The Wide Window

Mr. Poe is skeptical about the children’s claims regarding Captain Sham and Josephine’s supposed death. He reminds them that they also thought that their Uncle Monty’s assistant, Stephano, was Count Olaf. Klaus points out that, in fact, Stephano was Count Olaf, but Mr. Poe does not see how this is relevant. He suggests that they find something else Josephine has written and compare the handwriting. They go into the kitchen to retrieve Josephine’s grocery list. Josephine’s handwriting is so distinctive that they immediately see that the note from the library door is definitely in Josephine’s handwriting. Mr. Poe tells them that this makes the note a legal document and they will have to go live with Captain Sham. The children say they will not go live with him, and Klaus threatens that they will run away. Mr. Poe is shocked. He sternly reminds them that their parents placed him in charge of looking after their welfare and tells them that refusing to do as he instructs would be like dishonoring their parents’ wishes. Mr. Poe goes out to call Captain Sham.

The children hope that they will have some time to figure out what Olaf has done, but Poe is soon back with the news that they are to meet Captain Sham for lunch in half an hour. “By tonight you should be staying in his house,” he tells them. “I’m sure you’re relieved” (91). He tells the children to put their coats on while he calls a taxi, as it is cold and windy out and he believes a storm is approaching. Once he is out of the room, Klaus tells his siblings that he has noticed something new about the errors in Josephine’s note. He has not yet figured out what it all means, however; he needs more time. He asks Violet to come up with a way to buy them some time. As Violet puts on her coat, she realizes she knows how to do just that.

The children, Mr. Poe, and Captain Sham meet at a restaurant called the Anxious Clown. Sham tries to get Poe to share a bottle of wine with him, in celebration of what he calls his “three new children” (96). Poe refuses to drink during banking hours and points out that celebrating in front of the children, who are mourning the loss of their aunt, is insensitive. Sham feigns sadness and claims that Josephine was one of his oldest friends. Klaus points out that the two actually met only the day before, but Sham claims that he actually knew Josephine already, from his days in cooking school. When he mentions their supposed baking course, Violet says that this is impossible, as Josephine would never be in a class where she had to use an oven. Sham persists with his lie, ignoring Violet. Poe mentions the paperwork that they will need to complete after lunch, clarifying that although Sham will have physical custody of the Baudelaires, Poe will continue as the trustee of their fortune, which the children will inherit when Violet turns 18. Sham pretends to know nothing about the money and disclaims any interest in money.

When their food arrives, Violet surreptitiously unwraps three peppermints from the bag still in her coat pocket. She slips one to each of her siblings, and, after thinking about it for a moment, they realize what her plan is. Violet, Sunny, and Klaus each eat a peppermint; their allergic reactions are swift, and when Mr. Poe becomes alarmed at the hives and swelling the children experience, Violet says that they should go home and lie down immediately. She suggests that they take a taxi home so that Poe can remain at the restaurant to finish the paperwork with Sham. Poe agrees, and the children head out into the increasingly stormy-looking afternoon.

Back at Josephine’s house, Violet struggles to understand what Klaus is trying to say, as his tongue is quite swollen. She tells him to work on whatever he is trying to figure out while she gives herself and Sunny a bath to help with their itchy hives. Klaus takes Josephine’s note back to the library and chooses some grammar books to consult. The approaching hurricane makes the room cold and wet, as the rising wind drives rain in through the broken window. When Violet and Sunny enter the library a little while later, Klaus has solved his puzzle: The errors in Josephine’s note are deliberate, each one highlighting a different letter. When put together in order, the letters spell out “Curdled Cave” (115). A sudden, powerful gust of wind blows into the library, sending furniture and books flying. The children run into the hallway and slam the library door behind them.

Violet tells them that she believes Josephine is alive, hiding in one of the caves on Lake Lachrymose. They need to find the books on Lake Lachrymose that Josephine hid away after Ike’s death. All three remember, when they were younger, hiding things under their beds, and so they decide to check under Josephine’s bed. They find a large collection of things hidden there so that the fearful Josephine does not have to look at them: pots and pans, ugly socks, and a picture of Ike. Behind all of this, they find books on Lake Lachrymose. As lightning flashes outside the window, they consult an atlas of the lake. They locate Curdled Cave across from Damocles Dock and realize that they can get close to the cave using the ferry. Despite the terrible storm outside, they decide they have to get to the cave—locating Josephine alive will prevent their being taken into Sham’s custody. Klaus sees through the window that one of the stilts holding the house up on the edge of the cliff has been struck by lightning. The whole house shakes, and the children flee out into the storm as the house crumbles and slides down the cliff into Lake Lachrymose.