# XVII explained — Ticket No. 9672

> Chapter companion for Ticket No. 9672 by Jules Verne.

## What happens

Joel and Hulda arrive in Christiania for the lottery drawing. They walk through the bustling city, overhearing public gossip about the ticket and Sandgoist's villainy. Joel reads a cablegram reporting that no trace of the Viking has been found, confirming the loss of Ole and the crew.

## Themes in this chapter

### Greed and Exploitation

Sandgoist is condemned by the public for his usury and merciless foreclosure, and the inflated rumors of offers for the ticket highlight the greed surrounding the lottery.

### Hope and Resilience

Despite the grim news about the Viking, the crowds pour into Christiania hoping for a prize, and Joel tries to divert Hulda's melancholy thoughts.

### Love and Longing

Hulda's sigh 'Ole! my poor Ole!' reveals her enduring love and grief for Ole, presumed lost at sea.

## Character check-ins

### Hulda Hansen

Visits the wharves with Joel, sighs for Ole, and becomes distressed by public talk about the ticket.

### Joel Hansen

Leads Hulda away from the wharves, overhears gossip, and reads the devastating cablegram about the Viking.

### Sylvius Hogg

Has returned to Christiania and is seen hurrying toward the wharves and the Naval Department; has arranged for Joel and Hulda to stay at the Hotel du Nord.

### Monsieur Sandgoist

Publicly reviled as a scoundrel; people hope he loses the money he paid for the ticket and that he does not attend the drawing.

## Key lines

> “Ole! my poor Ole!” sighed Hulda

Hulda sighs in grief for Ole, whom she believes is lost.

_Expresses Hulda's sorrow and longing for Ole._

> “What an infernal scoundrel Sandgoist must be. That rascal who showed those poor people no mercy.”

The public condemns Sandgoist as a merciless villain.

_Reflects the theme of greed and exploitation._

> The dispatch-boat Telegraph has reached the locality where the Viking is supposed to have been lost, but has found no trace of the wreck.

A cablegram reports that the search for the Viking has found no wreckage, confirming the loss.

_Delivers the devastating news that Ole is almost certainly dead._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ticket_no_9672_se/chapters/xvii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ticket_no_9672_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ticket_no_9672_se/chapters