# IV explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by M. R. James.

## What happens

Police inspectors question a commissionaire and a clerk about the mysterious death of Mr. Poschwitz, who had recently returned from a trip with a package of books. The commissionaire describes seeing a roll of flannel with a face fall from the safe onto Poschwitz, causing his instantaneous death. The package is found to contain old-fashioned prayer books, and the case is eventually connected to Scotland Yard, with the books removed from Brockstone Chapel.

## Themes in this chapter

### Supernatural and the Uncanny

The description of the flannel roll with a face and the instantaneous death evoke a supernatural presence.

### Guardianship of Secrets

The books from Brockstone Chapel are removed and placed in a safe-deposit, suggesting hidden or dangerous knowledge.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Poschwitz

Deceased; his death is under investigation after a mysterious incident involving a package from his safe.

### Mr. Collinson

An old customer who visited Mr. Poschwitz during the week.

## Key lines

> I see what looked to be like a great roll of old shabby white flannel, about four to five feet high, fall for'ards out of the inside of the safe right against Mr. Potwitch's shoulder as he was stooping over; and Mr. Potwitch, he raised himself up as it were, resting his hands on the package, and gave a exclamation.

The commissionaire saw a large roll of dirty white flannel tumble from the safe onto Mr. Poschwitz's shoulder, causing him to cry out.

_Key moment of the supernatural event witnessed by Watkins._

> Effect on the blood like the worst kind of snakebite; death almost instantaneous.

The surgeon's report compared the cause of death to a severe snake venom, killing Mr. Poschwitz almost instantly.

_Medical explanation for the mysterious death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_35_se/chapters