# Behind That Curtain — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Behind That Curtain by Earl Derr Biggers.

- [Behind That Curtain](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/behind-that-curtain.md): Sir Frederic Bruce is found murdered in Barry Kirk's bungalow, prompting an investigation led by Captain Flannery and later joined by Charlie Chan. The discovery of a blank sheet of paper in the victim's mail and the mys
- [The Man from Scotland](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/i-the-man-from-scotland.md): Bill Rankin, a reporter for the Globe, interviews Sir Frederic Bruce, the former head of Scotland Yard's C.I.D., who is visiting San Francisco. Rankin proposes bringing Sir Frederic together with Detective-Sergeant Charl
- [What Happened to Eve Durand?](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/ii-what-happened-to-eve-durand.md): At a luncheon at the St. Francis Hotel, Sir Frederic Bruce, Barry Kirk, Bill Rankin, and Charlie Chan gather. June Morrow, revealed to be the deputy district attorney J. V. Morrow, joins them. The conversation turns to c
- [III: The Bungalow in the Sky](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/iii-the-bungalow-in-the-sky.md): Barry Kirk hosts a dinner party at his penthouse bungalow. Guests include June Morrow, Charlie Chan, Sir Frederic Bruce, Mrs. Dawson Kirk, Colonel John Beetham, Mrs. Tupper-Brock, Eileen Enderby, and Gloria Garland. Sir 
- [IV: The Reckoning of Heaven](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/iv-the-reckoning-of-heaven.md): Barry Kirk and Charlie Chan discover Sir Frederic Bruce's body in Kirk's office. Chan notes the open safe and a Cosmopolitan Club yearbook near the body, suggesting a clue. June Morrow arrives and calls Captain Flannery.
- [The Voice in the Next Room](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/v-the-voice-in-the-next-room.md): Charlie Chan prepares to depart for Honolulu, eager to return to his newborn son. Despite the murder of Sir Frederic Bruce, Chan insists he is not involved in the case. Bill Rankin shares his theory that the murder is co
- [The Guest Detective](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/vi-the-guest-detective.md): Charlie Chan returns from the Maui unexpectedly, revealing that Li Gung was sent away by Colonel Beetham. He is invited by Barry Kirk to stay at the Kirk Building and is appointed as a 'guest detective' by the district a
- [Muddy Water](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/vii-muddy-water.md): Miss Morrow discovers a blank sheet of paper in Sir Frederic's mail, which Chan suspects may contain fingerprints. Chan secures the paper and notes evidence of steam-opening. The group discusses the possibility that Carr
- [Willie Li's Good Turn](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/viii-willie-li-s-good-turn.md): Charlie Chan examines Sir Frederic's luggage and discovers a collection of books all authored by Colonel Beetham, sparking suspicion. Mrs. Dawson Kirk visits and reveals she saw Sir Frederic in a serious conversation wit
- [IX: The Port of Missing Women](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/ix-the-port-of-missing-women.md): Thursday morning, Chan discovers that the butler Paradise steamed open a letter from Scotland Yard. He and Barry Kirk decide to keep silent and watch him. Chan summons reporter Bill Rankin, and they join Captain Flannery
- [The Letter from London](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/x-the-letter-from-london.md): Captain Flannery interrogates Eileen Enderby about recognizing Jennie Jerome in the elevator. Chan finds the hidden Scotland Yard letter in Paradise's shoe, revealing that Sir Frederic linked Hilary Galt's murder with Ev
- [The Muddy Water Clears](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xi-the-muddy-water-clears.md): Chan delays the investigation until Monday, hoping to confirm a hunch involving Gloria Garland and the elevator girl. Over the weekend, Bill Rankin searches newspaper archives for information on Eve Durand, while Chan ob
- [A Misty Evening](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xii-a-misty-evening.md): Chan and Kirk discuss Chan's impending departure on Wednesday, despite the unsolved murder. Bill Rankin shares a newspaper clipping about Eve Durand's 1913 disappearance. Chan and Kirk lunch at the Cosmopolitan Club, whe
- [Old Friends Meet Again](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xiii-old-friends-meet-again.md): Eve Durand escapes via the fire-escape, prompting a police search. Paradise, the butler, is revealed to have been tried for poisoning his wife and to have tampered with Sir Frederic's mail. Inspector Duff confronts him, 
- [Dinner for Two](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xiv-dinner-for-two.md): June Morrow and Barry Kirk discuss the murder case over dinner at Marchetti's. June expresses doubts about the identity of Eve Durand and lists multiple suspects, including Carrick Enderby, Eileen Enderby, Gloria Garland
- [The Discreet Mr. Cuttle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xv-the-discreet-mr-cuttle.md): On Wednesday morning, Charlie Chan, feeling heavy-hearted about his impending departure, breakfasts with Barry Kirk. Kirk reveals he saw Colonel Beetham dining with Mrs. Tupper-Brock. Chan goes to write a letter to his w
- [Long Life and Happiness](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xvi-long-life-and-happiness.md): Barry Kirk reveals that his grandmother, Mrs. Dawson Kirk, recommended Grace Lane for a job in the Kirk Building. Miss Morrow interviews Mrs. Kirk, who admits that Helen Tupper-Brock introduced Grace Lane to her. Miss Mo
- [XVII: The Woman from Peshawar](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xvii-the-woman-from-peshawar.md): Captain Flannery confronts Charlie Chan and June Morrow about withholding information regarding Colonel Beetham and his servant Li Gung. Flannery interrogates Colonel Beetham, who admits to briefly leaving his motion pic
- [XVIII: Flannery's Big Scene](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xviii-flannery-s-big-scene.md): Captain Flannery outlines his dramatic plan to confront Colonel Beetham with Eve Durand, hoping to force a confession about Sir Frederic's murder. He stages the scene with Major Durand present, but when the woman arrives
- [A Vigil in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xix-a-vigil-in-the-dark.md): Captain Flannery confronts Charlie Chan after a mistaken identification of Grace Lane as Eve Durand, leading to humiliation and a renewed determination to solve the case. Chan persuades Flannery to join him at the Cosmop
- [XX: The Truth Arrives](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xx-the-truth-arrives.md): Charlie Chan reveals that Major Eric Durand is the murderer of Sir Frederic Bruce, having killed him to prevent the discovery of his wife Eve Durand. Chan explains his reasoning, including the significance of the briefca
- [XXI: What Happened to Eve Durand](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xxi-what-happened-to-eve-durand.md): Eve Durand confesses her past to Captain Flannery, revealing that she fled her husband, Major Eric Durand, after discovering he murdered Hilary Galt and was being blackmailed. She escaped with Colonel Beetham's help, liv
- [Hawaii Bound](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/behind_that_curtain_se/chapters/xxii-hawaii-bound.md): After Major Durand's suicide, the characters reconvene in the bungalow. Inspector Duff reveals Durand's dishonorable discharge and questions Colonel Beetham about his actions. Beetham confesses his love for Eve Durand an

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