Ukridge Stories · Chapter
Ukridge Rounds a Nasty Corner explained
The narrator, preparing for his first meeting with Lady Lakenheath to assist with her late husband's memoirs, receives a surprise delivery from Ukridge: a bottle of patent medicine called 'Peppo' and a hatbox containing a parrot.
What happens
The narrator, preparing for his first meeting with Lady Lakenheath to assist with her late husband's memoirs, receives a surprise delivery from Ukridge: a bottle of patent medicine called 'Peppo' and a hatbox containing a parrot. He later visits Lady Lakenheath, where he meets her niece Millie, who is engaged to Ukridge. Ukridge bursts in with alarming news that Lady Lakenheath plans to attend the Pen and Ink Club dinner, where she will meet Ukridge's aunt, potentially exposing his true character. However, the parrot's mysterious illness prevents Lady Lakenheath from attending, and Ukridge hints at his involvement.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Manipulation
Ukridge's scheme to prevent Lady Lakenheath from attending the dinner by causing the parrot's illness, as well as the earlier theft of the parrot, highlight the theme of deception.
Romance and Marriage
The chapter centers on Ukridge and Millie's engagement, threatened by the potential revelation of Ukridge's character to Lady Lakenheath.
The Absurdity of Modern Life
The chaotic events involving a talking parrot, a patent medicine, and a dinner party underscore the absurd situations Ukridge creates.
Characters to notice
- Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge
Sends the narrator a bottle of Peppo and a parrot; later bursts in with news that Lady Lakenheath plans to attend the Pen and Ink Club dinner, threatening his engagement.
- Corky
The narrator, who is preparing to assist Lady Lakenheath with her husband's memoirs and receives Ukridge's gifts.
- Millie
Lady Lakenheath's niece and Ukridge's fiancée; she is present at the house and discusses the parrot incident with the narrator.
- Lady Lakenheath
The widow of Sir Rupert Lakenheath; she hires the narrator to help with memoirs and is concerned about her parrot's health.
- Bowles
The narrator's landlord, who delivers the Peppo and parrot from Ukridge.
- Leonard the Parrot
Lady Lakenheath's parrot, which suffers a mysterious seizure that prevents her from attending the dinner.
Key passages
““It’s a bird, sir. A parrot!” “What the deuce does Ukridge mean,” I cried, becoming the outraged householder, “by cluttering up my rooms with his beastly parrots? I’d like that man to know—””
The narrator is shocked and angry that Ukridge has left a parrot in his room without warning.
Shows the narrator's frustration with Ukridge's unpredictable behavior.
““I wonder,” said Ukridge, plunging into speech with the same old breezy abruptness, “if this stuff would be any good, Aunt Elizabeth.””
Ukridge casually offers Lady Lakenheath a bottle of medicine for her parrot, acting as if he is a helpful family member.
Highlights Ukridge's audacity and manipulative charm.
““Did you poison that parrot?” “Me? Poison the parrot? Of course I didn’t poison the parrot. The whole thing was due to an act of mistaken kindness carried out in a spirit of the purest altruism.””
The narrator suspects Ukridge of poisoning the parrot, but Ukridge denies it, claiming it was a well-intentioned mistake.
Reveals Ukridge's evasive and self-justifying nature.