Chapter 31 Summary

As Marlowe leaves the house, he happens to see Carmen outside, sitting on a stone bench and looking very bored. Since Marlowe has Carmen's gun with him, he returns it to her just as he intended to. Carmen wants Marlowe to teach her how to shoot, so the two of them go down to some old, abandoned oil wells where Carmen can fire off a few rounds without disturbing the neighbors.

Marlowe sets up an old can in a window for a target but, as he returns to where Carmen is standing, she points the gun angrily at him. As Marlowe approaches, Carmen fires off several shots at his chest. Since the gun is only loaded with blanks Marlowe easily takes the gun away from her before she falls unconscious.

Chapter 31 Analysis

The fact that Carmen turned on Marlowe shows that she is...