Peter & Harriet: "Strong Poison" Pt. 4 - Justice Quiz

Answer: Mr. Pond, the head clerk.

It is Mr. Pond's responsibility to open the correspondence, and he chuckles with a condescending "tsk... tsk" when he reads the cover letter from Miss Booth (the nurse) explaining that she was instructed by the spirit world to send the will to Mr. Urquhart in London.

When Mr. Pond takes it into Urquhart's office, Miss Murchison (Lord Peter's 'mole') quickly tiptoes over to Mr. Pond's desk and sees the Windle postmark on the outer envelope. Thus she is an additional witness to its arrival.

Answer: She observes each of these when she enters.

To Joan Murchison's sharp eye, Norman Urquhart is ill at ease as he glares somewhat defiantly at her.
"Miss Murchison was reminded of a little set of rules which Lord Peter Wimsey-half in jest and half in earnest-had once prepared for the guidance of 'The Cattery.' Of Rule Seven, in particular, which ran: 'Always distrust the man who looks you straight in the eyes. He wants to prevent you from seeing something. Look for it.'" --from "Strong Poison" by Dorothy L. Sayers

Answer: lost a fabric sample she needs to match at the draper's shop.

Her ruse is a clever one, since she can include the inner office in her search, which could take several minutes at least. Showing admirable dedication, she has torn a piece of material from the lining of her very nice bag so she will have something to show for all that prolonged searching. Mrs. Hodges is completely taken in and congratulates Miss Murchison on finding the pattern before the shops close.

Answer: losing her balance and pushing against the panel by accident.

In "Strong Poison" Sayers writes: "This kind of investigation is easy for experts, but Miss Murchison's knowledge of secret hiding places was only culled from sensational literature; she could not find the trick of the thing. After nearly a quarter of an hour, she began to despair. Thump-thump-thump-Mrs. Hodges was coming downstairs. Miss Murchison sprang away from the panelling so hastily that the chair slipped, and she had to thrust hard at the wall to save herself.

She jumped down, restored the chair to its place, glanced up-and saw the panel standing wide open."

Answer: If she died intestate, another relative might come forward to make a claim.

Norman Urquhart is an extremely cautious planner, as indicated by his behavior throughout the story. By law, if Rosanna Wrayburn died without a valid will, there was just a chance that some other relative might appear to claim part of the estate. Though it appeared he was her next of kin, we must keep in mind that Norman was only a great-nephew. And, if the will were contested, his malfeasance would be exposed. Keeping the authentic will ensured that once Philip Boyes was dead, Norman, as the residuary legatee, would inherit the lot, and wouldn't have to explain that Philip Boyes' inheritance was actually long gone.

Answer: one of the eggs used to make the omelet.

Urquhart's ingenious plan involved the introduction of arsenic into a small crack in one of the eggs that was to be used for a dessert omelet at dinner. One of the details that leads Lord to this conclusion is the testimony of Urquhart's maid, Hannah Westlock. "...well I remember it, for Mr. Urquhart asked particular after the eggs, was they new-laid, and I reminded him they was some he had brought in himself that afternoon from that shop on the corner of Lamb's Conduit Street where they always have them fresh from the farm, and I reminded him that one of them was a little cracked and he'd said, 'We'll use that in the omelette tonight, Hannah,' and I brought out a clean bowl from the kitchen and put them straight in-the cracked one and three more besides, and never touched them again till I brought them to table." -from "Strong Poison," by Dorothy L. Sayers

Answer: had 'immunised' himself by consuming small quantities of arsenic over a long period.

Searching for answers to this question, Lord Peter consults several books and concludes that Urquhart must have 'immunised" himself against the effects of arsenic by taking regular amounts over a long period of time. The morning after his night-long deliberation, he tells Bunter to put all the books away except four. One title is in German, which Bunter cannot read, but the others are: "The Trial of Florence Maybrick"; Dixon Mann's "Forensic Medicine and Toxicology"; and A. E. Housman's "A Shropshire Lad." As he gathered them up, "Bunter studied these for a few moments, and then slapped his thigh softly. 'Why, of course!' he said under his breath, 'why, what a mutton-headed set of chumps we've all been!'" --from "Strong Poison" by Dorothy L. Sayers

Answer: A manicurist named Mabel, who worked at Urquhart's barber.

There is a charming scene with Lord Peter and the young manicurist, Mabel, who thinks at first that she is about to be propositioned by the wealthy man about town and perhaps become a well kept mistress. She is almost comically surprised when Lord Peter asks her to obtain fingernail clippings and hair from Norman Urquhart when he next visits the barber.

She is reluctant, wondering if this might be for some sort of weird ritual, so Lord Peter takes her into his confidence as to why he wants the samples.

She is intrigued and excited to be part of the investigation, and says she will oblige.

Answer: leaves the room and tries to escape through a bathroom window.

Initially, Urquhart denies any wrongdoing and sneers at Lord Peter's theory of the crime, which takes about an hour to expound. At the end of that period, Peter tells Urquhart that the Turkish Delight on which the lawyer has been gorging himself in a most undignified fashion is covered with a mixture of powdered sugar and white arsenic, enough to kill the average person. Peter tells him that if he not immune to the effects of arsenic, he should be writhing on the floor in agony. Urquhart declares himself to be ill and stumbles into the bathroom, then tries to exit through the window, but discovers it is too far a drop.

There's no way out, and he is apprehended by Chief Inspector Parker, ably assisted by Bunter. Though formally cautioned not to incriminate himself, the prisoner is so enraged by Lord Peter's mockery of his (Urquhart's) feeble attempts to appear ill, he shouts, "'Stop talking, for God's sake....You've got me, by a vile, damnable trick. Isn't that enough? You can shut up about it.'" That, of course, is an injudicious comment that will now be taken down and used in evidence.

Answer: For all these reasons, and more, she cannot consent.

Peter is so consumed by his attraction to Harriet, he doesn't really stop to think that simply solving the murder and getting her out of prison may not instantly equal 'they lived happily every after.' But Harriet is emotionally drained and sick at heart over all that has happened.

She's stood in the dock and nearly been hanged for murder. Her face has been splashed all over the newspapers. Even if acquitted, she is now notorious. She also quite logically points out that he comes from a high-ranking family who would utterly disapprove.

At length, almost in resignation, Harriet offers to live with Peter, but not marry him. He's taken aback, because he wants her for his wife, not his mistress, and he can't imagine settling for anything less than a lifetime with her. Finally, he realizes he's badgering her in an ungentlemanly manner and withdraws.

But he isn't going to give up, is he?