The Crime at Black Dudley · Chapter
Five O'Clock in the Morning explained
George Abbershaw, after destroying incriminating papers and disguising a wallet, meets Meggie Oliphant and Anne Edgeware in the garden.
What happens
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 questions Anne about Albert Campion's arrival. Anne explains she gave Campion a lift and that Wyatt did not invite him. Abbershaw and Meggie realize Campion was not invited by anyone. They then witness Gideon, Dawlish, and Dr. Whitby secretly loading a heavy bundle—Coombe's body—into a car and driving away, destroying key evidence.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
Abbershaw disguises the wallet by swapping its monogram stud and inking it; Campion's uninvited presence raises suspicions of deception.
Isolation and Entrapment
The characters are trapped at Black Dudley with a murder and secret removal of the body, heightening the sense of isolation.
Crime and Detection
Abbershaw investigates Coombe's death, destroys evidence, and pieces together clues about Campion and the body's removal.
Characters to notice
- Dr. George Abbershaw
Destroys incriminating papers and disguises a wallet; questions Anne about Campion; deduces Campion was uninvited; witnesses the removal of Coombe's body.
- Meggie Oliphant
Meets Abbershaw in the garden; learns of Coombe's death; confirms Campion was not invited by the Colonel; witnesses the body's removal.
- Anne Edgeware
Joins Abbershaw and Meggie in the garden; reveals she gave Campion a lift and that Wyatt did not invite him.
- Albert Campion
Discussed as an uninvited guest; Anne reveals she brought him and introduced him to Wyatt.
- Benjamin Dawlish
Seen helping Gideon and Whitby load Coombe's body into a car.
- Jesse Gideon
Seen helping Dawlish and Whitby load Coombe's body into a car.
Key passages
“If only, he reflected, he knew exactly what he was doing. The thought occurred to him, in parenthesis, that here arose the old vexed question as to whether it was permissible to destroy a work of art on any pretext whatsoever.”
Abbershaw ponders the ethical dilemma of destroying a work of art, uncertain of his actions.
Reflects Abbershaw's internal conflict over burning the papers.
“The destruction of the leather case was a problem which presented more difficulties.”
Disposing of the wallet proves more challenging than burning the papers.
Highlights Abbershaw's careful planning to disguise evidence.
“I don't think she'll relish getting up just to see the sun rise.”
Meggie doubts Anne will appreciate being woken for a sunrise.
Shows Meggie's awareness of Anne's character.
“The only piece of real evidence there was against them. That was the body of Colonel Coombe.”
Abbershaw realizes the body was the key evidence now removed by the conspirators.
Emphasizes the loss of crucial evidence.