Dracula

Jonathan and Mina stay with Seward at the asylum, where Mina transcribes his diary. Seward reads Mina’s and Jonathan’s diaries as well. He realizes that Dracula is probably staying in the house next to the asylum. Renfield is calm for the moment, and Seward wonders what that could mean about Dracula.

Jonathan investigates the shipping of the boxes. They arrived at the Carfax chapel, but some may have been moved since then. Mina notices that their mission has filled Jonathan with purpose and energy. Holmwood and Morris come to the asylum, where Mina comforts the grieving widower.

Mina asks Dr. Seward for permission to visit Renfield. Before she arrives, he eats all of his spiders and flies but behaves politely during her visit. Van Helsing visits the asylum and approves of Mina’s transcription and ordering of Seward’s diary. He also says that he will not allow her to help them further, because destroying a vampire has “no part for a woman. Even if she be not harmed, her heart may fail her in so much and so many horrors; and hereafter she may suffer” (247).

He tells them the legend of Nosferatu, and lists all of a vampire’s strengths and weaknesses. Their success depends on finding the fifty boxes of earth. He repeats that Mina will not take part in their plan but will better serve them by being a symbol of hope.

Armed with blessed talismans, the men go to Carfax. The chapel holds twenty-nine boxes; twenty-one are unaccounted for. Rats flood into the room, but the men scare them away by blowing a dog whistle.

Back at the asylum, Van Helsing tries to interrogate Renfield for clues, but the patient won’t help him. He insults and curses Van Helsing.

Mina grows more anxious at the asylum. After hearing noises from Renfield’s room, she notices that her window is open. Outside, a line of mist creeps across the grounds towards her. She closes the window and goes to sleep but is restless. A white face leans over her, but she thinks she is dreaming.

Jonathan learns the location of twelve of the missing boxes. They reside at two separate London houses. The final nine boxes are in Piccadilly. Piccadilly is a busy area; they’re unsure of how to get into the house without being seen.

Seward continues to observe Renfield. The patient shows no interest in his insects but repeats that all he wants is life. Seward asks him how he views the fates of the lives he takes. Renfield refuses to talk about souls. Seward believes that Renfield feels guilty about the lives he has consumed, and worries that he might pay a price for them. The next night, attendants find Renfield in a pool of blood.

As he dies, Renfield describes his visits from Count Dracula. He says that Dracula made a bargain with him: He would bring Renfield insects and animals to make him strong if Renfield would help with his plans. During Mina’s visit, Renfield saw signs (for example, her pale skin) that Dracula had been draining her blood. That night when Dracula visited him, Renfield challenged him. Dracula threw him against the wall and left.

Upstairs, they find Harker in his room, unconscious. Mina is drinking blood from a gash on Dracula’s torso. Van Helsing expels Dracula with the host, and Dracula escapes by turning into mist and flowing beneath the door. Then he turns into a bat and flies away. The men find Seward’s study destroyed: Dracula tried to destroy all documents pertaining to him. He did not know that they had made copies and hid them in a safe.

Mina and Jonathan wake up. She tells the men that Dracula drank from her throat. He said he would kill Jonathan unless she tasted his blood. It was also not the first time he drained her. He told her that he would make her “flesh of my flesh; blood of my blood; kin of my kin” (303).