Behind That Curtain · Chapter
XVII: The Woman from Peshawar explained
Captain Flannery confronts Charlie Chan and June Morrow about withholding information regarding Colonel Beetham and his servant Li Gung.
What happens
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 picture show on the night of the murder to speak with Li Gung on the twentieth floor. Flannery builds a case that Beetham had motive and opportunity to kill Sir Frederic Bruce to protect a secret from a 1913 picnic near Peshawar involving Eve Durand.
Themes in this chapter
The Past Haunting the Present
Colonel Beetham's actions in 1913 near Peshawar and his connection to Eve Durand's escape from India are central to the murder motive discussed in this chapter.
Suspicion and Trust
Flannery's distrust of Chan and Miss Morrow for withholding information, and Beetham's initial lie about leaving the projection room, highlight the theme of suspicion.
Characters to notice
- Captain Flannery
Angry at Chan and Miss Morrow for withholding information; interrogates Colonel Beetham and builds a case against him.
- Sergeant Charlie Chan
Defends his silence about Li Gung and Beetham; attends the interrogation at Flannery's request.
- June Morrow
Arranges for Chan to join the interrogation; admits she should have told Flannery about Beetham's involvement in the Peshawar picnic.
- Colonel John Beetham
Interrogated by Flannery; admits to leaving his motion picture show to speak with Li Gung on the twentieth floor.
- Inspector Duff
Present during the interrogation; inadvertently reveals that Chan and Miss Morrow knew more about Beetham than they had told Flannery.
- Barry Kirk
Answers the phone call from Miss Morrow and hands the phone to Chan; expresses interest in the investigation but is not invited to the interrogation.
Key passages
“And all that was so unimportant I never heard of it”
Flannery complains that Chan and Miss Morrow never told him about Li Gung or the Peshawar picnic.
Flannery expresses frustration at being kept in the dark.
“I have made mistake. It is true I have pondered certain facts in silence, but I was hoping some great light would break”
Chan admits he withheld information while waiting for a clearer understanding.
Chan explains his cautious approach to the investigation.
“The one man in the world who knows how Eve Durand got out of India—and will tell. The man who can wreck Beetham forever.”
Flannery argues that Beetham killed Sir Frederic to protect the secret of Eve Durand's escape from India.
Flannery outlines the motive he believes Beetham had for murder.