The Lodger · Chapter
Chapter XX explained
After attending the Avenger inquest, Mrs.
What happens
After attending the Avenger inquest, Mrs. Bunting returns home exhausted and haunted by visions of the victims. She lies to her husband about seeing the doctor, then tends to Mr. Sleuth's supper. The lodger seems lonely and forlorn, and Mrs. Bunting feels a mix of pity and horror. She hints at the danger of going out at night, but Mr. Sleuth responds with religious defiance. Later, she wakes to hear him creeping out in his rubber-soled shoes.
Themes in this chapter
Complicity and Moral Ambiguity
Mrs. Bunting lies to her husband about the doctor and protects Mr. Sleuth's secrets, torn between pity and horror.
Fear and Suspicion
Mrs. Bunting is consumed by fear of the Avenger and suspicion of Mr. Sleuth, listening for his nightly movements.
Isolation and Urban Anonymity
The narrow, identical houses symbolize secrecy; Mrs. Bunting feels alone in her knowledge and dread.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Bunting
Returns from the inquest exhausted and haunted; lies to Bunting about the doctor; feels pity and horror toward Mr. Sleuth; listens for his night wanderings.
- Mr. Sleuth
Sits lonely and forlorn, staring into the fire; reacts sharply to hints about going out; speaks of God's protection; leaves quietly in rubber-soled shoes.
- Mr. Bunting
Anxiously waits for Mrs. Bunting; asks about the doctor; prepares to work as a waiter at a birthday party.
- The Avenger
The inquest and victims haunt Mrs. Bunting's thoughts; the latest murder is fresh in her mind.
Key passages
“She felt quite tired out and as if she could think of nothing.”
Mrs. Bunting was utterly exhausted and mentally numb.
Describes her state after the inquest.
“He was such a nice, gentle gentleman, was Mr. Sleuth.”
She thought of Mr. Sleuth as a kind and refined man.
Mrs. Bunting's conflicted feelings of pity toward the lodger.
“What is man's puny power or strength against that of God, or even of those over whose feet God has set a guard?”
Human efforts are insignificant compared to divine protection.
Mr. Sleuth's religious justification for his actions.
“She woke to hear a quarter to twelve chime out—woke at last to the sound she had been listening for before she fell asleep—the sound of Mr. Sleuth, wearing his rubber-soled shoes, creeping downstairs.”
She awoke at 11:45 to the familiar noise of Mr. Sleuth stealthily descending the stairs in his rubber-soled shoes.
Confirms Mrs. Bunting's suspicion of his nightly excursions.