The Avenger · Chapter
XI: The Mark on the Window explained
A monstrous ape, Bhag, climbs to Adele Leamington's window and attempts to abduct her, but Michael Brixan, who has been watching in the garden, fires a pistol and scares the creature away.
What happens
A monstrous ape, Bhag, climbs to Adele Leamington's window and attempts to abduct her, but Michael Brixan, who has been watching in the garden, fires a pistol and scares the creature away. Brixan reveals he expected the attack, having seen the ape earlier and suspecting Sir Gregory Penne used a lost glove to scent-mark Adele's room. Later, Brixan confronts Lawley Foss about a white disc he placed on Adele's window, which Brixan believes was a signal for Bhag. Foss claims it was a camera boundary mark, but Knebworth denies giving such instructions, and Brixan concludes the mark was placed at Penne's request to guide the ape.
Themes in this chapter
The Macabre and Grotesque
The ape's silent, hairy attack and the twittering, birdlike noises create a grotesque and terrifying atmosphere.
Deception and Appearances
Foss's plausible excuse for the window mark hides a sinister purpose, and Brixan's casual demeanor conceals his vigilant detective work.
Characters to notice
- Adele Leamington
Attacked by Bhag at her window; rescued by Brixan's gunshot; later thanks Brixan and admits she was wrong about him.
- Mike Brixan
Watches in the garden, fires at Bhag, explains the ape's purpose, and confronts Foss about the marked window.
- Jack Knebworth
Awakened by the shot; questions Brixan and later denies authorizing the window mark.
- Lawley Foss
Placed a white disc on Adele's window; claims it was a camera boundary, but Brixan suspects it was a signal for Bhag.
- Bhag
The ape that climbs to Adele's window and attempts to abduct her; driven off by Brixan's pistol shot.
- Sir Gregory Penne
Implied to have orchestrated the attack by using Adele's glove to scent-mark her room for Bhag.
Key passages
“The Thing was twittering at her, soft, birdlike noises, and she saw the flash of its white teeth in the darkness.”
The creature made gentle, chirping sounds at her, and she glimpsed its gleaming teeth in the dark.
Describes Bhag's eerie approach to Adele's window.
“From the ground below came a flash of fire and the deafening tang! of a pistol exploding.”
A gunshot rang out from the garden below, accompanied by a bright muzzle flash.
Brixan fires his pistol to scare off Bhag.
“I did expect this gentleman, because he’d been seen in the fields by Mr. Longvale.”
I anticipated this visitor because Mr. Longvale had spotted him earlier in the fields.
Brixan explains why he was watching for Bhag.
“I saw you put it there, just before it got dark last night.”
I watched you place that mark on the window last evening at dusk.
Brixan confronts Foss about the white disc.