I had not thought about comparing this section to
The Screwtape Letters, TBSJ. You certainly have a point about it's inversion here.
You have me thinking about a small detail here. The cafe' Jane drops into after her encounter with Curry is named "Blackie's". In my mind this conjures up visions of
black coffee. Pure caffeine, undiluted with milk or sweetened with sugar. Just the sort of wake-up call I am sure Jane must feel at this point of the story. It's almost subliminal.