#'that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me' goes both ways~

[origami-trust]

June 24th: The Brides: Hey, Drac, your pet, that you said we would be able to have soon, is escaping out the window. Dracula: No, that was me, I'm wearing his clothes as part of a Scheme (c). Dracula: Don't worry about it. June 25th: The Brides: *watching Jonathan carefully scale the walls* The Brides: ...There goes the Count again. That's fine.

[vickyvicarious]

Today's entry is so much about trust and connection. The complete erosion of it, that is. It starts right away, with Jonathan's seeming certainty that there are workmen in the castle but for the first time no effort given to even trying to communicate with them or seek any kind of assistance or opportunity for escape with their presence. Instead, they are fully aligned with Dracula's plans:

The Szgany are quartered somewhere in the castle and are doing work of some kind. I know it, for now and then I hear a far-away muffled sound as of mattock and spade, and, whatever it is, it must be the end of some ruthless villainy.

This is of course the result of Dracula's efforts to sow distrust by clearly telling Jonathan one of them returned his letter to the Count, and reinforced by their laughter in the last entry. Jonathan no longer trusts the other people around him, not after being burned twice. At least not enough that he is pinning any kind of hope to it. Sure, he didn't get a chance, but in an earlier entry you can bet he would have said something about watching for one to speak to these workers he hears far off in the castle, or to check for an open door nearby them, etc. None of that is on the table anymore.

Moving on, a new scheme.

This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.

Side note — here's another example of Jonathan being very clever and immediately connecting dots. He realizes instantly just what dual purpose Dracula stealing his identity serves. I mean, of course he must have been thinking very hard on why the Count took his belongings, if there was any extra purpose outside the obvious, but even so he is very quick to pick up on both the significance of the bag being carried (visible) and the implied purpose of delivering letters (invisible) as well as how both those will reflect on him.

Back to the point about trust though, this dual purpose is designed to make Jonathan seem more and less reliable at once. It's a backup to ensure his letters, if questioned, stand up to scrutiny. His written word can be trusted, it was definitely him who sent those letters! Of course this is predicated on a lie from the start since those letters were dictated, but now there is witness testimony to back up the paper trail, so to speak. (Yeah, I recognize the irony of Dracula prepping like this in the same entry that Jonathan laments his lack of access to legal rights that even criminals have. He doesn't have them but even if he did Dracula is basically framing him to get him 'convicted' regardless.) And then dressing up as Jonathan to abduct another child is the way to fully discredit him. Dracula made sure he was seen as Jonathan doing this - I think it's not just that the mother was uniquely determined to get her child back, but Dracula let her (and maybe others) see him-as-Jonathan taking the child away. He ensured the locals' belief that Jonathan is a lost cause, that he too has become a monster. If someone ever questioned them further about him they wouldn't want to help them find him. Not for any kind of rescue, anyway. More to the point though - if Jonathan tries to escape, they won't help him. Not anymore

It is a mirror to Jonathan's own opinion of the other people working in the castle. Just as he, due to Dracula's manipulations, sees their actions in the worst light - just as he aligns them fully with the Count's evil plans... so too will the locals do the same for Jonathan now. This is proven by the mother's response to the sight of him:

When she saw my face at the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:—

"Monster, give me my child!"

On top of just being incredibly cruel to everyone involved - Jonathan being blamed like this just after hearing her child die, her seemingly coming face-face with the monster who stole her baby and yet unable to reach him at all, and of course the kind of casual cruelty inherent in Dracula not even bothering to kill her himself but just sending his wolves after her - on top of all that, this moment serves a distinct purpose. It ensures Jonathan has no one to rely on but Dracula, no one at all.

.

...and yet, that's proven to be not entirely true in this same entry. Or is it? There's some interesting nuance here with the vampire ladies' second attack:

Something made me start up, a low, piteous howling of dogs somewhere far below in the valley, which was hidden from my sight. Louder it seemed to ring in my ears, and the floating motes of dust to take new shapes to the sound as they danced in the moonlight.

Jonathan is shocked out of his trance by the sound of dogs howling. Only partially, sure, but it awakens him enough to fight back to full awareness and then flee the scene. The fact that he says it is distant dogs howling is such a kick in the gut. Because he encounters wolves again later this same entry and mentions them howling there. So he isn't just mistaking wolf howls for dog howls, he is noting two distinctly different sounds.

Dogs are not wolves. They aren't the wild beasts that prey upon people, the children of the night, the monsters in the dark - no, they are loyal and domesticated. They represent people, civilization. They are diametrically opposed to wolves and thus to vampires, and are shown to be instinctively opposed to Dracula.

So this means that Jonathan is symbolically saved by sounds of humanity. And yet there's a disconcerting element which undermines this brief bit of security. Because what makes the dogs howl? Dracula. Dracula kidnapping a child, in Jonathan's guise at that. And so the moment that rescues Jonathan from the vampire women once again... is once again linked to Dracula, once again substitutes another victim in Jonathan's place. This ambivalence is summed up in the final line of this section:

I fled, and felt somewhat safer in my own room, where there was no moonlight and where the lamp was burning brightly.

Jonathan feels safer in his room, where he is protected from the wild monstrous moonlight by the reassuring light burning brightly, a sign of civilization and humanity. And yet the reason his room is safe comes down in the end to, not the light, but Dracula designating it as a 'safe space'. As if to drive the point home even more, not two lines later Jonathan finds that his sanctuary has once again become a prison: he's locked inside and cannot leave to try and save the child he can hear being killed nearby.

Because he is surrounded by Dracula's influence, because he is fully under Dracula's power, any link to humanity is inevitably tainted. Jonathan cannot maintain any connection to civilization or trust in any people. His best chance is a vain feeling of false security. (Excluding his journal, of course - the diary is unknown by Dracula, and thus outside his influence. And Jonathan so clearly relies heavily upon it to keep up his hope, his sanity, his resistance.) At least, not while he is in the castle, the seat of Dracula's power. And unfortunately, there seems to be no way out.

[random-user753]

"It was a new shock to me to find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I had seen the women take away. (...) This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me."

Draculas latest plot feels like the behaviour of a narcissist albeit with different tools: narcissists often pin blame to their victim to appear innocent and to isolate their victim from others by ruining the perception of the victim. Dracula works in a similar way while wearing Jonathans suit.

But I wonder: Does he make the villagers believe that Jonathan is already a vampire and therefore beyond help? Anyway, in this entry alone Dracula earns the horror-tag easily.

On a not so serious note: Dracula must be a really good actor (maybd he should join a theatre group). And it's interesting that he has a favorite shopping bag.

"And then I started, broad awake and in full possession of my senses, and ran screaming from the place. (...) I sat down and simply cried."

What's charming about Jonathan: he doesn't pretend to be aloove or brave - he admits how he feels and is honest about himself which is awesome considered the time period and the prejudices about feelings and men.

"There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but short."

🤢 Poor unnamed woman.

And poor Jonathan to witness something like this...

[anamaleth]

okay, time to lose my mind some more over today's re: dracula episode

dracula being able to perfectly mimic jonathan's way of speaking adds even more gravity to this part from june 24th's entry

This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.

at this point, almost eight weeks have passed since jonathan travelled through those villages and to dracula's castle. almost eight weeks since the people he briefly met desperately tried to stop him from continuing to travel towards his doom.

they met him for such a short period of time, too - and with all time has passed since then, who would question whether someone dressed in jonathan's clothes and speaking with an english accent could be anyone but jonathan

and this part from june 24ths entry?

When she saw my face at the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:—

"Monster, give me my child!"

who would question whether the monster stealing children from their homes would be anyone but him...

[serial-serializednovelreader]

Nova’s Notes - Dracula Daily - June 24

Another horrifying day in the life of Jonathan Harker. Let’s get to it, shall we?

So it seems that Jonathan and Dracula are still having their little chats, but Dracula, in a rare move, called it a night early and locked himself up in his room. But, Nova, he’s a vampire — I thought vampires went out at night??

I know right? Jonathan thinks something’s up as well because he immediately goes up to the South window (recall this is where he saw Lizard Fashion for the first time) because he knows “there is something going on”. He also knows the Szgany are actually working on something inside the castle — which he obviously can’t see, given his locked-in status — but he knows it’s not good because he can hear sounds of mattocks (like a pickaxe, but wider) and spades.

“I had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour, when I saw something coming out of the Count's window. I drew back and watched carefully, and saw the whole man emerge. It was a new shock to me to find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I had seen the women take away. There could be no doubt as to his quest, and in my garb, too! This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.”

So….yeah this isn’t good. Not only is the Count stealing his clothing to prevent him from being comfortable enough to get home, he’s stealing his identity too!!! Another way to isolate Jonathan from the villagers and spread rumors -- only this time they will be ones of horror, not ones to laugh off The worst part is, Jonathan doesn’t even know what Dracula is going to do when he gets to the village, he just remembers that bag had a child in it and he knows it’s not good.

It’s interesting that this is what causes Jonathan to kind of wake up a bit. For the past few entries, he’s described everything matter-of-factly: first the initial joy of escape, then when plans go awry — numbness. He doesn’t get mad, he doesn’t show complete despair (except for that one time), he just kind of — doesn’t mention how he’s feeling. Which is unusual for Jonathan because he, unlike other protagonists of his time, does tend to mention how he’s feeling.

Here, he sounds angry. Whether it’s because Dracula is off to steal another child, because he’s disguised as Jonathan or a mix of the two, one thing’s for sure: Jonathan is angry.

“It makes me rage to think that this can go on, and whilst I am shut up here, a veritable prisoner, but without that protection of the law which is even a criminal's right and consolation.”

Yep, rage! Also, I know this is serious and he’s totally right to be mad that he’s locked up and can’t even be protected by law or whatever — but I can’t help but laugh a little bit at the fact that he’s thinking in lawyer terms even now. Like, of course he is, but still: lovable nerd behavior and I’m here for it.

On the serious side though, it’s sad that he’s having to think of himself as a criminal here when he didn’t do anything wrong. He was literally here to do a job — which he finished a month ago — and he’s now a prisoner. Of course he would be righteously indignant!!

So while Jonathan waits for the Count’s return, he notices some specks flying around and is soothed by them in a…hypnotic way. Hmmm…

Also if you’re wondering what “embrasure” means (I did!) it’s basically the recess of a window. So he’s kind of just chilling in the alcove of the window while this is happening. As for “gambolling” (usually spelled gamboling, I think), it’s a fancy word for running about or jumping about playfully. Thanks for making me break out Merriam Webster, Jonathan!

However, the sound of howling dogs makes him start to struggle from this dreamy hypnosis and as he does, he notices that the dust motes are making weird shapes almost like those three women that almost bit him a while back…once he realizes this, he’s broken of the spell. He screams and runs back to his room where he can’t be taken under again.

A few interesting things of note here:

I wonder if this is why Jonathan felt so sleepy last time when he was in the room with the three women. Perhaps they put him under a bit of a hypnotic state and he just fell asleep before he was able to see the dust-transformation thing. He was probably also just tired though, lol.

It shows that these vampires can transform into phantoms as well, which we saw a bit of when Jonathan literally saw through the Count that first night on the way to the castle. I wonder if it takes time for them to make this transformation though, since it seems he’s watching them for some minutes before this happens to the point where he can distinguish their shapes.

I wonder too if part of the reason Jonathan is safe in his room from the women is because they need the moonlight to teleport and his window isn’t facing the moon. Jonathan describes his room as having “no moonlight” so perhaps? We do know that Dracula probably banned them from the room (since he warned Jonathan that was his only safe place), so that’s the more likely explanation. He just feels safer since it’s away from the moon's view. Just an interesting thought on this vampire lore!

“When a couple of hours had passed I heard something stirring in the Count's room, something like a sharp wail quickly suppressed; and then there was silence, deep, awful silence, which chilled me. With a beating heart, I tried the door; but I was locked in my prison, and could do nothing. I sat down and simply cried.”

:( So I assumed Jonathan had ventured out again to explore again (which would have been very brave of him, considering what just happened), but considering he says he was "locked in [his] prison", I think this was just something he could hear through the door of his room.

A few points here:

The Count's room has to be very close to Jonathan's room in order for him to hear that. I don't know if we had gotten that bit of lore before, but good to know that the Count has intentionally positioned Jonathan's room close to his own in order to know every move he makes.

Did Dracula lock him up just because he ventured out after dark again? Perhaps, but if Dracula goes into a bit of a frenzied state when he feeds, he might actually be doing this for Jonathan's protection.

It's very courageous that Jonathan, after the encounter he just had and knowing what was probably going on in the Count's room, nonetheless tried to open the door at all. Would he have been able to save this child from their fate? No, I doubt it. The child had gone silent by the time he tried it. But it speaks to his bravery nonetheless. And I know that he wanted to do something, because he uses the words "could do nothing" before he begins crying. At this point, Jonathan's breaking point is not about himself: he's used to having horrible things happen to him. But hearing what is likely another child subjected to this horror with him helpless to do anything but hear it? It's too much for him.

After a time, Jonathan has to go to the window again because he hears the cry of a woman. Sure enough, a woman who looks like she's been running is in the courtyard and what does she do when she sees him?

"she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:— 'Monster, give me my child!'"

This proves Jonathan's entire theory correct. Dracula went into the village -- disguised as Jonathan -- and stole a child!!! He didn't make this subtle, either, just for this reason. He wants them to see. He wants the blame to go to Jonathan.

This leads into another horrifying situation. So we know that Dracula needs to feed, right? And this is the second time we've seen him take a child. Is he exclusively feeding on children?

Well, maybe, but not because he exactly wants to. Here's the issue:

We know the villagers know how to protect themselves against Dracula. The fact that they give Jonathan all of those vampire-repellent gifts is evidence of that. It would be hard for him in this case to just take an adult from the village because they likely know what he looks like and they constantly wear the equivalent of Vampire Raid on their person.

However...children are easier to fool. Of course, the parents will warn them and teach them about Dracula, but there will always be the few kids who don't listen. All it takes is one moment of them dropping their guard and...well, you can imagine what comes next. I also imagine Dracula occasionally tries to build trust in the younger children who might have not seen him before when their parents aren't looking. Contrary to popular belief -- Dracula in this iteration CAN go outside during the day, he just loses most of his powers. So, if he does see these kids, he can ask them for a small favor here or there. That way, when he approaches them at night (which could be done in a multitude of ways), perhaps they're not scared before he grabs them. Perhaps they don't scream. It's hard to say exactly how Dracula plays these games, but I think he does. Because he seems to think of conquering humanity as a game and feeding on children is just one of the steps.

That's my logic for why he might be feeding on just children here.

But Nova, you may be asking yourself, that's absolutely ridiculous! Why wouldn't the villagers rise up against Dracula if this was happening? Well, a couple of theories:

Perhaps they take on the attitude of "as long as it isn't my child, I won't worry about it." A depressing and rather cold attitude, to be sure, but a survivor's attitude. Dracula has forced them into this because in order to survive, they can't question or rebel against him. That makes the innkeeper's wife who gave him the crucifix hold even more meaning if the rest of the village holds such an unfeeling attitude. To my second point...

Who's to say they hadn't tried that before and failed? Remember, Dracula's castle is guarded by wolves that he controls at will (shoutout to that one scene in Dracula 2020 where he asks nuns to choose between him or the wolves...chilling) and there is the possibility of his castle having a spell over it that causes people to pass out (still not sure if that's how it works or if Dracula himself made Jonathan sleep that night in the carriage). Either way, just getting to the castle itself is difficult to navigate, not to mention breaking in, finding Dracula with his locked doors and the Lizard Fashion. Plus there are the roommates to consider. Even if they're prepared for all of that, it would be all but impossible to successfully put an end to his reign of terror.

All that said, back to the present.

"She threw herself on her knees, and raising up her hands, cried the same words in tones which wrung my heart. Then she tore her hair and beat her breast, and abandoned herself to all the violences of extravagant emotion."

This is painful to read. Jonathan knowing that he's not the cause of her pain, but being blamed for it and seeing her in agony over the loss of her child. While I know it wouldn't do much good, I think it says a lot about his character that he doesn't attempt to point her to the true culprit. He knows she's in pain and lets her be angry at him. And for the woman to see what she thinks is the man who's taken away her child watch her from the window must be an agonizing experience! How much pain she must be in! She takes it a step further by running out of Jonathan's view and banging her hands on the door. That's when things get worse.

"Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of the Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to be answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves. Before many minutes had passed a pack of them poured, like a pent-up dam when liberated, through the wide entrance into the courtyard. There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips."

I suppose Dracula has had enough of this display of genuine human emotion (the terror! /s) and calls in the wolves. It's a testament to how strong the woman is that she doesn't give the Count the satisfaction of screaming in pain. I have nothing more to say here except Dracula, sincerely, I hate you and everything you stand for!!!!!!

"I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and she was better dead. What shall I do? what can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night and gloom and fear?"

While this first part is understandable, it's quite unlike the Jonathan we've come to know. It's darker, more...cold. I'm not saying it's bad, but it shows how far he's been pushed emotionally that he's saying this. It's almost scary and it won't be the last time we see him this way.

As for the second part, I believe when he references "thing", he doesn't mean the place -- he means Dracula. I think it's good that he's back to this questioning like he was when he first starting seeing the Horrors because it means he's back to feeling emotion again, which might kick him back into gear for escape. He's going to need it.

[lauralot89]

it must be the end of some ruthless villainy.

Babe they are putting dirt in boxes, let's calm down a little

It was a new shock to me to find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst travelling here

Okay first of all this is just boyfriend behavior but also this has been bugging me for a while now

So back on May 5, Jonathan described Dracula as tall:

Within, stood a tall old man

And generally, you don't describe someone about your height as tall unless you yourself are also noticeably tall, so like

Did it take this long for Dracula to actually wear Jonathan's clothes because he was painstakingly taking out the hems and seams to redo them at their fullest allowance? or is this just the first time Jonathan noticed and Dracula's been wandering around doing his bullshit with like three inches of wrist sticking out of the coat sleeves

I can't decide which is funnier

This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.

okay but Dracula is an old guy with white hair and mustache and Jonathan has none of that so this is a stupid plan

It makes me rage to think that this can go on, and whilst I am shut up here, a veritable prisoner, but without that protection of the law which is even a criminal's right and consolation.

Jonathan Harker, held captive by vampires: Wait this is illegal

And then I started, broad awake and in full possession of my senses, and ran screaming from the place.

this isn't funny but also it is

I sat down and simply cried.

Somebody hug this man

Not Dracula, that would make it worse

When she saw my face at the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:—

"Monster, give me my child!"

Okay I guess people are stupid enough to mistake an elderly guy with facial hair for a young clean shaven man. Granted it is dark at night

There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips.

Dracula honey

that was food

you could have given it to the women

or yourself

how are you so bad at being a vampire when you are literally THE VAMPIRE

I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and she was better dead.

Poor Jonathan

[ninadove]

Nina reads Dracula 🦇

June 24th

Last night the Count left me early, and locked himself into his own room.

To do lizard things in his lizard fashion no doubt.

The Szgany are quartered somewhere in the castle and are doing work of some kind. I know it, for now and then I hear a far-away muffled sound as of mattock and spade, and, whatever it is, it must be the end of some ruthless villainy.

UH OH.

I had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour, when I saw something coming out of the Count's window. I drew back and watched carefully, and saw the whole man emerge.

See?

✨ LIZARD FASHION ✨

It was a new shock to me to find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I had seen the women take away. There could be no doubt as to his quest, and in my garb, too! This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS I DO NOT LIKE THIS AT ALL

The phantom shapes, which were becoming gradually materialised from the moonbeams, were those of the three ghostly women to whom I was doomed. I fled, and felt somewhat safer in my own room, where there was no moonlight and where the lamp was burning brightly.

Aw, and here I was hoping for a swarm of bats 🥺

I sat down and simply cried.

Understandable have a nice day

As I sat I heard a sound in the courtyard without—the agonised cry of a woman. I rushed to the window, and throwing it up, peered out between the bars. There, indeed, was a woman with dishevelled hair, holding her hands over her heart as one distressed with running. She was leaning against a corner of the gateway. When she saw my face at the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:—

"Monster, give me my child!"

She threw herself on her knees, and raising up her hands, cried the same words in tones which wrung my heart. Then she tore her hair and beat her breast, and abandoned herself to all the violences of extravagant emotion. Finally, she threw herself forward, and, though I could not see her, I could hear the beating of her naked hands against the door.

FUN CHAPTER.

Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of the Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to be answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves. Before many minutes had passed a pack of them poured, like a pent-up dam when liberated, through the wide entrance into the courtyard.

There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO —

Also, the implication here is that Dracula did not simply chase the wolves away on that first night, right? He actually made them show up to terrify Jonathan. Lovely.

I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and she was better dead.

Well that sure is an opinion.

What shall I do? what can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night and gloom and fear?

I DON’T KNOW JONATHAN HOW DOES ONE KILL A LIZARD?????

< Prev 🦇 Next >

[semisecretmission]

This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.

I know we laughed a lot at the beginning of the story, but once the horror dial is turned up, it’s incredibly effective

[ashleybenlove]

“This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.“ Oh shit it’s one of the days of the letter postings right? I can’t remember the dates off the top of my head at the moment and it’s too much work to check. I know they’re in JUNE. 

[bloomblitz]

Dracula Daily June 24th

This is a long one, so under the cut it goes

I thought I would watch for the Count, for there is something going on. Jonathan, good on you! Recon!

It was a new shock to me to find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I had seen the women take away... so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me. Oh. Oh man, Drac's not taking ANY chances. Letters are one thing but to have townsfolk say that they've *seen* Jonathan is another entirely. And to pin vampire crimes on him too???? Damn John, at this point even if you did manage to escape into any village you'd be deemed a criminal at BEST.

Then I began to notice that there were some quaint little specks floating in the rays of the moonlight. They were like the tiniest grains of dust, and they whirled round and gathered in clusters in a nebulous sort of way. I watched them with a sense of soothing, and a sort of calm stole over me... I felt myself struggling to awake to some call of my instincts; nay, my very soul was struggling, and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to answer the call. I was becoming hypnotised! Can we just appreciate how lovely this part is? And good on you John for realizing what was really going on!

And then I started, broad awake and in full possession of my senses, and ran screaming from the place. The phantom shapes, which were becoming gradually materialised from the moonbeams, were those of the three ghostly women to whom I was doomed. Yes! Survival instincts! It's a good thing you met them before, otherwise this entry would've been very different. Can you imagine? 3 women materialize by moonlight?

When she saw my face at the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:—"Monster, give me my child!" Drac's plan's already working. John's a scapegoat.

There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips. I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and she was better dead. What shall I do? what can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night and gloom and fear? This whole last part swung fully into horror. So far we've had small glimpses of it, interspersed with moments we could make light of and aesthetic descriptions we could take a moment to enjoy but this? This is a lot to happen all at once. Poor Jonathan. Now marked a criminal by the locals, even if he did escape the castle, the 3 women and Drac didn't sic his wolves on the man, John would still find no help. And recall, he has no traveling or credit papers. I guess I had still had a glimmer of hope for John up until now, but this? Marking him for vampiric crimes? It feels like the final nail in the coffin.

[draculalive]

Jonathan Harker's Journal

24 June, before morning. -- Last night the Count left me early, and locked himself into his own room. As soon as I dared I ran up the winding stair, and looked out of the window, which opened south. I thought I would watch for the Count, for there is something going on. The Szgany are quartered somewhere in the castle and are doing work of some kind. I know it, for now and then I hear a far-away muffled sound as of mattock and spade, and, whatever it is, it must be the end of some ruthless villainy.

I had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour, when I saw something coming out of the Count's window. I drew back and watched carefully, and saw the whole man emerge. It was a new shock to me to find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I had seen the women take away. There could be no doubt as to his quest, and in my garb, too! This, then, is his new scheme of evil: that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.

It makes me rage to think that this can go on, and whilst I am shut up here, a veritable prisoner, but without that protection of the law which is even a criminal's right and consolation.

I thought I would watch for the Count's return, and for a long time sat doggedly at the window. Then I began to notice that there were some quaint little specks floating in the rays of the moonlight. They were like the tiniest grains of dust, and they whirled round and gathered in clusters in a nebulous sort of way. I watched them with a sense of soothing, and a sort of calm stole over me. I leaned back in the embrasure in a more comfortable position, so that I could enjoy more fully the aërial gambolling.

Something made me start up, a low, piteous howling of dogs somewhere far below in the valley, which was hidden from my sight. Louder it seemed to ring in my ears, and the floating motes of dust to take new shapes to the sound as they danced in the moonlight. I felt myself struggling to awake to some call of my instincts; nay, my very soul was struggling, and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to answer the call. I was becoming hypnotised! Quicker and quicker danced the dust; the moonbeams seemed to quiver as they went by me into the mass of gloom beyond. More and more they gathered till they seemed to take dim phantom shapes. And then I started, broad awake and in full possession of my senses, and ran screaming from the place. The phantom shapes, which were becoming gradually materialised from the moonbeams, were those of the three ghostly women to whom I was doomed. I fled, and felt somewhat safer in my own room, where there was no moonlight and where the lamp was burning brightly.

When a couple of hours had passed I heard something stirring in the Count's room, something like a sharp wail quickly suppressed; and then there was silence, deep, awful silence, which chilled me. With a beating heart, I tried the door; but I was locked in my prison, and could do nothing. I sat down and simply cried.

As I sat I heard a sound in the courtyard without -- the agonised cry of a woman. I rushed to the window, and throwing it up, peered out between the bars. There, indeed, was a woman with dishevelled hair, holding her hands over her heart as one distressed with running. She was leaning against a corner of the gateway. When she saw my face at the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace:---

"Monster, give me my child!"

She threw herself on her knees, and raising up her hands, cried the same words in tones which wrung my heart. Then she tore her hair and beat her breast, and abandoned herself to all the violences of extravagant emotion. Finally, she threw herself forward, and, though I could not see her, I could hear the beating of her naked hands against the door.

Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of the Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to be answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves. Before many minutes had passed a pack of them poured, like a pent-up dam when liberated, through the wide entrance into the courtyard.

There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips.

I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and she was better dead.

What shall I do? what can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night and gloom and fear?

[madewithonerib]

What does John 5:39 mean? | Bible.Ref

      John 5:39-40 | ³⁹ You pore over the SCRIPTURES       because you presume that by them you possess       eternal life. These are the very words that       testify about ME, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to ME       to have life.

      v.s 39 & 40 summarize a crucial point about the       difference between faith & belief.

      A person who refuses to believe cannot be convinced,       no matter what evidence they are given [John 5:40].

      In verses 37 & 38, JESUS criticized the local       religious leaders for never hearing the voice of GOD.

      They are rejecting JESUS & HIS message       [John 5:18] because they are unwilling, not because       they are uninformed.

      This is a key idea to consider when discussing       ideas such as evidence, proof, & faith.

      The BIBLE never calls on anyone to express       "blind faith," which is belief without evidence.

      In this very passage, JESUS is responding to       criticism by giving 3 separate forms of evidence.

      HE has mentioned human testimony [John 5:33]       direct observation—in the form of HIS miracles       [John 5:36].

       ●  John 5:33 | ³³ YOU have sent to John             & he has testified to the truth.

       ●  John 5:36 | ³⁶ But I have testimony more             substantial than that of John. For the works that the             FATHER has given ME to accomplish—the very             works I am doing—testify about ME that             the FATHER has sent ME.

      Now, HE is referring to the evidence of GOD's       written SCRIPTURE.

      And yet, for some, this is not enough & never       will be. This is why GOD does not offer       "proof" to all people: it won't necessarily produce       obedience or trust.

      Simply knowing that GOD exists does not mean       obedience will follow [James 2:19].

       ●  James 2:19 | ¹⁹ You believe that GOD is one.            Good for you! Even the demons believe that            —and shudder.

      Having knowledge does not always mean trusting       in GOD, as Israel's own disobedience showed       [Numbers 14:20–23; Nehemiah 9:16-7; Psalm 78:11-12].

       ●  Numbers 14:20-23 | ²⁰ “I have pardoned             them as you requested,” the LORD replied.             ²¹ “Yet as surely as I live & as surely as the             whole earth is filled with the glory of the             LORD, ²² not one of the men who have             seen MY glory & the signs I performed in             Egypt & in the wilderness—yet have             tested ME & disobeyed ME these 10x—             ²³ not one will ever see the land that I             swore to give their fathers. None of those             who have treated ME with contempt             will see it.

       ●  Nehemiah 9:16-17 | ¹⁶ But they & our             fathers became arrogant & stiff-necked             & did not obey YOUR commandments.

            ¹⁷ They refused to listen & failed to             remember the wonders YOU performed             among them. They stiffened their necks             & appointed a leader to return them to             their bondage in Egypt. But YOU are a             forgiving GOD, gracious & compassionate,             slow to anger & rich in loving devotion,             & YOU did not forsake them.

       ●  Psalm 78:11-12 | ¹¹ They forgot what HE had             done, the wonders HE had shown them.

            ¹² HE worked wonders before their fathers             in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.

      And, here, the fact that the Pharisees were       knowledgeable in the SCRIPTURES did not       necessarily mean they were willing to accept       JESUS [John 7:17].

       ●  John 7:17 | ¹⁷ If anyone desires to do HIS will,             he will know whether MY teaching is from GOD             or whether I speak on MY own.

      v. 40 will show the real problem behind the       disbelief of these religious hypocrites, which       is also the basic problem with all who reject       JESUS CHRIST: they do not believe because       they will not believe.

      No amount of proof is enough to overcome that.

Context Summary

      John 5:30–47 continues JESUS' response to HIS       critics in Jerusalem.

      After healing a crippled man on the Sabbath &       claiming to be equal with GOD, JESUS now speaks       about evidence.

      Rather than simply saying, ''have faith,'' or       ''believe ME because I said so,'' HE offers       reasons why HE should be believed.

      These include human testimony, the miracles       HE is performing, & the words of SCRIPTURE.

      JESUS also makes the point that those who reject       the prior words of GOD—the OT SCRIPTURES       —aren't going to believe in CHRIST, no matter what.

Chapter Summary

      JESUS again returns to Jerusalem, as required        for the various feast days.

      While there, HE heals a man who had been crippled       for nearly forty years.

      Since this occurred on the Sabbath, local religious       leaders are angry—more upset with JESUS for       working on the Sabbath than amazed at HIS miracle.

      In response, JESUS offers an important perspective       on evidence.

      JESUS refers to human testimony, scriptural testimony,       & miracles as reasons to believe HIS declarations.

      CHRIST also lays claim to many of the attributes       of GOD, making a clear claim to divinity.

https://www.bibleref.com/John/5/John-5-39.html

Matthew Henry, Nonconformist [1662-1714] | John 5:39

     https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/5-39.htm

      5:39-44 The Jews considered that eternal life       was revealed to them in their SCRIPTURES, & that       they had it, because they had the word of GOD       in their hands.

      JESUS urged them to search those SCRIPTURES with       more diligence & attention.

            Ye do search the SCRIPTURES, &             you do well to do so.

      They did indeed search the SCRIPTURES, but it       was with a view to their own glory.

      It is possible for men to be very studious in the letter       of the SCRIPTURES, yet to be strangers to its power.

      Or, search the SCRIPTURES, & so it was spoken       to them in the nature of an appeal.

            Ye profess to receive & believe the             SCRIPTURE, let that be the judge.

      It is spoken to us as advising or commanding all       Christians to search the SCRIPTURES.

      Not only read them, & hear them, but search them;       which denotes diligence in examining &       studying them.

      We must search the SCRIPTURES for heaven       as our great end; for in them you think you have       eternal life.

      We must search the SCRIPTURES for CHRIST, as       the new & living Way, that leads to this end.

            To this testimony CHRIST adds reproofs of             their unbelief & wickedness; their neglect of             HIM & HIS doctrine.

      Also HE reproves their want of the love of GOD.

      But there is life with JESUS CHRIST for poor souls.

      Many who make a great profession of religion,       yet show they want the love of GOD, by their       neglect of CHRIST & contempt of HIS       commandments.

      It is the love of GOD in us, the love that is a living,       active principle in the heart, which GOD will accept.

      They slighted & undervalued CHRIST, because       they admired & overvalued themselves.

      How can those believe, who make the praise &       applause of men their idol! When CHRIST & HIS       followers are men wondered at, how can those       believe, the utmost of whose ambition is to make       a fair show in the flesh!

Johann Albrecht Bengel, Lutheran [1734] | John 5:39

1.]  you search—Hafenreffer, in his edition of the NT,       Greek & Latin, translates,

            You inquire into [inquiritis] the SCRIPTURES.             HE thereby has guarded against any one             understanding search into [scrutamini] as             an Imperative.

      Of the ancients, Athanasius also recognises       it as an Indicative..

      For which reason Cyril need not have been afraid       of being left alone in giving, or being about       to give, that explanation.

      Brentius says, that there are interpreters of       great judgment, who decide for the Indicative:       & the whole structure of the discourse certainly       confirms it: compare.. John 5:33,

      etc., & especially that clause, because you think.

      JESUS approves of their search into the SCRIPTURES,       which they were not wanting in, inasmuch as at that very       feast they read much of them in public;

      just as HE approves of the embassy to John,       John 5:33, & their high estimation of Moses, John 5:45;       but HE adds, that none of these are enough by themselves.

      Wherefore this explanation is attended with no loss       to the sense: & they are usually, to say the least,       equally diligent searchers of the SCRIPTURES,       who decide on the Indicative

      [which very lately has been adopted by Zeltner & Walchius]       as those who decide on the Imperative.

      This clause, You search & you will not come,       Paul has rendered by synonymous expressions,       2 Corinthians 3:15-16,

            “Even to this day, when Moses is read, the             veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when             it shall turn to the LORD, the veil shall be             taken away.”

      Some one has demanded, that similar instances of the       2nd person plural indicative, closing a period, should       be brought forward.

      See therefore John 7:28, John 12:19; Matthew 22:29;       Matthew 24:6; Matthew 27:65; 2 Corinthians 8:9;       James 4:2-3.

      On the other hand, the imperative occurs with ye,       Matthew 28:5, Mark 13:23.

      The imperative, Search you,

      “Seek you out of the book of the LORD & read,”       Isaiah 34:16.

      The hearers of JESUS CHRIST [though they had       not heard the testimony even of John, who was       greater than the prophet, & though they had not       read the SCRIPTURES]

      might at that time have derived faith from the words       alone of JESUS

3.]  the SCRIPTURES—of Moses, John 5:46,

      “He wrote of Me;” & of the prophets.

3i]  ye—This is joined rather with the word think       han with search, & contains the proof, & is put       as it were by Anaphora [repetition of the same       word in the beginnings of clauses]: comp. the       notes, John 5:33.       So also ye, John 5:45, “Moses, in whom you trust.”       you appear to have—In antithesis to—that       ou may really have, John 5:40, “Ye will not come       to ME, that you may have life.” Akin to       his is that clause, John 5:45, Ye have placed       your trust in Moses.       in them—By the mere fact alone, that you search       them, you think that you have life.       life—Why dost YOU deny, O Socinian, that there       was known to the ancients the hope of eternal life       & those—and you will not—A double Epicrisis [an       enunciation added to a sentence, to make       he subject in hand the more clear], approves       of the search & trust of the Jews; the other,        etc., shows their defect.       Those, subjoined to the—in them, has in some        measure the force of removing to a distance.       Life is to be had more nigh at hand in CHRIST        than in the SCRIPTURES.       Charles John Ellicott, Theologian [1749–1905]        | John 5:39       [39] Search the scriptures.—Better, Ye search        the SCRIPTURES.       The question whether the mood is imperative       or indicative, whether we have here a commandment        to examine the writings of the OT canon,       or a reference to their habit of doing so, is        one which has been discussed through the whole        history of NT exposition, & one on which the        opinion of those best qualified to judge has        been, & is, almost equally divided.       It is not a question of the form of the Greek        word, for it may certainly be either.       The English reader therefore is in a position        to form his own opinion, & is in possession       of almost all the evidence.       HE should observe that all the parallel verbs        in the context are in the indicative—“Ye have        neither heard” . . . “nor have seen” [John 5:37];        “Ye have not HIS WORD . . . you believe not”        [John 5:38]; “Ye think that . . . you have”       [John 5:39]; “Ye will not . . you might have”        [John 5:40].       Why should there be a sudden change of construction        in this instance only?       We find, then, this order of thought. [1] GOD        has in the OT witnessed of ME, but ye,       with unreceptive hearts, have never heard a voice        nor seen a shape of GOD [John 5:37]. [2]       Ye have not HIS word dwelling in you, or it would        have witnessed of ME [John 5:38]. [3] Instead        of receiving the SCRIPTURES as a living power        within you, you search & explain the letter       of them from without [John 5:39]. [4] Ye think        they contain eternal life, & hence your reverence        for them [John 5:39]. [5] THEY really are witnesses        of ME, & yet you; seeking in them eternal life,        are not willing to come to ME that you may have        this life.       It is believed that this is the most natural        interpretation of the words, & that it gives        a fuller meaning than any other to the teaching        of CHRIST.       The only objection to it of w8 is that the Greek        word for “search” [??e???te] is one which would        not have implied blame.       It means to search after, track, inquire after        [comp.       John 7:52]; but, surely, this is just the expression        for the literal spirit in which the Rabbis treated        their SCRIPTURES.       Moreover, it is not the searching which is matter        for blame, but the fact of the searching & not        finding, which is matter for wonder.       Here, too, as elsewhere, the argument from the        meaning of a Greek word must be pressed only        within strict limits when we remember that it        represents in translation a late Hebrew original.       The Hebrew language had a word which just at        that time was frequent on every Rabbi’s lips,        & which exactly corresponds to it.       As early as the Book of Chronicles we find mention        of the Midrashim, or Commentaries in the sense        in which this word is used, e.g., in “Cæsar’s        Commentaries.” The rest of the Acts of Abijah        are “written in the Midrash of the prophet Iddo”        [2Chronicles 13:22].       More than we now know of the history of Joash        is “written in the Midrash of the Book of Kings”        [2Chronicles 24:27].

https://biblehub.com/john/5-39.htm https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/5-39.htm

[emeraldislelit]

“This, then, is his new scheme of evil: he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posing my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me.”

Dracula by Bram Stoker p. 37

[readbookywooks]

Jonathan Harker's Journal Continued

I awoke in my own bed. If it be that I had not dreamt, the Count must have carried me here. I tried to satisfy myself on the subject, but could not arrive at any unquestionable result. To be sure, there were certain small evidences, such as that my clothes were folded and laid by in a manner which was not my habit. My watch was still unwound, and I am rigorously accustomed to wind it the last thing before going to bed, and many such details. But these things are no proof, for they may have been evidences that my mind was not as usual, and, for some cause or another, I had certainly been much upset. I must watch for proof. Of one thing I am glad. If it was that the Count carried me here and undressed me, he must have been hurried in his task, for my pockets are intact. I am sure this diary would have been a mystery to him which he would not have brooked. He would have taken or destroyed it. As I look round this room, although it has been to me so full of fear, it is now a sort of sanctuary, for nothing can be more dreadful than those awful women, who were, who are, waiting to suck my blood. 18 May. - I have been down to look at that room again in daylight, for I must know the truth. When I got to the doorway at the top of the stairs I found it closed. It had been so forcibly driven against the jamb that part of the woodwork was splintered. I could see that the bolt of the lock had not been shot, but the door is fastened from the inside. I fear it was no dream, and must act on this surmise. 19 May. - I am surely in the toils. Last night the Count asked me in the sauvest tones to write three letters, one saying that my work here was nearly done, and that I should start for home within a few days,another that I was starting on the next morning from the time of the letter, and the third that I had left the castle and arrived at Bistritz. I would fain have rebelled, but felt that in the present state of things it would be madness to quarrel openly with the Count whilst I am so absolutely in his power. And to refuse would be to excite his suspicion and to arouse his anger. He knows that I know too much, and that I must not live, lest I be dangerous to him. My only chance is to prolong my opportunities. Something may occur which will give ma a chance to escape. I saw in his eyes something of that gathering wrath which was manifest when he hurled that fair woman from him. He explained to me that posts were few and uncertain, and that my writing now would ensure ease of mind to my friends. And he assured me with so much impressiveness that he would countermand the later letters, which would be held over at Bistritz until due time in case chance would admit of my prolonging my stay, that to oppose him would have been to create new suspicion. I therefore pretended to fall in with his views, and asked him what dates I should put on the letters. He calculated a minute, and then said, "The first should be June 12, the second June 19,and the third June 29." I know now the span of my life. God help me! 28 May. - There is a chance of escape, or at any rate of being able to send word home. A band of Szgany have come to the castle, and are encamped in the courtyard. These are gipsies. I have notes of them in my book. They are peculiar to this part of the world, though allied to the ordinary gipsies all the world over. There are thousands of them in Hungary and Transylvania, who are almost outside all law. They attach themselves as a rule to some great noble or boyar, and call themselves by his name. They are fearless and without religion, save superstition, and they talk only their own varieties of the Romany tongue. I shall write some letters home, and shall try to get them to have them posted. I have already spoken to them through my window to begin acquaintanceship. They took their hats off and made obeisance and many signs, which however, I could not understand any more than I could their spoken language. . . I have written the letters. Mina's is in shorthand, and I simply ask Mr. Hawkins to communicate with her. To her I have explained my situation, but without the horrors which I may only surmise. It would shock and frighten her to death were I to expose my heart to her. Should the letters not carry, then the Count shall not yet know my secret or the extent of my knowledge. . . I have given the letters. I threw them through the bars of my window with a gold piece, and made what signs I could to have them posted. The man who took them pressed them to his heart and bowed, and then put them in his cap. I could do no more. I stole back to the study, and began to read. As the Count did not come in, I have written here. . . The Count has come. He sat down beside me, and said in his smoothest voice as he opened two letters, "The Szgany has given me these, of which, though I know not whence they come, I shall, of course, take care. See!" - He must have looked at it. - "One is from you, and to my friend Peter Hawkins. The other," - here he caught sight of the strange symbols as he opened the envelope, and the dark look came into his face, and his eyes blazed wickedly, - "The other is a vile thing, an outrage upon friendship and hospitality! It is not signed. Well! So it cannot matter to us."And he calmly held letter and envelope in the flame of the lamp till they were consumed. Then he went on, "The letter to Hawkins, that I shall, of course send on, since it is yours. Your letters are sacred to me. Your pardon, my friend, that unknowingly I did break the seal. Will you not cover it again?" He held out the letter to me, and with a courteous bow handed me a clean envelope. I could only redirect it and hand it to him in silence. When he went out of the room I could hear the key turn softly. A minute later I went over and tried it, and the door was locked. When, an hour or two after, the Count came quietly into the room, his coming awakened me, for I had gone to sleep on the sofa. He was very courteous and very cheery in his manner, and seeing that I had been sleeping, he said, "So, my friend, you are tired? Get to bed. There is the surest rest. I may not have the pleasure of talk tonight, since there are many labours to me, but you will sleep, I pray." I passed to my room and went to bed, and, strange to say, slept without dreaming. Despair has its own calms. 31 May. - This morning when I woke I thought I would provide myself with some papers and envelopes from my bag and keep them in my pocket, so that I might write in case I should get an opportunity, but again a surprise, again a shock! Every scrap of paper was gone, and with it all my notes, my memoranda, relating to railways and travel, my letter of credit, in fact all that might be useful to me were I once outside the castle. I sat and pondered awhile, and then some thought occurred to me, and I made search of my portmanteau and in the wardrobe where I had placed my clothes. The suit in which I had travelled was gone, and also my overcoat and rug. I could find no trace of them anywhere. This looked like some new scheme of villainy. . . 17 June. - This morning, as I was sitting on the edge of my bed cudgelling my brains, I heard without a crackling of whips and pounding and scraping of horses' feet up the rocky path beyond the courtyard. With joy I hurried to the window, and saw drive into the yard two great leiter-wagons, each drawn by eight sturdy horses, and at the head of each pair a Slovak, with his wide hat, great nail-studded belt, dirty sheepskin, and high boots. They had also their long staves in hand. I ran to the door, intending to descend and try and join them through the main hall, as I thought that way might be opened for them. Again a shock, my door was fastened on the outside. Then I ran to the window and cried to them. They looked up at me stupidly and pointed, but just then the "hetman" of the Szgany came out, and seeing them pointing to my window, said something, at which they laughed. Henceforth no effort of mine, no piteous cry or agonized entreaty, would make them even look at me. They resolutely turned away. The leiter-wagons contained great, square boxes, with handles of thick rope. These were evidently empty by the ease with which the Slovaks handled them, and by their resonance as they were roughly moved. When they were all unloaded and packed in a great heap in one corner of the yard, the Slovaks were given some money by the Szgany, and spitting on it for luck, lazily went each to his horse's head. Shortly afterwards, I heard the crackling of their whips die away in the distance. 24 June. - Last night the Count left me early, and locked himself into his own room. As soon as I dared I ran up the winding stair, and looked out of the window, which opened South. I thought I would watch for the Count, for there is something going on. The Szgany are quartered somewhere in the castle and are doing work of some kind. I know it, for now and then, I hear a far-away muffled sound as of mattock and spade, and, whatever it is, it must be the end of some ruthless villainy. I had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour, when I saw something coming out of the Count's window. I drew back and watched carefully, and saw the whole man emerge. It was a new shock to me to find that he had on the suit of clothes which I had worn whilst travelling here, and slung over his shoulder the terrible bag which I had seen the women take away. There could be no doubt as to his quest, and in my garb, too! This, then, is his new scheme of evil, that he will allow others to see me, as they think, so that he may both leave evidence that I have been seen in the towns or villages posting my own letters, and that any wickedness which he may do shall by the local people be attributed to me. It makes me rage to think that this can go on, and whilst I am shut up here, a veritable prisoner, but without that protection of the law which is even a criminal's right and consolation. I thought I would watch for the Count's return, and for a long time sat doggedly at the window. Then I began to notice that there were some quaint little specks floating in the rays of the moonlight. They were like the tiniest grains of dust,and they whirled round and gathered in clusters in a nebulous sort of way. I watched them with a sense of soothing, and a sort of calm stole over me. I leaned back in the embrasure in a more comfortable position, so that I could enjoy more fully the aerial gambolling. Something made me start up, a low, piteous howling of dogs somewhere far below in the valley, which was hidden from my sight. Louder it seemed to ring in my ears, and the floating moats of dust to take new shapes to the sound as they danced in the moonlight. I felt myself struggling to awake to some call of my instincts. Nay, my very soul was struggling, and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to answer the call. I was becoming hypnotised! Quicker and quicker danced the dust. The moonbeams seemed to quiver as they went by me into the mass of gloom beyond. More and more they gathered till they seemed to take dim phantom shapes. And then I started, broad awake and in full possession of my senses, and ran screaming from the place. The phantom shapes, which were becoming gradually materialised from the moonbeams, were those three ghostly women to whom I was doomed. I fled, and felt somewhat safer in my own room, where there was no moonlight, and where the lamp was burning brightly. When a couple of hours had passed I heard something stirring in the Count's room, something like a sharp wail quickly suppressed. And then there was silence, deep, awful silence, which chilled me. With a beating heart, I tried the door, but I was locked in my prison, and could do nothing. I sat down and simply cried. As I sat I heard a sound in the courtyard without, the agonised cry of a woman. I rushed to the window, and throwing it up, peered between the bars. There, indeed, was a woman with dishevelled hair, holding her hands over her heart as one distressed with running. She was leaning against the corner of the gateway. When she saw my face at the window she threw herself forward, and shouted in a voice laden with menace, "Monster, give me my child!" She threw herself on her knees,and raising up her hands, cried the same words in tones which wrung my heart. Then she tore her hair and beat her breast, and abandoned herself to all the violences of extravagant emotion. Finally, she threw herself forward, and though I could not see her, I could hear the beating of her naked hands against the door. Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of the Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to be answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves. Before many minutes had passed a pack of them poured, like a pent-up dam when liberated, through the wide entrance into the courtyard. There was no cry from the woman, and the howling of the wolves was but short. Before long they streamed away singly, licking their lips. I could not pity her, for I knew now what had become of her child, and she was better dead. What shall I do? What can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night, gloom, and fear? 25 June. - No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be. When the sun grew so high this morning that it struck the top of the great gateway opposite my window, the high spot which it touched seemed to me as if the dove from the ark had lighted there. My fear fell from me as if it had been a vaporous garment which dissolved in the warmth. I must take action of some sort whilst the courage of the day is upon me. Last night one of my post-dated letters went to post, the first of that fatal series which is to blot out the very traces of my existence from the earth. Let me not think of it. Action! It has always been at night-time that I have been molested or threatened, or in some way in danger or in fear. I have not yet seen the Count in the daylight. Can it be that he sleeps when others wake, that he may be awake whilst they sleep? If I could only get into his room! But there is no possible way. The door is always locked, no way for me. Yes, there is a way, if one dares to take it. Where his body has gone why may not another body go? I have seen him myself crawl from his window. Why should not I imitate him, and go in by his window? The chances are desperate, but my need is more desperate still. I shall risk it. At the worst it can only be death, and a man's death is not a calf's, and the dreaded Hereafter may still be open to me. God help me in my task! Goodbye, Mina, if I fail. Goodbye, my faithful friend and second father. Goodbye, all, and last of all Mina! Same day, later. - I have made the effort, and God helping me, have come safely back to this room. I must put down every detail in order. I went whilst my courage was fresh straight to the window on the south side, and at once got outside on this side. The stones are big and roughly cut, and the mortar has by process of time been washed away between them. I took off my boots, and ventured out on the desperate way. I looked down once, so as to make sure that a sudden glimpse of the awful depth would not overcome me, but after that kept my eyes away from it. I know pretty well the direction and distance of the Count's window, and made for it as well as I could, having regard to the opportunities available. I did not feel dizzy, I suppose I was too excited, and the time seemed ridiculously short till I found myself standing on the window sill and trying to raise up the sash. I was filled with agitation, however, when I bent down and slid feet foremost in through the window. Then I looked around for the Count, but with surprise and gladness, made a discovery. The room was empty! It was barely furnished with odd things, which seemed to have never been used. The furniture was something the same style as that in the south rooms, and was covered with dust. I looked for the key, but it was not in the lock, and I could not find it anywhere. The only thing I found was a great heap of gold in one corner, gold of all kinds, Roman, and British, and Austrian,and Hungarian,and Greek and Turkish money, covered with a film of dust, as though it had lain long in the ground. None of it that I noticed was less than three hundred years old. There were also chains and ornaments, some jewelled, but all of them old and stained. At one corner of the room was a heavy door. I tried it, for, since I could not find the key of the room or the key of the outer door, which was the main object of my search, I must make further examination, or all my efforts would be in vain. It was open, and led through a stone passage to a circular stairway, which went steeply down. I descended, minding carefully where I went for the stairs were dark, being only lit by loopholes in the heavy masonry. At the bottom there was a dark, tunnel-like passage, through which came a deathly, sickly odour, the odour of old earth newly turned. As I went through the passage the smell grew closer and heavier. At last I pulled open a heavy door which stood ajar, and found myself in an old ruined chapel, which had evidently been used as a graveyard. The roof was broken, and in two places were steps leading to vaults, but the ground had recently been dug over, and the earth placed in great wooden boxes, manifestly those which had been brought by the Slovaks. There was nobody about, and I made a search over every inch of the ground, so as not to lose a chance. I went down even into the vaults, where the dim light struggled,although to do so was a dread to my very soul. Into two of these I went, but saw nothing except fragments of old coffins and piles of dust. In the third, however, I made a discovery. There, in one of the great boxes, of which there were fifty in all, on a pile of newly dug earth, lay the Count! He was either dead or asleep. I could not say which, for eyes were open and stony, but without the glassiness of death,and the cheeks had the warmth of life through all their pallor. The lips were as red as ever. But there was no sign of movement, no pulse, no breath, no beating of the heart. I bent over him, and tried to find any sign of life, but in vain. He could not have lain there long, for the earthy smell would have passed away in a few hours. By the side of the box was its cover, pierced with holes here and there. I thought he might have the keys on him, but when I went to search I saw the dead eyes, and in them dead though they were, such a look of hate, though unconscious of me or my presence, that I fled from the place, and leaving the Count's room by the window, crawled again up the castle wall. Regaining my room, I threw myself panting upon the bed and tried to think. 29 June. - Today is the date of my last letter, and the Count has taken steps to prove that it was genuine, for again I saw him leave the castle by the same window, and in my clothes. As he went down the wall, lizard fashion, I wished I had a gun or some lethal weapon, that I might destroy him. But I fear that no weapon wrought along by man's hand would have any effect on him. I dared not wait to see him return, for I feared to see those weird sisters. I came back to the library, and read there till I fell asleep. I was awakened by the Count, who looked at me as grimly as a man could look as he said, "Tomorrow, my friend, we must part. You return to your beautiful England, I to some work which may have such an end that we may never meet. Your letter home has been despatched. Tomorrow I shall not be here, but all shall be ready for your journey. In the morning come the Szgany, who have some labours of their own here, and also come some Slovaks. When they have gone, my carriage shall come for you, and shall bear you to the Borgo Pass to meet the diligence from Bukovina to Bistritz. But I am in hopes that I shall see more of you at Castle Dracula." I suspected him, and determined to test his sincerity. Sincerity! It seems like a profanation of the word to write it in connection with such a monster, so I asked him point-blank, "Why may I not go tonight?" "Because, dear sir, my coachman and horses are away on a mission." "But I would walk with pleasure. I want to get away at once." He smiled, such a soft, smooth, diabolical smile that I knew there was some trick behind his smoothness. He said, "And your baggage?" "I do not care about it. I can send for it some other time." The Count stood up, and said, with a sweet courtesy which made me rub my eyes, it seemed so real, "You English have a saying which is close to my heart, for its spirit is that which rules our boyars, `Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest.' Come with me, my dear young friend. Not an hour shall you wait in my house against your will, though sad am I at your going,and that you so suddenly desire it. Come!" With a stately gravity, he, with the lamp, preceded me down the stairs and along the hall. Suddenly he stopped. "Hark!" Close at hand came the howling of many wolves. It was almost as if the sound sprang up at the rising of his hand, just as the music of a great orchestra seems to leap under the baton of the conductor. After a pause of a moment, he proceeded, in his stately way, to the door, drew back the ponderous bolts, unhooked the heavy chains, and began to draw it open. To my intense astonishment I saw that it was unlocked. Suspiciously, I looked all round, but could see no key of any kind. As the door began to open, the howling of the wolves without grew louder and angrier. Their red jaws, with champing teeth, and their blunt-clawed feet as they leaped, came in through the opening door. I knew than that to struggle at the moment against the Count was useless. With such allies as these at his command, I could do nothing. But still the door continued slowly to open, and only the Count's body stood in the gap. Suddenly it struck me that this might be the moment and means of my doom. I was to be given to the wolves, and at my own instigation. There was a diabolical wickedness in the idea great enough for the Count, and as the last chance I cried out, "Shut the door! I shall wait till morning." And I covered my face with my hands to hide my tears of bitter disappointment. With one sweep of his powerful arm, the Count threw the door shut, and the great bolts clanged and echoed through the hall as they shot back into their places. In silence we returned to the library, and after a minute or two I went to my own room. The last I saw of Count Dracula was his kissing his hand to me, with a red light of triumph in his eyes, and with a smile that Judas in hell might be proud of. When I was in my room and about to lie down, I thought I heard a whispering at my door. I went to it softly and listened. Unless my ears deceived me, I heard the voice of the Count. "Back! Back to your own place! Your time is not yet come. Wait! Have patience! Tonight is mine. Tomorrow night is yours!" There was a low, sweet ripple of laughter, and in a rage I threw open the door, and saw without the three terrible women licking their lips. As I appeared, they all joined in a horrible laugh, and ran away. I came back to my room and threw myself on my knees. It is then so near the end? Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Lord, help me, and those to whom I am dear! 30 June. - These may be the last words I ever write in this diary. I slept till just before the dawn, and when I woke threw myself on my knees, for I determined that if Death came he should find me ready. At last I felt that subtle change in the air, and knew that the morning had come. Then came the welcome cockcrow, and I felt that I was safe. With a glad heart, I opened the door and ran down the hall. I had seen that the door was unlocked, and now escape was before me. With hands that trembled with eagerness, I unhooked the chains and threw back the massive bolts. But the door would not move. Despair seized me. I pulled and pulled at the door, and shook it till, massive as it was, it rattled in its casement. I could see the bolt shot. It had been locked after I left the Count. Then a wild desire took me to obtain the key at any risk,and I determined then and there to scale the wall again, and gain the Count's room. He might kill me, but death now seemed the happier choice of evils. Without a pause I rushed up to the east window, and scrambled down the wall,as before, into the Count's room. It was empty, but that was as I expected. I could not see a key anywhere, but the heap of gold remained. I went through the door in the corner and down the winding stair and along the dark passage to the old chapel. I knew now well enough where to find the monster I sought. The great box was in the same place, close against the wall, but the lid was laid on it, not fastened down, but with the nails ready in their places to be hammered home. I knew I must reach the body for the key, so I raised the lid, and laid it back against the wall. And then I saw something which filled my very soul with horror. There lay the Count, but looking as if his youth had been half restored. For the white hair and moustache were changed to dark iron-grey. The cheeks were fuller, and the white skin seemed ruby-red underneath. The mouth was redder than ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the corners of the mouth and ran down over the chin and neck. Even the deep, burning eyes seemed set amongst swollen flesh, for the lids and pouches underneath were bloated. It seemed as if the whole awful creature were simply gorged with blood. He lay like a filthy leech, exhausted with his repletion. I shuddered as I bent over to touch him,and every sense in me revolted at the contact, but I had to search, or I was lost. The coming night might see my own body a banquet in a similar war to those horrid three. I felt all over the body, but no sign could I find of the key. Then I stopped and looked at the Count. There was a mocking smile on the bloated face which seemed to drive me mad. This was the being I was helping to transfer to London, where, perhaps, for centuries to come he might, amongst its teeming millions, satiate his lust for blood, and create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons to batten on the helpless. The very thought drove me mad. A terrible desire came upon me to rid the world of such a monster. There was no lethal weapon at hand, but I seized a shovel which the workmen had been using to fill the cases, and lifting it high, struck, with the edge downward, at the hateful face. But as I did so the head turned, and the eyes fell upon me, with all their blaze of basilisk horror. The sight seemed to paralyze me, and the shovel turned in my hand and glanced from the face, merely making a deep gash above the forehead. The shovel fell from my hand across the box,and as I pulled it away the flange of the blade caught the edge of the lid which fell over again, and hid the horrid thing from my sight. The last glimpse I had was of the bloated face, blood-stained and fixed with a grin of malice which would have held its own in the nethermost hell. I thought and thought what should be my next move, but my brain seemed on fire,and I waited with a despairing feeling growing over me. As I waited I heard in the distance a gipsy song sung by merry voices coming closer, and through their song the rolling of heavy wheels and the cracking of whips. The Szgany and the Slovaks of whom the Count had spoken were coming. With a last look around and at the box which contained the vile body, I ran from the place and gained the Count's room, determined to rush out at the moment the door should be opened. With strained ears, I listened, and heard downstairs the grinding of the key in the great lock and the falling back of the heavy door. There must have been some other means of entry, or some one had a key for one of the locked doors. Then there came the sound of many feet tramping and dying away in some passage which sent up a clanging echo. I turned to run down again towards the vault, where I might find the new entrance, but at the moment there seemed to come a violent puff of wind, and the door to the winding stair blew to with a shock that set the dust from the lintels flying. When I ran to push it open, I found that it was hopelessly fast. I was again a prisoner, and the net of doom was closing round me more closely. As I write there is in the passage below a sound of many tramping feet and the crash of weights being set down heavily, doubtless the boxes, with their freight of earth. There was a sound of hammering. It is the box being nailed down. Now I can hear the heavy feet tramping again along the hall, with with many other idle feet coming behind them. The door is shut, the chains rattle. There is a grinding of the key in the lock. I can hear the key withdrawn, then another door opens and shuts. I hear the creaking of lock and bolt. Hark! In the courtyard and down the rocky way the roll of heavy wheels, the crack of whips, and the chorus of the Szgany as they pass into the distance. I am alone in the castle with those horrible women. Faugh! Mina is a woman, and there is nought in common. They are devils of the Pit! I shall not remain alone with them. I shall try to scale the castle wall farther than I have yet attempted. I shall take some of the gold with me, lest I want it later. I may find a way from this dreadful place. And then away for home! Away to the quickest and nearest train! Away from the cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and his children still walk with earthly feet! At least God's mercy is better than that of those monsters, and the precipice is steep and high. At its foot a man may sleep, as a man. Goodbye, all. Mina!