Question

When Billy says that "the tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds", readers from the 1950's would know exactly what was going on and that the landlady was poisoning the tea with the intent to kill the men. Billy seemed content and oblivious to what she was actually doing.

What can you predict will happen to Billy?


He will realize what she is doing and run away


He will be poisoned, and she will taxidermize him.

Answer 1

Based on the context, it is likely that Billy will be poisoned and that the landlady has sinister intentions, such as taxidermizing him afterward. The reference to "bitter almonds" is a classic sign of poisoning, typically associated with cyanide, which suggests that Billy is in danger. His obliviousness to the situation adds tension to the story, indicating a tragic twist where he won't realize the threat until it's too late. Therefore, the more probable prediction is that he will be poisoned and she will taxidermize him.