Zachary (4)

''This article is about the chapter. For the character, see Zachary Ezra Rawlins.''

"Zachary (4)" is the tenth chapter in the first book of The Starless Sea. It is the fourth chapter from Zachary's point of view and the tenth chapter overall.

Summary
Zachary takes a train to Manhattan to attend the Algonquin Hotel Annual Literary Masquerade. A middle-aged woman approaches him and asks to borrow a pen. She returns it to him when the train reaches Manhattan.

Zachary checks in to his hotel, across the street from the Algonquin. He takes a bath and dresses for the event, leaving hat, gloves, and scarf behind. Because the event is a masquerade, he wears contacts instead of his glasses. He leaves his phone behind as well. Zachary puts Sweet Sorrows in the inside pocket of his suit jacket and leaves for the party.

Major Characters

 * Zachary Ezra Rawlins
 * Kat Hawkins - in a brief flashback and via text message
 * Mirabel - appearing in the photograph
 * Dorian - appearing in the photograph

Minor Characters

 * Middle-aged woman who borrows a pen - member of the Collector's Club

Trivia and Connections



 * Although Zachary is not aware, the woman who borrows his pen works for the Collector's Club, and installed a tracking device in the pen.
 * The Algonquin is a real hotel in Manhattan. Although it is not named, Zachary's hotel across the street would likely be the Royalton. The Royalton has a sunken lobby lounge just as described in the book, and the guest rooms have large, round tubs and candles as well.
 * Because Zachary left his glasses in the hotel room, he must later try to find replacement glasses in the Harbor.

Analysis
Presumably the Collector's Club has decided not to kill Zachary immediately, but rather to follow him to see what he does. The tracking device planted in his pen allowed them to track him to the masquerade, and then to arrange for Allegra to (literally) bump into him.

Quotes

 * Zachary turns the phone in his hand trying to get a look at the man's face, momentarily oblivious to the futility of the action.
 * Maybe his story is about missed opportunities that cannot be recaptured.
 * He believes in books, he thinks as he leaves the room. That much he knows for sure.