The Black Mask · Chapter
The Wrong House explained
Raffles and Bunny attempt to burgle a house in Surbiton, but due to the fog they mistakenly target the wrong house, which is an army crammer's residence full of boys.
What happens
Raffles and Bunny attempt to burgle a house in Surbiton, but due to the fog they mistakenly target the wrong house, which is an army crammer's residence full of boys. Raffles gets his hand caught while cutting through a door panel, and the boys hold him prisoner. Bunny, wearing a mask, manages to bluff his way in, strangle the boy holding Raffles, and free him. They lock the boy in the pantry and escape by pretending to be helpful cyclists, though they are nearly discovered by the crammer.
Themes in this chapter
Crime and Identity
The burglary attempt and the use of masks highlight the duality of the protagonists as both gentlemen and criminals.
Risk and Thrill
The chapter is filled with tension and danger, from Raffles getting caught to Bunny's desperate improvisation.
Deception and Performance
Bunny's quick thinking and lies to the boys and the crammer demonstrate the performative nature of their criminal exploits.
Characters to notice
- A. J. Raffles
Gets his hand caught while cutting through a door panel; is freed by Bunny's intervention; uses chloroform to subdue the boy.
- Bunny
Narrates the chapter; bluffs the boys, strangles Beefy to free Raffles, and helps orchestrate the escape.
- Beefy
The boy who holds Raffles prisoner; is strangled by Bunny and then chloroformed by Raffles.
Key passages
“My hand's held!”
Raffles exclaims that his hand is trapped.
Key moment of crisis in the burglary.
“Curse the fog—it's done me.”
Raffles curses the fog for causing them to enter the wrong house.
Explains the central mistake of the chapter.
“I am not proud of it; the act was as vile as act could be; but I was not going to see Raffles taken”
Bunny admits his shame at strangling Beefy but justifies it as necessary to save Raffles.
Reveals Bunny's moral conflict and loyalty.