Inspector French’s Greatest Case · Chapter
French Propounds a Riddle explained
Inspector French returns to Captain Davis's ship, convinced that the Vanes are still aboard despite the captain's earlier search.
What happens
Inspector French returns to Captain Davis's ship, convinced that the Vanes are still aboard despite the captain's earlier search. He devises a plan to flush them out by announcing a riddle competition during a ship concert, hoping the woman will reveal herself through her alias. French and Sergeant Carter observe the passengers, but the woman remains elusive.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Identity
French suspects the Vanes are disguised among the passengers, and the riddle competition is designed to trick Mrs. Vane into revealing her alias.
Detective Method and Logical Deduction
French uses a clever psychological ploy—a riddle contest—to flush out the suspect, demonstrating his deductive and strategic thinking.
Characters to notice
- Inspector French
Returns to the ship and devises a riddle competition to expose Mrs. Vane.
- Captain Davis
Initially skeptical but agrees to assist French's investigation.
- Mr. Vane
Believed to be still on board in disguise with his wife.
- Mrs. X
The elusive woman, formerly an actress, suspected of impersonating others.
- Mr. Jennings
The purser who helps French set up the riddle competition.
- Sergeant Carter
Assists French by observing the audience during the concert.
Key passages
“I got a wire shortly after the ship left Havre on Saturday, and it said that one of the Liverpool detectives, Sergeant Mackay, was watching your ship before she sailed.”
French explains that he received a telegram from Scotland Yard stating that Sergeant Mackay had been observing the ship before it departed from Havre.
French updates Captain Davis on the new evidence from the Yard.
“Suppose for argument’s sake the Yard is right, and that these people really are on board. It is obvious from your search that they’re not here in their own characters, therefore they must be posing as two other people.”
French proposes that if the Yard is correct, the Vanes must be in disguise since they were not found in their own identities.
French outlines his theory of impersonation to Captain Davis.
“The woman is, or rather was, an actress, and we know she is a clever one. Not only was she well thought of when on the stage, but she has recently carried off successfully a far stiffer test than that.”
French notes that Mrs. Vane was a talented actress who successfully passed as English in New York and as American in London.
French highlights the suspect's skill at disguise.
“I want you to announce a competition among the passengers. A prize for the best answer to a riddle. The riddle will be: 'What woman's alias was used in the following places?' and then a list of the towns where she used each alias.”
French instructs the purser to hold a contest where the riddle asks passengers to identify a woman's aliases used in various towns.
French's plan to trick Mrs. Vane into revealing herself.