Angelique is whisked away to what looks very much like a rather bureaucratic branch of hell--at any rate, Diabolos, entirely concealed in a cloak and hood, is sitting at a large desk. Angelique is delighted to inform Diabolos that Nicholas has fallen in love with a human. Diabolos recoils at the “L” word, which I suppose distracts him from wondering what Angelique did to provoke Nicholas into punishing her so often.
It's raining when Nicholas returns to the House by the Sea--naturally even his umbrella is gray. But his dreams are beginning to crumble all around him. Adam lies about Eve. When the doorbell rings, Nicholas makes Adam hide in the next room. To Nicholas’s surprise, Julia comes in and tells him flatly that Eve is dead and that she (Julia) is positive that Adam killed her. Nicholas is completely taken aback, even more so when Adam disobeys him by making his presence known. Realizing that at least one of the others suspects him, Adam vigorously denies having killed her and sticks to this story throughout the subsequent scenes. Julia is most concerned about Barnabas and of course Jeff, but asks to speak to Adam alone. Nicholas refuses until Adam practically orders him out of the room. The once omnipotent-seeming Nicholas obeys relatively meekly.
Julia tries to get Adam to confess that he killed Eve, but he still insists he’s innocent even though she points out that he didn’t seem surprised at the news. She reproaches him by mentioning Professor Stokes, who taught him to be honest, but Adam is too afraid now to reach out for help. Julia tells him, I’m not sorry Eve is dead. Neither am I, Adam replies. Julia reminds him, Three people will be affected by what you do: Jeff Clark, Barnabas, and yourself. Why do you care what happens to me? Adam asks skeptically. Julia surprises both of them by admitting to some feelings that in anyone else might be regarded as maternal: After all, she did bring him into the world, even though by unorthodox means. But even now Adam can’t take the next step, and Julia leaves disappointed. Adam muses sadly, Just now Julia almost made me like her. But I can never like anyone now--ever again.
Nicholas also tries to get Adam to tell the truth, but his pupil has become all too adept at lying. Adam does tell the stunned Nicholas how much he hated Eve. What do you plan to do now? Adam asks. But Nicholas has no answers for him. When the doorbell rings again, Nicholas thinks it’s the police, so Adam quickly hides himself. However, it’s Maggie Evans paying a surprise visit--that is, she’s just as surprised as Nicholas that she’s there. He is delighted to see her, but she has no idea why she came. She says, Something came over me while I was getting ready for bed. Suddenly she has difficulty breathing and says she can’t see properly. Nicholas helps her over to the couch, but she falls into a trance. A familiar demonic voice issues from her unconscious form, warning Nicholas, You will be called to account for yourself before me tomorrow night. You had better begin preparing....
