Summary

Chapter 19 begins with Jonathan’s journal. He is relieved that Mina bowed out of the “men’s work” gracefully. He and the other men discuss Renfield’s condition. Seward is conflicted but believes Renfield is too tied up with Dracula to free him. As they arrive at Carfax, Van Helsing arms them with crucifixes, garlic, communion wafers, knifes, and revolvers. Jonathan leads them through the dusty rooms to the chapel. They count twenty-nine wooden boxes. The place swarms with rats, but Arthur uses a whistle to call his dogs, which kill the rodents. Jonathan notices that Mina is pale and overly tired the next day, but he chalks it up to all the excitement.

Van Helsing asks Seward if he can visit Renfield, but Renfield refuses to talk to him. Mina writes about her distress at Jonathan’s sudden reticence. She blames herself...