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, for it is 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 four know already,
for I have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone away. He have gone
back to his Castle in Transylvania. I know it so well, as if a
great hand of fire wrote it on the wall. He have prepare for this
in some way, and that last earth box was ready to ship somewheres.
For this he took the money. For this he hurry 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
earthwork I might say did I wish double entente. He is clever, oh
so clever! He know that his game here was finish. 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 whither bound. When we have
discover that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will comfort
you and poor Madam Mina 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
Mina. 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 JOURNALof much comfort till we return.
VAN HELSING.
JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
4 October.—When I read to Mina, 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 crisp
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
5 October, 5 p. m.—Our meeting for report. Present: Professor
Van Helsing, Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, Mr. Quincey Morris,
Jonathan Harker, Mina Harker.
Dr. Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day
to discover on what boat and whither 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. Omme Ignotum pro magnifico. And so with heavy hearts
we start to find what ships leave for the Black Sea last night. He
was in sailing ship, since Madam Mina tell of sails being set.was in sailing ship, since Madam Mina tell of sails 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 Godalming, to your
Lloyd's, where are note of all ships that sail, however so small.
There we find that only one Black Sea bound ship go out with the
tide. She is the Czarina 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 Czarina Catherine. He swear much,
and he red face and loud of voice, but he good fellow all the same.
And when Quincey give him something from his pocket which crackle
as he roll it up, and put it in a so small 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, how last 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 or 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 but halt at shore end of gangplank, and ask that the captain
come to him. The captain come, when told that he will be pay well,
and though he swear much at the first he agree to term. Then the
thin man go and some one tell him where horse and cart can be
hired. He go there and soon he come again, himself driving cart on