Lesson 3: Blackmail
by Arthur Hailey
I . Additional Background Knowledge
1. Arthur Hailey:
Arthur Hailey is the author of a number of bestselling novels. Born in Luton, England, in 1920, he was
educated in English schools until age fourteen. After a brief career as an office boy, he joined the British Royal Air
Force in 1939 and served through World War II, rising through the ranks to become a pilot and flight lieutenant. In
1949 Hailey immigrated to Canada, where he was successively a real estate salesman, business paper editor and a
sales and advertising executive .He became, and still is a Canadian citizen. He makes his home at Lyford Cay in
the Bahamas. In 1956 Arthur Hailey scored his first writing success with a TV drama, Flight into Danger, which
later became a motion picture and a novel, Runway Zero-Eight (1958).
2. His works
The sensational Hailey bestsellers include:
The Final Diagnosis (1959)
In High Places (1962)
Hotel (1966)
Airport (1968)
Wheels (1971)
The Moneychangers (1975)
Though a Canadian himself, he set the scene of most of his works in the United States. Each of his books deals
with one particular field of society. This is made clear by the titles of his books. It is this peculiarity of his that is
value to those who are eager to learn about contemporary American society.
3. About the novel Hotel
The St. Gregory Hotel is the largest in New Orleans, Louisiana. For 4 days from Monday evening to Friday,
the hotel goes through a succession of dramatic events. With the hotel’s mortgage due by the weekend and with
no chance of getting further renewal, the owner, Warren Trent, reluctantly makes up his mind to sell his hotel to
a chain hotel owner, Curtis O’Keefe.
Peter McDermott, the assistant general manager, has to tackle several other knotty problems: handling an
attempted rape which has occurred in one of the hotel’s rooms; catching a professional thief operating in the
hotel; pacifying a whole convention of several hundred dentists to putting up a member of the convention--a
black doctor. Then there is the Duke of Croydon.
The Duke is an internationally famous statesman and the newly-appointed British ambassador to Washington.
He and his wife occupy the best suite in St. Gergory. On Monday evening while driving back with his wife from
a gambling house, the Duke and the Duchess, however, drive away. The hit-and-run becomes top sensational
news in New Orleans. The hotel’s chief house detective Ogilvie notices the battered car when it comes back.
Instead of reporting this to the police, he goes to see the Duke and the Duchess. He promises to keep quiet about
what he knows and asks for a large sum of money in return for the favour. The Duke, now totally at a loss as to
how to act, hides behind the skirt of her wife. The Duchess understands that to get themselves out of this mess,
the car has to be driven out of the south where people are alerted about the hit-and-run. So she offers to pay
Ogilvie more than he has asked on condition that he drives the car to Chicago up in the north. The greedy
detective agrees. At one o’clock Thursday morning Ogilvie gets the car out of the garage. He is seen leaving by
one person only, by Peter McDermott, the assistant general manager. Though it strikes him as odd, Peter does
not link this up with the hit-and-run until late that afternoon when he witnesses the funeral of the two victims of
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the accident. He contacts police headquarters right away. By this time, Ogilvie has crossed Louisiana and
Mississippi, driving by night and concealing the car by day. He thinks that everything is going smoothly, little
knowing that he is already being followed by the Highway patrol cruisers. In Tennessee, he is caught and sent
back to New Orleans.
At first the Duchess tries to deny everything, but doesn’t succeed in convincing the police. The Duke then
decides to go over to police headquarters before they come for him, wishing to save the little shreds of decency
left in him. He takes an elevator to go down. This elevator which has been out of order for some time and badly
in need of repair breaks down. As it goes down, one set of clamps holds and the other fails. The elevator car
twists, buckles and splits open, throwing the Duke nine floors down to the cement ground. He dies instantly.
However, the novel ends with a pleasant surprise. A sick, old eccentric man staying in the hotel turns out to
be an extremely wealthy man from Montreal, Canada. Earlier, he fell seriously ill and was saved by Peter and
his girl friend. To show his gratitude and repay their kindness, he buys the hotel from its former owner and
makes Peter the new executive vice-president, with complete authority to run the hotel as he thinks fit.
II . Introduction to the Passage
1. Type of literature: a piece of narration
---character, action, conflicts, climax and denouement
2. Main idea：
Characters：
The Duke and Duchess of Croydon, guests in the Presidential Suite
Ogilvie, house detective
Story：
Duke and Duchess of Croydon: In another Instance the Duke and Duchess of Croydon are hiding out in the
hotel from their responsibility for a gruesome hit-and-run accident which had been the highlight of the
newspaper as the famous hit-and-run case. The duke had gone to a night club and the duchess reaches the club
to find her husband. On their way back the duchess hits a woman and her daughter and both the woman and her
daughter died on the spot. However in the accident the headlight and the trim ring of the car had damaged.
Anyhow the duke and duchess reached back the hotel and try to find way out, so that there is left a slightest
print of them being involved in an accident. When the waiter arrived in the presidential suite with dinner, the
duchess intentionally hit the waiter so that her dress gets spoiled. The duchess created a big issue over this, just
to make her presence felt in hotel so that it can be interpreted that she was in the hotel. But the chief house
officer Ogilvie gets hint of it and tries to blackmail the duke and duchess. They finally reach an agreement that
Ogilvie would drive their jaguar to Chicago and a total of twenty five thousand dollars would be paid to him.
Further by the time the police identifies that the broken headlight and trim pieces would be identified as pieces
of which car, Ogilvie would be out of New Orleans. The travel was supposedly on Thursday night at 1 am.
Oglivie gets a written note from duchess asking for permission to drive the car out of garage in case the garage
officer asks for. The moment he was driving the car out of hotel Peter was entering the hotel and they had eye
contact, though peter did not think much of it. However recollecting all the events….a jaguar being driven by
Ogilvie which belonged to duke and duchess….the broken headlight of the jaguar.… the fuss created by
duchess on waiter all established a link towards the involvement of the duke and duchess. Peter enquired from
garage officer and he informed that Ogilvie had a written note from the duchess and so was allowed to drive the
car away, but somehow the note got misplaced. Peter informed the police, captain Yolles of the incident but they
could not prove it without any evidence. After working hard, the incinerator officer, responsible for garbage
recycling managed to find the note. When the note was produced before duchess she frowned. The Duke then
decided to admit his crime and decided to leave and stepped into elevator no 4 of the Hotel.
3. Organization:
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---introduction
---development
---climax
---conclusion
III . Effective Writing Skills
1.making effective use of specific words to make the narration vivid
2.vividly and carefully describing the actions of the characters
3.using the languages which suit the backgrounds of characters
IV . Rhetorical Devices
V . Special Difficulties
1. understanding the colloquial, and even slangy English
2. analyzing and commenting on the three characters
VI . Questions
1. Did Ogilvie deliberately delay his call at the Croydon’s suite? Why?
2. Why did the Duchess send her maid and secretary out?
3. Why did the Duchess decide to make the detective drive their car north?
4. Did Ogilvie accept the Duchess’ offer?
Detailed study of the text and language points:
1. chief house officer: chief detective (employed by the hotel) in charge of hotel security.
2. Bedlington terrier: a blue or liver-colored, woolly-coated terrier resembling a small lamp.
3. Ogilive: The author depicts him a coarse, vulgar and uneducated person. Hence his language is ungrammatical
and slangy, e.g.
“There’s things it pays to check” for “there’s things …”
“You two was …” for “you two were …”
“they find who done …” for “when they find who did …” etc.
His pronunciation is also non-standard, e.g. “set” for “sit”
“musta” for “must have”
“kin” for “can”
“shoulda” for “should have”
“outa” for “out of”
“gotta” for “get to”, etc.
4. Jaguar: trademark of a British motorcar
5. tables: gambling tables
6. what gives: U. S. colloquialism meaning “what happens”
7. ain’t it?: (slang) isn’t it, aren’t it, am not
8. you two was in the hit- ’n-run: you two are guilty of that hit-and- run accident.
9. This is for real: (slang) real; really.
10. cut it out: (collo.) stop what she was saying/doing.
11. Your high-an’-mightiness: Your Grace; Your Highness.
12. it’s no go, old girl. It was a good try: it’s no use. What you did was a good attempt at trying to save the
situation. No good (sl.): no use, impossible.
13. “Now we are getting somewhere.”: We’re making some progress, accomplishing something.
14. Leastways, I guess you’ll call her that if you’re not too fussy.: I guess if you are not too particular about what
words to use, at least you’d call her your ladyfriend.
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15. Ain’t any doubt: (sl.) there isn’t any doubt.
16. square his shoulders: (sl.) face the consequence.
17. You people are hot: You are now wanted by the police.
18. it might be done: the plan might work.
Story
Peter McDermott: The main character is Peter McDermott; the general manager with a past. He is a graduate
from Cornell University in Hotel Management and then got a job in a hotel. However then he had been involved
with a lady at time when he was supposed to be on duty. This gave Peter’s wife and the lady’s husband a reason
to ask for a divorce. Getting involved was not a big thing for hotel to avoid but it had marked the headlines of
newspaper so much, that he was dismissed from the job and was blacklisted. But Warren Trent, the head of St.
Gregory Hotel, ignoring the past and considering the skill, hired him. The novel captures McDermott attempts to
deal with several crises in the hotel which involve a range of other characters.
The Hotel Finance Problem: The Hotel's unpayable and unrenewable mortgage is due on Friday, necessitating
its sale. Curtis O'Keefe, the one who owns a large hotel chains plans to buy St. Gregory hotel in New Orleans as
the O'Keefe chain did not have a hotel here. They had offered to pay the two million mortgages due and one
million dollar and living accommodation to Warren Trent as well. However Warren did not want to lose the hotel
which he had nurtured for so long. They decided upon Friday afternoon timeline to make a decision on the deal.
Warren Trent meanwhile decided to mark a deal with Journey man Union who wanted to enter the hotel Industry
for long but were not successful. This way Warren Trent could maintain an independence of the hotel and still
have a say in the affairs of it. Journey man had decided to send two of his executives on Thursday to study the
books of hotel and then decide before the Friday afternoon deadline decided between Warren Trent and Curtis
O'Keefe.Royall Edwards of St.Gregory had been appointed by Warren Trent to work with the two officers, if
required all night, so that they complete the whole of study. However upset with the denial of entry to Negro man
in Hotel, which became the headline of newspapers, Journeyman Union broke the deal. Warren Trent had no
option but to give in to Curtis O'Keefe. To his utmost surprise, a few minutes before Friday noon, the bank
manager who had turned down refinancing of the hotel, came with an offer, that an Individual, whose name
could not be disclosed then, would be paying the mortgage and buying the major shares of the Hotel. Warren
Trent would be the chairman, though Warren knew that he would be just a figurehead but as it was a better offer,
so he accepted.
Christine and Albert Wells: Christine is the secretary to Warren Trent. Peter and Christine has a liking for each
other. They share many things in common and feel they could be happy together. In hotel one of the guests Mr.
Albert Wells had medical problems in his room. The hotel staff was quite alert and fast enough to move him in
another room. He was quite elderly. Christine took care of Albert Wells personally as he was the hotel guest.
Marsha Prescott: In another incident a group of teen-aged boys create a major incident that is aggravated by the
fact that they are the sons of the local banker, car dealer, and other town notables. They try to attempt a rape on
Marsha Prescott, the daughter of Mr. Prescott who is currently in Rome. However on listening her screams,
Aloysis Royce, (a Negro and main help to Warren Trent who treats him like a son.) steps in and Marsha is able to
escape then. Peter handles the situation and asks for a written apology from each of the boys involved in it. In
said letters, villainous Bell Captain, Herbie Chandler is named as the one who made the incident possible.
Marsha on the other hand falls in ‘love’ with Peter McDermott and proposes him for marriage. Peter finds it
difficult to say no to her considering her affluence and beauty but finally says no as he knew that he liked
Christine. However he overcomes his sense of guilt when he gets to know from Anna (Head maid servant of
Marsha) that she is always the same and will be ok in some time and that Anna was not married. However
Marsha in framing a good background to convince peter had said that Anna had a very good life with her
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husband whom she had met only once before marriage and it was not necessary to know a person for too long
before to decide on marriage.
The Dentist Convention: Hotel business gains a minimum from room rent but a bulk of its profit comes from
the food, conventions held at its place. As a sequel to it, a major convention of dentists was supposed to be held
in St. Gregory. Dr Ingram, President of convention had arrived and settled in his room. Then Mr. Nicholas, a
Negro, arrived at the counter, showing a confirmed reservation. However the hotel policy did not allow negros.
Dr Ingram was quite disappointed at this and threatened the hotel authority that he would take the convention out
of hotel, causing a major loss to hotel. When Peter discussed it with Warren he said, that after a few discussions
this would be forgotten and the convention would be held and there was no need to worry. And after a few
meetings the convention finally decided to stay though Mr. Ingram resigned from his post.
Curtis-o-Keefe and Dodo: Curtis O'Keefe, the one who owns a large hotel chains plans to buy St. Gregory hotel
in New Orleans. He was there with Dodo, his girl friend. But it was time for Curtis to move on. He got movie
role for Dodo and thought to go to New York to meet his new girlfriend. When Warren told Curtis that he was
not accepting Curtis offer to sell the hotel, Curtis was very disappointed and in a fit of anger he told Dodo that he
doesn’t want her any more. Dodo was upset, though somewhere she knew the truth already. She had to board her
flight to Los Angeles and took elevator no 4, as she was about to move out of the hotel.
Duke and Duchess of Croydon: In another Instance the Duke and Duchess of Croydon are hiding out in the
hotel from their responsibility for a gruesome hit-and-run accident which had been the highlight of the
newspaper as the famous hit-and-run case. The duke had gone to a night club and the duchess reaches the club to
find her husband. On their way back the duchess hits a woman and her daughter and both the woman and her
daughter died on the spot. However in the accident the headlight and the trim ring of the car had damaged.
Anyhow the duke and duchess reached back the hotel and try to find way out, so that there is left a slightest print
of them being involved in an accident. When the waiter arrived in the presidential suite with dinner, the duchess
intentionally hit the waiter so that her dress gets spoiled. The duchess created a big issue over this, just to make
her presence felt in hotel so that it can be interpreted that she was in the hotel. But the chief house officer Ogilvie
gets hint of it and tries to blackmail the duke and duchess. They finally reach an agreement that Ogilvie would
drive their jaguar to Chicago and a total of twenty five thousand dollars would be paid to him. Further by the
time the police identifies that the broken headlight and trim pieces would be identified as pieces of which car,
Ogilvie would be out of New Orleans. The travel was supposedly on Thursday night at 1 am.Oglivie gets a
written note from duchess asking for permission to drive the car out of garage in case the garage officer asks for.
The moment he was driving the car out of hotel Peter was entering the hotel and they had eye contact, though
peter did not think much of it. However recollecting all the events….a jaguar being driven by Ogilvie which
belonged to duke and duchess….the broken headlight of the jaguar.… the fuss created by duchess on waiter all
established a link towards the involvement of the duke and duchess. Peter enquired from garage officer and he
informed that Ogilvie had a written note from the duchess and so was allowed to drive the car away, but
somehow the note got misplaced. Peter informed the police, captain Yolles of the incident but they could not
prove it without any evidence. After working hard, the incinerator officer, responsible for garbage recycling
managed to find the note. When the note was produced before duchess she frowned. The Duke then decided to
admit his crime and decided to leave and stepped into elevator no 4 of the Hotel.
Key case Milne: A hotel thief operating in the St.Gregory. He managed to get keys of several rooms in hotel by
using tricks, asking for other room No keys from reception, using girls to obtain key for him and many other
ways. When he saw the duke and duchess in hotel, he thought, if he could get the key of their room, it would be
an excellent breakthrough. He managed to get the key from reception playing trickery, got a duplicate prepared
and stole from duchess room her fifteen thousand dollars and jewellery. After obtaining so much of amount he
decided to leave the hotel and boarded the elevator no 4.
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Climax: The meeting to take over the hotel scheduled at 11.30 am Friday was in place. Mr Dempster from New
York had arrived to tell who the boss was and it was Albert Wells, the hotel guest, whom Christine had taken care
and thought of as not a rich man, had bought the hotel. To the utmost surprise of peter, Peter was appointed the
Executive vice-President of St. Gregory and would be running the hotel with Dempster being the officiating
president, the position Dempster had in all other hotels owned by Albert Wells. It was within the meeting itself
that Christine came running and told that elevator no 4 met an accident and had a free fall.
Dodo suffered a lot of injuries and was rushed to hospital. It was then; Curtis realized how much he loved Dodo
and got the best neuron surgeons for her. She was soon out of danger. Duke was dead on the spot in the elevator.
The duchess still cold on hearing that ,had no expression. The policeman, Captain Yolles, thought now the blame
of hit-n-run could be easily moved on duke as he was already dead and duchess could save herself. Key case
managed to be safe and ran away from the country with all that money. Warren Trent was happy that he could
retain his hotel being its chairman. Herbie Chandler, the evil bell captain would be permanently paralyzed and
would never work again. Aloysius Royce left the hotel to study his law.
Structure of novel
The novel features multiple unfolding plot lines which take place over a period of five weekdays, Monday
through Friday. Some days feature self-contained episodes exploring particular elements of the routine of a large
hotel in detail. Meg Yetmein, the cleaning lady, "gets hers back" by smuggling out steaks under her clothing
toward the end of her shift; Tom Earlshore, the fired bartender, does much the same by "skimming" liquor. Other
brief episodes explain techniques used by prostitutes in entering and exiting the hotel undetected, and the various
methods used by the hotel thief.
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