The Gold Bat · Chapter
With the Compliments of the League explained
Trevor discovers his study has been wrecked by the League, mirroring the earlier attack on Mill's study.
What happens
Trevor discovers his study has been wrecked by the League, mirroring the earlier attack on Mill's study. With Clowes's help, he tidies the room and finds a card signed 'With the Compliments of the League.' They discuss possible culprits, ruling out Rand-Brown. O'Hara visits and learns of the incident, promising secrecy. He also shares a newspaper clipping about a hooligan outrage involving tar on Sir Eustace Briggs's statue, which Clowes suspects is linked to the missing gold bat.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Detection
Trevor and Clowes attempt to keep the study wreck quiet while investigating the League's identity and motives.
Justice and Retribution
Trevor expresses a desire to find and confront the perpetrator, and the League's actions provoke a search for justice.
Characters to notice
- Trevor
Discovers his study wrecked by the League; works with Clowes to clean up and discusses the situation.
- Clowes
Helps Trevor tidy the study and discusses the League's actions; suspects the newspaper article about the statue is a clue.
- O'Hara
Visits Trevor's study, learns of the wreck, and shares a newspaper cutting about the statue outrage.
Key passages
“Trevor went and looked. It was rather an interesting sight. An earthquake or a cyclone might have made it a little more picturesque, but not much more.”
Trevor surveyed the damage to his study, which was so severe that only a natural disaster could have made it worse.
Describes the chaotic state of Trevor's study after the League's attack.
“Tied to a chair, exactly as it had been in the case of Mill, was a neat white card, and on it were the words, 'With the Compliments of the League.'”
A white card identical to the one left in Mill's study was found tied to a chair, bearing the League's signature.
Confirms the League's involvement in the wrecking of Trevor's study.
“It always does get serious when anything bad happens to one's self. It always strikes one as rather funny when things happen to other people.”
Trevor remarks that people take misfortune seriously only when it affects them personally, while finding others' troubles amusing.
Reflects on the change in perspective when one becomes a victim.