Chapter 30 Summary

As time passed, it became clear to Jim that neither accounts nor money would result from his staying in the house, but he stayed nonetheless, if for no other reason than not to desert the girl who was treated most abysmally by Cornelius, her stepfather. Once, Jim had offered to end 'his game', saying that she need only ask, but the girl replied that she would kill Cornelius herself were he not such a wretched being.

All the time, news was brought to Jim of his impending assassination; he was to be stabbed, poisoned, shot from afar – the plots for his murder were numerous and varied. One night, Cornelius approaches Jim with an offer to secure him safe passage away from Patusan for a mere eighty dollars. Jim refuses the deal, but is unable to sleep and it is during that night that...