# XIX: Mr. Campion’s Conjuring Trick explained — The Crime at Black Dudley

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

## What happens

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 the servants, while Campion trips and gags a manservant. On the landing, Gideon and a thug confront the group; Campion draws a Webley and disarms them. The girls are locked in a room, and Campion and Abbershaw tie up Gideon and knock out the thug, stuffing him in a cupboard.

## Themes in this chapter

### Courage and Resourcefulness

Campion's quick thinking with a conjuring trick and his decisive use of a gun demonstrate resourcefulness under threat.

### Deception and Disguise

Campion's feigned foolishness and the saltcellar trick serve as a cover for the group's counterattack.

### Isolation and Entrapment

The girls are locked in a room for safety, and Gideon is physically bound, reinforcing the theme of entrapment.

## Character check-ins

### Albert Campion

Executes a conjuring trick as a diversion, then physically subdues a manservant and later disarms Gideon and his companion with a Webley.

### Dr. George Abbershaw

Assists Campion in restraining the servants and later in tying up Gideon; briefly loses his gun but recovers.

### Meggie Oliphant

Receives a small revolver from Abbershaw and reassures him before being locked in a room with Jeanne and Anne.

### Jesse Gideon

Confronts the group on the landing, is forced to raise his hands at gunpoint, and is later tied to a bedpost.

### Chris Kennedy

Leads a successful attack on the servants in the dining-hall, capturing one and taking his revolver.

## Key lines

> It’s the risk, my old bird. Our pugilistic friend doesn’t realize that we’re not up against a gang of racecourse thugs.

Campion warns Abbershaw that Kennedy underestimates the danger, thinking they face ordinary thugs rather than a more serious threat.

_Highlights Campion's awareness of the true stakes._

> I knew a woman once who didn’t believe in food—thought it was bad for the figure—so she gave it up altogether. Horrible results, of course; she got so thin that no one noticed her around—husband got used to being alone—estrangement, divorce—oh, I believe in food.

Campion tells a humorous anecdote about a woman who stopped eating for her figure, leading to marital neglect and divorce, to lighten the mood.

_Illustrates Campion's tactic of using absurd chatter to distract and relax the group._

> Don’t lose your Organizing Power, Directive Ability, Self-Confidence, Driving Force, Salesmanship, and Business Acumen. In other words, look on the bright side of things.

Campion cheerfully tells Abbershaw not to lose his composure after a mishap, using mock-business jargon to encourage optimism.

_Shows Campion's characteristic blend of humor and reassurance._

## Links

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