 CHAPTER XXIII. Dr. Seward's Diary. 3 October. The time seemed terribly long whilst we were waiting for the coming of Godalming and Quincy Morris. The professor tried to keep our minds active by using them all the time. I could see his beneficent purpose by the side glances which he threw from time to time at Harker. The poor fellow is overwhelmed in a misery that is appalling to see. Last night he was a frank, happy-looking man with strong youthful face, full of energy, and with dark brown hair. Today he is a drawn, haggard old man whose white hair matches well with the hollow, burning eyes and grief-written lines of his face. His energy is still intact. In fact, he is like a living flame. This may yet be his salvation, for if all go well it may tide him over the despairing period. He will then, in a kind of way, wake again to the realities of life. Poor fellow. I thought my own trouble was bad enough but his. The professor knows this well enough and is doing his best to keep his mind active. What he has been saying was, under the circumstances, of absorbing interest, so well as I can remember here it is. I have studied over and over again, since they came into my hands, all the papers relating to this monster. And the more I have studied, the greater seems the necessity to utterly stamp him out. All through there are signs of his advance, not only of his power, but of his knowledge of it. As I learned from the researches of my friend Arminius of Budapest, he was in life a most wonderful man, soldier, statesman, and alchemist, which latter was the highest development of the science's knowledge of his time. He had a mighty brain, a learning beyond compare, and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse. He dared even to attend the Scolomance, and there was no branch of knowledge of his time that he did not assay. Well, in him the brain power survived the physical death, although it would seem that memory was not all complete. In some faculties of mind he has been, and is, only a child. But he is growing, and some things that were childish at first are now a man's stature. He is experimenting and doing it well. And if it had not been that we have crossed his path, he would be yet, and he may be yet if we fail. A father or furtherer of a new order of beings whose road must lead through death, not life. Harker groaned and said, and this is all arrayed against my darling. But how is he experimenting? The knowledge may help us to defeat him. He has, all along, since his coming, been trying his power slowly, but surely. That big child brain of his is working. Well, for us it is as yet a child brain. For had he dared, at the first, to attempt certain things, he would long ago have been beyond our power. However, he means to succeed, and a man who has centuries before him can afford to wait, and to go slow. Festina lente may well be his motto. I fail to understand, said Harker wearily. Oh, do be more plain to me. Perhaps grief and trouble are dulling my brain. The professor laid his hand tenderly on his shoulder as he spoke. My child, I will be plain. Do you not see how, of late, this monster has been creeping into knowledge experimentally? How he has been making use of the zoophagus patient to affect his entry into front John's home. For your vampire, though in all afterwards he can come when and how he will, must at the first make entry only when asked thereto by an inmate. But these are not his important experiments. Do we not see how, at the first, all those great boxes were moved by others? He knew not then, but that must be so. But all the time that so great child-brain of his was growing, and he began to consider whether he might not himself move the box. So he began to help. And then, when he found that this be all right, he tried to move them all alone. And so he progressed, and he scattered those graves of him. And none but he know where they are hidden. He may have intend to bury them deep in the ground, so that only he use them in the night, or at such time as he can change his form. They do him equal well, and none may know these are his hiding place. But my child, do not despair. This knowledge came to him just too late. Already all of this lares but one be sterilized as for him. And before the sunset this shall be so. Then he had no place where he can move and hide. I delayed this morning so that we might be sure. Is there not more at stake for us than for him? Then why not be more careful than him? By my clock it is one hour, and already, if all be well, friend Arthur and Quincy are on their way to us. Today is our day, and we must go sure, if slow, and lose no chance. See, there are five of us when those absent ones return. Whilst we were speaking we were startled by a knock at the hall door, the double postman's knock of the telegraph boy. We all moved out to the hall with one impulse, and Van Helsing, holding up his hand to us to keep silence, stepped to the door and opened it. The boy handed in a dispatch. The professor closed the door again, and after looking at the direction, opened it and read aloud. Look out for Dee. He has just now. Twelve forty-five come from Carfax hurriedly and hastened towards the south. He seems to be going the round and may want to see you. Mina. There was a pause broken by Jonathan Harker's voice. Now God be thanked. We shall soon meet. Van Helsing turned to him quickly and said, God will act in his own way in time. Do not fear and do not rejoice as yet, for what we wish for at the moment may be our own undoings. I care for nothing now, he answered hotly, except to wipe out this brute from the face of creation. I would sell my soul to do it. Oh, I shush my child, said Van Helsing. God does not purchase souls, and this wise, and the devil, though he may purchase, does not keep faith. But God is merciful and just, and knows your pain and your devotion to that dear Madam Mina. Think you how her pain would be doubled. Did she but hear your wild words? Do not fear any of us. We are all devoted to this cause, and today shall see the end. The time is coming for action. Today this vampire is limit to the powers of man, until sunset he may not change. It will take him time to arrive here, see it is twenty minutes past one, and there are yet sometimes before he can either come, be he never so quick. What we must hope for is that my Lord Arthur and Quincy arrive first. After half an hour, after we had received Mrs. Harker's telegram, there came a quiet, resolute knock at the hall door. It was just an ordinary knock, such as is given hourly by thousands of gentlemen. But it made the professor's heart and mind beat loudly. We looked at each other, and together moved out into the hall. We each held ready to use our various armaments, the spiritual in the left hand, the mortal in the right. Van Helsing pulled back the latch, and holding the door half open, stood back, having both hands ready for action. The gladness of our hearts must have shown upon our faces when on the step, close to the door, we saw Lord Godowning and Quincy Morris. They came quickly in and closed the door behind them, the former saying as they moved along the hall, it is all right, we found both places, six boxes at each, and we destroyed them all. Destroyed? asked the professor. For him we were silent for a minute, and then Quincy said, there's nothing to do but to wait here. If, however, he doesn't turn up by five o'clock, we must start off for it, won't do to leave Mrs. Harker alone after sunset. He will be here before long now, said Van Helsing, who had been consulted his pocketbook. Notabene, in Madame's telegram, he went south from Carfax. That means he went to cross the river, and he could only do so at slack of tide, which should be something before one o'clock. That he went south has a meaning for us. He is at yet only suspicious, and he went from Carfax, first to the place where he would suspect interference least. You must have been at Bermondsey only a short time before him. That he is not here already shows that he went to Mile End next. This took him some time, for he would then have to be carried over the river in some way. Believe me, my friends, we shall not have long to wait now. We may have ready some plan of attack, so that we may throw away no chance. Hush! There is no time now. Have all your arms be ready!" He held up a warning hand as he spoke, for we all could hear a key softly inserted in the lock of the hall door. I could not but admire, even at such a moment, the way in which a dominant spirit asserted itself, all our hunting parties and adventures in different parts of the world. Quincy Morris had always been the one to arrange the plan of action, and Arthur and I had been accustomed to obey him implicitly. Now the old habit seemed to be renewed instinctively. With a swift glance around the room, he at once laid out our plan of attack, and without speaking a word, with a gesture, placed us each in position. Van Helsing, Harker and I were just behind the door, so that when it was opened, the Professor could guard it, whilst we too stepped between the incomer and the door. Gedalming and Quincy in front stood just out of sight, ready to move in front of the window. We waited in a suspense that made the seconds pass with nightmare slowness. Slow, careful steps came along the hall. The Count was evidently prepared for some surprise. At least he feared it. Suddenly, with a single bound, he leaped into the room, when in a way passed us before any of us could raise a hand to stay him. There was something so panther-like in the movement, something so unhuman that it seemed to sober us all from the shock of his coming. 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 house. As the Count saw us, a horrible sort of snarl passed over his face, showing the eye-teeth long and pointed, but the evil smile as quickly passed into a cold stare of lion-like disdain. His expression again changed as with a single impulse we all advanced upon him. It was a pity that we had not some better organized plan of attack, for even at the moment I wondered what we were to do. I 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 cookery knife and made a fierce and sudden cut at him. The blow was a powerful one. Only the diabolical quickness of the Count's leap back saved him. A second less and the trenchant blade had shorn through his heart, as it was, the point just cut the cloth of his coat, making a wide gap whence a bundle of banknotes and a stream of gold fell out. The 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 stroke. Instinctively I moved forward with a protective impulse, holding the crucifix and wafer in my left hand. I 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 of us. It would be impossible to describe the expression of hate and baffled malignity of anger and hellish rage which came over the Count's face. His wax and 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 wound. The 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 window. Amid the crash and glitter of the falling glass he tumbled into the flagged area below. Through the sound of the shivering glass I could hear the ting of the gold as some of the sovereigns fell in the flagging. We ran over and saw him spring unhurt from the ground. He, rushing up the steps, crossed the flagged yard and pushed open the stable door. There he turned and spoke to us. You think you baffle me? You with your pale faces all in a row, like sheep in a butcher's. You shall be sorry yet, each of you. You think you have left me without a place to rest, but I have more. My revenge has just begun. I spread it over centuries and time is on my side. Your girls that you all love are mine already, and through them you and others shall yet be mine, my creatures to do my bidding, to be my jackals when I want to feed. With a contemptuous sneer he passed quickly through the door and we heard the rusty bolt creak as he fastened it behind him. A door beyond opened and shut. The first of us to speak was the professor. Realizing the difficulty of following him through the stable we moved toward the hall. We have learned something much. Notwithstanding his brave words he fears us. He fears time. He fears want. For if not, why he hurries so? His very tone betrays him, or my ears deceive. Why take that money? You follow quick. You are hunters of the wild beast and understand it so. For 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 tidal 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 the match. Gedalmin and Morris had rushed out into the yard and Harker had lowered himself from the window to follow the count. He had, however, bolted the stable door and by the time they had forced it open there was no sign of him. Van Helsing and I tried to make inquiry at the back of the house, but the muse was deserted and no one had seen him depart. It was now late in the afternoon and sunset was not far off. We had to recognize that our game was up. With heavy hearts we agreed with the professor when he said, Let us go back to Madame Mina. Poor, poor dear Madame Mina, all we can do just now is done and we can there at least protect her. But we need not despair. There is but one more earth-box and we must try to find it. When that is done all may yet be well. I could see that he spoke as bravely as he could to comfort Harker. The poor fellow was quite broken down. Now and again he gave a low groan which he could not suppress. He was thinking of his wife. With sad hearts we came back to the house where we found Mrs. Harker waiting us with an appearance of cheerfulness which did honor to her bravery and unselfishness. When she saw our faces her own became as pale as death for a second or two her eyes were closed as if she were in secret prayer. And then she said cheerfully, I could never thank you all enough. Oh, my poor darling. As she spoke she took her husband's grey head in her hands and kissed it. Lay your poor head here and rest it. All will yet be well, dear. God will protect us if he so will it in his good intent. The poor fellow groaned. There was no place for words in his sublime misery. We had a sort of perfunctory supper together and I think it cheered us all up somewhat. It was perhaps the mere animal heat of food to hungry people for none of us had eaten anything since breakfast or the sense of companionship which may have helped us. But anyhow we were all less miserable and saw the morrow as not altogether without hope. True to our promise we told Mrs. Harker everything which had passed. And although she grew snowy white at times when danger had seemed to threaten her husband and read at others when his devotion to her was manifested she listened bravely and with calmness. When we came to the part where Harker had rushed at the count so recklessly she clung to her husband's arm and held it tight as though her clinging could protect him from any harm that might come. She said nothing, however, till the narration was all done and matters had been brought up to the present time. Then without letting go her husband's hand she stood up amongst us and spoke so that I could give any idea of the scene of that sweet, sweet, good, good woman in all the radiant beauty of her youth and animation with the red scar on her forehead of which she was conscious and which we saw with grinding of our teeth remembering whence and how it came. Her loving kindness against our grim hate her tender faith against all our fears and doubting and we, knowing that so far as symbols went she, with all her goodness and purity and faith was outcast from God. Jonathan she said and the word sounded like music on her lips it was so full of love and tenderness Jonathan dear and you all my true, true friends I want you to bear something in mind through all this dreadful time I know that you must fight that you must destroy even as you destroyed the false Lucy so that the true Lucy might live forever but it is not a work of hate that poor soul who has wrought all his misery is the saddest case of all just think what will be his joy when he too is destroyed in his worse part that his better part may have spiritual immortality you must be pitiful to him too though it may not hold your hands from his destruction as she spoke I could see her husband's face darken and draw together as though the passion in him were shriveling his being to its core Instinctively the clasp of his wife's hand grew closer till his knuckles looked white she did not flinch from the pain which I knew she must have suffered but looked at him with eyes that were more appealing than ever as he stopped speaking he leaped to his feet almost tearing his hand from hers as he spoke may God give him into my hand just for long enough to destroy that earthly life of him which we are aiming at if beyond it I could send his soul forever and ever to burning hell I would do it oh hush oh hush in the name of the good God don't say such things Jonathan my dear husband or you will crush me with fear and horror just think my dear I have been thinking all this long long day of it that perhaps some day I too may need such pity and that some other like you and with equal cause for anger may deny it to me oh my husband my husband indeed I would have spared you such a thought had there been another way but I pray that God may not have treasured your wild words except as the heartbroken whale of a very loving and sorely stricken man oh God let these poor white hairs go in evidence of what he has suffered who all his life has gone no wrong and on whom so many sorrows have come we men were all in tears now there was no resisting them and we wept openly she wept too to see that her sweet counsels had prevailed her husband flung himself on his knees beside her and putting his arms round her hid his face in the folds of her dress Van Helsing beckoned to us and we stole out of the room leaving the two loving hearts alone with our God before they retired the professor fixed up the room against any coming of the vampire and assured Mrs. Harker that she might rest in peace she tried to school herself to the belief and manifestly for her husband's sake tried to seem content it was a brave struggle and was I think and believe not without its reward Van Helsing had placed at hand a bell which either of them was to sound in case of any emergency when they had retired Quincy, Godalmin, and I arranged that we should sit up dividing the night between us and watch over the safety of the poor stricken lady the first watch falls to Quincy so the rest of us shall be off to bed as soon as we can Godalmin has already turned in for his is the second watch now that my work is done I too shall go to bed Jonathan Harker's Journal 3-4 October, close to midnight I thought yesterday would never end there was over me a yearning for sleep in some sort of blind belief that to wake would be to find things changed and that any change must now be for the better before we parted we discussed what our next step was to be but we could arrive at no result all we knew was that one earth box remained and that the count alone knew where it was if he chooses to lie hidden he may baffle us for years and in the meantime the thought is too horrible I dare not think of it even now this I know that if ever there was a woman who was all perfection that one is my poor wronged darling I loved her a thousand times more for her sweet pity of last night a pity that made my own hate of the monster seemed despicable surely God will not permit the world to be poorer by the loss of such a creature this is hope to me we are all drifting reef wards now and faith is our only anchor thank God Mina is sleeping and sleeping without dreams I fear what her dreams might be like with such terrible memories to ground them in she has not been so calm within my seeing since the sunset then for a while there came over her such a repose which was like spring after the blasts of March I thought at the time that it was the softness of the red sunset on her face but somehow now I think it has a deeper meaning I am not sleepy myself though I am weary weary to death however I must try to sleep for there is tomorrow to think of and there is no rest for me until later I must have fallen asleep for I was awakened by Mina who was sitting up in bed with a startled look on her face I could see easily for we did not leave the room in darkness she had placed a warning hand over my mouth and now she whispered in my ear hush there is someone in the corridor I got up softly and crossing the room gently opened the door just outside stretched on a mattress lay Mr. Morris wide awake he raised a warning hand for silence as he whispered to me hush go back to bed it is all right one of us will be here all night we don't mean to take any chances his look and gesture for bad discussion so I came back and told Mina she sighed and positively a shadow of a smile stole over her poor pale face as she put her arms round me and said softly oh thank God for good brave men with a sigh she sank back again to sleep I write this now as I am not sleepy though I must try again for October morning once again during the night I was wakened by Mina this time we had all had a good sleep for the gray of the coming dawn was making the windows into sharp oblongs and the gas flame was like a speck rather than a disk of light she said to me hurriedly go call the professor I want to see him at once why? I asked I have an idea I suppose it must have come in the night and matured without my knowing it he must hypnotise me before the dawn and then I shall be able to speak go quick, dearest the time is getting close I went to the door Dr. Seward was resting on the mattress and seeing me he sprang to his feet is anything wrong? he asked in alarm no, I replied but Mina wants to see Dr. Van Helsing at once I will go, he said and hurried into the professor's room two or three minutes later Van Helsing was in the room in his dressing-gown and Mr. Morris and Lord Godelming were with Dr. Seward at the door asking questions when the professor saw Mina a smile, a positive smile ousted the anxiety of his face he rubbed his hands as he said oh my dear Madam Mina this is indeed a change see Friends Jonathan we have got our dear Madam Mina as of old back to us today then turning to her he said cheerfully and what am I to do for you for at this hour you do not want me for anything I want you to hypnotise me she said do it before the dawn for I feel that then I can speak and speak freely be quick, for the time is short without a word he motioned her to sit up in bed looking fixedly at her he commenced to make passes in front of her from over the top of her head downward with each hand in turn Mina gazed at him fixedly for a few minutes during which my own heart beat like a trip hammer for I felt that some crisis was at hand gradually her eyes closed and she sat stock still only by the gentle heaving of her bosom could one know that she was alive the professor made a few more passes and then stopped and I could see that his forehead was covered with great beads of perspiration Mina opened her eyes but she did not seem the same woman there was a far away look in her eyes and her voice had a sad dreaminess which was new to me raising his hand to impose silence the professor motioned to me to bring the others in they came on tiptoe closing the door behind them and stood at the foot of the bed looking on Mina appeared not to see them the stillness was broken by Van Helsing's voice speaking in a low level tone which would not break the current of her thoughts where are you? the answer came in a neutral way I do not know sleep has no place it can call its own for several minutes there was silence Mina sat rigid and the professor stood staring at her fixedly the rest of us hardly dared to breathe the room was growing lighter without taking his eyes from Mina's face Dr. Van Helsing motioned to me to pull up the blind I did so and the day seemed just upon us a red streak shot up and a rosy light seemed to diffuse itself through the room on the instant the professor spoke again where are you now? the answer came dreamily but with intention it were as though she were interpreting something I have heard her use the same tone when reading her shorthand notes I do not know it is all strange to me what can you see? I can see nothing it is all dark what do you hear? I could detect the strain in the professor's patient voice the lapping of water it is gurgling by and little waves leap I can hear them on the outside then you are on a ship? we all looked at each other trying to glean something each from the other we were afraid to think the answer came quick oh yes what else do you hear? the sound of men stamping overhead as they run about there is the creaking of a chain and the loud tinkle as the chuck of the capstone falls into the ratchet what are you doing? I am still oh so still it is like death the voice faded away into a deep breath as of one sleeping and the open eyes closed again by this time the sun had risen and we were all in the full light of day Dr. Van Helsing placed his hands on Mina's shoulders and laid her head down softly on her pillow she lay like a sleeping child for a few moments and then with a long sigh awoke and stared in wonder to see us all around her have I been talking in my sleep? was all she said she seemed however to know the situation without telling though she was eager to know what she had said the professor repeated the conversation and she said then there is not a moment to lose it may not be yet too late Mr. Morris and Lord Godelming started for the door but the professor's calm voice called them back that ship wherever it was was weighing anchor at the moment in your so great port of London which of them is it that you seek? God be thanked that we have once again a clue though whether it may lead us we know not we have been blind somewhat blind after the manner of men since we can look back we see what we might have been seeing forward if we had been able to see what we might have seen alas but that sentence is a puddle is it not? we can know now what was in the Count's mind when he sees that money though Jonathan's so fierce knife put him in the danger that even he dread he meant escape hear me escape he saw that with but one earth box left and a pack of men following like dogs after a fox this London was no place for him he have take his last earth box on board a ship and he leave the land he think to escape but no we follow him telly ho as friend Arthur would say when he put on his red frock our old fox is wily oh so wily and we must follow with wile I too am wily and I think his mind in a little while in meantime we may rest and in peace for there are between us which he do not want to pass and which he could not if he would unless the ship were to touch the land and then only at full or slack tide sea and the sun is just rose and all day to sunset is us let us take bath and dress and have breakfast which we all need and which we can eat comfortably since he be not in the same land with us Mina looked at him appealingly as she asked but why need we seek him further when he is gone away from us he took her hand and patted it as he replied ask me nothing is yet when we have breakfast then I answer all questions he would say no more and we separated to dress after breakfast Mina repeated her question he looked at her gravely for a minute and then said sorrowfully because my dear, dear Madam Mina now more than ever must we find him even if we have to follow him to the jaws of hell she grew paler as she asked faintly why because he said solemnly he can live for centuries and you are but mortal woman time is now to be dreaded since once he put that mark upon your throat I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of Dracula This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Dracula by Bram Stoker Chapter 24 Read by Robert Smith MB Elizabeth Klett Dennis Sayers Dr. Seward's phonograph, Thyle Spoken by Van Helsing This to Jonathan Harker You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina We shall go to make our search if I can call it so Let's not search but knowing and we seek confirmation only But do you stay and take care of her today This is your best and most holiest office This day nothing can find him here Let me tell you that so you will know what we for know already for I have told them He, our enemy, have gone away He have gone back to his castle in Transylvania I know it so well He have prepared for this in some way and that last earth box was ready to ship somewhere For this he took the money For this he hurried at the last lest we catch him before the sun go down It was his last hope save that he might hide in the tomb that he think poor Miss Lucy being as he thought like him keep open to him But there was not of time When that fail he make straight for his last resource his last earth work I might say did I wish double entrant He is clever, oh so clever He know that his game here was finished and so he decide he go back home He find ship going by the route he came and he go in it We go off now to find what ship and where the bound When we have discover that we come back and tell you all we comfort you and poor Mother Meadah with new hope for it will be hope when you think it over that all is not lost This very creature that we pursue he take hundreds of years to get so far as London and yet in one day when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out he is finite though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do but we are strong each in our purpose and we are all more strong together Take heart afresh dear husband of Madam Meadah this battle is but begun and in the end we shall win so sure as that God sits on high to watch over his children therefore be of much comfort till we return Van Helsing Jonathan Harker's Journal 4 October When I read to Meadah Van Helsing's message in the phonograph the poor girl brightened up considerably already the certainty that the Count is out of the country has given her comfort and comfort is strength to her for my own part now that his horrible danger is not face to face with us it seems almost impossible to believe in it even my own terrible experiences in Castle Dracula seem like a long forgotten dream Here in the crisper autumn air in the bright sunlight Alas how can I disbelieve in the midst of my thought my eye fell on the red scar on my poor darling's white forehead whilst that lasts there can be no disbelief Mina and I fear to be idle so we have been over all the diaries again and again somehow although the reality seem greater each time the pain and the fear seem less there is something of a guiding purpose manifest throughout which is comforting Mina says that perhaps we are the instruments of ultimate good it may be I shall try to think as she does we have never spoken to each other yet of the future it is better to wait till we see the professor and the others after their investigations The day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day could run for me again it is now three o'clock Mina Harker's Journal Fifth October 5 p.m. our meeting for report present Professor Van Helsing Lord Godelming Dr. Seward Mr. Quincy Morris Jonathan Harker The meeting described what steps were taken during the day to discover on what boat and with a bound Count Dracula made his escape as I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania I felt sure that he must go by the Danube mouth or by somewhere in the Black Sea since by that way he come it was a dreary blank that was before us Omne Ignotum Pro Magnifico and so with heavy hearts we find what ships leave for the Black Sea last night he was in sailing-ship since Madame Mina tell of sales being set these not so important as to go in your list of the shipping in the times and so we go, by suggestion of Lord Godelming, to your Lloyds where our note of all ships that sail, however so small there we find that only one Black Sea bound ship go out with the tide Catherine and she sail from Doolittle's Wharf for Varna and thence to other ports and up the Danube so, said I, this is the ship whereon is the Count so off we go to Doolittle's Wharf and there we find a man in an office from him we inquire of the goings of the Zarina Catherine he swear much and he red face and louder voice but he good fellow all the same and when Quincy give him something from his pocket and put it in so smaller bag which he have hid deep in his clothing he still better fellow and humble servant to us he come with us and ask many men who are rough and hot these be better fellows too when they have been no more thirsty they say much of blood and bloom and of others which I comprehend not though I guess what they mean but nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know they make known to us among them in the afternoon at about five o'clock comes a man so hurry a tall man thin and pale with high nose and teeth so white and eyes that seem to be burning that he be all in black except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him all the time that he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to what ship sails for the black sea and for where some took him to the office and then to the ship where he will not go aboard and ask that the captain come to him the captain come when told that he will pay well and though he swear much at the first he agree to term then the thin man go and someone tell him where horse and cart can be hired he go there and soon he come again himself driving cart on which a great box this he himself lift down though it takes several to put it on truck for the ship he give much talk to captain as to how and where this box is to be place but the captain like it not and swear at him in many tongues and tell him that if he like he can come and see where it shall be but he say no that he come not yet for that he have much to do where upon the captain tell him that he better be quick with blood for that his ship will leave the place of blood before the turn of the tide with blood then the thin man smile and say that of course he must go when he think fit but he will be surprised if he go quite soon the captain swear again and the thin man make him bow and thank him and see that he will so far intrude in his kindness as to come aboard before the sailing finally the captain more red than ever and in more tongues tell him that he doesn't want no Frenchman with bloom upon them and also with blood in his ship with blood on her also and so after asking where he might purchase ship forms he departed no one knew where he went or blooming well cared as they said for they had something else to think of with blood again for it soon became apparent to all that the Zarina Catherine would not sail as was expected a thin mist began to creep up from the river and it grew and grew till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all around her the captain swore polyglot very polyglot polyglot with bloom and blood but he could do nothing the water rose and rose and he began to fear that he would lose the tide altogether he was in no friendly mood and just at full tide the thin man came up the gangplank again and asked to see where his box had been stowed then the captain replied that he wished that he and his box old and with much bloom and blood were in hell but the thin man did not be a friend and went down with the mate and saw it was placed and came up and stood a while on deck in fog he must have come off by himself for none notice him indeed they thought not of him for soon the fog began to melt away and all was clear again the first and the language that was of bloom and blood laughed as they told how the captain swears exceeded even his usual polyglot and was more than ever full of picturesque when on questioning other mariners who were on movement up and down the river that hour he found that few of them had seen any of fog at all except where it lay round the wharf however the ship went out on the ebb tide and was doubtless by morning far down the river mouth she was then, when they told us well out to sea my dear Madame Mina it is that we have to rest for a time for our enemy is on the sea with the fog at his command on his way to the Danube mouth to sail a ship takes time go she never so quick and when we start to go on land more quick and we will meet him there our best hope is to come on him when in the box between sunrise and sunset for then he can make no struggle and we may deal with him as we should there are days for us ready our plan we know all about where he go for we have seen the owner of the ship who have shown us invoices and all papers that can be the box we seek is to be landed in Varna and to be given to an agent one Ristix who will there present his credentials and so our merchant friend will have done his part when he ask if there be any wrong for that so he can telegraph and have inquiry made at Varna we say no for what is to be done is not for police it must be done by us alone and in our own way when Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking I asked him if he was certain that the count had remained on board the ship he replied we have the best proof of that your own evidence when in the hypnotic trance this morning I asked him again if it were really necessary that they should pursue the count oh I dread Jonathan leaving me and I know that he would surely go if the others went he answered in growing passion at first quietly as he went on however he grew more angry and forceful till in the end we could not but see wherein was at least some of that personal dominance which made him so long a master amongst men yes it is necessary necessary necessary for your sake in the first and then for the sake of humanity this monster has done much harm already in the narrow scope where he find himself and in the short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small measure in darkness and not knowing all this have I told these others you, my dear Madam Mina will learn it in the phonograph of my friend John or in that of your husband I have told them how the measure of leaving his own barren land, barren of peoples and coming to a new land where life of man teams till they are like the multitudes of standing corn was the work of centuries were another of the undead like him to try to do what he has done perhaps not all the centuries of the world that have been or that will be could aid him with this one all the forces of nature that are occult and deep and strong must have worked together in some wondrous way the very place where he have been alive undead for all these centuries is full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical world there are deep caverns and fissures that reach none no wither there have been volcanoes some of whose openings still send out waters of strange properties and gases that kill or make to vivify doubtless there is something magnetic or electric in some of these combinations of occult forces which work for physical life in strange way and in himself were from the first some great qualities in a hard and warlike time that he have more iron nerve more subtle brain more braver heart than any man in him some vital principle have in strange way found their utmost and as his body keeps strong and grow and thrive so his brain grow too all this without that diabolic aid which is surely to him for it have to yield to the powers that come from and are symbolic of good and now this is what he is to us he have infect you oh forgive me my dear that I must say such but it is for good of you that I speak he infect you in such wise that even if he do no more you have only to live to live in your own old sweet way and so in time death which is of man's common lot and with God's sanction shall make you like to him this must not be we have sworn together that it must not thus are we ministers his own wish that the world and men for whom his son die will not be given over to monsters whose very existence would defame him he have allowed us to redeem one soul already and we go out as the old knights of the cross to redeem more like them we shall travel towards the sunrise and like them if we fall we fall in good cause he paused and I said but will not the count take his rebuff wisely since he has been driven from England will he not avoid it as a tiger does the village from which he has been hunted Naha! he said your simile of the tiger good for me and I shall adopt him your man-eater as they of India call the tiger who has once tasted blood of the human care no more for the other prey but prowl unceasing till he get him this that we hunt from our villages a tiger to a man-eater and he shall never cease to prowl nay in himself he is not one to retire and stay afar in his life his living life he go over the turkey frontier and attack his enemy on his own ground he be beaten back but did he stay no he come again and again and again look at his persistence and endurance with the child brain that was to him he have long since conceived the idea of going to a great city what does he do he find out all the place of the world most of promise for him then he deliberately set himself down to prepare for the task he find in patience just how is his strength and what are his powers he study new tongues he learn new social life new environment of old ways the politics the law the finance the science the habit of a new land and a new people who have come to be and in keen his desire nay it help him to grow as to his brain for it all proved to him how right he was at the first and his some izes he have done this alone all alone from a ruined tomb in a forgotten land what more may he not do when the greater world of thought is open to him he that can smile at death as we know him who can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill off whole peoples oh if such a one was to come from God and not the devil what a force for good might not he be in this old world of ours but we are pledged to set the world free our toil must be in silence and our efforts all in secret for in this enlightened age when men believe not even what they see the doubting of wise men would be his greatest strength it would be at once his sheath and his armour and his weapons to destroy us his enemies who are willing to peril even our own souls for the safety of one we love for the good of mankind and for the honour and glory of God after a general discussion it was determined that for tonight nothing be definitely settled that we should all sleep on the facts and try to think out the proper conclusions tomorrow at breakfast we are to meet again and after making our conclusions known to one another we shall decide on some definite cause of action I feel a wonderful peace and rest tonight it is as if some haunting presence were removed from me perhaps my semise was not finished could not be for I caught sight in the mirror of the red mark upon my forehead and I knew that I was still unclean Dr. Seward's Diary 5 October we all arose early and I think that sleep did much for each and all of us when we met at early breakfast there was more general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience again it is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature let any obstructing cause no matter what be removed in any way even by death and we fly back to first principles of enjoyment more than once as we sat around the table my eyes opened in wonder whether the whole of the past days had not been a dream it was only when I caught sight of the red blotch on Mrs. Harker's forehead that I was brought back to reality even now when I am gravely revolving the matter it is almost impossible to realize that the cause of all our trouble is still existent even Mrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her trouble for whole spells it is only now and again when something recalls it to her mind that she thinks of her terrible scar we are to meet here in my study in half an hour and decide on our course of action I see only one immediate difficulty I know it by instinct rather than reason we shall all have to speak frankly and yet I fear that in some mysterious way poor Mrs. Harker's tongue is tied I know that she forms conclusions of her own and from all that has been I can guess how brilliant and how true they must be but she will not or cannot give them utterance I have mentioned this to Van Helsing and he and I are to talk it over when we are alone I suppose it is some of that horrid poison which has got into her veins beginning to work the Count had his own purposes when he gave her what Van Helsing called the Vampire's Baptism of Blood well, there may be a poison that distills itself out of good things in an age when the existence of Tomains is a mystery we should not wonder at anything one thing I know that if my instinct be true regarding poor Mrs. Harker's silences then there is a terrible difficulty an unknown danger in the work before us the same power that compels her silence may compel her speech I dare not think further for so I should in my thoughts dishonor a noble woman later when the professor came in we talked over the state of things I could see that he had something on his mind which he wanted to say but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject after beating about the bush a little he said, friend John there is something that you and I must talk of alone just at the first at any rate later we may have to take the others to our confidence then he stopped so I waited he went on Madam Mina our poor dear Madam Mina is changing a cold shiver ran through me to find my worst fears thus endorsed Van Helsing continued with the sad experience of Miss Lucy we must this time be warned too far our task is now in reality more difficult than ever and this new trouble makes every hour of the direst importance I can see the characteristics of the vampire coming in her face it is now but very very slight but it is to be seen if we have eyes to notice without prejudge her teeth are sharper and at times her eyes are more hard but these are not all there is her the silence now often as so it was with Miss Lucy she did not speak even when she wrote that which she wished to be known later now my fear is this if it be that she can by our hypnotic trance tell what the count see and hear is it not more true that he who have hypnotize her first and who have drink of her very blood and make her drink of his should if he will compel her mind to disclose to him that which she know I nodded acquiescence he went on then what we must do is to prevent this we must keep her ignorant of our intent and so she cannot tell what she know not this is a painful task oh so painful that it heartbreak me to think of it but it must be when today we meet I must tell her that for reason which we will not to speak she must not more be of our council but be simply guarded by us he wiped his forehead which had broken out in profuse perspiration at the thought of the pain which he might have to inflict upon the poor soul already so tortured I knew that it would be some sort of comfort to him if I told him that no had come to the same conclusion for at any rate it would take away the pain of doubt I told him and the effect was as I expected it is now close to the time of our general gathering Van Helsing has gone away to prepare for the meeting and his painful part of it I really believe his purpose is to be able to pray alone at the very outset of our meeting a great personal relief was experienced by both Van Helsing and myself Mrs. Harker had sent a message by her husband to say that she would not join us at present as she thought it better that we should be free to discuss our movements without her presence to embarrass us the professor and I looked at each other for an instant somehow we both seemed relieved for my part I thought that if Mrs. Harker realized the danger herself it was much pain as well as much danger averted under the circumstances we agreed by a questioning look and answer with finger on lip to preserve in silence our suspicions until we should have been able to confer alone again we went at once into our plan of campaign Van Helsing roughly put the facts before us the Tsarina Catherine left the Thames yesterday morning it will take her at the quickest speed she has ever made at least three weeks to reach Varna but we can travel overland to the same place in three days now if we allow for two days less to the ships voyage owing to such weather influences as we know that the count may bring to bear and if we allow a whole day and night for any delays which may occur to us then we have a margin of nearly two weeks thus in order to be quite safe we must leave here on 17th at latest then we shall at any rate be in Varna a day before the ship arrives and able to make such preparations as may be necessary of course we shall all go armed against evil things spiritual as well as physical here Quincy Morris added I understand that the count comes from a wolf country and it may be that he shall get there before us I propose that we add Winchester's to our armament I have a kind of belief in a Winchester when there is any trouble of that sort around do you remember art when we had the pack after us at Tobolsk what wouldn't we have given then for a repeater a peace good said Van Helsing Winchester's it shall be Quincy's head Quincy's head is level at times but most so when there is to hunt metaphor be more dishonor to science then wolves be of danger to man in the meantime we can do nothing here and as I think that Varna is not familiar to any of us why not go there more soon it is as long to wait here as there tonight and tomorrow we can get ready and then if all be well we four can set out on our journey we four said Harker interrogatively looking from one to another of us of course answered the professor quickly you must remain to take care of your so sweet wife Harker was silent for a while and then said in a hollow voice let us talk of that part of it in the morning I want to consult with Mina I thought that now was the time for Van Helsing to warn him not to disclose our plan to her but he took no notice I looked at him significantly and coughed for answer he put his finger to his lips and turned away Jonathan Harker's Journal 5 October afternoon for some time after our meeting this morning I could not think the new phases of things leave my mind in a state of wonder which allows no room for active thought Mina's determination not to take any part in the discussion set me thinking and as I could not argue the matter with her I could only guess how far as ever from a solution now the way the others received it too puzzled me the last time we talked of the subject we agreed that there was to be no more concealment of anything amongst us Mina is sleeping now calmly and sweetly like a little child her lips are curved and her face beams with happiness thank God there are such moments still for her later how strange it all is I sat watching Mina's happy sleep and I came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever be as the evening drew on and the earth took its shadows from the sun sinking lower the silence of the room grew more and more solemn to me all at once Mina opened her eyes and looking at me tenderly said Jonathan I want you to promise me something on your word of honour a promise made to me but made holily in God's hearing and not to be broken though I should go down on my knees and implore you with bitter tears quick you must make it to me at once Mina I said a promise like that I cannot make it once I may have no right to make it but dear one she said with such spiritual intensity that her eyes were like pole stars it is I who wish it and it is not for myself you can ask Dr. Van Helsing if I am not right if he disagrees you may do as you will nay more if you all agree later you are absolved from the promise I promise I said and for a moment she looked supremely happy though to me all happiness for her was denied by the red scar on her forehead she said promise me that you will not tell me anything of the plans formed for the campaign against the count not by word or inference or implication not at any time whilst this remains to me and she solemnly pointed to the scar I saw that she was in earnest and said solemnly I promise and as I said it I felt that from that instant a door had been shut between us later midnight Mina has been bright and cheerful all the evening so much so that all the rest seem to take courage as if infected somewhat with her gaiety as a result even I myself felt as if the pool of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted we all retired early Mina is now sleeping like a little child it is a wonderful thing that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the midst of her terrible trouble thank God for it for then at least she can forget her care perhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety did tonight I shall try it oh for a dreamless sleep 6 October morning another surprise Mina woke me early about the same time as yesterday and asked me to bring Dr. Van Helsing I thought that it was another occasion for hypnotism and without question went for the professor he had evidently expected some such call for I found him dressed in his room his door was ajar so that he could hear the opening of the door of our room he came at once as he passed into the room he asked Mina if the others might come too no she said quite simply it will not be necessary you can tell them just as well I must go with you on your journey Dr. Van Helsing I was startled as I was after a moment's pause he asked but why you must take me with you I am safer with you and you shall be safer too but why dear Madam Mina you know that your safety is our solemnness duty we go into danger to which you are or may be more liable than any of us from circumstances things that have been embarrassed as she replied she raised her finger and pointed to her forehead I know this is why I must go I can tell you now whilst the sun is coming up I may not be able again I know that when the count wheels me I must go I know that if he tells me to come in secret I must buy a while buy any device to hoodwink even Jonathan God saw the look that she turned on me as she spoke and if there be indeed a recording angel that look is noted to her everlasting honour I could only class per hand I could not speak my emotion was too great for even the relief of tears she went on you men are brave and strong in your numbers for you can defy that which would break down the human endurance of one who had to guard alone besides I may be of service since you can hypnotise me and so learn that which even I myself do not know Dr. Van Helsing said gravely Madam Mina you are as always most wise you shall with us come and together we shall do that when he had spoken Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her she had fallen back on her pillow asleep she did not even wake when I had pulled up the blind had let in the sunlight which flooded the room Van Helsing motioned me to come with him quietly we went to his room and within a minute Lord Godling Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris were with us also he told them what Mina had said and went on in the morning we shall leave for Varna we have now to deal with a new factor Madam Mina oh but her soul is true it is to her an agony to tell us so much as she has done but it is most right and we are warned in time there must be no chance lost and in Varna we must be ready to act the instant when that ship arrives what shall we do exactly asked Mr. Morris laconically the professor paused before replying we shall at the first board that ship then when we have identified the box we shall place a branch of the wild rose on it this we shall fasten for when it is there none can emerge so that at least says the superstition and to the superstition we must trust at the first it was man's faith in the early and it have its root in faith still then when we get the opportunity that we seek when none are near to see it we shall open the box and all will be well I shall not wait for any opportunity said Morris when I see the box I shall open it and destroy the monster though there were a thousand men looking on and if I am to be wiped out for it the next moment I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm as a piece of steel I think he understood my look I hope he did good boy said Dr. Van Helsing brave boy Quincy is all man God bless him for it my child believe me none of us shall lag behind or pause from any fear I do but say what we may do what we must do but indeed indeed we cannot say what we may do there are so many things which may happen and their ways and their ends are so various that until the moment we may not say we shall be armed in all ways and when the time for the end has come our effort shall not be lack now let us today all our affairs in order let all things which touch on others dear to us and who on us depend be complete for none of us can tell what or when or how the end may be as for me my own affairs are regulate and as I have nothing else to do I shall go make arrangements for the travel I shall have all tickets and so forth for our journey there was nothing further to be said and we parted I shall now settle up all my affairs of earth and be ready for whatever may come later it is done my will is made and all complete Mina if she survive is my soul heir if it should not be so then the others who have been so good to us shall have remainder it is now drawing towards the sunset Mina's uneasiness calls my attention to it I am sure that there is something on her mind which the time of exact sunset will reveal these occasions are becoming harrowing times for us all for each sunrise and sunset opens up some new danger some new pain which however may in God's will be means to a good end I will write all these things in the diary since my darling must not hear them now but if it may be that she can see them again they shall be ready she is calling to me