# XVI: A Hot Scent explained — Inspector French’s Greatest Case

> Chapter companion for Inspector French’s Greatest Case by Freeman Wills Crofts.

## What happens

Inspector French, now with multiple leads, prioritizes tracing Mrs. Vane. He sets assistants to find the maid Susan Scott, interviews the bank manager Mr. Harrod about Mrs. Vane's dwindling account and suspicious deposits, and locates Susan Scott through a registry office. French questions Scott, who describes Mrs. Vane's hasty departure for New York. French then tracks down the taxi driver who drove Mrs. Vane to St. Pancras instead of Euston, noting her change of plan. He also considers Vanderkemp's possible involvement but finds inconsistencies.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Identity

Mrs. Vane's sudden change of destination and financial maneuvers suggest deliberate concealment.

### Class and Financial Anxiety

Mrs. Vane's dwindling bank balance and overdraft highlight financial strain and possible motive for theft.

### Detective Method and Logical Deduction

French systematically follows leads, interviews witnesses, and cross-references evidence to narrow down suspects.

## Character check-ins

### Inspector French

Leads the investigation, interviews bank manager and maid, and traces Mrs. Vane's movements.

### Mrs. Henry Vane

Subject of the investigation; her bank account shows suspicious activity and she fled hastily to New York.

### Susan Scott

Former parlourmaid to Mrs. Vane; provides details of the sudden departure and payment.

### Mr. Harrod

Bank manager who reveals Mrs. Vane's financial difficulties and suspicious deposits.

### Mr. Vanderkemp

Considered as a possible suspect but French doubts his guilt based on character and timeline.

### Taximan James Tomkins

Driver who took Mrs. Vane to St. Pancras after she changed her destination from Euston.

## Key lines

> The tracing of Mrs. Vane was the immediate goal, but it was by no means clear which particular line of inquiry would most surely and rapidly lead to that end.

Finding Mrs. Vane was French's top priority, but he wasn't sure which lead would work fastest.

_Highlights French's strategic dilemma in prioritizing investigative steps._

> That overdraft represented, he imagined, part of the lady's ticket to America. Then a hundred pounds was paid in on the very next day, as he soon saw, to that on which Mr. Williams had paid Mrs. X her £3,000.

French thought the overdraft might have funded her ticket to America, and the £100 deposit came right after Mrs. X received £3,000.

_Connects financial transactions to potential motive for the robbery._

> He found it hard to believe, further, that a man who had just benefited to the extent of over £30,000 would be able to deny himself at least a very slight betterment in his standard of living.

French doubted that someone who gained over £30,000 would resist any improvement in lifestyle.

_Reflects French's character judgment and reasoning against Vanderkemp's guilt._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters/xvi-a-hot-scent
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/inspector_french_s_greatest_case_se/chapters