# Chapter XVI explained — Strong Poison > Chapter companion for Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers. ## What happens Lord Peter Wimsey endures a week of enforced inactivity while awaiting developments in Harriet Vane's case, finding little solace in the happiness of Chief Inspector Parker and Lady Mary Wimsey. Meanwhile, Miss Climpson, now in Windle, begins her investigation into Mrs. Wrayburn. She successfully locates the house, gathers local gossip about Mrs. Wrayburn's past and her nurse companion Miss Booth, and plans to surveil the town's teashops to encounter Miss Booth. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Appearance Miss Climpson's undercover investigation involves pretending to be an artist and a tourist, using deception to gather information about Mrs. Wrayburn. ### The Role of Women Miss Climpson's success as a female detective contrasts with the limitations of women in Victorian times, which she reflects upon in her letter. ### Class and Snobbery Miss Climpson's careful management of her boardinghouse status and her use of first-class travel reflect class consciousness and social maneuvering. ## Character check-ins ### Lord Peter Wimsey Suffers through a week of enforced inactivity, irritated by the happiness of Parker and Lady Mary. ### Miss Climpson Arrives in Windle and begins investigating Mrs. Wrayburn; writes a detailed letter to Wimsey about her progress. ### Mr. Norman Urquhart Mentioned as being involved in the Megatherium Trust disaster, as reported by Freddy Arbuthnot. ### Chief Inspector Parker His imbecile happiness with Lady Mary annoys Wimsey. ### Lady Mary Wimsey Her affectionate demonstrations with Parker irritate Wimsey. ### Freddy Arbuthnot Reports to Wimsey about Urquhart's involvement in the Megatherium Trust. ### Mrs. Wrayburn Subject of Miss Climpson's investigation; described as old, paralysed, and frail, living in a large house with a nurse companion. ### Miss Booth Mrs. Wrayburn's nurse companion, about sixty years old, who sometimes goes out alone. ## Key lines > To chronicle Lord Peter Wimsey’s daily life during the ensuing week would be neither kind nor edifying. An enforced inactivity will produce irritable symptoms in the best of men. Describing Wimsey's week would be unpleasant; forced idleness makes even good men irritable. _Highlights Wimsey's frustration and impatience while waiting for the case to progress._ > Nobody can realise what a great difference these extra comforts make, especially when one is getting on in years, and after the uncomfortable travelling which I had to endure in my days of poverty, I feel that I am living in almost sinful luxury! The luxury of first-class travel is a welcome change from the hardships of her poorer days. _Reflects Miss Climpson's appreciation for comfort and her past struggles._ > In the old days, an unmarried woman arriving alone at midnight with a suitcase would hardly have been considered respectable — what a wonderful difference one finds today! A woman traveling alone at night would have been scandalous in the past, but times have changed for the better. _Miss Climpson comments on the evolving social freedoms for women._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xvi - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/strong_poison_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters