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CHAPTER XVI DR . SEWARD’S DIARY — continued IT was just a quarter before twelve o’clock when we got into the churchyard over the low wall . The night was dark with occasional gleams of moonlight between the rents of the heavy clouds that scudded across the sky . We all kept somehow close together , with Van Helsing slightly in front as he led the way . When we had come close to the tomb I looked well at Arthur , for I feared that the proximity to a place laden with so sorrowful a memory would upset him ; but he bore himself well . I took it that the very mystery of the proceeding was in some way a counteractant to his grief . The Professor unlocked the door , and seeing a natural hesitation amongst us for various reasons , solved the difficulty by entering first himself . The rest of us followed , and he closed the door . He then lit a dark lantern and pointed to the coffin . Arthur stepped forward hesitatingly ; Van Helsing said to me : — “ You were with me here yesterday . Was the body of Miss Lucy in that coffin ? ” “ It was . ” The Professor turned to the rest saying : — “ You hear ; and yet there is no one who does not believe with me . ” He took his screwdriver and again took off the lid of the coffin . Arthur looked on , very pale but silent ; when the lid was removed he stepped forward . He evidently did not know that there was a leaden coffin , or , at any rate , had not thought of it . When he saw the rent in the lead , the blood rushed to his face for an instant , but as quickly fell away again , so that he remained of a ghastly whiteness ; he was still silent . Van Helsing forced back the leaden flange , and we all looked in and recoiled . The coffin was empty ! For several minutes no one spoke a word . The silence was broken by Quincey Morris : — “ Professor , I answered for you . Your word is all I want . I wouldn’t ask such a thing ordinarily — I wouldn’t so dishonour you as to imply a doubt ; but this is a mystery that goes beyond any honour or dishonour . Is this your doing ? ” “ I swear to you by all that I hold sacred that I have not removed nor touched her . What happened was this : Two nights ago my friend Seward and I came here — with good purpose , believe me . I opened that coffin , which was then sealed up , and we found it , as now , empty . We then waited , and saw something white come through the trees . The next day we came here in day - time , and she lay there . Did she not , friend John ? ” “ Yes . ” “ That night we were just in time . One more so small child was missing , and we find it , thank God , unharmed amongst the graves . Yesterday I came here before sundown , for at sundown the Un - Dead can move . I waited here all the night till the sun rose , but I saw nothing . It was most probable that it was because I had laid over the clamps of those doors garlic , which the Un - Dead cannot bear , and other things which they shun .
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