The chapter opens with a conversation between Lord Oak and his servant, the organ wong. Lord Oak tells the servant that he sends more workers into the tunnel every week, but that the tunnel is "unstable" and "more complicated" than he had planned. He laments that he cannot keep covering up the disappearances of Nelly and the five machines that Nelly stole from him. He also laments the fact that he was the one who imprisoned Nelly, and that he is turning his back on her. He says that he respects the law, but he does not think that she is going to help them. He wonders if she will help them destroy all the remaining reserves of lucifernium before they can get their hands on it. He adds that two of her men were arrested in the aftermath of the explosion, and he wonders if they might be able to help. He then wonders if he could ask the police for help, since he cares so deeply for Nelly.