Chapter XXIV: A Startling Proposition

by Bram Stoker

　　The more Mimi thought over the late events, the more puzzled shewas. What did it all mean--what could it mean, except that therewas an error of fact somewhere. Could it be possible that some ofthem--all of them had been mistaken, that there had been no WhiteWorm at all? On either side of her was a belief impossible ofreception. Not to believe in what seemed apparent was to destroythe very foundations of belief. . . yet in old days there had beenmonsters on the earth, and certainly some people had believed injust such mysterious changes of identity. It was all very strange.Just fancy how any stranger--say a doctor--would regard her, if shewere to tell him that she had been to a tea-party with anantediluvian monster, and that they had been waited on by up-to-datemen-servants.Adam had returned, exhilarated by his walk, and more settled in hismind than he had been for some time. Like Mimi, he had gone throughthe phase of doubt and inability to believe in the reality ofthings, though it had not affected him to the same extent. Theidea, however, that his wife was suffering ill-effects from herterrible ordeal, braced him up. He remained with her for a time,then he sought Sir Nathaniel in order to talk over the matter withhim. He knew that the calm common sense and self-reliance of theold man, as well as his experience, would be helpful to them all.Sir Nathaniel had come to the conclusion that, for some reason whichhe did not understand, Lady Arabella had changed her plans, and, forthe present at all events, was pacific. He was inclined toattribute her changed demeanour to the fact that her influence overEdgar Caswall was so far increased, as to justify a more fixedbelief in his submission to her charms.As a matter of fact, she had seen Caswall that morning when shevisited Castra Regis, and they had had a long talk together, duringwhich the possibility of their union had been discussed. Caswall,without being enthusiastic on the subject, had been courteous andattentive; as she had walked back to Diana's Grove, she almostcongratulated herself on her new settlement in life. That the ideawas becoming fixed in her mind, was shown by a letter which shewrote later in the day to Adam Salton, and sent to him by hand. Itran as follows:"Dear Mr. Salton,"I wonder if you would kindly advise, and, if possible, help me in amatter of business. I have been for some time trying to make up mymind to sell Diana's Grove, I have put off and put off the doing ofit till now. The place is my own property, and no one has to beconsulted with regard to what I may wish to do about it. It wasbought by my late husband, Captain Adolphus Ranger March, who hadanother residence, The Crest, Appleby. He acquired all rights ofall kinds, including mining and sporting. When he died, he left hiswhole property to me. I shall feel leaving this place, which hasbecome endeared to me by many sacred memories and affections--therecollection of many happy days of my young married life, and themore than happy memories of the man I loved and who loved me somuch. I should be willing to sell the place for any fair price--solong, of course, as the purchaser was one I liked and of whom Iapproved. May I say that you yourself would be the ideal person.But I dare not hope for so much. It strikes me, however, that amongyour Australian friends may be someone who wishes to make asettlement in the Old Country, and would care to fix the spot in oneof the most historic regions in England, full of romance and legend,and with a never-ending vista of historical interest--an estatewhich, though small, is in perfect condition and with illimitablepossibilities of development, and many doubtful--or unsettled--rights which have existed before the time of the Romans or evenCelts, who were the original possessors. In addition, the house hasbeen kept up to the dernier cri. Immediate possession can bearranged. My lawyers can provide you, or whoever you may suggest,with all business and historical details. A word from you ofacceptance or refusal is all that is necessary, and we can leavedetails to be thrashed out by our agents. Forgive me, won't you,for troubling you in the matter, and believe me, yours verysincerely."Arabella March."Adam read this over several times, and then, his mind being made up,he went to Mimi and asked if she had any objection. She answered--after a shudder--that she was, in this, as in all things, willing todo whatever he might wish."Dearest, I am willing that you should judge what is best for us.Be quite free to act as you see your duty, and as your inclinationcalls. We are in the hands of God, and He has hitherto guided us,and will do so to His own end."From his wife's room Adam Salton went straight to the study in thetower, where he knew Sir Nathaniel would be at that hour. The oldman was alone, so, when he had entered in obedience to the "Comein," which answered his query, he closed the door and sat downbeside him."Do you think, sir, that it would be well for me to buy Diana'sGrove?""God bless my soul!" said the old man, startled, "why on earth wouldyou want to do that?""Well, I have vowed to destroy that White Worm, and my being able todo whatever I may choose with the Lair would facilitate matters andavoid complications."Sir Nathaniel hesitated longer than usual before speaking. He wasthinking deeply."Yes, Adam, there is much common sense in your suggestion, though itstartled me at first. I think that, for all reasons, you would dowell to buy the property and to have the conveyance settled at once.If you want more money than is immediately convenient, let me know,so that I may be your banker.""Thank you, sir, most heartily; but I have more money at immediatecall than I shall want. I am glad you approve.""The property is historic, and as time goes on it will increase invalue. Moreover, I may tell you something, which indeed is only asurmise, but which, if I am right, will add great value to theplace." Adam listened. "Has it ever struck you why the old name,'The Lair of the White Worm,' was given? We know that there was asnake which in early days was called a worm; but why white?""I really don't know, sir; I never thought of it. I simply took itfor granted.""So did I at first--long ago. But later I puzzled my brain for areason.""And what was the reason, sir?""Simply and solely because the snake or worm was white. We are nearthe county of Stafford, where the great industry of china-burningwas originated and grew. Stafford owes much of its wealth to thelarge deposits of the rare china clay found in it from time to time.These deposits become in time pretty well exhausted; but forcenturies Stafford adventurers looked for the special clay, as Ohioand Pennsylvania farmers and explorers looked for oil. Anyoneowning real estate on which china clay can be discovered strikes asort of gold mine.""Yes, and then--" The young man looked puzzled."The original 'Worm' so-called, from which the name of the placecame, had to find a direct way down to the marshes and the mud-holes. Now, the clay is easily penetrable, and the original holeprobably pierced a bed of china clay. When once the way was made itwould become a sort of highway for the Worm. But as much movementwas necessary to ascend such a great height, some of the clay wouldbecome attached to its rough skin by attrition. The downway musthave been easy work, but the ascent was different, and when themonster came to view in the upper world, it would be fresh fromcontact with the white clay. Hence the name, which has no crypticsignificance, but only fact. Now, if that surmise be true--and I donot see why not--there must be a deposit of valuable clay--possiblyof immense depth."Adam's comment pleased the old gentleman."I have it in my bones, sir, that you have struck--or ratherreasoned out--a great truth."Sir Nathaniel went on cheerfully. "When the world of commerce wakesup to the value of your find, it will be as well that your title toownership has been perfectly secured. If anyone ever deserved sucha gain, it is you."With his friend's aid, Adam secured the property without loss oftime. Then he went to see his uncle, and told him about it. Mr.Salton was delighted to find his young relative alreadyconstructively the owner of so fine an estate--one which gave him animportant status in the county. He made many anxious enquiriesabout Mimi, and the doings of the White Worm, but Adam re-assuredhim.The next morning, when Adam went to his host in the smoking-room,Sir Nathaniel asked him how he purposed to proceed with regard tokeeping his vow."It is a difficult matter which you have undertaken. To destroysuch a monster is something like one of the labours of Hercules, inthat not only its size and weight and power of using them in little-known ways are against you, but the occult side is alone anunsurpassable difficulty. The Worm is already master of all theelements except fire--and I do not see how fire can be used for theattack. It has only to sink into the earth in its usual way, andyou could not overtake it if you had the resources of the biggestcoal-mine in existence. But I daresay you have mapped out some planin your mind," he added courteously."I have, sir. But, of course, it may not stand the test ofpractice.""May I know the idea?""Well, sir, this was my argument: At the time of the Chartisttrouble, an idea spread amongst financial circles that an attack wasgoing to be made on the Bank of England. Accordingly, the directorsof that institution consulted many persons who were supposed to knowwhat steps should be taken, and it was finally decided that the bestprotection against fire--which is what was feared--was not water butsand. To carry the scheme into practice great store of fine sea-sand--the kind that blows about and is used to fill hour-glasses--was provided throughout the building, especially at the pointsliable to attack, from which it could be brought into use."I propose to provide at Diana's Grove, as soon as it comes into mypossession, an enormous amount of such sand, and shall take an earlyoccasion of pouring it into the well-hole, which it will in timechoke. Thus Lady Arabella, in her guise of the White Worm, willfind herself cut off from her refuge. The hole is a narrow one, andis some hundreds of feet deep. The weight of the sand this cancontain would not in itself be sufficient to obstruct; but thefriction of such a body working up against it would be tremendous.""One moment. What use would the sand be for destruction?""None, directly; but it would hold the struggling body in place tillthe rest of my scheme came into practice.""And what is the rest?""As the sand is being poured into the well-hole, quantities ofdynamite can also be thrown in!""Good. But how would the dynamite explode--for, of course, that iswhat you intend. Would not some sort of wire or fuse he requiredfor each parcel of dynamite?"Adam smiled."Not in these days, sir. That was proved in New York. A thousandpounds of dynamite, in sealed canisters, was placed about someworkings. At the last a charge of gunpowder was fired, and theconcussion exploded the dynamite. It was most successful. Thosewho were non-experts in high explosives expected that every pane ofglass in New York would be shattered. But, in reality, theexplosive did no harm outside the area intended, although sixteenacres of rock had been mined and only the supporting walls andpillars had been left intact. The whole of the rocks wereshattered."Sir Nathaniel nodded approval."That seems a good plan--a very excellent one. But if it has totear down so many feet of precipice, it may wreck the wholeneighbourhood.""And free it for ever from a monster," added Adam, as he left theroom to find his wife.