# In Which the Last Round Takes Place explained — Bulldog Drummond

> Chapter companion for Bulldog Drummond by H. C. McNeile.

## What happens

Drummond and the American detective examine Peterson's ledger, revealing a vast revolutionary organization funded by crime and led by Peterson, who manipulates various radicals and intellectuals. Potts arrives, recovering from his drugging, and recounts his ordeal. The group debates whether to hand Peterson over to the police.

## Themes in this chapter

### Criminal Conspiracy and Revolution

Peterson's ledger reveals a vast revolutionary network manipulating radicals and intellectuals for his own gain.

### Class and Social Order

Discussion of workingmen being duped by self-serving leaders, and the failure of the upper classes to guide them.

### Villainy and Moral Ambiguity

Peterson's scheme is criminal yet not technically illegal; the group debates whether to use police or handle it themselves.

## Character check-ins

### Captain Hugh Drummond

Examines Peterson's ledger, discusses the revolutionary scheme, and plans to hand Peterson to police.

### Mr. Jerome K. Green

The American detective who analyzes the ledger and explains Peterson's manipulation of revolutionary leaders.

### Mr. Hiram Potts

Recovers from drugging, recounts his kidnapping and refusal to sign a document, and learns of the plot against him.

### Ted Jerningham

Brings Potts to The Elms and jokes about Drummond's upcoming wedding.

### Carl Peterson

Mentioned as the mastermind behind the revolutionary organization; expected at the meeting.

### Irma Peterson

Mentioned alongside Carl Peterson as a concern for what to do with them.

### Peter Darrell

Suggests involving the police to handle Peterson.

### Algy Longworth

Briefly mentioned as speaking to Drummond on the phone about Phyllis and her father.

## Key lines

> Why, if these are the sums of money Peterson has blown, the man must have spent a fortune. Two thousand pounds to Ivolsky.

Drummond marvels at the large payments recorded in Peterson's ledger, such as two thousand pounds to Ivolsky.

_Highlights the scale of Peterson's financial operations._

> He's got the money—and we know where he got it from; he's got the organisation—all either red-hot revolutionaries, or intellectual windstorms, or calculating knaves.

Green explains that Peterson controls both the funds and a diverse group of revolutionaries, intellectuals, and schemers.

_Summarizes Peterson's manipulative control over the revolutionary network._

> The workingman—the decent fellow—

Drummond laments that ordinary workingmen are being misled by revolutionary leaders.

_Reflects the theme of class and social order._

> Their proper leaders have sure failed them, so they're running after that bunch of cross-eyed skaters.

Green says the working class has been abandoned by their natural leaders and now follows incompetent radicals.

_Critique of societal leadership and class dynamics._

> It would be an outrage to let the scoundrel go.

Potts insists that Peterson must not be allowed to escape justice.

_Shows Potts' desire for retribution after his ordeal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulldog_drummond_se/chapters/xii-in-which-the-last-round-takes-place
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulldog_drummond_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulldog_drummond_se/chapters