# XV: Temptation of St. Peter explained — Unnatural Death > Chapter companion for Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers. ## What happens Parker receives a call from Mrs. Forrest, who wants to contact 'Mr. Templeton' (Wimsey's alias). Parker gives her Wimsey's phone number. Mrs. Forrest then invites Wimsey to her flat that evening, asking him to come discreetly. During the visit, she shares a story from a 'friend' about seeing a man and woman near the flats, which may relate to Bertha Gotobed. She then awkwardly tries to seduce Wimsey, but he senses her desperation and revulsion. He kisses her to test her reaction, confirming his suspicion that she is not genuinely attracted. He leaves, disturbed by her fear and rage. ## Themes in this chapter ### Psychological Manipulation Mrs. Forrest attempts to manipulate Wimsey through seduction and a fabricated story, while Wimsey manipulates her by playing along to uncover her motives. ### The Role of Women Mrs. Forrest's desperate and awkward seduction attempt reflects the limited agency and societal pressures on women, particularly those facing divorce. ### The Ambiguity of Evidence The story about the man and woman near the flats is presented as potential evidence, but its reliability and Mrs. Forrest's motives remain unclear. ## Character check-ins ### Detective Inspector Parker Receives Mrs. Forrest's call and coordinates with Wimsey. ### Lord Peter Wimsey Visits Mrs. Forrest under the alias Mr. Templeton and tests her intentions. ### Mrs. Forrest Contacts Parker, invites Wimsey over, shares a story, and attempts seduction. ### Bunter Briefly mentioned as Wimsey's servant. ### Bertha Gotobed Her costume is recalled by Wimsey in connection with Mrs. Forrest's story. ## Key lines > As Parker came out from the Chief Commissioner’s room, he was caught by an officer. “There’s been a lady on the phone to you,” he said. “I told her to ring up at 10:30. It’s about that now.” “What name?” “A Mrs. Forrest. She wouldn’t say what she wanted.” Parker is informed that a woman named Mrs. Forrest called and will ring again at 10:30. _Sets up the chapter's central interaction._ > “I think,” said Parker, “I ought not, perhaps, to give you Mr. Templeton’s address without consulting him. But you could phone him⁠—” Parker declines to give Mrs. Forrest Wimsey's address but offers his phone number instead. _Parker protects Wimsey's alias._ > “Look here, Wimsey,” he said, “I’ve had a call from Mrs. Forrest. She wants to write to you. I wouldn’t give the address, but I’ve given her your number, so if she calls and asks for Mr. Templeton, you will remember who you are, won’t you?” Parker warns Wimsey to maintain his alias when Mrs. Forrest calls. _Highlights the ongoing deception._ > “It’s probably occurred to her that she might have told a better story, and she wants to work off a few additions and improvements on you.” Wimsey suggests Mrs. Forrest may be embellishing her earlier story. _Shows Wimsey's skepticism._ > “Would Mr. Templeton be so very good as not to tell anybody about his visit? Mr. Forrest and his sleuths were continually on the watch to get Mrs. Forrest into trouble, and the decree absolute was due to come up in a month’s time. Any trouble with the King’s Proctor would be positively disastrous.” Mrs. Forrest asks Wimsey to keep his visit secret to avoid jeopardizing her divorce. _Provides a plausible cover for her secrecy._ > “He noticed a car standing there⁠—a small closed one, black or dark blue or some such colour. And while he was looking idly at it⁠—the way one does, you know⁠—he saw a man and woman come out of this block of flats⁠—not this door, but one or two along to the left⁠—and get in and drive off. The man was in evening dress and he thought it might have been your friend.” Mrs. Forrest relays a story from a friend who saw a man and woman leaving a nearby flat, possibly connected to the case. _Introduces potential new evidence._ > “Was the girl in evening dress, too?” “No⁠—that struck my friend particularly. She was in just a plain little dark suit, with a hat on.” Wimsey asks about the woman's attire, and Mrs. Forrest says she wore a plain dark suit and hat. _Matches Bertha Gotobed's described clothing._ > “I’m so sorry. Men always seem to take sugar in black coffee. Give it to me⁠—I’ll empty it away.” “Allow me.” There was no slop-basin on the little table, but Wimsey quickly got up and poured the coffee into the window-box outside. Wimsey pours his sweetened coffee into the window-box to avoid drinking it. _A subtle act of avoidance._ > “Poor little woman.” He coaxed into his voice the throaty, fatuous tone of the man who is preparing to make an amorous fool of himself. He felt her body stiffen as he slipped his arm round her, but she gave a little sigh of relief. He pulled her suddenly and violently to him, and kissed her mouth with a practised exaggeration of passion. He knew then. No one who has ever encountered it can ever again mistake that awful shrinking, that uncontrollable revulsion of the flesh against a caress that is nauseous. Wimsey kisses Mrs. Forrest and senses her intense revulsion, confirming his suspicion that she is not genuinely attracted to him. _Climactic moment revealing Mrs. Forrest's true feelings._ > She stood in the middle of the room, watching him, and on her face was such a fury of fear and rage as turned his blood to water. As Wimsey leaves, he sees Mrs. Forrest's face filled with fear and rage. _Ends the chapter on a note of tension and mystery._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters/xv-temptation-of-st-peter - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/unnatural_death_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/unnatural_death_se/chapters