Jonathan Harker’s Journal

           26September. —Ithoughtnevertowriteinthisdiaryagain,butthetimehascome. WhenIgothomelastnightMinahadsupperready,andwhenwehadsuppedshetoldmeofVanHelsing’svisit,andofherhavinggivenhimthetwodiariescopiedout,andofhowanxiousshehasbeenaboutme. Sheshowedmeinthedoctor’sletterthatallIwrotedownwastrue. Itseemstohavemadeanewmanofme. Itwasthedoubtastotherealityofthewholethingthatknockedmeover. Ifeltimpotent,andinthedark,anddistrustful. But,nowthatIknow,Iamnotafraid,evenoftheCount. Hehassucceededafterall,then,inhisdesigningettingtoLondon,anditwasheIsaw. Hehasgotyounger,andhow? VanHelsingisthemantounmaskhimandhunthimout,ifheisanythinglikewhatMinasays. Wesatlate,andtalkeditover. Minaisdressing,andIshallcallatthehotelinafewminutesandbringhimover. 

           Hewas,Ithink,surprisedtoseeme. WhenIcameintotheroomwherehewas,andintroducedmyself,hetookmebytheshoulder,andturnedmyfaceroundtothelight,andsaid,afterasharpscrutiny, 

           "ButMadamMinatoldmeyouwereill,thatyouhadhadashock." 

           Itwassofunnytohearmywifecalled‘MadamMina’bythiskindly,strong-facedoldman. Ismiled,andsaid, "Iwasill,Ihavehadashock,butyouhavecuredmealready." 

           "Andhow?" 

           "ByyourlettertoMinalastnight. Iwasindoubt,andtheneverythingtookahueofunreality,andIdidnotknowwhattotrust,eventheevidenceofmyownsenses.