# VII: Ham and Brandy explained — Unnatural Death

> Chapter companion for Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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