The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

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

Candour examines Aunt Schadenfreude and determines that she is still alive. The crowd gives a “sigh—of relief or disappointment” at this news (94). Cook observes that Schadenfreude was likely saved by the iron collar that she began wearing when she became the family matriarch, and she carries the unconscious woman to her study. Phenomena realizes that Schadenfreude’s fall was a murder attempt because the woman’s cane was tossed aside at the top of the stairs and the carpet has been pulled up to make it look like an accident. The underhanded, cowardly nature of the attack angers Shenanigan, who inwardly vows, “I will find out who did this, and I will have revenge” (98).

Felicity wants to contact the police, but Aunt Inheritance insists that this is a private family matter. The Swift family’s rules make the archivist the interim leader while the matriarch is unconscious. Daisy claims that she was asleep when Schadenfreude fell, but Shenanigan saw her running down the hallway mere minutes before her aunt was found. Gumshoe Swift, a private detective, begins his investigation of the case by getting his fingerprints all over Schadenfreude’s walking stick before Phenomena has a chance to examine it.