Gaudy Night

Harriet returns with her new chess set and displays it for everyone in the common room. She thinks, “What is the use of acquiring one’s heart’s desire if one cannot handle and gloat over it, show it to one’s friends and gather an anthology of envy and admiration?” (494). Miss Edwards suggests that Harriet use one of the science room’s display cases to keep the set in her room. They all urge her to play a game with the pieces. Even though Harriet is a mediocre player, she allows Miss de Vine to beat her in three matches. Afterward, Miss Hillyard helps Harriet transport the case and chess pieces to her room, where she can admire them at her leisure.

The following day as she’s completing some errands, Harriet spies Wimsey and Pomfret out for a stroll. The two have apparently settled their differences. She calls on Wimsey afterward. He informs her that Climpson is still trying to trace Robinson and his family connections. He complains that although he knows who the Poison-Pen is, he hasn’t been able to assemble proof yet. Harriet expresses surprise that Wimsey knows the identity of the culprit. He seems equally amazed that she doesn’t and exclaims, “For God’s sake, put your prejudices aside and think it out.