Chapter 4 - Jonathan Harker's Journal (Continued)

Chapter 4 begins with Jonathan trying to decipher whether or not the previous night events with the three women were real or just a dream. He finally comes to the conclusion that it was real when he discovers that his clothes have been folded in an unusual way and he concludes that the Count must have carried him back to his room. He tries to get back into the room but finds it to be locked now. Then the Count asks him to write three letters saying that he is leaving in a few days, leaving the day after writing this letter and has already left the Castle and arrived in Bistritz. Jonathan's reaction after finding what dates to date the letters "I know now the span of my life. God help me!" shows that he believes that the Count thinks he knows too much to stay amongst the living. Shortly after Jonathan sees a group of gipsies in the courtyard outside his window and throws them some personal letters to deliver and some gold for their troubles but they are handed over to the Count, who cannot understand the shorthand used to write his letter to Mina. This "outrage upon friendship and hospitality" leads to Jonathan's possessions and writing materials disappearing shortly after, furthermore Jonathan next witnesses the Count leaving the Castle wearing his suit and impersonating him. Fearing he has not long to live Jonathan makes a bold move and climbs along the Castle wall and into the Count's room through his window in search for a key to help him escape. He does this during the day because he has yet to see the Count during the day. He finds the room to be empty, but finds a door and a winding staircase leading to an underground passage where he eventually finds the Count lying neither dead nor asleep in a coffin. Anxiety takes over and Jonathan runs back to his room. On the date of his last letter Jonathan is told by the Count that he is to leave the next day, however Jonathan volunteers to leave by walking. The Count allows him to leave and walks him down to the front gate, although as it is opening the howling of the wolves gets louder and closer and Jonathan shouts "Shut the door; I shall wait till morning!". During the night Jonathan hears voices outside his room, warning the female vampires that their time is not until tomorrow. Desperate to escape on his last day, Jonathan again goes underground to search the Count's body for a key. He is shocked when he discovers the Count to look younger and more full of life. In a desperate attempt he hits the Count on the forehead with a shovel before again running upstairs and again discovering that he is alone with the Count. This ending to the chapter really entices the audience to read on.