# XIX: The Two Reports explained — Ashton-Kirk, Investigator

> Chapter companion for Ashton-Kirk, Investigator by John T. McIntyre.

## What happens

After dinner, Ashton-Kirk and Pendleton receive two investigative reports. Burgess's report on Hume reveals his past as a smuggler and his connection to Richard Morris, Allan Morris's father, through a mutual acquaintance named Locke. Fuller's report on Allan Morris shows him as a diligent but increasingly agitated engineer with a deep interest in patent reports, and confirms his father's erratic genius and friendship with Hume. The reports suggest a link between Hume, the elder Morris, and a mysterious invention. Ashton-Kirk decides to visit Tobin, the former steward of the Coffin Club, for further information.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secrecy and Deception

Hume's past as a smuggler and his use of aliases (D. Purtell) highlight the theme of hidden identities and criminal deception.

### The Pursuit of Knowledge

Ashton-Kirk's methodical gathering of reports and his deduction from the clues (e.g., Bayonne) exemplify the relentless pursuit of truth.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

The broken friendship between Hume and Richard Morris, marked by threats and enmity, underscores themes of betrayal and fractured loyalties.

## Character check-ins

### Ashton Kirk

Receives and analyzes the two reports, deducing connections between Hume, Richard Morris, and the invention.

### Pendleton

Listens to the reports with eagerness and expresses impatience at some of Ashton-Kirk's deductions.

### David Purtell Hume

Revealed through Burgess's report to have been a smuggler with a history in Bayonne, and to have known Richard Morris.

### Allan Morris

Subject of Fuller's report; described as a diligent but irritable engineer with a deep interest in patent reports.

### Richard Morris

Father of Allan Morris; a heavy drinker and inventor who knew Hume and Locke, and worked on a mysterious invention.

### Professor Locke

Mentioned as a deaf mute who was intimate with both Hume and Richard Morris; Ashton-Kirk has already located him.

### Burgess

Delivers his report on Hume, detailing his smuggling past and connection to Richard Morris.

### Fuller

Delivers his report on Allan Morris, noting his uneventful life but recent irritability and interest in patents.

## Key lines

> Among three of them, said Pendleton, they should have sifted the man's life and adventures pretty well.

Pendleton remarks that with three investigators working, they should have thoroughly uncovered Hume's background.

_Pendleton expresses confidence in the thoroughness of the investigation._

> The report has swung like the needle of a compass, and indicated a fact that my imagination suggested days ago.

Ashton-Kirk notes that the report confirms a suspicion he had earlier about Hume's residence in Bayonne.

_Ashton-Kirk's deductive reasoning is validated by the report._

> Morris, replied his friend, does not develop like Hume. Fuller suspected that he'd prove colorless, and so it has turned out.

Ashton-Kirk says that Allan Morris's background is unremarkable compared to Hume's, as Fuller predicted.

_Contrast between the colorful criminal past of Hume and the mundane life of Allan Morris._

## Links

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