When Mina and Jonathan return to Exeter, they discover a telegram from Van Helsing telling them that Lucy and her mother are both dead.

It is with a heavy heart that the gentlemen friends of Lucy leave the cemetery where she and her mother are interred. Arthur speaks with guests about the blood transfusion he underwent on Lucy’s behalf, unaware of the other men who donated their own. He comments that he felt as though he and Lucy were married in the eyes of God. Once alone in the carriage with Dr. Seward, Van Helsing breaks down into a mixture of laughter and sobs. Dr. Seward is alarmed at the impropriety of laughter at such a morbid time, but Van Helsing explains that during times of great stress, it is a merciful laugh that breaks the strain, a laugh that cannot be stopped. He tells Seward that he cares for Arthur in his time of need more strongly because arthur reminds him of his own dead son. However, Van Helsing was struck by Arthur’s comment about the blood transfusion, because it would imply that Lucy was in fact “married” to all of them. Van Helsing tells Seward that he must return to Amsterdam to attend to some business, but then he will return to take care of further matters here.

Seward concludes his diary, heartbroken with the loss of his love.