Chapter Three

When the Baudelaires looked up, they couldn't help gasping. The house was enormous, it had at least 300 windows, and it reached so far up that it almost disappeared into the clouds.

"Wow." Said Klaus.

"Wow." Exclaimed Violet.

"Pam!" Shrieked Sunny.

"Shut-up!" Shouted Olaf. "Stop gawking and get inside!" The Baudelaires hesitated a moment, then seeing the evil glint in Olaf's eyes; they followed him into the elegant house

When the Baudelaires entered, they noticed something different about the walls. The wood was green.

"Count Olaf, why are the walls green?" Asked Klaus timidly.

"Shut it, orphan!" Cried Olaf, spitting flecks of saliva as he talked. "Hooky! Take these orphans to the dungeon!"

The hook – handed man grabbed the orphans in each of his hooks and dragged the orphans down a couple of hallways and then down a dark stair case that reminded them of the elevator shaft on dark avenue.

When they got there, the hook – handed man threw them in the small, filthy room. They huddled next to each other as the sun went down and darkness fell through the miniscule window that was their light source.

The Baudelaires were so concerned with their circumstances that they did not sleep a wink. This phrase does not mean any thing about winking, but about getting a decent night's sleep. Though the Baudelaires had not gotten decent sleep after their parents died, they were especially troubled now.

Klaus was so worried about what Count Olaf was planning; he didn't even close his eyes.

Sunny was so disturbed by where the Quagmires were; she didn't even rest her head.

Violet was so distressed by what was to become of the Baudelaires, she didn't even rest her eyes.

And all three Baudelaires were so worried they didn't hear Count Olaf come in, and they didn't see him smile a ruthless smile, a word which here means grin evilly at the Baudelaires, especially Violet.

"Good news, orphans!" Cried Olaf, though with him, nothing was good news. "Each of you get to have a private meeting with the greatest man on earth…ME!"

Olaf scoped his prey, looking at the Baudelaires, as if he were looking at three delicious gourmet dinners instead of three terrified children. His eyes stopped on Violet.

"You, you lucky orphan, will get the first honor." He said wickedly, grinning a toothy grin at Violet.