5 June. The more I get to understand about Renfield the more interesting the man becomes. His character has certain qualities which are very largely developed. He is selfish, secretive, and purposeful.

I wish I could understand what he wants to do. He seems to have some fixed scheme of his own, but what that scheme is, I do not know. His redeeming quality is a love of animals. However, that love shows itself in such a strange way that I sometimes think that in fact he is abnormally cruel. He chooses strange animals as pets.

Just now his hobby is catching flies. At present he has so many that I have had to complain to him about this. I had expected him to become furious, but to my astonishment, he seriously considered what I had said. He thought for a moment, and then said, 'May I have three days? Then I shall clear them away.' Of course, I said that would do fine. I must watch him.

18 June. He has turned his mind now to spiders, and has got several very big fellows in a box. He keeps feeding them his flies, and the number of the latter is visibly diminished, although he has used half his food to attract more flies from outside to his room.

Vocabulary:

Purposeful: Having a clear idea of what to do
Scheme: Here this means 'plan'
Redeeming quality: Something good that makes up for the bad parts
Abnormally: Much more than usual
Hobby: Work done for amusement
Latter: The last one mentioned. Here that is 'files'

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