Chapter 4 Summary

The shadow belongs to a man that Esme introduces as Gunther. He is supposed to be the auctioneer for the upcoming In Auction. A monocle in one eye furrows his brow and he is wearing tall leather boots. Gunther also speaks with a stilted foreign accent. However, The Baudelaires see past this elaborate disguise. Count Olaf has returned. They immediately tell Jerome and Esme that Gunther is really Count Olaf, but as usual, the adults refuse to believe them.

The children refuse to call Count Olaf by the name of Gunter and Esme becomes furious with them. Esme demands that the children apologize to Gunther and then hustles them out the door with Jerome. She needs to prepare for the In Auction and has arranged for the children to go to dinner with Jerome. Violet realizes that arguing with Esme is pointless and...