The Lodger · Chapter
XXVI explained
At Madame Tussaud's, Mrs.
What happens
At Madame Tussaud's, Mrs. Bunting, Daisy, and Mr. Sleuth visit the Chamber of Horrors. Mr. Sleuth overhears Sir John Burney, the Police Commissioner, reveal that the Avenger is a known escaped lunatic from an asylum, causing Mr. Sleuth to panic. He confronts Mrs. Bunting, accusing her of betrayal, then feigns illness and bribes the turnstile-keeper, Mr. Hopkins, to let him escape through an emergency exit.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
Mr. Sleuth feigns illness to escape, while Mrs. Bunting hides her terror; the wax figures themselves symbolize the blurring of life and death.
Fear and Suspicion
Mrs. Bunting's growing dread as Sir John Burney describes the escaped lunatic; Mr. Sleuth's paranoid reaction to being discovered.
Complicity and Moral Ambiguity
Mrs. Bunting's silent complicity in protecting Mr. Sleuth despite knowing his guilt; Mr. Hopkins accepts a bribe to facilitate the escape.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Bunting
Accompanies Daisy and Mr. Sleuth to Madame Tussaud's; becomes terrified when Sir John Burney describes the escaped lunatic, realizing Mr. Sleuth's identity; is accused by Mr. Sleuth of betrayal.
- Mr. Sleuth
Visits the Chamber of Horrors with the Buntings; overhears Sir John Burney's description of the escaped murderer; panics, confronts Mrs. Bunting with threats, and escapes via emergency exit after bribing Hopkins.
- Daisy
Eager to see the Chamber of Horrors; accompanies Mr. Sleuth; is present when Mr. Sleuth overhears Sir John Burney; feels scared when Mr. Sleuth appears ill.
- Joe Chandler
Not present in this chapter.
- Mr. Bunting
Not present in this chapter.
- The Avenger
Identified by Sir John Burney as an escaped lunatic who committed murders in Leipzig and Liverpool eight years ago; implied to be Mr. Sleuth.
- Sir John Burney
Police Commissioner visiting Madame Tussaud's; reveals details about the Avenger's identity and escape from an asylum; unknowingly passes Mr. Sleuth.
- Mr. Hopkins
Turnstile-keeper at the Chamber of Horrors; an old acquaintance of the Buntings; accepts a bribe from Mr. Sleuth to let him escape.
Key passages
“Do not think to escape the consequences of your hideous treachery. I trusted you, Mrs. Bunting, and you betrayed me!”
Mr. Sleuth accuses Mrs. Bunting of betraying him and warns her she will face dire consequences.
Mr. Sleuth's paranoid outburst after overhearing Sir John Burney.
“Your end will be bitter as wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword. Your feet shall go down to death, and your steps take hold on hell.”
Mr. Sleuth threatens Mrs. Bunting with a biblical curse, predicting her doom.
Mr. Sleuth uses religious language to intimidate Mrs. Bunting.
“I feel ill... very ill indeed! It is the atmosphere of this place. I want you to let me out by the quickest way.”
Mr. Sleuth pretends to be unwell and asks to be let out through the emergency exit.
Mr. Sleuth's ruse to escape after being exposed.