Chapter VIII, pages 233-244 Summary

After reading the letter Don Jaime asks if Dona Adela intends to kill him if he does not surrender the document. She asks for the letter, but Don Jaime refuses. Dona Adela asks his intentions, and Don Jaime says he has not decided if he will first go to the police or first go and kill her benefactor.

Dona Adela begins to undress. At first Don Jaime is mesmerized by her beauty, but then he notices her eyes. He sees the same expression he saw before Dona Adela would lunge during fencing practice. Don Jaime leaps back and sees that Dona Adela was about to kill him with a hatpin.

Dona Adela takes Don Jaime's sword, and Don Jaime runs to the gallery and takes the first available sword, but it is a practicing foil with a...