Is there something in the crucifix itself that makes me feel better, or does it help me to remember that I am not alone and without friends? Some time, if I am alive to have that time, I must think about this and try to make up my mind about it. In the meantime I must find out all that I can about Count Dracula. I need to understand everything possible about him. Tonight I will try to change the conversation so that he talks about himself. I must be very careful, however, and make sure he does not realize that I am doing this.

Midnight. I have had a long talk with the Count. I asked him a few questions about the history of Transylvania, and he talked about it with wonderful enthusiasm. He spoke about things and people, and especially of battles, as if he had been there when it happened. Afterwards he told me that this was because his family were Boyars. Everyone in the Boyar family had always been proud of their name, and the glory of one member of the family gave glory to them all, and they thought that what happened to one person in the family happened to them all. Whenever he spoke of his family he always said "we", and sounded as though he was a king speaking.

I wish I could write everything he said in the exact words that he used, because what he said was so interesting. His story seemed to be the whole history of the country. He grew excited as he talked, and walked about the room pulling his great white moustache and squeezing things that came under his hands as though he wanted to break them with his strength. I will write down one thing which he said, using his words as nearly as I can remember, because in a way, it tells the story of his people.