# The Masked Ball and the Fire explained — The Little Demon

> Chapter companion for The Little Demon by Fyodor Sologub.

## What happens

At the masked ball, the Geisha (Sasha in disguise) is attacked by a mob led by the Ear of Corn and others. Bengalsky rescues her, discovers she is a boy, and takes her to the Routilovs. Meanwhile, Peredonov, haunted by the nedotikomka, sets fire to the Club House, which burns down. Sasha escapes unnoticed, and the town buzzes with gossip about the Geisha and the fire.

## Themes in this chapter

### Madness and Paranoia

Peredonov's hallucination of the nedotikomka drives him to commit arson, illustrating his descent into madness.

### Hypocrisy and Social Facade

The mob's violent attack on the Geisha contrasts with the supposed civility of the ball, revealing the town's underlying brutality.

### Corruption of Innocence

Sasha, a schoolboy, is drawn into a dangerous masquerade and nearly assaulted, symbolizing the corruption of youth.

## Character check-ins

### Peredonov

Haunted by the nedotikomka, he sets fire to the Club House's dining-room curtain, causing the building to burn down.

### Sasha Pilnikov

Disguised as the Geisha, he is attacked at the ball, rescued by Bengalsky, and taken to the Routilovs; later returns home safely.

### Bengalsky

Rescues the Geisha from the mob, discovers she is a boy, and keeps his promise of silence.

### Pavel Volodin

Drunkenly participates in the attack on the Geisha, tearing off a sleeve and dancing wildly.

### Liudmilla

Tries desperately to reach the Geisha during the attack but is unable to push through the crowd.

### Aleksandr Veriga

Stands guard at the dining-room door, holding back the mob to allow Bengalsky to escape with the Geisha.

## Key lines

> The flaming nedotikomka, like an active little snake, crept up the curtain, squealing softly and happily.

The fiery creature, resembling a lively snake, climbed the curtain with quiet, joyful squeaks.

_Peredonov's hallucination of the nedotikomka incites him to set the curtain on fire._

> Bengalsky kept his word and told no one that the Geisha was a disguised boy.

Bengalsky honored his promise and did not reveal that the Geisha was actually a boy in costume.

_Bengalsky's discretion protects Sasha's secret after the rescue._

> The Geisha fought them off desperately. A wild tussle began.

The Geisha struggled fiercely, and a chaotic fight erupted.

_Describes the violent mob attack on Sasha during the ball._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters/xxx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_little_demon_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_little_demon_se/chapters