In this short story, Henry

LITER ATURE – 5B Pifield, a rather unimaginative

private detective, meets Alice
Weston, an ambitious actor.

START THINKING …
1 Work in pairs. Discuss the questions:
● What does a private detective do?
● What do you think are the good and bad things about being an actor?
● Would you prefer the kind of job where you stay in the same place, or a
job that involves a lot of traveling? Why?

BILL THE BLOODHOUND (1915) P. G. Wodehouse

I must explain Henry early, to avoid disappointment. If I simply 30 ‘I don’t know. Somehow I shouldn’t have thought you were one.’
said he was a detective, and let it go at that, I should be obtaining This calmed Henry somewhat. Naturally a detective does not
the reader’s interest under false pretences. He was really only a want to look like a detective and give the whole thing away right
sort of detective. At Stafford’s International Investigation Bureau, at the start.
5 in the Strand, where he was employed, they did not require ‘I think—you won’t be offended?’
him to solve mysteries which the police could not. He had never
35 ‘Go on.’
measured a footprint in his life, and what he did not know about
bloodstains would have filled a library. The sort of job they gave ‘I’ve always looked on it as rather a sneaky job.’
Henry was to stand outside a restaurant in the rain, and note ‘Sneaky!’ moaned Henry.
10 what time someone inside left it… ‘Well, creeping about, spying on people.’
Henry lived in a boarding-house in Guildford Street. One day Henry was appalled. She had defined his own trade exactly.
a new girl came to the boarding-house, and sat next to Henry 40 There might be detectives whose work was different, but he was a
at meals. Her name was Alice Weston. She was small and quiet, confirmed creeper, and he knew it. It wasn’t his fault. The boss told
and rather pretty. They got on splendidly. Their conversation, him to creep, and he crept. If he declined to creep, he would be
15 at first confined to the weather and films, rapidly became more sacked instantly. It was hard, and yet he felt the sting of her words,
intimate. Henry was surprised to find that she was on the stage, and the first seeds of dissatisfaction with his occupation took root.
in the chorus. Previous chorus-girls at the boarding-house had 45 You might have thought that this frankness on the girl’s part
been nice but noisy. Alice Weston was different. would have kept Henry from falling in love with her. Certainly the
‘I’m rehearsing at present,’ she said. ‘I’m going out on tour next dignified thing would have been to change his seat at table, and
20 month in ‘The Girl From Brighton’. What do you do, Mr Rice?’ take his meals next to someone who appreciated the romance of
Henry paused for a moment before replying. He knew how detective work a little more. But no, he remained where he was…
sensational he was going to be. 50 He proposed to Alice Weston. She refused him.
‘I’m a detective.’ ‘It’s not because I’m not fond of you. I think you’re the nicest man
Usually, when he told girls his profession, amazed admiration I ever met.’ A good deal of careful attention had enabled Henry
25 greeted him. Now he was surprised to perceive in the brown to win this place in her affections. He had worked patiently and
eyes that met his distinct disapproval. well before actually putting his fortune to the test. ‘I’d marry you
55 tomorrow if things were different. But I’m on the stage, and I mean
‘What’s the matter?’ he said, a little anxiously, for even at this
early stage in their acquaintance he was conscious of a strong to stick there. Most of the girls want to get off it, but not me. And
desire to win her approval. ‘Don’t you like detectives?’ one thing I’ll never do is marry someone who isn’t in the profession.
2 5A.1 Read the text and listen.
Glossary 3 Read the text again. Choose the correct
false pretences if you use false pretences you are continuation for 1–3 (a or b).
trying to trick someone
footprint shape of a shoe or foot impressed 1 In the first paragraph, the writer wants to emphasise
on the ground that Henry…
bloodstains marks caused by blood a) doesn’t like his job. b) has limited skills.
boarding-house a kind of hotel
2 Henry is not used to girls thinking he…
chorus group of people who sing in a play
or performance a) has a boring job. b) has an unpleasant job.
rehearse practise a performance 3 Henry recognises that his boss...
sneaky act in a dishonest way a) decides what Henry does. b) doesn’t appreciate him.
creep about move around very quietly 4 Alice thinks it’s important that her future husband…
sting a sudden pain
a) is a professional. b) is involved in the theatre.
stick to stay or remain

Think Level 4 Literature 5B PHOTOCOPIABLE © Cambridge University Press 2022


4 READ BETWEEN THE LINES Match phrases 1–5
with their continuations from a–e.
1 The writer describes Henry as …
2 Alice doesn’t like the fact that …
3 Henry is relieved that …
4 Alice’s comments about Henry’s work creates …
5 Despite Alice’s critical comments …
a … Alice doesn’t think he looks like a detective.
b … someone with limited skills.
c … Henry creeps about in his job.
d … a sense of dissatisfaction.
e … Henry falls in love with her.
5 VOCABULARY Complete the following extract
with words form the glossary in the correct form.
creep about | boarding-house | footprint | rehearse
bloodstain
When detective Helms arrived at the scene of the
crime he immediately noticed two things – a very
small , and several on the
wall. The building used to be a , now
it was used by a theatre group to their
plays. There was a noise from the floor above. ‘Who’s
up there?’ Helms asked.
6 ROLE PLAY Look at the conversation below. A is
an astronaut, which doesn’t impress B. Continue
the dialogue.
Example: B: What’s your job?
A: Well, this will probably amaze you… I am
an astronaut.
B: Oh.
A: Oh? I mean, I have been into space.
7 Before you listen, discuss the following
questions:
What do you think Henry will do now?
If you were the writer, how would you continue
the story?
LISTENING 5B.2 Listen to the extract and
choose the correct answer, a or b.
1 What did Genevieve’s marriage demonstrate to
Alice?
a The importance of your partner being close by.
b The importance of your partner being a
professional.
Think Level 4 Literature 5B
5B LITER ATU R E
2 What does Henry probably realise when he visits a
dramatic agent?
a That he is not going to be very good on stage.
b That he’s not a very good detective.
3 How does Henry feel when he is told he has to
follow someone acting in ‘The Girl from Brighton’?
a happy b mixed emotions
8 5B.2 Listen again and complete the sentence
with a word or short phrase.
1 Alice says her husband has got to be
c b , where she can see
him.
2 The agent advised Henry to have a n
c o h
t and says he’ll feel fine the next day.
3 The woman wanted her husband followed while he
was o t r .
4 Henry felt that f was teasing him.
5 Henry was sure that Alice would not r
him.
WRITING A review
9 WRITING A review describes a book,
film, etc. and expresses a personal opinion
that helps other people decide if they are
interested in whatever is reviewed.
Using the notes below, combine them with
your own ideas and write a review of ‘The Girl
from Brighton’ in between 150–200 words.
musical comedy – romantic story Alice (main
character) goes to London and becomes a star,
meets Francis
2 hours – great music, acting not so good
Lots of good jokes, some sad moments – dancing
not rehearsed enough
LITERATURE
DISGUISES. There are many stories where people
CHARACTERISATION
are in disguise. Superheroes are often in disguise
(Batman and Spider-man for example) but there are
also examples in myths, legends, plays and novels.
WIT
10 Can you think of any reasons why a character
might want to be in disguise? Can you think of
SHORT STORIES
any books or films with characters in disguise?
GOTHIC NOVELS
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