The first to act was Harker, who with a quick movement, threw himself before the door leading into the room in the front of the houseAs the Count saw us, a horrible sort of snarl passed over his face, showing the eyeteeth long and pointedBut the evil smile as quickly passed into a cold stare of lion-like disdainHis expression again changed as, with a single impulse, we all advanced upon himIt was a pity that we had not some better organized plan of attack, for even at the moment I wondered what we were to doI did not myself know whether our lethal weapons would avail us anything Harker evidently meant to try the matter, for he had ready his great Kukri knife and made a fierce and sudden cut at himThe blow was a powerful one; only the diabolical quickness of the Count's leap back saved himA second less and the trenchant blade had shorn through his heartAs it was, the point just cut the cloth of his coat, making a wide gap whence a bundle of bank notes and a stream of gold fell outThe expression of the Count's face was so hellish, that for a moment I feared for Harker, though I saw him throw the terrible knife aloft again for another strokeInstinctively I moved forward with a protective impulse, holding the Crucifix and Wafer in my left handI felt a mighty power fly along my arm, and it was without surprise that I saw the monster cower back before a similar movement made spontaneously by each one of usIt would be impossible to describe the expression of hate and baffled malignity, of anger and hellish rage, which came over the Count's faceHis waxen hue became greenish-yellow by the contrast of his burning eyes, and the red scar on the forehead showed on the pallid skin like a palpitating woundThe next instant, with a sinuous dive he swept under Harker's arm, ere his blow could fall, and grasping a handful of the money from the floor, dashed across the room, threw himself at the windowAmid the crash and glitter of the falling glass, he tumbled into the flagged area belowThrough the sound of the shivering glass I could hear the "ting" of the gold, as some of the sovereigns fell on the flagging We ran over and saw him spring unhurt from the groundHe, rushing up the steps, crossed the flagged yard, and pushed open the stable doorThere he turned and spoke to us "You think to baffle me, you with your pale faces all in a row, like sheep in a butcher'sYou shall be sorry yet, each one of you! You think you have left me without a place to rest, but I have moreMy revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my sideYour girls that you all love are mine alreadyAnd through them you and others shall yet be mine, my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my jackals when I want to feedBah!" With a contemptuous sneer, he passed quickly through the door, and we heard the rusty bolt creak as he fastened it behind himA door beyond opened and shutThe first of us to speak was the ProfessorRealizing the difficulty of following him through the stable, we moved toward the hall "We have learnt something? much! Notwithstanding his brave words, he fears usHe fears time, he fears want! For if not, why he hurry so? His very tone betray him, or my ears deceiveWhy take that money? You follow quickYou are hunters of the wild beast, and understand it soFor me, I make sure that nothing here may be of use to him, if so that he returns As he spoke he put the money remaining in his pocket, took the title deeds in the bundle as Harker had left them, and swept the remaining things into the open fireplace, where he set fire to them with a match Godalming and Morris had rushed out into the yard, and Harker had lowered himself from the window to follow the CountHe had, however, bolted the stable door, and by the time they had forced it open there was no sign of himVan Helsing and I tried to make inquiry at the back of the houseBut the mews was deserted and no one had seen him shop depart

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