Final answer:
The peculiar smell noticed by the protagonist in The Landlady foreshadows the story's ending.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the quote from The Landlady, the peculiar smell that the protagonist notices foreshadows the ending of the story. The protagonist's comparisons of the smell to pickled walnuts, new leather, or hospital corridors depict the unsettling and peculiar nature of the Landlady. This hints at her darker intentions and sets up the suspenseful and unexpected conclusion of the story.
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