The shaft - purpose or accident?

[Dante]

It's generally assumed that Olaf knew all about the passageway to the Baudelaire mansion all along; that indeed Esmé married Jerome just to secure that passageway for Olaf's purposes. It's also how Olaf would've smuggled the Quagmires to the auction, although how he got them in there in the first place is another matter.

[CountRicardo]

It's definately an interesting theory. For me, initially my reaction to that question was yes because Olaf already knows about how inquisitive and intrusive the Baudelaires can be, however that wouldn't explain why they found the Quagmires first and not the net.

Which then, after reading the Fernald's change of heart theory has made me think as well as him doubting his villainary, there's also the possibility that he's a bit annoyed that Esme is on the scene. Until now we can safely presume that Fernald has been Olaf's right hand guy and his top assistant. Now that his lover's back in with the clique maybe Fernald's getting slighty jealous and so is trying to sabotage Esme's performance as accomplice?

It's more of a funny theory than a realistic one, but I think it sounds plausible.

- cr

[Dante]

When you put it like that, it doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'm reminded a little of Esmé's jealousy of Lulu in TCC; obviously this is a slightly different kettle of fish, but not altogether. It's like a kettle of salmon instead of a kettle of trout. The other troupe members do get marginalised after Esmé arrives on the scene, despite seeming more equal to him certainly in TBB.

[Christmas Chief]

I've always suspected Fernald had some emotional motive in the doorman passage, and the idea that it was jealousy does not strike me as implausible at all. It would reemphasize Olaf's mistreatment of his troupe, and even possibly foreshadow Fernald's moral questioning in TGG.

[Ms.Unfortunate]

I happen to think it was on purpose because why would the doorman say that? Now if you finished the book you would know the truth about Esme and the terrible thing she did to her husband and to her kids.