4 May--I found that my landlord had got a letter from the Count,

4 May--I found that my landlord had got a letter from the Count, directing him to secure the best place on the coach for me; but on making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent, and pretended that he could not understand my German.

This could not be true, because up to then he had understood it perfectly; at least, he answered my questions exactly as if he did.

He and his wife, the old lady who had received me, looked at each other in a frightened sort of way. He mumbled out that the money had been sent in a letter, and that was all he knew. When I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could tell me anything of his castle, both he and his wife crossed themselves, and, saying that they knew nothing at all, simply refused to speak further. It was so near the time of starting that I had no time to ask anyone else, for it was all very mysterious and not by any means comforting.

Just before I was leaving, the old lady came up to my room and said in a hysterical way: "Must you go? Oh! Young Herr, must you go?" She was in such an excited state that she seemed to have lost her grip of what German she knew, and mixed it all up with some other language which I did not know at all. I was just able to follow her by asking many questions. When I told her that I must go at once, and that I was engaged on important business, she asked again:

"Do you know what day it is?" I answered that it was the fourth of May. She shook her head as she said again:

"Oh, yes! I know that! I know that, but do you know what day it is?"

On my saying that I did not understand, she went on:

"It is the eve of St. George's Day.  Do you not know that to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?" She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort her, but without effect. Finally, she went down on her knees and implored me not to go; at least to wait a day or two before starting.

It was all very ridiculous but I did not feel comfortable. However, there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it.

I tried to raise her up, and said, as gravely as I could, that I thanked her, but my duty was imperative, and that I must go.

She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me.

I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such a state of mind.

She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the rosary round my neck and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out of the room.

I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting for the coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still round my neck.

Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual.

If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my good-bye. Here comes the coach!

Comments

[Elizabeth]

A couple of comments on the dating of the novel.

The story spans a period of 6 months, from May 3 (first entry) to November 6. Originally, Stoker had planned for the narrative to begin earlier. His Notes for the novel show that at one point the story was to begin on March 16 with the first of several letters between the Count and Hawkins (Harker's employer). Eventually, Stoker jettisoned these letters, as well as a series of adventures that Harker was to have in Munich enroute to Castle Dracula.

[David40]

"...on making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent..."

I wonder what details specifically are being referred to here. I find it somewhat interesting the different reactions of the landlord and the landlady. The landlord clearly knows something but he will not say what. The landlady, on the other hand, holds nothing of her fears back.

What would account for the different reactions? My speculation is that the letter from the Count to the landlord was hand-delivered by one of the three Brides, in typically seductive fashion. The landlord doesn't want anyone--and least of all his wife--to know about steps he may have taken with the Bride towards vampirism and/or marital infidelity.

Needless to say, this is pure speculation on my part. But it seems obvious that the landlord is holding something back that is never revealed to Jonathan or the reader.

[Ella]

I suspect that the letter was delivered by someone who is better at blending into the crowd than the Brides. :) The difference could just be a personality difference.