# Five O'Clock in the Morning explained — The Crime at Black Dudley

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

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters/vii-five-o-clock-in-the-morning
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crime_at_black_dudley_se/chapters