dreaded⁠—since once he put that mark upon your throat.”

I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint.

4 October, morning. ⁠—Once again during the night I was wakened by Mina. This time we had all had a good sleep, for the grey of the coming dawn was making the windows into sharp oblongs, and the gas flame was like a speck rather than a disc of light. She said to me hurriedly:⁠—

“Go, call the Professor. I want to see him at once.”

“Why?” I asked.