Summary: Chapter 30
Humbert departs to find Dr. Ivor Quilty. Attempting to
take a shortcut, Humbert’s car gets hopelessly stuck in a muddy
ditch. He walks several miles, in the rain, to a farmhouse and waits
for someone to pull his car out. Around midnight, he manages to
drive on, but exhaustion causes him to stop in a small town, not
far from the Enchanted Hunters hotel.
Summary: Chapter 31
Humbert remembers a priest he once knew in Quebec, who
would discuss the nature of sin with him at length. He confesses
that, despite receiving much spiritual solace from the priest, he
himself can never forget the sinful things he inflicted on Lolita.
He claims that he will never find peace because, as he puts it,
a maniac deprived Dolores Haze of her childhood.
Summary: Chapter 32
Humbert realizes that because he was so consumed by his
desire for her, he never really understood the real Lolita. In his
narrative, he begins addressing Lolita directly. Humbert recalls
a time, back in Beardsley, when Lolita burst into tears after witnessing
the ordinary, normal affection between her friend and her friend’s
father. Humbert realizes that even her strained relationship with
Charlotte was preferable to Lolita’s life with him and that Lolita
must miss her mother.
Summary: Chapter 33
Humbert returns to Ramsdale. He visits the old Haze house,
now occupied by a new family with a nymphet daughter. Humbert visits Windmuller’s
office, then goes to see Dr. Ivor Quilty on the pretext of needing
some dental work. From Ivor, Humbert learns that Clare Quilty lives
in Pavor Manor, on Grimm Road. With that knowledge, he leaves Dr.
Quilty abruptly.
Summary: Chapter 34
Humbert drives past Pavor Manor and imagines what kind
of scandalous, reprehensible activities must be taking place inside.
He drives back into town, to return the next morning. Through the trees,
he sees the screen of a drive-in movie. Humbert can see a man in
the film raise a gun before the trees obscure his vision.
Summary: Chapter 35
The next day, Humbert arrives at Pavor Manor with his
loaded gun. Humbert enters the huge and extravagantly furnished
house and hunts for Quilty. Quilty emerges from a bathroom and appears unmoved
by Humbert’s requests that he recall Lolita. While Humbert explains
to Quilty why he must die, Quilty tries to distract him with clever
wordplay. Quilty lunges for the gun, and the two men wrestle. Humbert
regains control of the gun, then reads a poem detailing Quilty’s
crimes. Quilty critiques the poem and offers Humbert many bribes,
including concubines and erotic pictures. Humbert shoots, and Quilty
tries to escape, running through the house. Humbert shoots him many
times, but Quilty does not seem to die. Quilty begs for his life,
but Humbert finally kills him. Humbert realizes that he does not
feel any peace and is surprised to see a group of people sitting
in the drawing room downstairs, drinking. Humbert claims he killed
Quilty, but no one notices.
