In this chapter, the monster explains to the old man why he has come to him. He tells him that if it had not been for him, the hotel company would have been ruined. The old man tells the monster that his wife was murdered 23 years ago, and that the murderer was never caught. He also tells the story of how the family's youngest children tried to take jobs at the company, but she refused to listen to them. The monster then tells the man that if he kills his wife, he will grant him his wish. The man agrees to kill his wife in exchange for the monster's help in convincing his children that their mother was indeed murdered. He wants to make them believe that he is the one who murdered their mother to prove that his "impossible crime" was really a lie. He explains that he will use his powers to convince them that he was indeed the murderer. He will also use them to convince the company's other employees that they were wrong to suspect him of the crime.