Chapter 2
Marlowe follows the butler into the greenhouse, where the sick General is waiting. The greenhouse is uncomfortably hot, filled with jungle-like greenery, and the air thick and moist, suffused with a suffocating odor of wet orchids. They reach an open space where the sick and dying General is sitting in his wheelchair. Marlowe sits down and accepts a drink of brandy, and is told that he may smoke. The ailing General Sternwood explains that, like the orchids, he seems only to be able to exist in this heat.
The two men have a fast-paced conversation. Marlowe describes himself briefly and the General outlines the case that Marlowe is supposed to “take care of.” The General says he is being blackmailed, and not for the first time. He had been blackmailed in the past by a man named Joe Brody, to whom he had to pay $5,000 in order for Joe to the General’s youngest daughter, Carmen, alone.
Now, the General is again being blackmailed through a scheme involving his daughter, by man named Arthur Gwynn Geiger, who claims that Carmen has a number of gambling debts, for which he provides three signed promissory notes. Sternwood shows Marlowe the promissory notes, which carry Carmen’s signature and date from September, the month prior. Also attached is a card that carries the name of Mr. Arthur Gwynn Geiger and the name of his business, “Rare Books and De Luxe Editions.” The rare book business appears to be some kind of cover for Geiger, who is asking for $1,000.
Marlowe exits the greenhouse to find Norris, the butler, ready to write out a check for him and telling him that “Mrs. Regan”—Vivian Sternwood—would like to see him. Apparently Mrs. Regan is curious as to why her father has called in a private detective.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/bigsleep/section1.rhtml
Time viewed 19:00 pm.
This is just an extract from spark-notes which goes into detail about the plot of The Big Sleep. Due to the short time span that this project is I do not have time to read the book itself as I would of liked. During further reading I found a suggested metaphor of the green house lined with the daughters. The orchids are representations of their personalities.