# Night Life in Honolulu explained — The House Without a Key

> Chapter companion for The House Without a Key by Earl Derr Biggers.

## What happens

John Quincy spends a restless Monday with no new developments in the murder case. He learns that a fleet of warships is arriving, bringing social events. Barbara tells him she will not marry Harry Jennison and asks him to speak with Thomas Brade. John Quincy negotiates with Brade, who demands a $100,000 settlement but agrees to wait until the murderer is found. Later, John Quincy meets Carlota Egan, who is cheered by a visit from Captain Cope to her father. They go to see the night-blooming cereus, but on their return, someone shoots at them from the bushes. At the hotel, Captain Cope reveals he returned to help Jim Egan.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secrets and Deception

Brade's claim against the Winterslip family is shrouded in old secrets; the shooting from the bushes introduces a new layer of deception and danger.

### Wealth and Morality

John Quincy negotiates a financial settlement with Brade, weighing the moral implications of rewarding a potential murderer against the family's reputation.

## Character check-ins

### John Quincy Winterslip

Spends a restless day, negotiates with Brade, and is shot at while walking with Carlota.

### Barbara Winterslip

Appears tired and wan; tells John Quincy she will not marry Harry Jennison and asks him to speak with Brade.

### Miss Minerva Winterslip

Present at dinner; disapproves of Barbara getting John Quincy invitations to fleet parties.

### Thomas Macan Brade

Negotiates with John Quincy; demands $100,000 settlement but agrees to wait until the murderer is found.

### Carlota Maria Egan

Cheered by Captain Cope's visit to her father; goes with John Quincy to see the night-blooming cereus and is present when shots are fired.

### Captain Arthur Temple Cope

Visits Jim Egan in jail; takes a room at the Reef and Palm and says he came back to help Egan.

## Key lines

> An American fleet had just left the harbor of San Pedro bound for Hawaii. This was the annual cruise of the graduating class at Annapolis; the warships were overflowing with future captains and admirals.

A fleet of warships carrying Annapolis graduates is heading to Hawaii for a social visit.

_Sets the historical context of the chapter._

> I'm not going to marry Mr. Jennison, after all.

Barbara tells John Quincy she has called off her engagement to Harry Jennison.

_Key plot development in Barbara's personal life._

> A settlement of one hundred thousand dollars would be acceptable.

Brade demands $100,000 to drop his claim against the Winterslip estate.

_Central to the negotiation scene._

> From the foliage beside them came the flash of a pistol, and John Quincy heard a bullet sing close to his head.

Someone shoots at John Quincy and Carlota from the bushes as they walk back to the hotel.

_Climactic event of the chapter._

> I came back to help him.

Captain Cope tells Carlota he returned to assist her father, Jim Egan.

_Reveals Captain Cope's purpose in Honolulu._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters/xvii-night-life-in-honolulu
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_house_without_a_key_se/chapters