The Chinese Parrot · Chapter
II: The Detective from Hawaii explained
Alexander Eden visits Sally Jordan's suite at the Stewart Hotel to discuss the delivery of the Phillimore pearls.
What happens
Alexander Eden visits Sally Jordan's suite at the Stewart Hotel to discuss the delivery of the Phillimore pearls. P. J. Madden has changed his instructions, now demanding the necklace be delivered to his desert ranch at Eldorado instead of New York. Eden is uneasy about the desert setting and a suspicious phone call. Bob Eden arrives late, explaining he avoided a man in black spectacles who followed him at the dock. Charlie Chan arrives separately with the pearls, having missed Bob. Eden reveals a second suspicious call purportedly from Madden, traced to a San Francisco pay-station, heightening concerns. Despite the risks, Sally Jordan insists on sending the pearls with Bob and Chan to the desert.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
The suspicious phone calls and the man in black spectacles following Bob Eden highlight the theme of deception and hidden motives.
Isolation and the Desert Landscape
The desert ranch at Eldorado is portrayed as an ideal but risky setting for the transaction, emphasizing isolation and vulnerability.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Charlie Chan's loyalty to Sally Jordan is evident as he agrees to postpone his vacation and accompany Bob to the desert.
Characters to notice
- Alexander Eden
Visits Sally Jordan's suite, expresses unease about Madden's changed instructions and a suspicious phone call, and worries about his son Bob.
- Bob Eden
Arrives late, explains he was followed by a man in black spectacles at the dock and avoided meeting Charlie Chan to protect the pearls.
- Charlie Chan
Arrives separately with the Phillimore pearls, apologizes for missing Bob at the dock, and agrees to accompany Bob to the desert.
- Sally Jordan
Hosts the meeting, insists on sending the necklace to Madden's desert ranch despite concerns, and asks Chan to go with Bob.
- Victor Jordan
Present at the meeting, shows interest in the necklace and supports sending it to the desert.
- P. J. Madden
Changed his instructions to have the necklace delivered to his desert ranch; a suspicious phone call purportedly from him is traced to a San Francisco pay-station.
Key passages
“Now vacation begins. All my life I have unlimited yearning to face the wonders of this mainland. Moment are now at hand. Carefree and happy, not like crossing on ship. There all time pearls rest heavy on stomach, most undigestible, like sour rice. Not so now.”
Charlie Chan expresses relief that his journey is over and he can finally explore the mainland, contrasting it with the stressful voyage where the pearls weighed on him.
Chan's relief is short-lived as he is asked to undertake another mission.
“Life would be dreary waste if there was no thing called loyalty.”
Chan states that loyalty gives life meaning, justifying his willingness to help Sally Jordan.
Highlights the theme of loyalty and Chan's personal code.
“Suppose somebody did want to play a crooked game—what a setting for it! Away out there on that ocean of sand, with only the Joshua-trees for neighbours.”
Alexander Eden worries that the desert's isolation makes it a perfect place for a crime.
Foreshadows the danger and the theme of isolation.