Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary

At dinner that night Joel meets Randolph for the first time and Joel's attempts to identify the strange woman are met by evasive answers by both Randolph and Miss Amy. Randolph, drinking sherry and smoking cigarettes, tries to tell Joel that he has hallucinated or been filled with too many of Zoo's stories. Randolph diverts the conversation by telling Joel about the Zoo's ill-fated marriage to Keg and Zoo's resulting wounds from Keg's attack on her.

Randolph and Aunt Amy's circuitous conversation forces Joel to enter his own imaginary place in his head where he escapes to avoid uncomfortable circumstances. Joel is brought out of his reverie when Aunt Amy requests permission to play the pianola. While the music plays, Randolph moves closer to Joel on the sofa and holds Joel's hand in his. Joel is even more uncomfortable when Randolph...