When finally we returned to Baker Street, my head still aching dully from the previous night’s trials, we found two letters waiting for us. The first came as some surprise to me—it was from Van Helsing himself! Due to our trip to Whitby this letter was not received until a delay of some two days had passed. Holmes bemoaned this as soon as we received the communication, but also found a silver lining: Van Helsing had not expected us to go north quite so suddenly, which led Holmes to believe the things we discovered there were of genuine interest, rather than any staged performance of Van Helsing’s design.
Letter, Abraham Van Helsing to Sherlock Holmes,
10 April 1894
I have reviewed your cases, and see you have an impressive record of bringing to justice criminals most nefarious—or most careless. Though the police they celebrate you highly, Mr Holmes, it appear to me that without the mortal foe who to make mistake, the great Sherlock Holmes is no more than the bloodhound chasing the wounded fox, no? I tell you in words plain, Mr Holmes, there are some foes in this world that are beyond you. The greatest opponent that you ever face was the Professor Moriarty, who almost was the end of your life. Yet the creature Dracula, whom I pursue to the end of the earth, was worth ten of your Moriarty. I am the one who see to the end of his threat most terrible.
I am to think that you would fare not so well against the likes of Dracula, you with your mind so closed to possibilities beyond the five senses. Imagine therefore how poorly you would fare against one who could defeat even Dracula. I am to hope for your sake, Mr Holmes, that you never are to discover a foe so powerful, so ruthless, and so single-minded in his goals.
Van Helsing
The second letter was from Holmes’s informant, Langdale Pike, who had indeed sent a reply via messenger. Holmes had asked Pike for any information he could find on Mina Harker and Genevieve Holmwood, notably regarding if either of them had any history in the theatre.
Letter, Langdale Pike to Sherlock Holmes, 13 April 1894
Holmes,
How interesting that Lady Godalming has come to your attention. You must surely know that I have been collecting snippets on her for some time, for she caused quite the stir last season, and who knows what marvellous scandal she will incite this time? We simply must exchange intelligence when next we meet.
Genevieve Holmwood was once simple Jennie Megginson of Scarborough, a lady’s maid, of all things, who went on to play the seaside dancehalls. She had a particular talent for stage make-up and costumery, and worked her way up from assistant to actress. It seems she’s always been quite the ambitious one. She spent some little time in London, where she auditioned more than once under the name Genevieve Kidd, for a certain theatre manager whom I know. She had some talent, it is said, and even portrayed Juliet at the Royal in ’89, though not to any notable acclaim. He says her success was somewhat disproportionate to her talents, and she was a touch too self-absorbed to be a true artiste. Anyway, she disappeared from the limelight not too long after that, due to a poor temperament making her ill-dispositioned toward critique, and she has not been heard of again, until now, of course.
That is all I could find at such short notice, but I shall continue to make discreet enquiries. In exchange, I expect you to attend my next dinner party—you always make for the finest entertainment, Holmes, and yet you rarely put in an appearance. What are friends for, after all?
Your friend,
L.P.
Upon reading the letters, Holmes at once scribbled two messages—one a reply to Pike, and the other a short missive to Inspector Bradstreet. He then ran downstairs to find a messenger, and despite the late hour returned successful.
“I am afraid your hot bath and rest shall have to wait, Watson,” he said. “We must work quickly if we are to tighten the net.”
“Whatever now? What can you hope to achieve at this hour?”
“Why, night-time is the perfect time for our purpose.”
“Which is?”
“To find a vampire, of course!”