Feline lovers relax, there is no cat in a bag. It’s just a woman’s head.

This was a very silly story, full of coincidences and not much actual detective work. It even kicks off with a motorcycle race, and Lord Peter in his roadster is bringing up the rear. The first man in the motorcycle is looking to get away from the bag with a head in it. The second motorcyclist is trying to return the bag with the head in it. And Lord Peter thinks the bag contains some of his mother’s stolen jewels and not a head.

I assume Sayers meant it all as a joke, and taken in that spirit it works pretty well. Plus it made me look up what a charabanc is, as I’d forgotten. I swear I once knew, but that was a while ago and the word isn’t used much anymore. Apparently it’s pronounced “sharra-bang” in England and called a “charra” in Wales.

Wimsey index