# The Missing Scarab explained — Something New

> Chapter companion for Something New by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Lord Emsworth informs Mr. Peters that the scarab has been stolen from the museum. Mr. Peters takes the news surprisingly well and praises Ashe, but Ashe reveals that Joan actually obtained the scarab. However, when Ashe and Joan meet, they discover a misunderstanding: each believed the other had taken the scarab, and it is now missing. They realize someone else must have stolen it, leaving them without the reward.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Servitude

Ashe's discomfort with Joan's success highlights gendered expectations and class dynamics in their partnership.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The apparent theft of the scarab leads to mistaken assumptions between Ashe and Joan about who took it.

## Character check-ins

### Lord Emsworth

Informs Mr. Peters about the stolen scarab and is relieved by his magnanimous reaction.

### J. Preston Peters

Takes the news of the theft calmly, praises Ashe, and prepares to write a check for the reward.

### Ashe Marson

Receives praise from Mr. Peters but feels chagrin that Joan succeeded where he failed; later discovers the scarab is missing and resolves not to share the reward.

### Joan Valentine

Believes Ashe took the scarab despite his promise, but learns he did not; realizes the scarab is gone and the reward is in jeopardy.

## Key lines

> When Lord Emsworth, sighting Mr. Peters in the group of returned churchgoers, drew him aside and broke the news that the valuable scarab, so kindly presented by him to the castle museum, had been stolen in the night by some person unknown, he thought the millionaire took it exceedingly well.

Lord Emsworth pulled Mr. Peters aside after church to tell him the scarab he donated had been stolen, and was surprised by how calmly Mr. Peters reacted.

_Mr. Peters' unexpected composure contrasts with the gravity of the theft._

> It was with mixed feelings that Ashe listened while Mr. Peters transferred his adjectives of commendation to Joan. He admired Joan’s courage, he was relieved that her venture had ended without disaster, and he knew that she deserved whatever anyone could find to say in praise of her enterprise: but, at first, though he tried to crush it down, he could not help feeling a certain amount of chagrin that a girl should have succeeded where he, though having the advantage of first chance, had failed.

Ashe felt conflicted hearing Mr. Peters praise Joan; he admired her success but was secretly annoyed that a woman had outperformed him.

_Ashe's internal struggle reflects his discomfort with Joan's competence._

> They looked at each other in consternation. Ashe was the first to speak. 'It was gone when you got to the museum?' 'There wasn’t a trace of it. I took it for granted that you had been down before me. I was furious!'

Ashe and Joan stared at each other in shock as they realized neither had taken the scarab, and it had vanished before either of them arrived.

_The mutual misunderstanding reveals that a third party must have stolen the scarab._

## Links

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