# Phase III: The Man Under the Snow explained — Call Mr. Fortune

> Chapter companion for Call Mr. Fortune by H. C. Bailey.

## What happens

A faceless corpse is discovered in the well of Montmorency House after the snow melts. Reggie Fortune is called to the mortuary by Superintendent Bell, where he examines the body and determines the cause of death: a blow to the temple followed by the face being battered in, with additional injuries from a fall. The body's clothes have been stripped of identifying marks, suggesting a calculated, cold-blooded murder. The investigation leads to the mysterious tenant Mr. Rand, who has not been seen for days, though his description does not match the corpse. Fortune theorizes they are looking for a rational but mad killer.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Rational vs. the Irrational

Fortune describes the killer as a 'rational madman'—cold, calculating, and logical within a deranged framework, contrasting with mere homicidal mania.

### Crime and Morality

The brutal, methodical murder—bashing in the victim's face and stripping clothes of identification—highlights the depravity and moral emptiness of the crime.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Reginald Fortune

Called to the mortuary by Bell, examines the faceless corpse, deduces cause of death and the calculated nature of the crime, theorizes about a rational madman.

### Superintendent Bell

Summons Fortune to the mortuary, is disturbed by the corpse's condition, leads the investigation at Montmorency House.

### Mr. Rand

Elusive tenant of a flat at Montmorency House, not seen for days, described as biggish with brown hair, but the corpse is small and bald.

### Warren

Inspector in charge of inquiries at Montmorency House, reports on the tenants and Rand's description.

## Key lines

> The dead man was killed by a blow on the left temple from some heavy, blunt weapon—a life-preserver, perhaps; a stick, a poker. At the same time, or immediately after death, his face was battered in by the same or a similar weapon.

Fortune concludes the victim died from a blunt-force blow to the left temple, and his face was then smashed in with a similar weapon, either simultaneously or right after death.

_Fortune's medical analysis of the cause of death and post-mortem mutilation._

> This is damned cold, calculating crime. That kind of mad. Some fellow's got an object that makes it worth while to him to do any beastliness. That's the worst kind of mad, Bell. Not homicidal mania—that only makes a man a beast. What's here is the sort of thing that makes a man a devil.

Fortune describes the killer as a cold, calculating madman driven by a purpose that justifies any atrocity, distinguishing this from simple homicidal mania.

_Fortune's characterization of the murderer's psychology._

> The primary hypothesis is that we're looking for an able, masterful madman. Therefore my opinion is that the whole thing will look perfectly rational when we've got it all combed out—grantin' the madman's original mad idea.

Fortune suggests they are hunting a capable, dominant madman, and that the crime will appear logical once the killer's underlying delusion is understood.

_Fortune's investigative approach to the case._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/call_mr_fortune_se/chapters/phase-iii-the-man-under-the-snow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/call_mr_fortune_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/call_mr_fortune_se/chapters