The Grand Babylon Hotel · Chapter
Further Events in the Cellar explained
Nella recounts how she discovered a mysterious figure sawing at an iron grating in the hotel's sunken yard, then crept through the hole herself into the wine cellar.
What happens
Nella recounts how she discovered a mysterious figure sawing at an iron grating in the hotel's sunken yard, then crept through the hole herself into the wine cellar. Theodore Racksole and Félix Babylon find her there, and they devise a plan to trap Jules, who they suspect will tamper with a bottle of wine intended for Prince Eugen. They hide behind a glass door and watch as Jules enters, removes a bottle from bin 17, applies a black salve to the neck, and replaces it. Nella wants to stop him, but Babylon restrains her, and Jules escapes through the grating.
Themes in this chapter
Mystery and Intrigue
The chapter builds suspense as Nella discovers the grating, the characters plan to trap Jules, and he secretly tampers with the wine bottle.
Father-Daughter Relationship
Racksole shows paternal pride in Nella's sagacity, and they work together in the cellar despite his initial annoyance.
Crime and Justice
The plot revolves around Jules's attempted poisoning of Prince Eugen's wine, with Racksole and Babylon choosing to catch him themselves rather than involve the police.
Characters to notice
- Nella Racksole
Discovers the grating, enters the cellar, and recounts her adventure; shows keen observation and a desire to catch the burglar.
- Theodore Racksole
Mistakes Nella for a criminal, then devises a plan to trap Jules by watching from behind the glass door.
- Félix Babylon
Remains formal and cautious; restrains Nella from intervening as Jules escapes.
- Jules
Enters the cellar through the grating, tampers with a bottle of Romanée-Conti from bin 17, and escapes before being caught.
Key passages
“Well, Father, ... You should make sure that you have got hold of the right person before you use all that terrible muscular force of yours. I do believe you have broken my shoulder bone.”
Nella teases her father for grabbing her too roughly in the dark, claiming he may have injured her shoulder.
Highlights Nella's playful and resilient character after her ordeal.
“I had been reading rather late in my room—the night was so close. I heard Big Ben strike half-past twelve, and then I put the book down, and went out on to the balcony of my window for a little fresh air before going to bed.”
Nella explains she was up late reading and stepped onto her balcony for air, where she spotted the mysterious figure.
Sets the scene for her discovery of the intruder.
“You want, as it were, to catch Mr. Jules alive? ... Surely, it would be simpler and easier to inform the police of your suspicion, and to leave everything to them.”
Babylon questions Racksole's plan to trap Jules without police involvement, suggesting it would be easier to call the authorities.
Shows Babylon's cautious nature versus Racksole's desire for personal justice.
“Jules went directly to a small bin which was numbered 17, and took there from the topmost bottle. 'The Romanée-Conti—Prince Eugen's wine!' Babylon exclaimed under his breath.”
Jules immediately locates bin 17 and removes the top bottle, which Babylon identifies as the wine meant for Prince Eugen.
Confirms the target of Jules's tampering and the stakes of the plot.