were all convinced that the box was on its way, by water, to
somewhere, but where that might be we would have to discover. With
heavy hearts we came home to the hotel to Mina.
When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to
taking Mina again into our confidence. Things are getting
desperate, and it is at least a chance, though a hazardous one. As
a preliminary step, I was released from my promise to her.
MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL
30 October, evening.—They were so tired and worn out and
dispirited that there was nothing to be done till they had some
rest, so I asked them all to lie down for half an hour whilst I
should enter everything up to the moment. I feel so grateful to the
man who invented the "Traveller's" typewriter, and to Mr. Morris
for getting this one for me. I should have felt quite astray doing
the work if I had to write with a pen …
It is all done. Poor dear, dear Jonathan, what he must have
suffered, what he must be suffering now. He lies on the sofa hardly
seeming to breathe, and his whole body appears in collapse. His
brows are knit. His face is drawn with pain. Poor fellow, maybe he
is thinking, and I can see his face all wrinkled up with the
concentration of his thoughts. Oh! if I could only help at all. I
shall do what I can.
I have asked Dr. Van Helsing, and he has got me all the papers
that I have not yet seen. Whilst they are resting, I shall go over
all carefully, and perhaps I may arrive at some conclusion. I shall
try to follow the Professor's example, and think without prejudice
on the facts before me …
I do believe that under God's providence I have made a
discovery. I shall get the maps and look over them.
I am more than ever sure that I am right. My new conclusion is
ready, so I shall get our party together and read it. They can
judge it. It is well to be accurate, and every minute is
precious.
MINA HARKER'S MEMORANDUM
(ENTERED IN HER JOURNAL)
Ground of inquiry.—Count Dracula's problem is to get back to his
own place.Ground of inquiry.—Count Dracula's problem is to get back to his
own place.
(a) He must be brought back by some one. This is evident. For
had he power to move himself as he wished he could go either as
man, or wolf, or bat, or in some other way. He evidently fears
discovery or interference, in the state of helplessness in which he
must be, confined as he is between dawn and sunset in his wooden
box.
(b) How is he to be taken?—Here a process of exclusions may help
us. By road, by rail, by water?
1. By Road.—There are endless difficulties, especially in
leaving the city.
(x) There are people. And people are curious, and investigate. A
hint, a surmise, a doubt as to what might be in the box, would
destroy him.
(y) There are, or there may be, customs and octroi officers to
pass.
(z) His pursuers might follow. This is his highest fear. And in
order to prevent his being betrayed he has repelled, so far as he
can, even his victim, me!
2. By Rail.—There is no one in charge of the box. It would have
to take its chance of being delayed, and delay would be fatal, with
enemies on the track. True, he might escape at night. But what
would he be, if left in a strange place with no refuge that he
could fly to? This is not what he intends, and he does not mean to
risk it.
3. By Water.—Here is the safest way, in one respect, but with
most danger in another. On the water he is powerless except at
night. Even then he can only summon fog and storm and snow and his
wolves. But were he wrecked, the living water would engulf him,
helpless, and he would indeed be lost. He could have the vessel
drive to land, but if it were unfriendly land, wherein he was not
free to move, his position would still be desperate.
We know from the record that he was on the water, so what we
have to do is to ascertain what water.
The first thing is to realize exactly what he has done as yet.
We may, then, get a light on what his task is to be.
Firstly.—We must differentiate between what he did in London asFirstly.—We must differentiate between what he did in London as
part of his general plan of action, when he was pressed for moments
and had to arrange as best he could.
Secondly we must see, as well as we can surmise it from the
facts we know of, what he has done here.
As to the first, he evidently intended to arrive at Galatz, and
sent invoice to Varna to deceive us lest we should ascertain his
means of exit from England. His immediate and sole purpose then was
to escape. The proof of this, is the letter of instructions sent to
Immanuel Hildesheim to clear and take away the box before sunrise.
There is also the instruction to Petrof Skinsky. These we must only
guess at, but there must have been some letter or message, since
Skinsky came to Hildesheim.
That, so far, his plans were successful we know. The Czarina
Catherine made a phenomenally quick journey. So much so that
Captain Donelson's suspicions were aroused. But his superstition
united with his canniness played the Count's game for him, and he
ran with his favoring wind through fogs and all till he brought up
blindfold at Galatz. That the Count's arrangements were well made,
has been proved. Hildesheim cleared the box, took it off, and gave
it to Skinsky. Skinsky took it, and here we lose the trail. We only
know that the box is somewhere on the water, moving along. The
customs and the octroi, if there be any, have been avoided.
Now we come to what the Count must have done after his arrival,
on land, at Galatz.
The box was given to Skinsky before sunrise. At sunrise the
Count could appear in his own form. Here, we ask why Skinsky was
chosen at all to aid in the work? In my husband's diary, Skinsky is
mentioned as dealing with the Slovaks who trade down the river to
the port. And the man's remark, that the murder was the work of a
Slovak, showed the general feeling against his class. The Count
wanted isolation.
My surmise is this, that in London the Count decided to get back
to his castle by water, as the most safe and secret way. He was