Julia tells Barnabas about her terrible dream. He doesn't believe it at first, even though he and everyone else were victims of the dream curse. But when the redoutable Julia is close to tears, finally he recognizes her distress and tries to comfort her. Despite her pleas, he refuses to change his plans and tells her that even now, Professor Stokes is casing the House by the Sea.
Let me offer you some sherry, Nicholas says, letting Stokes in for his first look at the House by the Sea. I think you’ll find it interesting. Stokes has a taste and agrees, Yes, it is-- interesting. (Later he changes his mind and pronounces it excellent. He is wearing the ring--gold with a large, flat, carved carnelian--that Count Petofi will use a long time from now to begin the mind switch.) He adds, And given that we barely know each other, how do you know that sherry is my drink? Nicholas blandly explains, Oh, Carolyn told me all about you. Stokes relays Barnabas's invitation to dinner and easily flatters Nicholas into showing him around the whole house.
Stokes is late returning to the Old House, but he explains, My dear Barnabas [I believe this is the first time he uses BC’s given name], the man may have supernatural powers, but he is also an insufferable egotist. I don’t think he believes that _ordinary_ people like us would dare to plot against him. I’ve seen the whole house from top to bottom, including the cellar. You don’t have to worry about the attic, since Nicholas uses it only for storage. I’ve made a rough floor plan of the house, he says, unfolding a sheet of paper. This is Nicholas’s bedroom--hideously overdecorated, he comments as he indicates it. He IDed Eve's room from the strong scene of perfume. The conspirators finalize their plans. While Nicholas watches everything via his magical mirror, Julia tells Barnabas, I hate to think of what will happen if we are _wrong_.
Nicholas arrives punctually at the Old House. The professor entertains him while Barnabas fetches the sherry. (Where's Willie?) Stokes tells Nicholas, My ancestor, Ben, worked for Joshua Collins as an indentured servant. When Barnabas comes in with the tray, he can’t help making a very private joke. He asks Nicholas, Is Professor Stokes is going on about his tiresome ancestor? The professor is the one to tell you about my family. He knows more about the Collinses than I do myself. Julia arrives, and Barnabas excuses himself.
It falls to Stokes to entertain Barnabas's guest. It's close to midnight when he embarks on the story of the Collins business interests. Meanwhile, Barnabas reaches Eve’s (also hideously overdecorated) room and checks the hypo one last time. The room is dark, but he sees a shape on the bed, covered with blankets. But when he pulls the blankets aside, all he finds is a dressmaker’s dummy and a bolster. He stares at it, stunned, but worse awaits him. To his horror, a familiar voice comes out of the darkness: Hello, Barnabas. He turns around. Angelique! he gasps. She smiles at him--but this time, her fangs are bared.....
