# The Room in the Dragon Volant — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Room in the Dragon Volant by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

- [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/prologue.md): The narrator introduces a curious case referenced in Doctor Hesselius's essay 'Mortis Imago,' which discusses various medieval drugs and poisons, including the Vinum letiferum and others. The essay is enriched with citat
- [The Room in the Dragon Volant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/the-room-in-the-dragon-volant.md): The narrator arrives at the Dragon Volant inn and is given a peculiar room with a mysterious locked door. He reflects on the strange events of the evening, including a warning from an old woman and his growing obsession 
- [I: On the Road](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/i-on-the-road.md): The narrator, a young Englishman of 23, travels from Brussels to Paris in 1815 after inheriting a fortune. On the road, he encounters a broken-down carriage carrying an elderly invalid gentleman and a captivating lady in
- [II: The Innyard of the Belle Étoile](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/ii-the-innyard-of-the-belle-toile.md): The narrator, captivated by the beautiful Countess, attempts to learn more about her and the Count de St. Alyre after their carriage accident. He tries to rent their rooms at the Belle Étoile inn but is refused, then que
- [III: Death and Love Together Mated](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/iii-death-and-love-together-mated.md): The narrator, restless and infatuated with the Countess de St. Alyre, prepares for supper while overhearing her sing a haunting chanson about death and love. He observes the tension between the Count and Countess, and hi
- [IV: Monsieur Droqville](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/iv-monsieur-droqville.md): The narrator, mistaken for a Member of Parliament, receives a confidential letter intended for Mr. Stanhope Beckett from the Marquis d'Harmonville, who is traveling incognito as Monsieur Droqville. The Marquis graciously
- [Supper at the Belle Étoile](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/v-supper-at-the-belle-toile.md): The narrator attends the table-d'hôte at the Belle Étoile, where he sits with the Marquis d'Harmonville, who warns him about the dangers of Parisian gaming houses and the sophisticated rogues who prey on wealthy foreigne
- [The Naked Sword](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/vi-the-naked-sword.md): The narrator falls asleep after supper and has a disturbing dream in which the Countess de St. Alyre appears dead on a catafalque, pleading to be saved from being buried alive. He wakes to find Colonel Gaillarde staring 
- [VII: The White Rose](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/vii-the-white-rose.md): The narrator, after felling Colonel Gaillarde with his walking stick, escorts the Countess de St. Alyre to her carriage. She presses a white rose into his hand as a farewell token. He bribes the innkeeper to avoid legal 
- [VIII: A Three Minutes’ Visit](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/viii-a-three-minutes-visit.md): The narrator remains in a cataleptic state, unable to move or speak but fully aware. A stranger enters the carriage, searches his pockets, examines his letters and a white rose, and takes notes on a paper before leaving.
- [IX: Gossip and Counsel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/ix-gossip-and-counsel.md): The narrator arrives in Paris and meets the Marquis d'Harmonville, who offers guidance and warnings about the city's dangers. The narrator inquires about the Count and Countess de St. Alyre, learning of their strained ma
- [X: The Black Veil](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/x-the-black-veil.md): The narrator, after two days in Paris, receives a card for the masquerade ball from Monsieur Droqville (the Marquis d'Harmonville). A brief quarrel over a prior engagement is resolved, and the Marquis advises securing a 
- [XI: The Dragon Volant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xi-the-dragon-volant.md): The narrator arrives at the Dragon Volant inn, a picturesque but somber building. He inquires about the nearby Château de la Carque and learns it belongs to the Count de St. Alyre, an old, possibly poor man with a young,
- [XII: The Magician](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xii-the-magician.md): The narrator attends a magnificent masked ball at Versailles, where he encounters a mysterious magician in a Chinese palanquin. The Marquis d'Harmonville introduces him to the Count de St. Alyre, who consults the magicia
- [XIII: The Oracle Tells Me Wonders](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xiii-the-oracle-tells-me-wonders.md): At a masked ball, the narrator observes the swaggering Colonel Gaillarde consulting a mysterious oracle called 'Confu.' After Gaillarde leaves, the narrator approaches the oracle himself, asking questions about his relig
- [XIV: Mademoiselle de la Vallière](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xiv-mademoiselle-de-la-valli-re.md): At a masked ball, the narrator converses with a lady dressed as Mademoiselle de la Vallière. She reveals intimate knowledge of his interest in the Countess de St. Alyre and arranges a secret midnight meeting in the park.
- [Strange Story of the Dragon Volant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xv-strange-story-of-the-dragon-volant.md): At a masked ball, the narrator removes his mask and meets Tom Whistlewick, who introduces him to Monsieur Carmaignac. Carmaignac recounts the mysterious disappearance of the Chevalier Château Blassemare, a wealthy émigré
- [XVI: The Parc of the Château de la Carque](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xvi-the-parc-of-the-ch-teau-de-la-carque.md): The narrator prepares for a secret midnight meeting with the Countess de St. Alyre in the park of the Château de la Carque. He scales the wall, enters the grove, and meets a masked woman who tests his loyalty by claiming
- [XVII: The Tenant of the Palanquin](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xvii-the-tenant-of-the-palanquin.md): The Marquis d'Harmonville visits the narrator and asks for a ride to Paris. At the narrator's hotel, they encounter the Count de St. Alyre, who requests assistance with funeral arrangements for his cousin, Monsieur de St
- [XVIII: The Churchyard](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xviii-the-churchyard.md): After a fine dinner at the Dragon Volant, Monsieur Carmaignac recounts eerie tales of three guests who vanished from the same room the narrator occupies. The narrator later ventures to the churchyard near the Château de 
- [XIX: The Key](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xix-the-key.md): The narrator meets the Countess in the park at night. She reveals her plan to flee from her husband, taking her jewels, and proposes that they escape together to Switzerland. She gives him a special double key and instru
- [XX: A High-Cauld-Cap](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xx-a-high-cauld-cap.md): The narrator returns to the Dragon Volant inn after his secret meeting with the Countess. He is confronted by an old woman who warns him to leave, implying she knows his secret. He then uses the key and instructions give
- [I See Three Men in a Mirror](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxi-i-see-three-men-in-a-mirror.md): The narrator prepares for his secret midnight rendezvous, making financial arrangements and disguising his departure. He visits Paris, exploring Notre Dame and nearby streets, and stumbles into a curiosity shop where he 
- [XXII: Rapture](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxii-rapture.md): The narrator, in a state of passionate anticipation, sneaks out of the Dragon Volant inn and makes his way to the Château de la Carque for a clandestine meeting with the Countess. He brings a box containing thirty thousa
- [A Cup of Coffee](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxiii-a-cup-of-coffee.md): The narrator discovers a coffin in an adjoining room, leading to a tense exchange with the Countess. She explains the delay in the funeral and reassures him. After sharing coffee and liqueur, the narrator suddenly become
- [XXIV: Hope](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxiv-hope.md): The narrator, paralyzed and unable to move, witnesses the Count de St. Alyre and the Countess de St. Alyre count and steal his money from his strong box. They discuss Planard's delay and the division of the loot, reveali
- [XXV: Despair](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxv-despair.md): The narrator, paralyzed by a drug, overhears the Count, Planard, and the Countess discussing the dosage and effects of the poison administered to him. They prepare him for burial by dressing him in a nightshirt and cap, 
- [XXVI: Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_room_in_the_dragon_volant_se/chapters/xxvi-catastrophe.md): The narrator recounts the aftermath of the conspiracy: the Count is executed, the Countess imprisoned, and the narrator himself becomes a figure of public ridicule. He describes the horrifying moment he was placed in a c

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