# XIII explained — The Murder at the Vicarage

> Chapter companion for The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie.

## What happens

The vicar and Colonel Melchett encounter Mrs. Price Ridley at the police station, where she reports an obscene and threatening telephone call she received the previous evening. She describes the caller's 'degenerate' voice and the threat from 'The Avenger.' Inspector Slack takes note of her report and focuses on tracing the fake call that lured the vicar away, as well as investigating everyone's movements between six and seven on the evening of the murder.

## Themes in this chapter

### Gossip and Community

Mrs. Price Ridley is accused of being a 'scandal-mongering old woman,' underscoring the role of gossip in village life and its potential consequences.

### Deception and Secrets

The fake telephone call that lured the vicar away and the mysterious threatening call to Mrs. Price Ridley highlight the use of deception to manipulate events.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

The vicar accompanies Colonel Melchett to the police station and observes Mrs. Price Ridley's complaint.

### Colonel Melchett

The Chief Constable listens to Mrs. Price Ridley's complaint and coordinates with Inspector Slack on the investigation.

### Mrs. Price Ridley

Reports receiving a threatening telephone call from someone calling themselves 'The Avenger' and mentions hearing a shot in the woods.

### Inspector Slack

Takes note of Mrs. Price Ridley's report and prioritizes tracing the fake call that got the vicar out of the way.

## Key lines

> I hardly thought it likely that Mrs. Price Ridley had anything so dramatic in view, but I did wonder what had taken her to the police station.

The vicar doubted Mrs. Price Ridley had anything important to report, but he was curious why she went to the police station.

_The narrator reflects on Mrs. Price Ridley's unexpected visit to the police station._

> It was a degenerate voice, said Mrs. Price Ridley, with dignity. I can only describe it as a kind of perverted voice. Now gruff, now squeaky. Really a very peculiar voice.

Mrs. Price Ridley described the caller's voice as degenerate, perverted, and alternating between gruff and squeaky.

_Mrs. Price Ridley's description of the anonymous caller's voice._

> This creature began by saying—I can hardly bring myself to repeat it—'You are a wicked scandal-mongering old woman!'

The caller insulted Mrs. Price Ridley by calling her a wicked scandal-mongering old woman.

_The content of the threatening telephone call as reported by Mrs. Price Ridley._

## Links

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