The Chaplet Page #2

"The Chaplet" is a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, also known as Saki, that explores themes of social norms, vanity, and irony. The narrative revolves around a wealthy woman who attends a dinner party and is driven by her desire to impress others through her possessions, particularly her extravagant chaplet—a decorative headpiece. As the story unfolds, Saki uses sharp wit and clever commentary to expose the absurdities of social pretensions and the fragility of appearances. With his trademark dark humor, Saki critiques the superficial values of the upper class while delivering a thought-provoking exploration of self-identity and the pursuit of validation.

• Short story

								

had been lifted anew into position there came from the shadow of the
pillar an explosive negative.

"'Noh!  Noh!  You do not play thot again!'

"The musician turned in furious astonishment.  Had he taken warning
from the look in the other man's eyes he might have acted differently.
But the admiring plaudits were ringing in his ears, and he snarled out
sharply, 'That is for me to decide.'

"'Noh!  You play thot never again,' shouted the CHEF, and the next
moment he had flung himself violently upon the loathed being who had
supplanted him in the world's esteem.  A large metal tureen, filled to
the brim with steaming soup, had just been placed on a side table in
readiness for a late party of diners; before the waiting staff or the
guests had time to realize what was happening, Aristide had dragged his
struggling victim up to the table and plunged his head deep down into
the almost boiling contents of the tureen.  At the further end of the
room the diners were still spasmodically applauding in view of an
encore.

"Whether the leader of the orchestra died from drowning by soup, or
from the shock to his professional vanity, or was scalded to death, the
doctors were never wholly able to agree.  Monsieur Aristide Saucourt,
who now lives in complete retirement, always inclined to the drowning
theory."
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