Chapters I and II Summary

As the story opens, Lord Peter Wimsey is in a taxi at Piccadilly Circus headed for an auction of rare books when he realizes that he has forgotten his catalogue and needs to return to his house at 110 Piccadilly Square. When he goes inside, his manservant, Bunter, says that Peter's mother is on the telephone. Peter takes the call and his mother tells him the story of Mr. Alfred Thipps, an architect who is working on a church roof. According to his mother, Mr. Thipps found a body in his bathtub. Peter's mother says that Mr. Thipps lives at 59 Queen Caroline Mansions and that the body was nude with the exception of "a pair of pince-nez." Peter decides that he will send Bunter to the auction in his place and that he will go to the Thipps'...