Dorothy L. Sayers

Have His Carcase

About The Author

Born in Oxford in 1893, Dorothy Leigh Sayers was later to become a classical scholar and honours graduate in modern languages. Between 1921 and 1.932 she was employed as a copywriter in an advertising agency.

But in 1923 she put into print a character who was to become one of the most popular fictional heroes of the century — Lord Peter Wimsy, who features in a dozen novels and numerous short stories. Several of the novels have been adapted for radio and television.

Dorothy Leigh Sayers died in 1957.

Note

In The Five Red Herrings, the plot was invented: to fit a real locality; in this book, the locality has been invented to fit the plot. Both places and people are entirely imaginary.

All the quotations at the chapter heads have, been taken from T. L. Beddoes.

My grateful acknowledgments are due to Mr John Rhode, who gave me generous help with all the hard bits.

— Dorothy L Sayers

Contents

About The Author

Note

Chapter I. The Evidence Of The Corpse

Chapter II. The Evidence Of The Road

Chapter III. The Evidence Of The Hotel

Chapter IV. The Evidence Of The Razor

Chapter V. The Evidence Of The Betrothed

Chapter VI. The Evidence Of The First Barber

Chapter VII. The Evidence Of The Gigolos

Chapter VIII. The Evidence Of The Second Barber

Chapter IX. The Evidence Of The Flat-Iron

Chapter X. The Evidence Of The Police-Inspector

Chapter XI. The Evidence Of The Fisherman

Chapter XII. The Evidence Of The Bride’s Son

Chapter XIII. Evidence Of Trouble Somewhere

Chapter XIV. The Evidence Of The Third Barber

Chapter XV. The Evidence Of The Ladylove And The Landlady

Chapter XVI. The Evidence Of The Sands

Chapter XVII. The Evidence Of The Money

Chapter XVIII. The Evidence Of The Snake

Chapter XIX. The Evidence Of The Disguised Motorist

Chapter XX. The Evidence Of The Lady In The Car

Chapter XXI. The Evidence At The Inquest

Chapter XXII. The Evidence Of The Mannequin

Chapter XXIII. The Evidence Of The Theatrical Agent

Chapter XXIV. The Evidence Of The L.C.C Teacher

Chapter XXV. The Evidence Of The Dictionary

Chapter XXVI. The Evidence Of The Bay Mare

Chapter XXVII. The Evidence Of The Fisherman’s Grandson

Chapter XXVIII. The Evidence Of The Cipher

Chapter XXIX. The Evidence O F The Letter

Chapter XXX. The Evidence Of The Gentleman’s Gentleman

Chapter XXXI. The Evidence Of The Haberdasher’s Assistant

Chapter XXXII. The Evidence Of The Family Tree

Chapter XXXIII. The Evidence Of What Should Have Happened

Chapter XXXIV. The Evidence Of What Did Happen

Chapter I. The Evidence Of The Corpse

‘The track was slippery with spouting blood’

— Rodolph

Thursday, 18 June

THE best remedy for a bruised heart is not, as so many people seem to think, repose upon a manly bosom. Much more efficacious are honest work, physical activity, and the sudden acquisition of wealth. After being acquitted of murdering her lover, and, indeed, in consequence of that acquittal, Harriet Vane found all three specifics abundantly at her disposal; and although Lord Peter Wimsey, with a touching faith in tradition, persisted day in and day out in presenting the bosom for her approval, she showed no inclination to recline upon it