Whilst they were talking Mr. Morris was looking steadily at the window, and he now got up quietly, and went out of the room.  There was a little pause, and then the Professor went on.

“And now we must settle what we do.  We have here much data, and we must proceed to lay out our campaign.  We know from the inquiry of Jonathan that from the castle to Whitby came fifty boxes of earth, all of which were delivered at Carfax, we also know that at least some of these boxes have been removed.  It seems to me, that our first step should be to ascertain whether all the rest remain in the house beyond that wall where we look today, or whether any more have been removed.  If the latter, we must trace . . .”

Here we were interrupted in a very startling way.  Outside the house came the sound of a pistol shot, the glass of the window was shattered with a bullet, which ricochetting from the top of the embrasure, struck the far wall of the room.  I am afraid I am at heart a coward, for I shrieked out.  The men all jumped to their feet, Lord Godalming flew over to the window and threw up the sash.  As he did so we heard Mr. Morris’ voice without, “Sorry!  I fear I have alarmed you.  I shall come in and tell you about it.”

A minute later he came in and said, “It was an idiotic thing of me to do, and I ask your pardon, Mrs. Harker, most sincerely, I fear I must have frightened you terribly.  But the fact is that whilst the Professor was talking there came a big bat and sat on the window sill.  I have got such a horror of the damned brutes from recent events that I cannot stand them, and I went out to have a shot, as I have been doing of late of evenings, whenever I have seen one.  You used to laugh at me for it then, Art.”

“Did you hit it?” asked Dr. Van Helsing.

“I don’t know, I fancy not, for it flew away into the wood.”  Without saying any more he took his seat, and the Professor began to resume his statement.

“We must trace each of these boxes, and when we are ready, we must either capture or kill this monster in his lair, or we must, so to speak, sterilize the earth, so that no more he can seek safety in it.  Thus in the end we may find him in his form of man between the hours of noon and sunset, and so engage with him when he is at his most weak.

“And now for you, Madam Mina, this night is the end until all be well.  You are too precious to us to have such risk.  When we part tonight, you no more must question.  We shall tell you all in good time.  We are men and are able to bear, but you must be our star and our hope, and we shall act all the more free that you are not in the danger, such as we are.”

All the men, even Jonathan, seemed relieved, but it did not seem to me good that they should brave danger and, perhaps lessen their safety, strength being the best safety, through care of me, but their minds were made up, and though it was a bitter pill for me to swallow, I could say nothing, save to accept their chivalrous care of me.