The chapter opens with the sound of drums, and the narrator remarks that the party is already underway. He wonders whether the twins will show up to greet the partygoers. He also wonders whether they will be able to find their friend, and he wonders if they will have someone to help them. The narrator then turns to the other members of the party and tells them that the twins have set up a series of traps for the guests. He says that he imagines that many of the guests will die tonight, and that he wonders how many of them will survive the morning. He tells them to be patient and not to go to sleep early. He then tells them about the handprint on the tree and the warrant for his arrest. He reminds them that they cannot attack from behind, and they must come at them from two sides