Unnatural Death · Chapter
VII: Ham and Brandy explained
Wimsey and Parker discuss the case over dinner.
What happens
Wimsey and Parker discuss the case over dinner. Parker has traced a £5 note to a Mrs. Forrest, a mysterious woman with an expensive flat in South Audley Street. They visit her to ask about a dinner guest on the night of Bertha Gotobed's disappearance. Wimsey, pretending to be a fussy relative, pressures her into admitting she had a male guest but she refuses to name him. After leaving, Wimsey climbs a drainpipe to retrieve a glass he deliberately left behind, hoping to gather fingerprints.
Themes in this chapter
Psychological Manipulation
Wimsey manipulates Mrs. Forrest by pretending to be a nervous relative, using emotional pressure to extract information.
The Ambiguity of Evidence
The traced £5 note and the ham are circumstantial evidence; the truth about Mrs. Forrest's guest remains ambiguous.
Characters to notice
- Lord Peter Wimsey
Plays the role of a fussy, nervous relative to pressure Mrs. Forrest; later climbs a drainpipe to retrieve a glass for fingerprints.
- Detective Inspector Parker
Brings news of the traced £5 note and leads the visit to Mrs. Forrest; annoyed by Wimsey's interference.
- Mrs. Forrest
Mysterious woman with an expensive flat; admits to having a male guest on the night in question but refuses to name him.
- Bunter
Ushers Parker in at the start of the chapter and later informs Wimsey of a phone call for Parker.
- Sylvia Lyndhurst
Mentioned as Wimsey's cousin who is upset and made a violent attack on her husband with a revolver.
Key passages
“Well, I’ve got a new theory of the crime, which knocks yours into a cocked hat. I’ve got evidence to support it, too.”
Parker claims to have a superior theory with supporting evidence.
Parker challenges Wimsey's earlier theory about Agatha Dawson's murder.
“I don’t believe the old Dawson person was murdered at all. That’s just an idea of yours.”
Parker dismisses Wimsey's suspicion that Agatha Dawson was murdered.
Parker focuses on Bertha Gotobed's disappearance instead.
“I’m afraid, that in that case I can’t help you. I did have a friend dining with me on the 26th, but he has not, so far as I know, been murdered, nor has he murdered anybody.”
Mrs. Forrest admits to having a male guest but denies any connection to murder.
She becomes defensive when the word 'murder' is mentioned.
“I thought we should never get away. Now, quick—how do we get round to the back of these flats?”
Wimsey urges Parker to hurry to the back of the building.
Wimsey reveals his plan to retrieve the glass he left behind.