The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, graphic violence, and animal cruelty.

Although Aunt Inheritance attempts to convince the Swifts that Gumshoe’s death was an accident, no one believes her, and the relatives are in an uproar of paranoia and panic. Pamplemousse addresses the gathering and challenges the traitor to a duel: “Tomorrow at dawn, I shall meet le sniveling froussard on the front lawn for a deadly contest of wits. Yes, it shall be Scrabble—to the death!” (174). Shenanigan, Phenomena, and Erf review the evidence and the list of suspects they’ve gathered, but they’re no closer to reaching a conclusion. Shenanigan feels “scratchy and irritable” because she’s unable to take action and because she struggles to understand Cantrip’s play (177).

The next morning, Shenanigan and many other Swifts gather to watch Pamplemousse’s duel at the family Scrabble court, which is “the size of a tennis court, with squares beautifully picked out in stone and colored glass” (179). Aunt Inheritance refuses to attend and also forbids Erf from watching. The murderer uses a series of arrows to communicate their chosen words, and Flora bravely volunteers to place their tiles. Shenanigan catches a glimpse of the archer on the roof, but Fauna stops her from pursuing the figure after they fire an arrow that grazes the child’s leg.