Clouds of Witness · Chapter
XIX: Who Goes Home? explained
Following the Duke of Denver's acquittal, Lord Peter and Parker celebrate, but the joy is marred when Grimethorpe attempts to assassinate the Duke, leading to a fatal crash.
What happens
Following the Duke of Denver's acquittal, Lord Peter and Parker celebrate, but the joy is marred when Grimethorpe attempts to assassinate the Duke, leading to a fatal crash. Lord Peter handles the aftermath, including a subdued encounter with Mrs. Grimethorpe, who is now free. The chapter ends with a drunken, comedic scene involving Lord Peter, Parker, and Freddy Arbuthnot, observed by Inspector Sugg.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and the Legal System
The chapter opens with the Duke's acquittal, showcasing the conclusion of the legal process, while Grimethorpe's vigilante attack underscores the limits of formal justice.
Class Conflict and Social Mobility
Mrs. Grimethorpe's newfound freedom and her shopping trip symbolize a break from her oppressive marriage and a step toward independence, contrasting with the aristocratic world.
Crime and Morality
Grimethorpe's attempted murder and death raise questions about moral culpability, while the Duke's acquittal and the drunken antics blur the lines between crime and celebration.
Characters to notice
- Lord Peter Wimsey
Celebrates the acquittal, manages the Grimethorpe shooting aftermath, escorts Mrs. Grimethorpe, and ends the night drunk with Parker and Freddy.
- Mr. Parker
Briefs Lord Peter on Lady Mary's cross-examination and Mrs. Grimethorpe's dash to town; later found asleep drunk on a statue.
- Gerald Wimsey
Acquitted and reunited with family; narrowly survives Grimethorpe's assassination attempt.
- Mrs. Grimethorpe
Now free after her husband's death; she is indifferent to the Duke and plans to return to Cornwall, buying mourning clothes with Lord Peter.
- Bunter
Appears with scarlet and ermine robes to congratulate the Duke, showing his loyalty and efficiency.
- Freddy Arbuthnot
Joins the drunken revelry, ends up in Inspector Sugg's care after a chaotic taxi mix-up.
- Mr. Sugg
Finds Lord Peter, Parker, and Freddy drunk and disorderly; manages to get them home discreetly.
- Mr. Grimethorpe
Attempts to assassinate the Duke, fires wildly, and dies in a taxi crash on Westminster Bridge.
Key passages
“Drunk as a lord? As a class they are really very sober.”
The phrase 'drunk as a lord' is ironic because aristocrats are generally quite temperate.
Sets a humorous tone for the chapter's depiction of drunkenness among the nobility.
“I am free now. I am going back to my own people in Cornwall. I do not want anything, now that he is dead.”
Mrs. Grimethorpe declares her liberation and desire to return to her family, rejecting any further connection to the Duke.
Highlights her emotional detachment and the end of her subjugation.
“Thank Gawd there weren't no witnesses.”
Inspector Sugg is relieved that no one saw the drunken antics of the gentlemen.
Reflects the theme of protecting reputation and the informal handling of aristocratic misbehavior.
