# The Crime at Black Dudley — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham.

- [The Crime at Black Dudley](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/the-crime-at-black-dudley.md): A house party at Black Dudley Abbey is disrupted by the discovery of Colonel Coombe's murder. Dr. George Abbershaw and Albert Campion find themselves entangled in a web of deception, ritual, and organized crime as they a
- [Candlelight](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/i-candlelight.md): Dr. George Abbershaw arrives at the gloomy Black Dudley mansion for a weekend party hosted by Wyatt Petrie and his uncle, Colonel Gordon Coombe. Abbershaw, a pathologist and minor celebrity, is secretly in love with Megg
- [II: The Ritual of the Dagger](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/ii-the-ritual-of-the-dagger.md): After dinner, the guests gather in the great hall, dominated by the sinister Black Dudley Dagger. Anne Edgeware draws attention to it, and Wyatt Petrie recounts the legend of the dagger and the ritual game that grew from
- [In the Garage](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/iii-in-the-garage.md): Dr. George Abbershaw, uneasy in the dark and foreboding Black Dudley, slips out to the garage to check his car. There he discovers that Colonel Coombe's antique brougham is actually fitted with a modern Rolls-Royce engin
- [IV: Murder](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/iv-murder.md): After the unsettling events of the evening, the guests retire early. Dr. Abbershaw is visited by Michael Prenderby, who reveals that Colonel Coombe is dead and that he was pressured to sign a cremation certificate. Abber
- [The Mask](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/v-the-mask.md): Abbershaw visits Wyatt's room to offer condolences on his uncle's death, but hesitates to share his suspicions. He later confides in Prenderby that he was forced to sign a death certificate despite clear evidence of murd
- [VI: Mr. Campion Brings the House Down](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/vi-mr-campion-brings-the-house-down.md): In the early morning, Dr. Abbershaw is awakened by a violent commotion from the floor above. Investigating, he finds the drunken butler attacking Mr. Campion in a gallery. Chris Kennedy joins the fray and subdues the but
- [Five O'Clock in the Morning](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/vii-five-o-clock-in-the-morning.md): George Abbershaw, after destroying incriminating papers and disguising a wallet, meets Meggie Oliphant and Anne Edgeware in the garden. He reveals Colonel Coombe's death, officially pronounced heart failure, and question
- [VIII: Open Warfare](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/viii-open-warfare.md): At breakfast, Wyatt Petrie announces his uncle's death, and the guests plan to leave. Benjamin Dawlish and Jesse Gideon enter and demand the return of a stolen item, threatening to keep everyone trapped in the house. Cam
- [IX: Chris Kennedy Scores a Try Only](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/ix-chris-kennedy-scores-a-try-only.md): Abbershaw comforts Meggie after discovering the mask has been replaced. The group realizes they are trapped by Dawlish and Gideon, who demand the return of a mysterious small object. Chris Kennedy returns from checking t
- [X: The Impetuous Mr. Abbershaw](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/x-the-impetuous-mr-abbershaw.md): Abbershaw discovers Meggie crying, impulsively kisses her and proposes marriage, which she accepts. Meanwhile, the household is in turmoil after Campion's disappearance and the search of their rooms by Dawlish's men. Abb
- [XI: One Explanation](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xi-one-explanation.md): Abbershaw and Prenderby discover Campion locked in a wardrobe, having been beaten and interrogated by Dawlish and von Faber. Campion reveals he was hired to retrieve a package from Colonel Coombe and identifies von Faber
- [XII: “Furthermore…" Said Mr. Campion](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xii-furthermore-said-mr-campion.md): In the aftermath of Abbershaw's revelation, Campion explains his attempt to steal a mysterious wallet from Dawlish during the ritual, his failed escape, and the loss of the wallet in a fight. He learns of Colonel Coombe'
- [XIII: Abbershaw Sees Red](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xiii-abbershaw-sees-red.md): Abbershaw learns that Meggie has been taken by Dawlish and his gang. In a fury, he attempts to confront Dawlish but is physically repelled by a thug. He then uses a hidden passage discovered earlier by Campion to infiltr
- [XIV: Abbershaw Gets His Interview](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xiv-abbershaw-gets-his-interview.md): Abbershaw is thrown into a study where Dawlish, Gideon, and a stranger interrogate him and Meggie. He confronts von Faber, revealing he destroyed the hidden papers from the wallet. Von Faber dismisses his confession, and
- [Doctor Abbershaw's Deductions](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xv-doctor-abbershaw-s-deductions.md): Abbershaw and Meggie are locked in a room above Colonel Coombe's study. Abbershaw explains his deduction that Colonel Coombe was the mastermind behind the Simister gang's crimes, designing elaborate heists while living a
- [XVI: The Militant Mrs. Meade](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xvi-the-militant-mrs-meade.md): Meggie and Abbershaw are awakened by a noise and discover Mrs. Meade, a fanatical local woman who has barricaded herself in an adjoining room. She reveals she witnessed a secret meeting between Von Faber, Gideon, and Dr.
- [XVII: In the Evening](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xvii-in-the-evening.md): Meggie and Abbershaw, trapped in a locked room, learn from Mrs. Meade that the gang may not have murdered Colonel Coombe, casting suspicion on their own party. Their hope of escape via the simple-minded servant Lizzie Ti
- [Mr. Kennedy's Council](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xviii-mr-kennedy-s-council.md): The group assembles in a bedroom after Campion rescues Abbershaw and Meggie. Chris Kennedy proposes a plan to overpower the servants at dinner, disarm them, and escape the house. Campion offers humorous objections but ul
- [XIX: Mr. Campion’s Conjuring Trick](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xix-mr-campion-s-conjuring-trick.md): The six young people descend to dinner with trepidation. Campion entertains with a napkin-and-saltcellar trick, then deliberately breaks a glass to create a diversion. Under cover of the noise, Kennedy's party subdues th
- [XX: The Roundup](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xx-the-roundup.md): Abbershaw and Campion navigate the darkened house, discovering the unconscious Kennedy on the stairs. They descend to the kitchen, free bound servants, and enter the brewhouse where a fierce fight is underway. Wyatt Petr
- [XXI: The Point of View of Benjamin Dawlish](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxi-the-point-of-view-of-benjamin-dawlish.md): After a failed escape attempt, the group is herded into a locked, windowless top-floor room by Dawlish and his men. Dawlish reveals that Colonel Coombe was murdered with the dagger and that he concealed the crime to avoi
- [XXII: The Darkest Hour](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxii-the-darkest-hour.md): As the clock ticks toward midnight, the trapped house party faces their final hour before von Faber's threat to burn down Black Dudley. Campion attempts to keep spirits up with dark humor, while Abbershaw grapples with g
- [XXIII: An Error in Taste](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxiii-an-error-in-taste.md): The hunt arrives at Black Dudley, creating chaos. Von Faber shoots a hound and flees toward the garage. Guffy Randall and other horsemen pursue, causing the car to crash. The prisoners are freed, and they discover the ho
- [The Last of Black Dudley](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxiv-the-last-of-black-dudley.md): Inspector Pillow concludes his inquiry at Black Dudley, accepting Abbershaw's evasive explanation about Dawlish's accusations. Abbershaw and Campion discuss the murder, with Abbershaw revealing his belief that Colonel Co
- [Mr. Watt Explains](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxv-mr-watt-explains.md): A week after the events at Black Dudley, Dr. Abbershaw holds a private consultation in his Adelphi rooms with Meggie Oliphant and Martin Watt to discuss the unresolved murder of Colonel Coombe. Martin presents his theory
- [XXVI: Cherchez la Femme](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxvi-cherchez-la-femme.md): Abbershaw, Prenderby, and Martin Watt stake out a garage called The Ritz in Lea Bridge Road, where Prenderby has spotted Colonel Coombe's disguised Rolls-Royce. They plan to follow the car's owners, hoping to catch Whitb
- [XXVII: A Journey by Night](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxvii-a-journey-by-night.md): Abbershaw, Prenderby, and Martin pursue the disguised Rolls-Royce through the night, navigating traffic and then open roads. The chase becomes dangerous when a shot is fired at them, but they persist, following the car t
- [XXVIII: Should a Doctor Tell?](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxviii-should-a-doctor-tell.md): Abbershaw, Martin, and Prenderby confront Dr. Whitby on a saltmarsh at dawn. Whitby reveals that Colonel Coombe was cremated and that the stolen papers contained plans for a massive robbery of the Repository of the Bulli
- [XXIX: The Last Chapter](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/xxix-the-last-chapter.md): Six weeks after the events at Black Dudley, Abbershaw prepares for his wedding to Meggie but remains haunted by the murder of Colonel Coombe. His suspicions lead him to confront Wyatt Petrie, who confesses to stabbing hi

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