Harker smiled – actually smiled – the dark bitter smile of one who is without hope; but at the same time his action belied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the hilt of the great Kukri knife and rested there.
– Bram Stoker
Dracula, Chapter 25. Jonathan, after hearing that Count Dracula’s ship Czarina Catherine had boarded at Galatz instead of Varna, where the vampire hunters had been waiting for it. Jonathan smiles bitterly at the setback. But the action of his hands seeking out the hilt of his great Kukri knife speaks of the determination to hunt down Dracula. This is forecasting how Jonathan will later in the story cut the evil Count’s head off with that same knife.