The Crime at Black Dudley · Chapter
XXIII: An Error in Taste explained
The hunt arrives at Black Dudley, creating chaos.
What happens
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 house is soaked in paraffin, set for destruction. Campion suspects Dawlish is acting alone.
Themes in this chapter
Courage and Resourcefulness
Guffy Randall and the hunt members show bravery in confronting Von Faber, while Campion and Abbershaw strategize to escape.
Class and Social Hierarchy
The hunt's arrival represents the local gentry and their authority, contrasting with the criminal underworld of Dawlish and Von Faber.
Organized Crime and Corruption
Von Faber and Dawlish's plan to burn the house and escape highlights their criminal organization and ruthless methods.
Characters to notice
- Dr. George Abbershaw
Helps carry Prenderby, observes the hunt's arrival, and discusses Dawlish's plan with Campion.
- Albert Campion
Recognizes Guffy Randall, warns about the horses, and deduces that Dawlish may be acting alone.
- Martin Watt
Shouts from the window to attract the hunt's attention, comments on the militant woman, and helps coordinate rescue.
- Guffy Randall
Leads the horsemen, crashes the car with his crop, and frees the prisoners from the locked room.
- Eberhard von Faber
Shoots a hound, argues with the hunt, flees in the Lanchester, and is involved in the car crash.
- Meggie Oliphant
Nervously asks about the rescue, present in the locked room with the others.
Key passages
“He decides to make one last search for his precious package, which by now he realizes is pretty hopelessly gone. Then he means to make the place ready for his firework display, set light to it and bunk for home and mother”
Dawlish plans a final search for the package, then intends to set the house on fire and flee.
Campion explains Dawlish's plan to Abbershaw.
“The scene was an extraordinary one. Spread out in front of the gloomy, forbidding old house was all the colour and pageantry of the Monewdon Hunt.”
The hunt's arrival creates a vivid and chaotic scene outside the dark house.
Description of the hunt's appearance.
“He'll charge 'em”
Von Faber will drive straight into the horses.
Campion's fearful prediction as the car approaches the horsemen.
“The most militant old dear I've ever seen in all my life”
An elderly woman rider is extremely aggressive.
Martin Watt comments on a formidable hunt member.
“What a heaven-sent glorious miracle. Looks as if our Guardian Angel had a sense of humour.”
The arrival of the hunt is a fortunate and ironic rescue.
Martin Watt expresses relief at the hunt's intervention.