Brewster’s Millions · Chapter
The Rescue of Peggy explained
Monty Brewster, with less than two months left of his year-long challenge, is tormented by his love for Peggy Gray and his financial worries.
What happens
Monty Brewster, with less than two months left of his year-long challenge, is tormented by his love for Peggy Gray and his financial worries. During a yacht cruise, Peggy is abducted by Arab emissaries of Sheik Mohammed. Brewster and a sailor named Conroy rescue her after a dramatic chase and a gunshot kills her captor. Peggy is saved, but Brewster feels she only sees him as a brother. A cablegram from Swearengen Jones adds to his anxiety.
Themes in this chapter
- Love and Sacrifice
Brewster's desperate love for Peggy drives him to risk his life in her rescue, yet he feels his sacrifice is unrequited.
- Friendship and Loyalty
Conroy's loyalty to Brewster and the crew's collective effort to rescue Peggy underscore bonds of camaraderie.
- The Absurdity of Wealth
Brewster's mania for spending, including altering the cruise to add $30,000, contrasts with the life-and-death drama of the rescue.
Characters to notice
- Montgomery Brewster
Tormented by love for Peggy and financial worries; heroically rescues Peggy from abduction.
- Peggy Gray
Abducted by Arab captors, rescued by Brewster and Conroy; struggles to express gratitude.
- Swearengen Jones
Sends a cryptic cablegram to Brewster: 'Have a good time while good times last.'
- Conroy
Sailor who shoots the Arab captor and dives to rescue Peggy; hailed as hero.
- Joe Bragdon
Present during the rescue; comments on the adage about casting bread upon the water.
- Mrs. Dan DeMille
Observes Brewster's feelings for Peggy and tries to subtly set matters straight.
- Dan DeMille
Blames himself for sleeping through the rescue; later proposes to hunt for the sheik.
- Dr. Lotless
Attends to Peggy after her rescue.
Key passages
“When he sat down to think over his financial enterprises his mind treacherously wandered off to Peggy Gray, and then everything was hopeless.”
Whenever Brewster tried to focus on his finances, his thoughts inevitably drifted to Peggy Gray, leaving him feeling utterly hopeless.
Highlights Brewster's emotional turmoil and distraction from his financial challenge.
“The spending of the million had become a mania with him now and he had no regard for consequences.”
Brewster had become obsessed with spending his million dollars, ignoring any potential repercussions.
Illustrates the theme of the absurdity of wealth and Brewster's reckless behavior.
“If she'd appear only one-tenth as grateful to me as to Conroy I'd be satisfied.”
Brewster wishes Peggy showed even a fraction of the gratitude toward him that she showed Conroy.
Reveals Brewster's insecurity and his perception of Peggy's feelings.
