# The Black Museum explained — The Lodger

> Chapter companion for The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes.

## What happens

Daisy Bunting visits New Scotland Yard with her father and Joe Chandler, touring the Fingerprint Room and the Black Museum. The exhibits of murder weapons and death masks unsettle Daisy, while Bunting becomes fascinated by the tools of Charles Peace and discussions of the Avenger murders. Chandler invites Daisy to visit his mother in Richmond.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fear and Suspicion

Daisy's fear of encountering a murderer and the discussion of the Avenger's elusiveness highlight the pervasive suspicion in society.

### Psychology of the Criminal

The museum exhibits and the analysis of the Avenger as a 'cunning, quiet' madman delve into the criminal mind and methods.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The death masks appear 'foolish' rather than terrified, and the shabby exhibits belie their sinister role in convicting murderers, contrasting surface with truth.

## Character check-ins

### Daisy

Daisy is awed by Scotland Yard but disturbed by the Black Museum's death masks and exhibits, feeling the 'horrors' and wanting to leave.

### Mr. Bunting

Bunting is fascinated by the museum, especially the tools of Charles Peace and the discussion of the Avenger case, showing a troubled interest in criminal methods.

### Joe Chandler

Chandler guides the tour with pride, explaining fingerprint identification and inviting Daisy to visit his mother in Richmond.

### Charles Peace

Peace's folding ladder and tools are displayed as a highlight of the museum, described as a 'wonderful man' and inventor.

### The Avenger

Discussed as a cunning madman; a letter signed 'The Avenger' posted in Edgware Road is mentioned, linking the case to the Buntings' neighborhood.

## Key lines

> They don’t look dead somehow. They looks more as if they were listening.

Bunting observes that the death masks seem alive and attentive rather than lifeless.

_Reflects Bunting's fascination with the eerie realism of the casts._

> I don’t believe he’ll ever be caught. In some ways ’tis a lot more of a job to catch a madman than ’tis to run down just an ordinary criminal.

The museum guard expresses doubt that the Avenger will be apprehended, noting the difficulty of capturing a cunning madman.

_Highlights the theme of fear and the challenge of policing irrational crime._

> I’ve seen about enough now. If I was to stay in here much longer it ’ud give me the horrors.

Daisy insists on leaving the Black Museum, feeling it would cause her nightmares.

_Shows Daisy's discomfort and the oppressive atmosphere of the museum._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lodger_se/chapters/ix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lodger_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_lodger_se/chapters