Oh absolutely.  While I consider myself a staunch Boydian, I think your argument itself has merits-- but only because "that stunning blonde" is just a bit too inconspicuous.  SOMEONE is noticing her, and I don't think it's Kinbote.  All the same, I think the roommate is a red herring.

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Carolyn Kunin

To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum

Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 7:21 PM

Subject: reply to Mr Pultorak and a challenge

Dear Mr Pultorak,

I think we are getting very close here
to slaying a dead horse, but if Shade
writes

     The telephone that rang before a
ball
             Every
two minutes in Sorosa Hall ....

it seems to me that he knows a bit too
much of what goes on there.

Carolyn Kunin



        p.s. A challenge to
those who believe that the roommate is Hazel's:

Do you see any significance in the nun who turns up in Kinbote's
commentary to line 894 ("the widely circulated stuff about the nun") or any
relationship between this nun and the roommate who has become
one?