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“One enormous building—a lofty structure with pointed towers plunging upward into the gloom. His eyes made out the shadowy outlines of a palatial château; it was set on a high bluff, and on three sides of it cliffs dived down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows. the tall spiked iron gate. The stone steps were real enough; the massive door with a leering gargoyle for a knocker was real enough.” This shows that the owner of the house is very rich. It also shows that the owner has been on the island for awhile. While in the house Rainsford learns that General Zaroff hunts humans, this scares Rainsford. Rainsford also learns that the General is used to winning and being in charge. This is why he always wants to win, and why no one has one the hunt before.
“ I suggest too that you avoid the big swamp in the southeast corner of the island. We call it Death Swamp. There’s quicksand there. One foolish fellow tried it. The deplorable part of it was that Lazarus followed him. You can imagine my feelings, Mr. Rainsford. I loved Lazarus; he was the finest hound in my pack.” (page 32) Because Zaroff says this it shows that he knows the jungle really well. It also connects back to when Zaroff was talking to Rainsford about his dogs. The story that Zaroff tells reveals that the dogs are still just as unintelligent as regular dogs. It shows that Zaroff thinks he is so good that he will even give Rainsford an advantage of telling him one place to avoid, which Rainsford may use to try and hide himself for the length of the game.