These Violent Delights

Lord Montagov asks Roma to investigate the deaths at the port, telling him, “Don’t let me down this time” (40). Roma wants to prove to his father that he can be trusted. He invites his friend Marshall Seo and his cousin Benedikt Montagov to accompany him on the investigation. At the port, Roma discusses Juliette’s return with his friends, and he tells them about the gruesome death at the burlesque club. While his friends are aware he had a past relationship with Juliette that ended badly, they do not know the details.

Benedikt discovers several dead bugs that they do not recognize. Roma collects these specimens and puts them in Benedikt’s bag. They hear people approaching who they suspect are members of the Scarlet Gang. They quickly dive into the river to hide from them, swimming underneath the boardwalk. Roma discovers a shoe floating under the boardwalk that belongs to the man who died in the club. When the men are gone, they grab the shoe and retrieve Benedikt’s bag. Marshall sees what looks like eyes in the river and suggests that it might be a monster, but Roma dismisses his comment as superstitious.