Burglaries are scary and fearsome. People panic and are left terror stricken whenever such an episode occurs. Contrary to the expected reaction, the buntings managed this crisis very boldly and coolly. However, the suspense did not stress or unnerve the reader because the narration of the episode is somewhat amusing. Mr. Bunting’s hurried attire evokes humour. He does his wife‘s dressing gown and moves gingerly with the poker in his hand to encounter the intruder. A couple of ill-timed sneezes of the burglar also amuse the couple’s attempt search the house thoroughly is yet another comical image. They go about looking desperately in the most impossible hiding places-behind the screen, under the desk behind the window curtains, and prove even the chimney. Before wrapping up the search, the dustbin and the container for the coal are peeped in to.

The concluding sentence of the chapter further arouses laughter. It was full daylight and the buntings were still wrecking their brains about the burglary is presented in a humorous way to provide a kind of comical-relief to the reader in an otherwise suspense story.