Mina Harker’s Journal

           30September. —WhenwemetinDr.Seward’sstudytwohoursafterdinner,whichhadbeenatsixo’clock,weunconsciouslyformedasortofboardorcommittee. ProfessorVanHelsingtooktheheadofthetable,towhichDr.Sewardmotionedhimashecameintotheroom. Hemademesitnexttohimonhisright,andaskedmetoactassecretary. Jonathansatnexttome. OppositeuswereLordGodalming,Dr.Seward,andMr.Morris,LordGodalmingbeingnexttheProfessor,andDr.Sewardinthecentre. 

           TheProfessorsaid,"Imay,Isuppose,takeitthatweareallacquaintedwiththefactsthatareinthesepapers." Weallexpressedassent,andhewenton, "Thenitwere,Ithink,goodthatItellyousomethingofthekindofenemywithwhichwehavetodeal. Ishallthenmakeknowntoyousomethingofthehistoryofthisman,whichhasbeenascertainedforme. Sowethencandiscusshowweshallact,andcantakeourmeasureaccording. 

           "Therearesuchbeingsasvampires,someofushaveevidencethattheyexist. Evenhadwenottheproofofourownunhappyexperience,theteachingsandtherecordsofthepastgiveproofenoughforsanepeoples. IadmitthatatthefirstIwassceptic. WereitnotthatthroughlongyearsIhavetrainedmyselftokeepanopenmind,Icouldnothavebelieveduntilsuchtimeasthatfactthunderonmyear. ‘See!See!Iprove,Iprove.’ Alas!HadIknownatfirstwhatnowIknow,nay,hadIevenguessathim,onesopreciouslifehadbeensparedtomanyofuswhodidloveher.