That Hideous Strength

The banquet is held and quickly descends into chaos. Jules begins speaking but his words are all nonsense. Different people hear different versions of what he says. Frost is annoyed and angered, and Wither thinks to do damage control as the crowd is all staring at Jules with a ghastly look. Jules still thinks he is speaking eloquently. Wither interrupts him, to everyone’s relief. Yet when Wither speaks, the same result happens. People laugh and stare at him as if he’s mad. Some people get up and leave, angered and annoyed. People then begin fighting, while others try and call for reason. However, everyone who tries to speak utters nonsense. A disruption takes place, and Frost writes a note to Miss. Hardcastle to restore order. When she reads the note, it’s written in gibberish.

Miss Hardcastle, drunk, is actually enjoying the situation. She has a female prisoner downstairs that she wants to spend time with. She gets up and shoots Jules dead, causing another row. People try to flee, but Miss Hardcastle has locked the doors. Suddenly more screams are heard, and Mark realizes that a tiger has entered the room. People panic, and when the tiger is seen again it attacks Miss Hardcastle and kills her, mangling her body.