The Nine Tailors

The following morning, Wimsey learns of a crisis in the kitchen. A maid named Emily was dusting Bunter’s room and cleaned off the residue from the empty beer bottle being held for evidence. The girl is related to Mary, which alerts Wimsey’s suspicions. However, he dismisses the incident, saying, “What is the verse about the struck eagle stretched upon the plain, Never through something clouds to soar again? It expresses my feelings exactly. Take up my tea and throw the bottle in the dustbin. What’s done cannot be undone” (269).

Later, Wimsey pays a visit to the local pubs to find out who stocks the brand of beer associated with his empty bottle. An innkeeper steers him to Mary, who keeps a supply for her husband and his brother. Wimsey shows her a photo of Cranton and asks if she recognized him disguised as the bearded Stephen Driver. Mary expresses innocence. He then shows her the letter containing the cryptogram. She seems startled but denies having seen the handwriting before.

During Sunday’s church service, Wimsey has an idea. An upper gallery where the servants from Red House used to sit has been removed from the church in the years since Deacon went to jail.