# V: —And Finds the Club Suit Blocked explained — The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club

> Chapter companion for The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers.

## What happens

Wimsey and Dr. Penberthy discuss the anomaly of General Fentiman's rigor mortis, particularly the loose left knee joint, and consider the possibility that a shell-shocked person like George Fentiman may have found the body and forced the joint. Wimsey then discovers a scrap of paper in the library blotter, arranges for Bunter to photograph the club under the guise of a journalist, and decides to visit General Fentiman's flat to find Robert Fentiman.

## Themes in this chapter

### Trauma and Shell Shock

Dr. Penberthy suggests that a shell-shocked club member, possibly George Fentiman, might have reacted hysterically upon finding the General's body, forcing the knee joint.

### Deception and Appearance

Wimsey disguises Bunter as a journalist to photograph the club without revealing the true purpose of the investigation.

## Character check-ins

### Lord Peter Wimsey

Investigates the rigor mortis anomaly with Dr. Penberthy, finds a scrap of paper in the blotter, and arranges for Bunter to photograph the club.

### Dr. Penberthy

Confidentially discusses the loose knee joint with Wimsey, suggesting a shell-shocked person may have forced it, and confirms rigor was passing off in the face and jaw.

### Bunter

Arrives with camera and tripod; Wimsey instructs him to pose as a journalist to photograph the club.

### Culyer

Club secretary who grants permission for Bunter to photograph, complaining about complaints from Wetheridge.

### General Fentiman

The deceased; his body's rigor mortis anomaly is the focus of discussion.

## Key lines

> I wonder if anybody else noticed that? I doubt it. I did, of course. But then, I make that kind of thing my hobby. Not a popular one, perhaps—an ill-favored thing, but mine own. In fact. I’ve got rather a turn for corpses.

Dr. Penberthy admits he noticed the loose knee joint because of his interest in corpses, but doubts others did.

_Penberthy reveals his expertise in forensic details._

> The only thing I could think of was that a waiter or somebody had found him, and tried to move him—and then got frightened and barged off without saying anything.

Penberthy speculates that a nervous person, possibly a shell-shock case, might have found the body and forced the knee joint before fleeing.

_Hypothesis linking the anomaly to a frightened witness._

> I like facts, and there are annoyin'ly few of them in this case.

Wimsey expresses frustration at the scarcity of concrete evidence.

_Wimsey's methodical approach to the investigation._

## Links

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