Peter & Harriet: "Strong Poison" Pt. 3-Progress Quiz

Answer: bicarbonate of soda

In his efforts to clear Harriet of the murder charge, Lord Peter is seeking evidence that Boyes ingested arsenic intentionally as a (painful) means of suicide. Unfortunately, when the police finally locate the partially empty packet, which had slid down behind some items on a shelf behind the bar of the pub, it contains nothing more deadly than bicarbonate of soda. Thus the suicide theory is out.

Answer: Charles Parker

Lady Mary had had rather a tempestuous romantic life. Two of the incorrect answers (Cathcart and Goyles) are the names of men with whom she had been involved in the past. The details of those events are recounted in "Clouds of Witness," during which Gerald, Duke of Denver (Peter's older brother) is on trial for the murder of Denis Cathcart. Chief Inspector Charles Parker is a fine man who fell for Lady Mary during that case, but has been deeply reluctant to pursue the relationship because the idea of a police officer and a member of the nobility marrying seems impossible. Peter, however, highly approves and, at his sister's request, convinces Charles to propose. Lady Mary is elated, and the engagement is a fait accompli, though she is keenly aware her brother, the Duke, will be furious.

Answer: Windle

Miss Climpson undertakes a reconnaissance mission when she arrives in Windle, taking the local bus out into the countryside. A short walk brings her to the Wrayburn estate. Having gotten the lay of the land, she goes back to Windle to gather information from the other ladies at the boarding house she's chosen for her stay. Sayers fans will recognize Wilvercombe as the setting for much of the action in "Have His Carcase." Of course, "whinge" is British idiom for "whine," and the Withywindle is a river referred to in "Lord of the Rings."

Answer: She conducts surveillance of the bus stop from a window table at a tea shop.

In those days (c. 1930), nurses usually wore quite recognizable uniforms, often including an elaborate cap and short cape. Miss Climpson, confident that she can identify the nurse when she alights from the incoming bus, decides to set up her observation post at a tea shop nearby.

She ends up having to consume a LOT of tea over the course of a couple of days' vigil. But the persevering detective sticks to her surveillance while pretending to be sketching an old building across the street so as not to make the waitress suspicious.

Answer: The Oriental

Since Miss Climpson cannot anticipate what kind of tea shop would appeal to this particular individual, she visits each in turn. The Oriental isn't her first choice because she rather assumes that nurses will prefer a bright, lively sort of atmosphere like that of The Central while they are off duty.

As it turns out, the odd little Oriental has the sort of ambiance that appeals to the rather quiet and retiring Miss Booth. Ye Cosye Corner is the place where Miss Clipson sets up her sketch pad and peers out the window watching the bus stop.

By the way, The Polly Tea Rooms is a real (and quite pleasant) establishment located in Marlborough in Wiltshire.

Answer: pretend to be seeking the owner of a small package she picked up outside the door.

Katherine Climpson thinks fast on her feet. She rushes to a nearby shop, buys a few small articles and has them done up in a brown paper packet. She then carefully inquires of all the other patrons at the Oriental if the parcel is theirs before finally approaching Miss Booth.

While they are chatting, Miss Climpson manages to "accidentally" insinuate herself at Miss Booth's table. The nurse, eager for some company, invites her to stay and chat.

Answer: "Can the Dead Speak?"

The devoutly religious Miss Climpson has no personal interest in the occult. But her life living in various boarding houses and serving as companion to sometimes eccentric old ladies had exposed her to spiritualism. In some circles, spiritualism was all the rage, while in others the whole idea met with deep disapproval. Years earlier, Miss Climpson had encountered an investigator of spiritual phenomena who shared with her all the tricks he had seen for creating the illusion of visitations from the dead. Thus she is no stranger to the faking of spirit communications by various means. Though her conscience genuinely rebels at the thought of putting one over on Miss Booth, she keeps reminding herself that Lord Peter is relying on her to uncover evidence to exonerate Harriet Vane.

She trusts she will be forgiven practicing such 'wicked' deception since it's in a good cause.

Answer: equipping herself with a metal soapbox and some bendable wires.

In order to produce phenomena suggestive of dead people showing up to the séance, Miss Climpson attaches a metal soapbox with a convex lid to a garter. When compressed between her knees, the lid of the box produces a loud cracking sound. She uses stiff metal wires, bent double and attached to her wrists so that she will be able to slide them under the lip of the séance table and make it rock and sway.

In the dimly lit room, with a credulous participant like Miss Booth, the plan works to perfection.

Answer: stored with other papers in the large safe.

Since Miss Climpson is only pretending to speak as Rosanna Wrayburn, she has no idea where the will is. But obviously the nurse would expect her employer to know where her own will is located. Thus Miss Climpson pretends to lose contact with the spirit world just before the information can be communicated.

She lets her voice trail away after uttering the letter "b," thinking that it would cover a multitude of possibilities (e.g. box, bag, bureau, bookshelf, etc.). She did come to regret her choice, however, and wishes she hadn't tried to be quite so clever.

The will turns up in the safe, and, most fortunately, during their search Miss Climpson had seen a row of figures written in a small black notebook in Mrs. Wrayburn's bedside table; it is the needed combination. Miss Booth herself supplies the explanation for the séance clue: the "b" must have been pointing them toward the "black book."

Answer: The greater portion of her assets was left to Philip Boyes.

Rosanna Wrayburn had bequeathed Philip the greater part of her estate, including all the real property and £50,000 (British pounds sterling) besides. Despite Norman Urquhart's insistence when he spoke to Lord Peter that Mrs. Wrayburn still held a vicious grudge against family members who had ostracized her because of her scandalous reputation, the will clearly stated that she forgave Philip Boyes and did not hold him responsible for the ill treatment she received from his parents and grandparents.

In this true will, Norman Urquhart was only the residuary legatee; he would get whatever was left over... which wasn't much.