# XVIII explained — Strong Poison

> Chapter companion for Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers.

## What happens

Miss Climpson returns to her boardinghouse late at night and faces scrutiny from the other ladies about her involvement with spiritualism and Mrs. Craig. Despite their warnings, she continues her investigations with Miss Booth. During a séance, a spirit directs them to search for something beginning with 'B', leading them to discover a hidden safe containing the will of Rosanna Wrayburn.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

The séance involves fraudulent spirits like Pongo and George Washington, while Mrs. Craig is suspected of being a charlatan.

### Class and Snobbery

The boardinghouse ladies judge Mrs. Craig based on her appearance, associates, and perceived lack of respectability.

## Character check-ins

### Miss Climpson

Returns late from a séance, defends her involvement with spiritualism, and later discovers the will with Miss Booth.

### Miss Booth

Participates in the séances and helps Miss Climpson find the hidden safe and will.

### Mrs. Pegler

Voices strong disapproval of spiritualism and Mrs. Craig, recounting a personal insult involving her deceased husband.

### Miss Etheredge

Defends spiritualism, citing a friend who is a saintly spiritualist.

### Miss Tweall

Expresses distrust of mediums and questions Mrs. Craig's character and finances.

### Mrs. Craig

Discussed by the boardinghouse ladies as a dubious spiritualist with henna'd hair and questionable associates.

## Key lines

> My dear Miss Climpson, you will not, I trust, think me interfering, but I must caution you against having anything to do with Mrs. Craig or her friends.

Mrs. Pegler warns Miss Climpson to avoid Mrs. Craig and her circle.

_Reflects the boardinghouse's disapproval of spiritualism and Mrs. Craig._

> I believe I know it. There was a row of seven figures in that black notebook I was looking at just now, and it passed through my mind that they must be a memorandum of something.

Miss Climpson recalls the safe combination from a black notebook.

_Leads to the discovery of the will._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters/xviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/strong_poison_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/strong_poison_se/chapters