The Room in the Dragon Volant · Chapter
XIX: The Key explained
The narrator meets the Countess in the park at night.
What happens
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 instructions for their flight, but their meeting is nearly discovered by Colonel Gaillarde and his companion. The narrator, now deeply entangled, resolves to proceed with the dangerous scheme.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
The Countess's romantic proposal masks a potentially treacherous plot; the narrator is blinded by passion and fails to see the danger.
Love and Obsession
The narrator's infatuation drives him to agree to a reckless escape and contemplate murder without hesitation.
Innocence and Exploitation
The narrator's naive trust is exploited by the Countess, who manipulates his emotions for her own ends.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Meets the Countess in the park, agrees to her plan of escape, and prepares to use the key she gives him.
- Countess de St. Alyre
Proposes a joint escape with the narrator, shows him her diamond collar, and gives him a key and instructions for their flight.
- Colonel Gaillarde
Approaches the meeting place with a companion, nearly discovering the narrator and the Countess, but then departs.
- Count de St. Alyre
Mentioned as the husband from whom the Countess plans to flee; he will attend the funeral of Monsieur de St. Amand.
- Pierre de St. Amand
His funeral is the pretext for the Count's absence, enabling the planned escape.
Key passages
“I have resolved to fly. I have jewels, principally diamonds, for which I am offered thirty thousand pounds of your English money. They are my separate property by my marriage settlement; I will take them with me.”
She has decided to run away and will bring her diamonds, worth thirty thousand pounds, which are legally hers alone.
The Countess reveals her plan to escape with her valuable jewels.
“You cannot employ too much caution tomorrow night. An interruption would murder all my hopes. I have learned that you occupy the haunted room in the Dragon Volant. It is the very room I would have wished you in.”
She warns him to be extremely careful and is pleased he is staying in the haunted room, which has a secret exit.
The Countess gives specific instructions and explains the significance of the room.
“I have often thanked heaven for its mercy in conducting me through the labyrinths in which I had all but lost myself.”
The narrator later feels grateful that he was saved from the dangerous path he was about to take.
A retrospective reflection on the perilous situation.