# Mr. Roscoe Sherriff Has an Idea explained — Indiscretions of Archie

> Chapter companion for Indiscretions of Archie by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Archie Moffam, feeling idle and dispirited due to Wheeler's suspended sittings, Brewster's bad mood, and Lucille's absence, lunches with press agent Roscoe Sherriff. Sherriff, an apostle of Energy, recruits Archie to secretly house a snake named Peter for a scheme involving Mme. Brudowska. Archie reluctantly agrees, but upon returning to the Cosmopolis, he opens the bag containing Peter and is caught by Mme. Brudowska herself, who accuses him of theft.

## Themes in this chapter

### Work vs. Idleness

Archie laments his inability to 'do things' and envies Roscoe Sherriff's energetic, action-filled life, highlighting the contrast between idleness and purposeful work.

### Comedy of Errors and Misunderstandings

Archie's agreement to hide a snake leads to a series of farcical events, culminating in Mme. Brudowska mistaking him for a thief.

## Character check-ins

### Archie Moffam

Feeling idle and melancholic without Lucille; agrees to help Roscoe Sherriff by housing a snake.

### Roscoe Sherriff

Press agent and apostle of Energy; recruits Archie to secretly keep a snake for a scheme involving Mme. Brudowska.

### Mr. Daniel Brewster

Archie's father-in-law, mentioned as being in a bad mood and unlikely to approve of a snake in the hotel.

### Lucille Brewster Moffam

Archie's wife, away visiting a schoolfriend; her absence leaves Archie feeling sunless.

### J. B. Wheeler

Mentioned as mourning his lost home brew and suspending sittings for the magazine cover.

### Madame Brudowska

Highbrow tragedy star and owner of the snake Peter; catches Archie with the snake and accuses him of theft.

## Key lines

> The more I see of America, the more it amazes me. All you birds seem to have been doing things from the cradle upwards. I wish I could do things!

Archie expresses admiration for Americans' industriousness and his own frustration with his inability to accomplish anything.

_Highlights Archie's sense of inadequacy and the theme of work vs. idleness._

> If you're really keen on doing things, there's something you can do for me right away.

Roscoe Sherriff offers Archie a chance to take action by helping him with a secret task.

_Sets up the central plot of the chapter involving the snake._

> Thief!

Mme. Brudowska accuses Archie of stealing her snake, Peter.

_Climactic moment of misunderstanding, driving the comedy of errors._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indiscretions_of_archie_se/chapters/vii-mr-roscoe-sherriff-has-an-idea
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indiscretions_of_archie_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indiscretions_of_archie_se/chapters