Chapter Nine Summary

The Baudelaires are horrorstruck to see Count Olaf outside Hotel Denouement, but they are not entirely surprised: he ruthlessly stalks the children and always manages to locate them, regardless of their hiding places. Olaf demands that Dewey hand over the children, but he refuses. Olaf gives a long, impassioned speech about how standing up to him is fruitless, and how the children should know better than to trust anyone: everyone, whether comrade or friend, will eventually fail you. The Baudelaires stand up for their friends, particularly Dewey, saying that he is dedicated to their well-being and would never fail them. Klaus agrees, saying that they've managed to survive Olaf's clutches until now, and they don't intend to stop. Olaf sneers at Klaus with malice: "And how did you survive me?" he asks. He goes on to list all the crimes the...