Chapter 17 Summary

The citadel opens for Richard. Door is chained between two pillars. The angel greets Richard with disturbing warmth. Croup and Vandemar discuss the possibility of torturing Door into cooperation, but decide she might prove too resilient. They postulate that she might be more receptive to a friend's suffering; Vandemar snaps one of Richard's pinkies.

Islington sends Croup to intercept someone else approaching the citadel. Just outside, the marquis suddenly feels Croup's knife at his throat. Mr. Croup taunts the marquis for failing to stay dead. Croup enters the citadel holding the marquis at knife point. Islington is disappointed to learn that Croup misreported Carabas's death. Croup is indignant.

Richard appeals unsuccessfully to Islington's angelic nature. The conversation turns to the topic of Atlantis and whether or not Islington had a hand in its fall. Prodded by the marquis, Islington temporarily loses its angelic...