The King in Yellow, Rue Barrée summary
Rue Barrée of 10 · 33 min to read the chapter
In Rue Barrée, Selby enters Parisian student life, secretly sends an admired young woman a rosebush, and grows jealous when she smiles at Clifford. After she refuses Clifford’s marriage proposal, Selby reaches her room by a drunken climb, confronts his own shame, and leaves carrying a rose she kisses.
What happens
- Clifford helps Selby enter the studio’s social circle and explains the nickname of the woman admired throughout the Quarter.
- At the flower market, Selby secretly buys Rue Barrée the rosebush she cannot afford and fills his own room with flowers.
- Clifford protects Selby from his friends’ teasing, then suspects his connection with the flowers delivered to Rue Barrée.
- Clifford proposes marriage, but Rue Barrée refuses him after describing the hardship and danger faced by women without support.
- Selby grows jealous of her friendly greetings to Clifford, then joins him for dinner and becomes drunk.
- Selby climbs into Rue Barrée’s room, sobers into shame, and leaves through the door with a rose she presses to her lips.
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In this chapter
What to notice
Selby leaves through the opening Rue Barrée provides, carrying the flower she kisses. The ending gives a gesture of affection without explaining their future or her thoughts.
Quick check
How does Selby arrange for Rue Barrée to receive the rosebush?
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