{"id":48,"date":"2019-02-25T20:47:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T20:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/dracula\/chapter\/dracula-24\/"},"modified":"2019-02-26T01:33:04","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T01:33:04","slug":"24","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/dracula\/chapter\/24\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter 24 - Dr. Seward's Phonograph Diary","rendered":"Chapter 24 – Dr. Seward’s Phonograph Diary"},"content":{"raw":"\r\n
\r\n\r\nSPOKEN BY VAN HELSING\r\n\r\nThis to Jonathan Harker.\r\n\r\nYou are to stay with your dear Madam Mina. We shall go to make\r\nour search, if I can call it so, for it is not search but knowing,\r\nand we seek confirmation only. But do you stay and take care of her\r\ntoday. This is your best and most holiest office. This day nothing\r\ncan find him here.\r\n\r\nLet me tell you that so you will know what we four know already,\r\nfor I have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone away. He have gone\r\nback to his Castle in Transylvania. I know it so well, as if a\r\ngreat hand of fire wrote it on the wall. He have prepare for this\r\nin some way, and that last earth box was ready to ship somewheres.\r\nFor this he took the money. For this he hurry at the last, lest we\r\ncatch him before the sun go down. It was his last hope, save that\r\nhe might hide in the tomb that he think poor Miss Lucy, being as he\r\nthought like him, keep open to him. But there was not of time. When\r\nthat fail he make straight for his last resource, his last\r\nearthwork I might say did I wish double entente. He is clever, oh\r\nso clever! He know that his game here was finish. And so he decide\r\nhe go back home. He find ship going by the route he came, and he go\r\nin it.\r\n\r\nWe go off now to find what ship, and whither bound. When we have\r\ndiscover that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will comfort\r\nyou and poor Madam Mina with new hope. For it will be hope when you\r\nthink it over, that all is not lost. This very creature that we\r\npursue, he take hundreds of years to get so far as London. And yet\r\nin one day, when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out.\r\nHe is finite, though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not\r\nas we do. But we are strong, each in our purpose, and we are all\r\nmore strong together. Take heart afresh, dear husband of Madam\r\nMina. This battle is but begun and in the end we shall win. So sure\r\nas that God sits on high to watch over His children. Therefore be\r\nof much comfort till we return.\r\n\r\nVAN HELSING.\r\n\r\nJONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL\r\n\r\n4 October.\u2014When I read to Mina, Van Helsing's message in the\r\nphonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably. Already the\r\ncertainty that the Count is out of the country has given her\r\ncomfort. And comfort is strength to her. For my own part, now that\r\nhis horrible danger is not face to face with us, it seems almost\r\nimpossible to believe in it. Even my own terrible experiences in\r\nCastle Dracula seem like a long forgotten dream. Here in the crisp\r\nautumn air in the bright sunlight.\r\n\r\nAlas! How can I disbelieve! In the midst of my thought my eye\r\nfell on the red scar on my poor darling's white forehead. Whilst\r\nthat lasts, there can be no disbelief. Mina and I fear to be idle,\r\nso we have been over all the diaries again and again. Somehow,\r\nalthough the reality seem greater each time, the pain and the fear\r\nseem less. There is something of a guiding purpose manifest\r\nthroughout, which is comforting. Mina says that perhaps we are the\r\ninstruments of ultimate good. It may be! I shall try to think as\r\nshe does. We have never spoken to each other yet of the future. It\r\nis better to wait till we see the Professor and the others after\r\ntheir investigations.\r\n\r\nThe day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day\r\ncould run for me again. It is now three o'clock.\r\n\r\nMINA HARKER'S JOURNAL\r\n\r\n5 October, 5 p. m.\u2014Our meeting for report. Present: Professor\r\nVan Helsing, Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, Mr. Quincey Morris,\r\nJonathan Harker, Mina Harker.\r\n\r\nDr. Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day\r\nto discover on what boat and whither bound Count Dracula made his\r\nescape.\r\n\r\n\"As I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania, I felt\r\nsure that he must go by the Danube mouth, or by somewhere in the\r\nBlack Sea, since by that way he come. It was a dreary blank that\r\nwas before us. Omme Ignotum pro magnifico. And so with heavy hearts\r\nwe start to find what ships leave for the Black Sea last night. He\r\nwas in sailing ship, since Madam Mina tell of sails being set.\r\nThese not so important as to go in your list of the shipping in the\r\nTimes, and so we go, by suggestion of Lord Godalming, to your\r\nLloyd's, where are note of all ships that sail, however so small.\r\nThere we find that only one Black Sea bound ship go out with the\r\ntide. She is the Czarina Catherine, and she sail from Doolittle's\r\nWharf for Varna, and thence to other ports and up the Danube. `So!'\r\nsaid I, `this is the ship whereon is the Count.' So off we go to\r\nDoolittle's Wharf, and there we find a man in an office. From him\r\nwe inquire of the goings of the Czarina Catherine. He swear much,\r\nand he red face and loud of voice, but he good fellow all the same.\r\nAnd when Quincey give him something from his pocket which crackle\r\nas he roll it up, and put it in a so small bag which he have hid\r\ndeep in his clothing, he still better fellow and humble servant to\r\nus. He come with us, and ask many men who are rough and hot. These\r\nbe better fellows too when they have been no more thirsty. They say\r\nmuch of blood and bloom, and of others which I comprehend not,\r\nthough I guess what they mean. But nevertheless they tell us all\r\nthings which we want to know.\r\n\r\n\"They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about\r\nfive o'clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with\r\nhigh nose and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning.\r\nThat he be all in black, except that he have a hat of straw which\r\nsuit not him or the time. That he scatter his money in making quick\r\ninquiry as to what ship sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some\r\ntook him to the office and then to the ship, where he will not go\r\naboard but halt at shore end of gangplank, and ask that the captain\r\ncome to him. The captain come, when told that he will be pay well,\r\nand though he swear much at the first he agree to term. Then the\r\nthin man go and some one tell him where horse and cart can be\r\nhired. He go there and soon he come again, himself driving cart on\r\nwhich a great box. This he himself lift down, though it take\r\nseveral to put it on truck for the ship. He give much talk to\r\ncaptain as to how and where his box is to be place. But the captain\r\nlike it not and swear at him in many tongues, and tell him that if\r\nhe like he can come and see where it shall be. But he say `no,'\r\nthat he come not yet, for that he have much to do. Whereupon the\r\ncaptain tell him that he had better be quick, with blood, for that\r\nhis ship will leave the place, of blood, before the turn of the\r\ntide, with blood. Then the thin man smile and say that of course he\r\nmust go when he think fit, but he will be surprise if he go quite\r\nso soon. The captain swear again, polyglot, and the thin man make\r\nhim bow, and thank him, and say that he will so far intrude on his\r\nkindness as to come aboard before the sailing. Final the captain,\r\nmore red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him that he doesn't\r\nwant no Frenchmen, with bloom upon them and also with blood, in his\r\nship, with blood on her also. And so, after asking where he might\r\npurchase ship forms, he departed.\r\n\r\n\"No one knew where he went `or bloomin' well cared' as they\r\nsaid, for they had something else to think of, well with blood\r\nagain. For it soon became apparent to all that the Czarina\r\nCatherine would not sail as was expected. A thin mist began to\r\ncreep up from the river, and it grew, and grew. Till soon a dense\r\nfog enveloped the ship and all around her. The captain swore\r\npolyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with bloom and blood, but he\r\ncould do nothing. The water rose and rose, and he began to fear\r\nthat he would lose the tide altogether. He was in no friendly mood,\r\nwhen just at full tide, the thin man came up the gangplank again\r\nand asked to see where his box had been stowed. Then the captain\r\nreplied that he wished that he and his box, old and with much bloom\r\nand blood, were in hell. But the thin man did not be offend, and\r\nwent down with the mate and saw where it was place, and came up and\r\nstood awhile on deck in fog. He must have come off by himself, for\r\nnone notice him. Indeed they thought not of him, for soon the fog\r\nbegin to melt away, and all was clear again. My friends of the\r\nthirst and the language that was of bloom and blood laughed, as\r\nthey told how the captain's swears exceeded even his usual\r\npolyglot, and was more than ever full of picturesque, when on\r\nquestioning other mariners who were on movement up and down the\r\nriver that hour, he found that few of them had seen any of fog at\r\nall, except where it lay round the wharf. However, the ship went\r\nout on the ebb tide, and was doubtless by morning far down the\r\nriver mouth. She was then, when they told us, well out to sea.\r\n\r\n\"And so, my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a\r\ntime, for our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on\r\nhis way to the Danube mouth. To sail a ship takes time, go she\r\nnever so quick. And when we start to go on land more quick, and we\r\nmeet him there. Our best hope is to come on him when in the box\r\nbetween sunrise and sunset. For then he can make no struggle, and\r\nwe may deal with him as we should. There are days for us, in which\r\nwe can make ready our plan. We know all about where he go. For we\r\nhave seen the owner of the ship, who have shown us invoices and all\r\npapers that can be. The box we seek is to be landed in Varna, and\r\nto be given to an agent, one Ristics who will there present his\r\ncredentials. And so our merchant friend will have done his part.\r\nWhen he ask if there be any wrong, for that so, he can telegraph\r\nand have inquiry made at Varna, we say `no,' for what is to be done\r\nis not for police or of the customs. It must be done by us alone\r\nand in our own way.\"\r\n\r\nWhen Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were\r\ncertain that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied,\r\n\"We have the best proof of that, your own evidence, when in the\r\nhypnotic trance this morning.\"\r\n\r\nI asked him again if it were really necessary that they should\r\npursue the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving me, and I know\r\nthat he would surely go if the others went. He answered in growing\r\npassion, at first quietly. As he went on, however, he grew more\r\nangry and more forceful, till in the end we could not but see\r\nwherein was at least some of that personal dominance which made him\r\nso long a master amongst men.\r\n\r\n\"Yes, it is necessary, necessary, necessary! For your sake in\r\nthe first, and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done\r\nmuch harm already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and\r\nin the short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so\r\nsmall measure in darkness and not knowing. All this have I told\r\nthese others. You, my dear Madam Mina, will learn it in the\r\nphonograph of my friend John, or in that of your husband. I have\r\ntold them how the measure of leaving his own barren land, barren of\r\npeoples,and coming to a new land where life of man teems till they\r\nare like the multitude of standing corn, was the work of centuries.\r\nWere another of the Undead, like him, to try to do what he has\r\ndone, perhaps not all the centuries of the world that have been, or\r\nthat will be, could aid him. With this one, all the forces of\r\nnature that are occult and deep and strong must have worked\r\ntogether in some wonderous way. The very place, where he have been\r\nalive, Undead for all these centuries, is full of strangeness of\r\nthe geologic and chemical world. There are deep caverns and\r\nfissures that reach none know whither. There have been volcanoes,\r\nsome of whose openings still send out waters of strange properties,\r\nand gases that kill or make to vivify. Doubtless, there is\r\nsomething magnetic or electric in some of these combinations of\r\noccult forces which work for physical life in strange way, and in\r\nhimself were from the first some great qualities. In a hard and\r\nwarlike time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve, more\r\nsubtle brain, more braver heart, than any man. In him some vital\r\nprinciple have in strange way found their utmost. And as his body\r\nkeep strong and grow and thrive, so his brain grow too. All this\r\nwithout that diabolic aid which is surely to him. For it have to\r\nyield to the powers that come from, and are, symbolic of good. And\r\nnow this is what he is to us. He have infect you, oh forgive me, my\r\ndear, that I must say such, but it is for good of you that I speak.\r\nHe infect you in such wise, that even if he do no more, you have\r\nonly to live, to live in your own old, sweet way, and so in time,\r\ndeath, which is of man's common lot and with God's sanction, shall\r\nmake you like to him. This must not be! We have sworn together that\r\nit must not. Thus are we ministers of God's own wish. That the\r\nworld, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to\r\nmonsters, whose very existence would defame Him. He have allowed us\r\nto redeem one soul already, and we go out as the old knights of the\r\nCross to redeem more. Like them we shall travel towards the\r\nsunrise. And like them, if we fall, we fall in good cause.\"\r\n\r\nHe paused and I said, \"But will not the Count take his rebuff\r\nwisely? Since he has been driven from England, will he not avoid\r\nit, as a tiger does the village from which he has been hunted?\"\r\n\r\n\"Aha!\" he said, \"your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I\r\nshall adopt him. Your maneater, as they of India call the tiger who\r\nhas once tasted blood of the human, care no more for the other\r\nprey, but prowl unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from\r\nour village is a tiger, too, a maneater, and he never cease to\r\nprowl. Nay, in himself he is not one to retire and stay afar. In\r\nhis life, his living life, he go over the Turkey frontier and\r\nattack his enemy on his own ground. He be beaten back, but did he\r\nstay? No! He come again, and again, and again. Look at his\r\npersistence and endurance. With the child-brain that was to him he\r\nhave long since conceive the idea of coming to a great city. What\r\ndoes he do? He find out the place of all the world most of promise\r\nfor him. Then he deliberately set himself down to prepare for the\r\ntask. He find in patience just how is his strength, and what are\r\nhis powers. He study new tongues. He learn new social life, new\r\nenvironment of old ways, the politics, the law, the finance, the\r\nscience, the habit of a new land and a new people who have come to\r\nbe since he was. His glimpse that he have had, whet his appetite\r\nonly and enkeen his desire. Nay, it help him to grow as to his\r\nbrain. For it all prove to him how right he was at the first in his\r\nsurmises. He have done this alone, all alone! From a ruin tomb in a\r\nforgotten land. What more may he not do when the greater world of\r\nthought is open to him. He that can smile at death, as we know him.\r\nWho can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill off whole\r\npeoples. Oh! If such an one was to come from God, and not the\r\nDevil, what a force for good might he not be in this old world of\r\nours. But we are pledged to set the world free. Our toil must be in\r\nsilence, and our efforts all in secret. For in this enlightened\r\nage, when men believe not even what they see, the doubting of wise\r\nmen would be his greatest strength. It would be at once his sheath\r\nand his armor, and his weapons to destroy us, his enemies, who are\r\nwilling to peril even our own souls for the safety of one we love.\r\nFor the good of mankind, and for the honor and glory of God.\"\r\n\r\nAfter a general discussion it was determined that for tonight\r\nnothing be definitely settled. That we should all sleep on the\r\nfacts, and try to think out the proper conclusions. Tomorrow, at\r\nbreakfast, we are to meet again, and after making our conclusions\r\nknown to one another, we shall decide on some definite cause of\r\naction\u00a0\u2026\r\n\r\nI feel a wonderful peace and rest tonight. It is as if some\r\nhaunting presence were removed from me. Perhaps\u00a0\u2026\r\n\r\nMy surmise was not finished, could not be, for I caught sight in\r\nthe mirror of the red mark upon my forehead, and I knew that I was\r\nstill unclean.\r\n\r\nDR. SEWARD'S DIARY\r\n\r\n5 October.\u2014We all arose early, and I think that sleep did much\r\nfor each and all of us. When we met at early breakfast there was\r\nmore general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to\r\nexperience again.\r\n\r\nIt is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human\r\nnature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in\r\nany way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope\r\nand enjoyment. More than once as we sat around the table, my eyes\r\nopened in wonder whether the whole of the past days had not been a\r\ndream. It was only when I caught sight of the red blotch on Mrs.\r\nHarker's forehead that I was brought back to reality. Even now,\r\nwhen I am gravely revolving the matter, it is almost impossible to\r\nrealize that the cause of all our trouble is still existent. Even\r\nMrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her trouble for whole spells. It\r\nis only now and again, when something recalls it to her mind, that\r\nshe thinks of her terrible scar. We are to meet here in my study in\r\nhalf an hour and decide on our course of action. I see only one\r\nimmediate difficulty, I know it by instinct rather than reason. We\r\nshall all have to speak frankly. And yet I fear that in some\r\nmysterious way poor Mrs. Harker's tongue is tied. I know that she\r\nforms conclusions of her own, and from all that has been I can\r\nguess how brilliant and how true they must be. But she will not, or\r\ncannot, give them utterance. I have mentioned this to Van Helsing,\r\nand he and I are to talk it over when we are alone. I suppose it is\r\nsome of that horrid poison which has got into her veins beginning\r\nto work. The Count had his own purposes when he gave her what Van\r\nHelsing called \"the Vampire's baptism of blood.\" Well, there may be\r\na poison that distills itself out of good things. In an age when\r\nthe existence of ptomaines is a mystery we should not wonder at\r\nanything! One thing I know, that if my instinct be true regarding\r\npoor Mrs. Harker's silences, then there is a terrible difficulty,\r\nan unknown danger, in the work before us. The same power that\r\ncompels her silence may compel her speech. I dare not think\r\nfurther, for so I should in my thoughts dishonor a noble woman!\r\n\r\nLater.\u2014When the Professor came in, we talked over the state of\r\nthings. I could see that he had something on his mind, which he\r\nwanted to say, but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject.\r\nAfter beating about the bush a little, he said,\"Friend John, there\r\nis something that you and I must talk of alone, just at the first\r\nat any rate. Later, we may have to take the others into our\r\nconfidence.\"\r\n\r\nThen he stopped, so I waited. He went on, \"Madam Mina, our poor,\r\ndear Madam Mina is changing.\"\r\n\r\nA cold shiver ran through me to find my worst fears thus\r\nendorsed. Van Helsing continued.\r\n\r\n\"With the sad experience of Miss Lucy, we must this time be\r\nwarned before things go too far. Our task is now in reality more\r\ndifficult than ever, and this new trouble makes every hour of the\r\ndirest importance. I can see the characteristics of the vampire\r\ncoming in her face. It is now but very, very slight. But it is to\r\nbe seen if we have eyes to notice without prejudge. Her teeth are\r\nsharper, and at times her eyes are more hard. But these are not\r\nall, there is to her the silence now often, as so it was with Miss\r\nLucy. She did not speak, even when she wrote that which she wished\r\nto be known later. Now my fear is this. If it be that she can, by\r\nour hypnotic trance, tell what the Count see and hear, is it not\r\nmore true that he who have hypnotize her first, and who have drink\r\nof her very blood and make her drink of his, should if he will,\r\ncompel her mind to disclose to him that which she know?\"\r\n\r\nI nodded acquiescence. He went on, \"Then, what we must do is to\r\nprevent this. We must keep her ignorant of our intent, and so she\r\ncannot tell what she know not. This is a painful task! Oh, so\r\npainful that it heartbreak me to think of it, but it must be. When\r\ntoday we meet, I must tell her that for reason which we will not to\r\nspeak she must not more be of our council, but be simply guarded by\r\nus.\"\r\n\r\nHe wiped his forehead, which had broken out in profuse\r\nperspiration at the thought of the pain which he might have to\r\ninflict upon the poor soul already so tortured. I knew that it\r\nwould be some sort of comfort to him if I told him that I also had\r\ncome to the same conclusion. For at any rate it would take away the\r\npain of doubt. I told him, and the effect was as I expected.\r\n\r\nIt is now close to the time of our general gathering. Van\r\nHelsing has gone away to prepare for the meeting, and his painful\r\npart of it. I really believe his purpose is to be able to pray\r\nalone.\r\n\r\nLater.\u2014At the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief\r\nwas experienced by both Van Helsing and myself. Mrs. Harker had\r\nsent a message by her husband to say that she would not join us at\r\npresent, as she thought it better that we should be free to discuss\r\nour movements without her presence to embarrass us. The Professor\r\nand I looked at each other for an instant, and somehow we both\r\nseemed relieved. For my own part, I thought that if Mrs. Harker\r\nrealized the danger herself, it was much pain as well as much\r\ndanger averted. Under the circumstances we agreed, by a questioning\r\nlook and answer, with finger on lip, to preserve silence in our\r\nsuspicions, until we should have been able to confer alone again.\r\nWe went at once into our Plan of Campaign.\r\n\r\nVan Helsing roughly put the facts before us first,\"The Czarina\r\nCatherine left the Thames yesterday morning. It will take her at\r\nthe quickest speed she has ever made at least three weeks to reach\r\nVarna. But we can travel overland to the same place in three days.\r\nNow, if we allow for two days less for the ship's voyage, owing to\r\nsuch weather influences as we know that the Count can bring to\r\nbear, and if we allow a whole day and night for any delays which\r\nmay occur to us, then we have a margin of nearly two weeks.\r\n\r\n\"Thus, in order to be quite safe, we must leave here on 17th at\r\nlatest. Then we shall at any rate be in Varna a day before the ship\r\narrives, and able to make such preparations as may be necessary. Of\r\ncourse we shall all go armed, armed against evil things, spiritual\r\nas well as physical.\"\r\n\r\nHere Quincey Morris added,\"I understand that the Count comes\r\nfrom a wolf country, and it may be that he shall get there before\r\nus. I propose that we add Winchesters to our armament. I have a\r\nkind of belief in a Winchester when there is any trouble of that\r\nsort around. Do you remember, Art, when we had the pack after us at\r\nTobolsk? What wouldn't we have given then for a repeater\r\napiece!\"\r\n\r\n\"Good!\" said Van Helsing, \"Winchesters it shall be. Quincey's\r\nhead is level at times, but most so when there is to hunt, metaphor\r\nbe more dishonor to science than wolves be of danger to man. In the\r\nmeantime we can do nothing here. And as I think that Varna is not\r\nfamiliar to any of us, why not go there more soon? It is as long to\r\nwait here as there. Tonight and tomorrow we can get ready, and then\r\nif all be well, we four can set out on our journey.\"\r\n\r\n\"We four?\" said Harker interrogatively, looking from one to\r\nanother of us.\r\n\r\n\"Of course!\" answered the Professor quickly. \"You must remain to\r\ntake care of your so sweet wife!\"\r\n\r\nHarker was silent for awhile and then said in a hollow voice,\r\n\"Let us talk of that part of it in the morning. I want to consult\r\nwith Mina.\"\r\n\r\nI thought that now was the time for Van Helsing to warn him not\r\nto disclose our plan to her, but he took no notice. I looked at him\r\nsignificantly and coughed. For answer he put his finger to his lips\r\nand turned away.\r\n\r\nJONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL\r\n\r\nOctober, afternoon.\u2014For some time after our meeting this morning\r\nI could not think. The new phases of things leave my mind in a\r\nstate of wonder which allows no room for active thought. Mina's\r\ndetermination not to take any part in the discussion set me\r\nthinking. And as I could not argue the matter with her, I could\r\nonly guess. I am as far as ever from a solution now. The way the\r\nothers received it, too puzzled me. The last time we talked of the\r\nsubject we agreed that there was to be no more concealment of\r\nanything amongst us. Mina is sleeping now, calmly and sweetly like\r\na little child. Her lips are curved and her face beams with\r\nhappiness. Thank God, there are such moments still for her.\r\n\r\nLater.\u2014How strange it all is. I sat watching Mina's happy sleep,\r\nand I came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever\r\nbe. As the evening drew on, and the earth took its shadows from the\r\nsun sinking lower, the silence of the room grew more and more\r\nsolemn to me.\r\n\r\nAll at once Mina opened her eyes, and looking at me tenderly\r\nsaid, \"Jonathan, I want you to promise me something on your word of\r\nhonor. A promise made to me, but made holily in God's hearing, and\r\nnot to be broken though I should go down on my knees and implore\r\nyou with bitter tears. Quick, you must make it to me at once.\"\r\n\r\n\"Mina,\" I said, \"a promise like that, I cannot make at once. I\r\nmay have no right to make it.\"\r\n\r\n\"But, dear one,\" she said, with such spiritual intensity that\r\nher eyes were like pole stars, \"it is I who wish it. And it is not\r\nfor myself. You can ask Dr. Van Helsing if I am not right. If he\r\ndisagrees you may do as you will. Nay, more if you all agree, later\r\nyou are absolved from the promise.\"\r\n\r\n\"I promise!\" I said, and for a moment she looked supremely\r\nhappy. Though to me all happiness for her was denied by the red\r\nscar on her forehead.\r\n\r\nShe said, \"Promise me that you will not tell me anything of the\r\nplans formed for the campaign against the Count. Not by word, or\r\ninference, or implication, not at any time whilst this remains to\r\nme!\" And she solemnly pointed to the scar. I saw that she was in\r\nearnest, and said solemnly, \"I promise!\" and as I said it I felt\r\nthat from that instant a door had been shut between us.\r\n\r\nLater, midnight.\u2014Mina has been bright and cheerful all the\r\nevening. So much so that all the rest seemed to take courage, as if\r\ninfected somewhat with her gaiety. As a result even I myself felt\r\nas if the pall of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted.\r\nWe all retired early. Mina is now sleeping like a little child. It\r\nis wonderful thing that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the\r\nmidst of her terrible trouble. Thank God for it, for then at least\r\nshe can forget her care. Perhaps her example may affect me as her\r\ngaiety did tonight. I shall try it. Oh! For a dreamless sleep.\r\n\r\n6 October, morning.\u2014Another surprise. Mina woke me early, about\r\nthe same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring Dr. Van Helsing.\r\nI thought that it was another occassion for hypnotism, and without\r\nquestion went for the Professor. He had evidently expected some\r\nsuch call, for I found him dressed in his room. His door was ajar,\r\nso that he could hear the opening of the door of our room. He came\r\nat once. As he passed into the room, he asked Mina if the others\r\nmight come, too.\r\n\r\n\"No,\" she said quite simply, \"it will not be necessary. You can\r\ntell them just as well. I must go with you on your journey.\"\r\n\r\nDr. Van Helsing was as startled as I was. After a moment's pause\r\nhe asked, \"But why?\"\r\n\r\n\"You must take me with you. I am safer with you, and you shall\r\nbe safer, too.\"\r\n\r\n\"But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our\r\nsolemnest duty. We go into danger, to which you are, or may be,\r\nmore liable than any of us from\u00a0\u2026 from circumstances\u00a0\u2026\r\nthings that have been.\" He paused embarrassed.\r\n\r\nAs she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her\r\nforehead. \"I know. That is why I must go. I can tell you now,\r\nwhilst the sun is coming up. I may not be able again. I know that\r\nwhen the Count wills me I must go. I know that if he tells me to\r\ncome in secret, I must by wile. By any device to hoodwink, even\r\nJonathan.\" God saw the look that she turned on me as she spoke, and\r\nif there be indeed a Recording Angel that look is noted to her\r\never-lasting honor. I could only clasp her hand. I could not speak.\r\nMy emotion was too great for even the relief of tears.\r\n\r\nShe went on. \"You men are brave and strong. You are strong in\r\nyour numbers, for you can defy that which would break down the\r\nhuman endurance of one who had to guard alone. Besides, I may be of\r\nservice, since you can hypnotize me and so learn that which even I\r\nmyself do not know.\"\r\n\r\nDr. Van Helsing said gravely, \"Madam Mina, you are, as always,\r\nmost wise. You shall with us come. And together we shall do that\r\nwhich we go forth to achieve.\"\r\n\r\nWhen he had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at\r\nher. She had fallen back on her pillow asleep. She did not even\r\nwake when I had pulled up the blind and let in the sunlight which\r\nflooded the room. Van Helsing motioned to me to come with him\r\nquietly. We went to his room, and within a minute Lord Godalming,\r\nDr. Seward, and Mr. Morris were with us also.\r\n\r\nHe told them what Mina had said, and went on. \"In the morning we\r\nshall leave for Varna. We have now to deal with a new factor, Madam\r\nMina. Oh, but her soul is true. It is to her an agony to tell us so\r\nmuch as she has done. But it is most right, and we are warned in\r\ntime. There must be no chance lost, and in Varna we must be ready\r\nto act the instant when that ship arrives.\"\r\n\r\n\"What shall we do exactly?\" asked Mr. Morris laconically.\r\n\r\nThe Professor paused before replying, \"We shall at the first\r\nboard that ship. Then, when we have identified the box, we shall\r\nplace a branch of the wild rose on it. This we shall fasten, for\r\nwhen it is there none can emerge, so that at least says the\r\nsuperstition. And to superstition must we trust at the first. It\r\nwas man's faith in the early, and it have its root in faith still.\r\nThen, when we get the opportunity that we seek, when none are near\r\nto see, we shall open the box, and\u00a0\u2026 and all will be\r\nwell.\"\r\n\r\n\"I shall not wait for any opportunity,\" said Morris. \"When I see\r\nthe box I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were\r\na thousand men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the\r\nnext moment!\" I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm\r\nas a piece of steel. I think he understood my look. I hope he\r\ndid.\r\n\r\n\"Good boy,\" said Dr. Van Helsing. \"Brave boy. Quincey is all\r\nman. God bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall\r\nlag behind or pause from any fear. I do but say what we may\r\ndo\u00a0\u2026 what we must do. But, indeed, indeed we cannot say what\r\nwe may do. There are so many things which may happen, and their\r\nways and their ends are so various that until the moment we may not\r\nsay. We shall all be armed, in all ways. And when the time for the\r\nend has come, our effort shall not be lack. Now let us today put\r\nall our affairs in order. Let all things which touch on others dear\r\nto us, and who on us depend, be complete. For none of us can tell\r\nwhat, or when, or how, the end may be. As for me, my own affairs\r\nare regulate, and as I have nothing else to do, I shall go make\r\narrangements for the travel. I shall have all tickets and so forth\r\nfor our journey.\"\r\n\r\nThere was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now\r\nsettle up all my affairs of earth, and be ready for whatever may\r\ncome.\r\n\r\nLater.\u2014It is done. My will is made, and all complete. Mina if\r\nshe survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the\r\nothers who have been so good to us shall have remainder.\r\n\r\nIt is now drawing towards the sunset. Mina's uneasiness calls my\r\nattention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mind\r\nwhich the time of exact sunset will reveal. These occasions are\r\nbecoming harrowing times for us all. For each sunrise and sunset\r\nopens up some new danger, some new pain, which however, may in\r\nGod's will be means to a good end. I write all these things in the\r\ndiary since my darling must not hear them now. But if it may be\r\nthat she can see them again, they shall be ready. She is calling to\r\nme.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n","rendered":"
\n

SPOKEN BY VAN HELSING<\/p>\n

This to Jonathan Harker.<\/p>\n

You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina. We shall go to make
\nour search, if I can call it so, for it is not search but knowing,
\nand we seek confirmation only. But do you stay and take care of her
\ntoday. This is your best and most holiest office. This day nothing
\ncan find him here.<\/p>\n

Let me tell you that so you will know what we four know already,
\nfor I have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone away. He have gone
\nback to his Castle in Transylvania. I know it so well, as if a
\ngreat hand of fire wrote it on the wall. He have prepare for this
\nin some way, and that last earth box was ready to ship somewheres.
\nFor this he took the money. For this he hurry at the last, lest we
\ncatch him before the sun go down. It was his last hope, save that
\nhe might hide in the tomb that he think poor Miss Lucy, being as he
\nthought like him, keep open to him. But there was not of time. When
\nthat fail he make straight for his last resource, his last
\nearthwork I might say did I wish double entente. He is clever, oh
\nso clever! He know that his game here was finish. And so he decide
\nhe go back home. He find ship going by the route he came, and he go
\nin it.<\/p>\n

We go off now to find what ship, and whither bound. When we have
\ndiscover that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will comfort
\nyou and poor Madam Mina with new hope. For it will be hope when you
\nthink it over, that all is not lost. This very creature that we
\npursue, he take hundreds of years to get so far as London. And yet
\nin one day, when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out.
\nHe is finite, though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not
\nas we do. But we are strong, each in our purpose, and we are all
\nmore strong together. Take heart afresh, dear husband of Madam
\nMina. This battle is but begun and in the end we shall win. So sure
\nas that God sits on high to watch over His children. Therefore be
\nof much comfort till we return.<\/p>\n

VAN HELSING.<\/p>\n

JONATHAN HARKER’S JOURNAL<\/p>\n

4 October.\u2014When I read to Mina, Van Helsing’s message in the
\nphonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably. Already the
\ncertainty that the Count is out of the country has given her
\ncomfort. And comfort is strength to her. For my own part, now that
\nhis horrible danger is not face to face with us, it seems almost
\nimpossible to believe in it. Even my own terrible experiences in
\nCastle Dracula seem like a long forgotten dream. Here in the crisp
\nautumn air in the bright sunlight.<\/p>\n

Alas! How can I disbelieve! In the midst of my thought my eye
\nfell on the red scar on my poor darling’s white forehead. Whilst
\nthat lasts, there can be no disbelief. Mina and I fear to be idle,
\nso we have been over all the diaries again and again. Somehow,
\nalthough the reality seem greater each time, the pain and the fear
\nseem less. There is something of a guiding purpose manifest
\nthroughout, which is comforting. Mina says that perhaps we are the
\ninstruments of ultimate good. It may be! I shall try to think as
\nshe does. We have never spoken to each other yet of the future. It
\nis better to wait till we see the Professor and the others after
\ntheir investigations.<\/p>\n

The day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day
\ncould run for me again. It is now three o’clock.<\/p>\n

MINA HARKER’S JOURNAL<\/p>\n

5 October, 5 p. m.\u2014Our meeting for report. Present: Professor
\nVan Helsing, Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, Mr. Quincey Morris,
\nJonathan Harker, Mina Harker.<\/p>\n

Dr. Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day
\nto discover on what boat and whither bound Count Dracula made his
\nescape.<\/p>\n

“As I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania, I felt
\nsure that he must go by the Danube mouth, or by somewhere in the
\nBlack Sea, since by that way he come. It was a dreary blank that
\nwas before us. Omme Ignotum pro magnifico. And so with heavy hearts
\nwe start to find what ships leave for the Black Sea last night. He
\nwas in sailing ship, since Madam Mina tell of sails being set.
\nThese not so important as to go in your list of the shipping in the
\nTimes, and so we go, by suggestion of Lord Godalming, to your
\nLloyd’s, where are note of all ships that sail, however so small.
\nThere we find that only one Black Sea bound ship go out with the
\ntide. She is the Czarina Catherine, and she sail from Doolittle’s
\nWharf for Varna, and thence to other ports and up the Danube. `So!’
\nsaid I, `this is the ship whereon is the Count.’ So off we go to
\nDoolittle’s Wharf, and there we find a man in an office. From him
\nwe inquire of the goings of the Czarina Catherine. He swear much,
\nand he red face and loud of voice, but he good fellow all the same.
\nAnd when Quincey give him something from his pocket which crackle
\nas he roll it up, and put it in a so small bag which he have hid
\ndeep in his clothing, he still better fellow and humble servant to
\nus. He come with us, and ask many men who are rough and hot. These
\nbe better fellows too when they have been no more thirsty. They say
\nmuch of blood and bloom, and of others which I comprehend not,
\nthough I guess what they mean. But nevertheless they tell us all
\nthings which we want to know.<\/p>\n

“They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about
\nfive o’clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with
\nhigh nose and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning.
\nThat he be all in black, except that he have a hat of straw which
\nsuit not him or the time. That he scatter his money in making quick
\ninquiry as to what ship sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some
\ntook him to the office and then to the ship, where he will not go
\naboard but halt at shore end of gangplank, and ask that the captain
\ncome to him. The captain come, when told that he will be pay well,
\nand though he swear much at the first he agree to term. Then the
\nthin man go and some one tell him where horse and cart can be
\nhired. He go there and soon he come again, himself driving cart on
\nwhich a great box. This he himself lift down, though it take
\nseveral to put it on truck for the ship. He give much talk to
\ncaptain as to how and where his box is to be place. But the captain
\nlike it not and swear at him in many tongues, and tell him that if
\nhe like he can come and see where it shall be. But he say `no,’
\nthat he come not yet, for that he have much to do. Whereupon the
\ncaptain tell him that he had better be quick, with blood, for that
\nhis ship will leave the place, of blood, before the turn of the
\ntide, with blood. Then the thin man smile and say that of course he
\nmust go when he think fit, but he will be surprise if he go quite
\nso soon. The captain swear again, polyglot, and the thin man make
\nhim bow, and thank him, and say that he will so far intrude on his
\nkindness as to come aboard before the sailing. Final the captain,
\nmore red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him that he doesn’t
\nwant no Frenchmen, with bloom upon them and also with blood, in his
\nship, with blood on her also. And so, after asking where he might
\npurchase ship forms, he departed.<\/p>\n

“No one knew where he went `or bloomin’ well cared’ as they
\nsaid, for they had something else to think of, well with blood
\nagain. For it soon became apparent to all that the Czarina
\nCatherine would not sail as was expected. A thin mist began to
\ncreep up from the river, and it grew, and grew. Till soon a dense
\nfog enveloped the ship and all around her. The captain swore
\npolyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with bloom and blood, but he
\ncould do nothing. The water rose and rose, and he began to fear
\nthat he would lose the tide altogether. He was in no friendly mood,
\nwhen just at full tide, the thin man came up the gangplank again
\nand asked to see where his box had been stowed. Then the captain
\nreplied that he wished that he and his box, old and with much bloom
\nand blood, were in hell. But the thin man did not be offend, and
\nwent down with the mate and saw where it was place, and came up and
\nstood awhile on deck in fog. He must have come off by himself, for
\nnone notice him. Indeed they thought not of him, for soon the fog
\nbegin to melt away, and all was clear again. My friends of the
\nthirst and the language that was of bloom and blood laughed, as
\nthey told how the captain’s swears exceeded even his usual
\npolyglot, and was more than ever full of picturesque, when on
\nquestioning other mariners who were on movement up and down the
\nriver that hour, he found that few of them had seen any of fog at
\nall, except where it lay round the wharf. However, the ship went
\nout on the ebb tide, and was doubtless by morning far down the
\nriver mouth. She was then, when they told us, well out to sea.<\/p>\n

“And so, my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a
\ntime, for our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on
\nhis way to the Danube mouth. To sail a ship takes time, go she
\nnever so quick. And when we start to go on land more quick, and we
\nmeet him there. Our best hope is to come on him when in the box
\nbetween sunrise and sunset. For then he can make no struggle, and
\nwe may deal with him as we should. There are days for us, in which
\nwe can make ready our plan. We know all about where he go. For we
\nhave seen the owner of the ship, who have shown us invoices and all
\npapers that can be. The box we seek is to be landed in Varna, and
\nto be given to an agent, one Ristics who will there present his
\ncredentials. And so our merchant friend will have done his part.
\nWhen he ask if there be any wrong, for that so, he can telegraph
\nand have inquiry made at Varna, we say `no,’ for what is to be done
\nis not for police or of the customs. It must be done by us alone
\nand in our own way.”<\/p>\n

When Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were
\ncertain that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied,
\n“We have the best proof of that, your own evidence, when in the
\nhypnotic trance this morning.”<\/p>\n

I asked him again if it were really necessary that they should
\npursue the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving me, and I know
\nthat he would surely go if the others went. He answered in growing
\npassion, at first quietly. As he went on, however, he grew more
\nangry and more forceful, till in the end we could not but see
\nwherein was at least some of that personal dominance which made him
\nso long a master amongst men.<\/p>\n

“Yes, it is necessary, necessary, necessary! For your sake in
\nthe first, and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done
\nmuch harm already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and
\nin the short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so
\nsmall measure in darkness and not knowing. All this have I told
\nthese others. You, my dear Madam Mina, will learn it in the
\nphonograph of my friend John, or in that of your husband. I have
\ntold them how the measure of leaving his own barren land, barren of
\npeoples,and coming to a new land where life of man teems till they
\nare like the multitude of standing corn, was the work of centuries.
\nWere another of the Undead, like him, to try to do what he has
\ndone, perhaps not all the centuries of the world that have been, or
\nthat will be, could aid him. With this one, all the forces of
\nnature that are occult and deep and strong must have worked
\ntogether in some wonderous way. The very place, where he have been
\nalive, Undead for all these centuries, is full of strangeness of
\nthe geologic and chemical world. There are deep caverns and
\nfissures that reach none know whither. There have been volcanoes,
\nsome of whose openings still send out waters of strange properties,
\nand gases that kill or make to vivify. Doubtless, there is
\nsomething magnetic or electric in some of these combinations of
\noccult forces which work for physical life in strange way, and in
\nhimself were from the first some great qualities. In a hard and
\nwarlike time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve, more
\nsubtle brain, more braver heart, than any man. In him some vital
\nprinciple have in strange way found their utmost. And as his body
\nkeep strong and grow and thrive, so his brain grow too. All this
\nwithout that diabolic aid which is surely to him. For it have to
\nyield to the powers that come from, and are, symbolic of good. And
\nnow this is what he is to us. He have infect you, oh forgive me, my
\ndear, that I must say such, but it is for good of you that I speak.
\nHe infect you in such wise, that even if he do no more, you have
\nonly to live, to live in your own old, sweet way, and so in time,
\ndeath, which is of man’s common lot and with God’s sanction, shall
\nmake you like to him. This must not be! We have sworn together that
\nit must not. Thus are we ministers of God’s own wish. That the
\nworld, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to
\nmonsters, whose very existence would defame Him. He have allowed us
\nto redeem one soul already, and we go out as the old knights of the
\nCross to redeem more. Like them we shall travel towards the
\nsunrise. And like them, if we fall, we fall in good cause.”<\/p>\n

He paused and I said, “But will not the Count take his rebuff
\nwisely? Since he has been driven from England, will he not avoid
\nit, as a tiger does the village from which he has been hunted?”<\/p>\n

“Aha!” he said, “your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I
\nshall adopt him. Your maneater, as they of India call the tiger who
\nhas once tasted blood of the human, care no more for the other
\nprey, but prowl unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from
\nour village is a tiger, too, a maneater, and he never cease to
\nprowl. Nay, in himself he is not one to retire and stay afar. In
\nhis life, his living life, he go over the Turkey frontier and
\nattack his enemy on his own ground. He be beaten back, but did he
\nstay? No! He come again, and again, and again. Look at his
\npersistence and endurance. With the child-brain that was to him he
\nhave long since conceive the idea of coming to a great city. What
\ndoes he do? He find out the place of all the world most of promise
\nfor him. Then he deliberately set himself down to prepare for the
\ntask. He find in patience just how is his strength, and what are
\nhis powers. He study new tongues. He learn new social life, new
\nenvironment of old ways, the politics, the law, the finance, the
\nscience, the habit of a new land and a new people who have come to
\nbe since he was. His glimpse that he have had, whet his appetite
\nonly and enkeen his desire. Nay, it help him to grow as to his
\nbrain. For it all prove to him how right he was at the first in his
\nsurmises. He have done this alone, all alone! From a ruin tomb in a
\nforgotten land. What more may he not do when the greater world of
\nthought is open to him. He that can smile at death, as we know him.
\nWho can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill off whole
\npeoples. Oh! If such an one was to come from God, and not the
\nDevil, what a force for good might he not be in this old world of
\nours. But we are pledged to set the world free. Our toil must be in
\nsilence, and our efforts all in secret. For in this enlightened
\nage, when men believe not even what they see, the doubting of wise
\nmen would be his greatest strength. It would be at once his sheath
\nand his armor, and his weapons to destroy us, his enemies, who are
\nwilling to peril even our own souls for the safety of one we love.
\nFor the good of mankind, and for the honor and glory of God.”<\/p>\n

After a general discussion it was determined that for tonight
\nnothing be definitely settled. That we should all sleep on the
\nfacts, and try to think out the proper conclusions. Tomorrow, at
\nbreakfast, we are to meet again, and after making our conclusions
\nknown to one another, we shall decide on some definite cause of
\naction\u00a0\u2026<\/p>\n

I feel a wonderful peace and rest tonight. It is as if some
\nhaunting presence were removed from me. Perhaps\u00a0\u2026<\/p>\n

My surmise was not finished, could not be, for I caught sight in
\nthe mirror of the red mark upon my forehead, and I knew that I was
\nstill unclean.<\/p>\n

DR. SEWARD’S DIARY<\/p>\n

5 October.\u2014We all arose early, and I think that sleep did much
\nfor each and all of us. When we met at early breakfast there was
\nmore general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to
\nexperience again.<\/p>\n

It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human
\nnature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in
\nany way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope
\nand enjoyment. More than once as we sat around the table, my eyes
\nopened in wonder whether the whole of the past days had not been a
\ndream. It was only when I caught sight of the red blotch on Mrs.
\nHarker’s forehead that I was brought back to reality. Even now,
\nwhen I am gravely revolving the matter, it is almost impossible to
\nrealize that the cause of all our trouble is still existent. Even
\nMrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her trouble for whole spells. It
\nis only now and again, when something recalls it to her mind, that
\nshe thinks of her terrible scar. We are to meet here in my study in
\nhalf an hour and decide on our course of action. I see only one
\nimmediate difficulty, I know it by instinct rather than reason. We
\nshall all have to speak frankly. And yet I fear that in some
\nmysterious way poor Mrs. Harker’s tongue is tied. I know that she
\nforms conclusions of her own, and from all that has been I can
\nguess how brilliant and how true they must be. But she will not, or
\ncannot, give them utterance. I have mentioned this to Van Helsing,
\nand he and I are to talk it over when we are alone. I suppose it is
\nsome of that horrid poison which has got into her veins beginning
\nto work. The Count had his own purposes when he gave her what Van
\nHelsing called “the Vampire’s baptism of blood.” Well, there may be
\na poison that distills itself out of good things. In an age when
\nthe existence of ptomaines is a mystery we should not wonder at
\nanything! One thing I know, that if my instinct be true regarding
\npoor Mrs. Harker’s silences, then there is a terrible difficulty,
\nan unknown danger, in the work before us. The same power that
\ncompels her silence may compel her speech. I dare not think
\nfurther, for so I should in my thoughts dishonor a noble woman!<\/p>\n

Later.\u2014When the Professor came in, we talked over the state of
\nthings. I could see that he had something on his mind, which he
\nwanted to say, but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject.
\nAfter beating about the bush a little, he said,”Friend John, there
\nis something that you and I must talk of alone, just at the first
\nat any rate. Later, we may have to take the others into our
\nconfidence.”<\/p>\n

Then he stopped, so I waited. He went on, “Madam Mina, our poor,
\ndear Madam Mina is changing.”<\/p>\n

A cold shiver ran through me to find my worst fears thus
\nendorsed. Van Helsing continued.<\/p>\n

“With the sad experience of Miss Lucy, we must this time be
\nwarned before things go too far. Our task is now in reality more
\ndifficult than ever, and this new trouble makes every hour of the
\ndirest importance. I can see the characteristics of the vampire
\ncoming in her face. It is now but very, very slight. But it is to
\nbe seen if we have eyes to notice without prejudge. Her teeth are
\nsharper, and at times her eyes are more hard. But these are not
\nall, there is to her the silence now often, as so it was with Miss
\nLucy. She did not speak, even when she wrote that which she wished
\nto be known later. Now my fear is this. If it be that she can, by
\nour hypnotic trance, tell what the Count see and hear, is it not
\nmore true that he who have hypnotize her first, and who have drink
\nof her very blood and make her drink of his, should if he will,
\ncompel her mind to disclose to him that which she know?”<\/p>\n

I nodded acquiescence. He went on, “Then, what we must do is to
\nprevent this. We must keep her ignorant of our intent, and so she
\ncannot tell what she know not. This is a painful task! Oh, so
\npainful that it heartbreak me to think of it, but it must be. When
\ntoday we meet, I must tell her that for reason which we will not to
\nspeak she must not more be of our council, but be simply guarded by
\nus.”<\/p>\n

He wiped his forehead, which had broken out in profuse
\nperspiration at the thought of the pain which he might have to
\ninflict upon the poor soul already so tortured. I knew that it
\nwould be some sort of comfort to him if I told him that I also had
\ncome to the same conclusion. For at any rate it would take away the
\npain of doubt. I told him, and the effect was as I expected.<\/p>\n

It is now close to the time of our general gathering. Van
\nHelsing has gone away to prepare for the meeting, and his painful
\npart of it. I really believe his purpose is to be able to pray
\nalone.<\/p>\n

Later.\u2014At the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief
\nwas experienced by both Van Helsing and myself. Mrs. Harker had
\nsent a message by her husband to say that she would not join us at
\npresent, as she thought it better that we should be free to discuss
\nour movements without her presence to embarrass us. The Professor
\nand I looked at each other for an instant, and somehow we both
\nseemed relieved. For my own part, I thought that if Mrs. Harker
\nrealized the danger herself, it was much pain as well as much
\ndanger averted. Under the circumstances we agreed, by a questioning
\nlook and answer, with finger on lip, to preserve silence in our
\nsuspicions, until we should have been able to confer alone again.
\nWe went at once into our Plan of Campaign.<\/p>\n

Van Helsing roughly put the facts before us first,”The Czarina
\nCatherine left the Thames yesterday morning. It will take her at
\nthe quickest speed she has ever made at least three weeks to reach
\nVarna. But we can travel overland to the same place in three days.
\nNow, if we allow for two days less for the ship’s voyage, owing to
\nsuch weather influences as we know that the Count can bring to
\nbear, and if we allow a whole day and night for any delays which
\nmay occur to us, then we have a margin of nearly two weeks.<\/p>\n

“Thus, in order to be quite safe, we must leave here on 17th at
\nlatest. Then we shall at any rate be in Varna a day before the ship
\narrives, and able to make such preparations as may be necessary. Of
\ncourse we shall all go armed, armed against evil things, spiritual
\nas well as physical.”<\/p>\n

Here Quincey Morris added,”I understand that the Count comes
\nfrom a wolf country, and it may be that he shall get there before
\nus. I propose that we add Winchesters to our armament. I have a
\nkind of belief in a Winchester when there is any trouble of that
\nsort around. Do you remember, Art, when we had the pack after us at
\nTobolsk? What wouldn’t we have given then for a repeater
\napiece!”<\/p>\n

“Good!” said Van Helsing, “Winchesters it shall be. Quincey’s
\nhead is level at times, but most so when there is to hunt, metaphor
\nbe more dishonor to science than wolves be of danger to man. In the
\nmeantime we can do nothing here. And as I think that Varna is not
\nfamiliar to any of us, why not go there more soon? It is as long to
\nwait here as there. Tonight and tomorrow we can get ready, and then
\nif all be well, we four can set out on our journey.”<\/p>\n

“We four?” said Harker interrogatively, looking from one to
\nanother of us.<\/p>\n

“Of course!” answered the Professor quickly. “You must remain to
\ntake care of your so sweet wife!”<\/p>\n

Harker was silent for awhile and then said in a hollow voice,
\n“Let us talk of that part of it in the morning. I want to consult
\nwith Mina.”<\/p>\n

I thought that now was the time for Van Helsing to warn him not
\nto disclose our plan to her, but he took no notice. I looked at him
\nsignificantly and coughed. For answer he put his finger to his lips
\nand turned away.<\/p>\n

JONATHAN HARKER’S JOURNAL<\/p>\n

October, afternoon.\u2014For some time after our meeting this morning
\nI could not think. The new phases of things leave my mind in a
\nstate of wonder which allows no room for active thought. Mina’s
\ndetermination not to take any part in the discussion set me
\nthinking. And as I could not argue the matter with her, I could
\nonly guess. I am as far as ever from a solution now. The way the
\nothers received it, too puzzled me. The last time we talked of the
\nsubject we agreed that there was to be no more concealment of
\nanything amongst us. Mina is sleeping now, calmly and sweetly like
\na little child. Her lips are curved and her face beams with
\nhappiness. Thank God, there are such moments still for her.<\/p>\n

Later.\u2014How strange it all is. I sat watching Mina’s happy sleep,
\nand I came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever
\nbe. As the evening drew on, and the earth took its shadows from the
\nsun sinking lower, the silence of the room grew more and more
\nsolemn to me.<\/p>\n

All at once Mina opened her eyes, and looking at me tenderly
\nsaid, “Jonathan, I want you to promise me something on your word of
\nhonor. A promise made to me, but made holily in God’s hearing, and
\nnot to be broken though I should go down on my knees and implore
\nyou with bitter tears. Quick, you must make it to me at once.”<\/p>\n

“Mina,” I said, “a promise like that, I cannot make at once. I
\nmay have no right to make it.”<\/p>\n

“But, dear one,” she said, with such spiritual intensity that
\nher eyes were like pole stars, “it is I who wish it. And it is not
\nfor myself. You can ask Dr. Van Helsing if I am not right. If he
\ndisagrees you may do as you will. Nay, more if you all agree, later
\nyou are absolved from the promise.”<\/p>\n

“I promise!” I said, and for a moment she looked supremely
\nhappy. Though to me all happiness for her was denied by the red
\nscar on her forehead.<\/p>\n

She said, “Promise me that you will not tell me anything of the
\nplans formed for the campaign against the Count. Not by word, or
\ninference, or implication, not at any time whilst this remains to
\nme!” And she solemnly pointed to the scar. I saw that she was in
\nearnest, and said solemnly, “I promise!” and as I said it I felt
\nthat from that instant a door had been shut between us.<\/p>\n

Later, midnight.\u2014Mina has been bright and cheerful all the
\nevening. So much so that all the rest seemed to take courage, as if
\ninfected somewhat with her gaiety. As a result even I myself felt
\nas if the pall of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted.
\nWe all retired early. Mina is now sleeping like a little child. It
\nis wonderful thing that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the
\nmidst of her terrible trouble. Thank God for it, for then at least
\nshe can forget her care. Perhaps her example may affect me as her
\ngaiety did tonight. I shall try it. Oh! For a dreamless sleep.<\/p>\n

6 October, morning.\u2014Another surprise. Mina woke me early, about
\nthe same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring Dr. Van Helsing.
\nI thought that it was another occassion for hypnotism, and without
\nquestion went for the Professor. He had evidently expected some
\nsuch call, for I found him dressed in his room. His door was ajar,
\nso that he could hear the opening of the door of our room. He came
\nat once. As he passed into the room, he asked Mina if the others
\nmight come, too.<\/p>\n

“No,” she said quite simply, “it will not be necessary. You can
\ntell them just as well. I must go with you on your journey.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Van Helsing was as startled as I was. After a moment’s pause
\nhe asked, “But why?”<\/p>\n

“You must take me with you. I am safer with you, and you shall
\nbe safer, too.”<\/p>\n

“But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our
\nsolemnest duty. We go into danger, to which you are, or may be,
\nmore liable than any of us from\u00a0\u2026 from circumstances\u00a0\u2026
\nthings that have been.” He paused embarrassed.<\/p>\n

As she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her
\nforehead. “I know. That is why I must go. I can tell you now,
\nwhilst the sun is coming up. I may not be able again. I know that
\nwhen the Count wills me I must go. I know that if he tells me to
\ncome in secret, I must by wile. By any device to hoodwink, even
\nJonathan.” God saw the look that she turned on me as she spoke, and
\nif there be indeed a Recording Angel that look is noted to her
\never-lasting honor. I could only clasp her hand. I could not speak.
\nMy emotion was too great for even the relief of tears.<\/p>\n

She went on. “You men are brave and strong. You are strong in
\nyour numbers, for you can defy that which would break down the
\nhuman endurance of one who had to guard alone. Besides, I may be of
\nservice, since you can hypnotize me and so learn that which even I
\nmyself do not know.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Van Helsing said gravely, “Madam Mina, you are, as always,
\nmost wise. You shall with us come. And together we shall do that
\nwhich we go forth to achieve.”<\/p>\n

When he had spoken, Mina’s long spell of silence made me look at
\nher. She had fallen back on her pillow asleep. She did not even
\nwake when I had pulled up the blind and let in the sunlight which
\nflooded the room. Van Helsing motioned to me to come with him
\nquietly. We went to his room, and within a minute Lord Godalming,
\nDr. Seward, and Mr. Morris were with us also.<\/p>\n

He told them what Mina had said, and went on. “In the morning we
\nshall leave for Varna. We have now to deal with a new factor, Madam
\nMina. Oh, but her soul is true. It is to her an agony to tell us so
\nmuch as she has done. But it is most right, and we are warned in
\ntime. There must be no chance lost, and in Varna we must be ready
\nto act the instant when that ship arrives.”<\/p>\n

“What shall we do exactly?” asked Mr. Morris laconically.<\/p>\n

The Professor paused before replying, “We shall at the first
\nboard that ship. Then, when we have identified the box, we shall
\nplace a branch of the wild rose on it. This we shall fasten, for
\nwhen it is there none can emerge, so that at least says the
\nsuperstition. And to superstition must we trust at the first. It
\nwas man’s faith in the early, and it have its root in faith still.
\nThen, when we get the opportunity that we seek, when none are near
\nto see, we shall open the box, and\u00a0\u2026 and all will be
\nwell.”<\/p>\n

“I shall not wait for any opportunity,” said Morris. “When I see
\nthe box I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were
\na thousand men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the
\nnext moment!” I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm
\nas a piece of steel. I think he understood my look. I hope he
\ndid.<\/p>\n

“Good boy,” said Dr. Van Helsing. “Brave boy. Quincey is all
\nman. God bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall
\nlag behind or pause from any fear. I do but say what we may
\ndo\u00a0\u2026 what we must do. But, indeed, indeed we cannot say what
\nwe may do. There are so many things which may happen, and their
\nways and their ends are so various that until the moment we may not
\nsay. We shall all be armed, in all ways. And when the time for the
\nend has come, our effort shall not be lack. Now let us today put
\nall our affairs in order. Let all things which touch on others dear
\nto us, and who on us depend, be complete. For none of us can tell
\nwhat, or when, or how, the end may be. As for me, my own affairs
\nare regulate, and as I have nothing else to do, I shall go make
\narrangements for the travel. I shall have all tickets and so forth
\nfor our journey.”<\/p>\n

There was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now
\nsettle up all my affairs of earth, and be ready for whatever may
\ncome.<\/p>\n

Later.\u2014It is done. My will is made, and all complete. Mina if
\nshe survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the
\nothers who have been so good to us shall have remainder.<\/p>\n

It is now drawing towards the sunset. Mina’s uneasiness calls my
\nattention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mind
\nwhich the time of exact sunset will reveal. These occasions are
\nbecoming harrowing times for us all. For each sunrise and sunset
\nopens up some new danger, some new pain, which however, may in
\nGod’s will be means to a good end. I write all these things in the
\ndiary since my darling must not hear them now. But if it may be
\nthat she can see them again, they shall be ready. She is calling to
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