“Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina!  She has man’s brain, a brain that a man should have were he much gifted, and a woman’s heart.  The good God fashioned her for a purpose, believe me, when He made that so good combination.  Friend John, up to now fortune has made that woman of help to us, after tonight she must not have to do with this so terrible affair.  It is not good that she run a risk so great.  We men are determined, nay, are we not pledged, to destroy this monster?  But it is 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, both in waking, from her nerves, and in sleep, from her dreams.  And, besides, she is young woman and not so long married, there may be other things to think of some time, if not now.  You tell me she has wrote all, then she must consult with us, but tomorrow she say goodbye to this work, and we go alone.”

I agreed heartily with him, and then I told him what we had found in his absence, that the house which Dracula had bought was the very next one to my own.  He was amazed, and a great concern seemed to come on him.

“Oh that we had known it before!” he said, “for then we might have reached him in time to save poor Lucy.  However, ’the milk that is spilt cries not out afterwards,’ as you say.  We shall not think of that, but go on our way to the end.”  Then he fell into a silence that lasted till we entered my own gateway.  Before we went to prepare for dinner he said to Mrs. Harker, “I am told, Madam Mina, by my friend John that you and your husband have put up in exact order all things that have been, up to this moment.”

“Not up to this moment, Professor,” she said impulsively, “but up to this morning.”

“But why not up to now?  We have seen hitherto how good light all the little things have made.  We have told our secrets, and yet no one who has told is the worse for it.”

Mrs. Harker began to blush, and taking a paper from her pockets, she said, “Dr. Van Helsing, will you read this, and tell me if it must go in.  It is my record of today.  I too have seen the need of putting down at present everything, however trivial, but there is little in this except what is personal.  Must it go in?”

The Professor read it over gravely, and handed it back, saying, “It need not go in if you do not wish it, but I pray that it may.  It can but make your husband love you the more, and all us, your friends, more honour you, as well as more esteem and love.”  She took it back with another blush and a bright smile.

And so now, up to this very hour, all the records we have are complete and in order.  The Professor took away one copy to study after dinner, and before our meeting, which is fixed for nine o’clock.  The rest of us have already read everything, so when we meet in the study we shall all be informed as to facts, and can arrange our plan of battle with this terrible and mysterious enemy.