Lost Man’s Lane · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Lost Man’s Lane by Anna Katharine Green.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to Elizabeth D. Shepard, acknowledging her as both cousin and friend.
Chapter 2
Lost Man’s Lane
Amelia Butterworth and Mr. Gryce investigate the mysterious lane where disappearances have occurred, uncovering clues that point to a deeper conspiracy involving the Knollys family and the elusive Mr. Trohm.
Chapter 3
Book I: The Knollys Family
Amelia Butterworth, a wealthy and observant spinster, becomes intrigued by the mysterious Knollys family after a chance encounter with their son William. She decides to visit their decaying mansion, where she meets the reclusive Lucetta and her brother, and begins to uncover a web of secrets, including a hidden room and a family curse.
Chapter 4
A Visit from Mr. Gryce
Amelia Butterworth reflects on her past involvement in a famous murder case and her ongoing, though informal, connection to detective work through visits from Mr. Gryce. One evening, Mr. Gryce arrives looking aged and weary, seeking her ear for a perplexing case that is not a city crime but one requiring discretion and comfort. Despite her initial caution, she agrees to listen, setting the stage for her renewed involvement in detective work.
Chapter 5
I Am Tempted
Mr. Gryce reveals to Miss Butterworth a series of mysterious disappearances in the village of X, located in the Berkshire Hills. He describes four unsolved cases over five years, including a peddler, a young law clerk, an elderly book salesman, and a young man. Despite police efforts, no clues have been found. Gryce hints that a woman's insight might be needed to solve the case, and Miss Butterworth realizes that X is where her deceased friend Althea Knollys's children live, stirring her interest.
Chapter 6
III: I Succumb
Amelia Butterworth decides to visit the Knollys family after feeling compelled by her conscience to check on the children of her deceased friend Althea Burroughs. She sends a telegram and prepares for departure, but receives a last-minute letter from Mr. Gryce. Upon arrival, she is met by a shy old man who drives her in an old-fashioned coach. Despite warnings from the stationmaster about recent disappearances in the village, she proceeds to the dilapidated Knollys mansion, where she is unnerved by a barking dog and a furtive movement at an upper window.
Chapter 7
A Ghostly Interior
Amelia Butterworth arrives at the Knollys mansion and is greeted by Lucetta, who behaves nervously and distractedly, often glancing over her shoulder as if in fear of something unseen. Lucetta's strange behavior, the gloomy atmosphere, and her mention of a lost boy in the woods hint at underlying mysteries. Miss Butterworth observes the tension and begins to suspect that Lucetta's fear is not related to her visit but to something else within the house.
Chapter 8
A Strange Household
Amelia Butterworth arrives at the Knollys mansion and is met with a series of peculiar behaviors from the sisters, Lucetta and Loreen. She observes their mutual unease and secretiveness, especially during a tense dinner where William Knollys's crude remarks and Lucetta's anxious reactions hint at deeper family secrets and a mysterious connection to Mr. Trohm.
Chapter 9
VI: A Sombre Evening
Amelia Butterworth spends a tense evening with Lucetta, who reacts with horror when she plays the piano. Miss Knollys arrives at nine, and Lucetta hurriedly leaves after a strained goodnight. Miss Knollys escorts Amelia to a remote, dilapidated room, where she discovers a broken bell-rope and no key. Despite reassurances, Amelia senses something amiss and suspects the house harbors secrets.
Chapter 10
The First Night
Amelia Butterworth settles into her remote room at the Knollys mansion, suspicious of the family's behavior. She hears noises and whispers late at night, investigates, and confronts Lucetta, who claims they were moving furniture to prepare a better room. Amelia remains unconvinced and notes Lucetta's fear.
Chapter 11
On the Stairs
Amelia Butterworth overhears a conversation between William Knollys and the coachman, revealing a plan to keep her out of the house until something is over. She resolves to uncover the mystery of the household, suspecting guilt or danger. The next morning, she questions the maid Hannah about the household's size and is subtly monitored by Lucetta, who steers her away from exploring the grounds.
Chapter 12
A New Acquaintance
Amelia Butterworth meets Mr. Trohm, who delivers a letter and package mistakenly left at his house. Lucetta reacts with terror at his presence, fainting after he departs. Breakfast with William reveals his selfishness and resentment toward his sisters. William expresses a desire to have the house to himself, and Mr. Trohm's visit stirs tension and suspicion.
Chapter 13
Secret Instructions
Amelia Butterworth receives secret instructions from Mr. Gryce, including a whistle for signaling danger. She observes tensions between Lucetta and William, and discovers evidence of a hidden person in the house. Miss Knollys offers her a ride into town, which she accepts to avoid suspicion.
Chapter 14
Men, Women, and Ghosts
Amelia Butterworth visits a locksmith in the village to arrange for a key to her door at the Knollys mansion, engaging in a conversation that reveals the local superstitions about the house and its ghosts. She then rides with Mr. Simsbury, encounters Mother Jane, and reflects on the villagers' fear of the lane and the house.
Chapter 15
The Phantom Coach
Miss Butterworth, stranded at the hotel in X, learns from Mrs. Carter about the local legend of a phantom coach that haunts Lost Man's Lane. The coach is said to presage disaster, and recent sightings by little Rob and Mrs. Jenkins have stirred up the village. Mrs. Carter recounts the tragic story of a young widow's daughter who eloped with a guest, leading to the mother's desperate pursuit and the coach's spectral return.
Chapter 16
XIII: Gossip
Miss Butterworth engages in a revealing conversation with Mrs. Carter about Lucetta's past romance, her frail character, and the Knollys family history, while also discussing the town's superstitions and the reputation of the lane. The chapter ends with the arrival of Mr. Trohm, offering Miss Butterworth a ride home.
Chapter 17
XIV: I Forget My Age, or, Rather, Remember It
Miss Butterworth accepts a ride from Mr. Trohm, who she believes is the one man she can trust. During their ride through Lost Man's Lane, they discuss the Knollys family, the phantom coach, and the mysterious dangers of the lane. Mr. Trohm shows his well-kept home and lands, but becomes evasive when pressed about the Knollys. He warns Miss Butterworth about the veiled danger in the lane, but is interrupted by William Knollys before he can say more.
Chapter 18
Book II: The Flower Parlor
Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce investigate the mysterious Flower Parlor, uncovering clues about the Knollys family's secrets and the strange events surrounding the household.
Chapter 19
XV: Lucetta Fulfils My Expectation of Her
Lucetta bids farewell to her lover, who urges her to elope to South America, but she refuses due to family obligations. William Knollys reacts violently, and Miss Butterworth observes the tension, noting Lucetta's resilience and the household's deepening mystery.
Chapter 20
XVI: Loreen
Amelia Butterworth continues her investigation into the Knollys household, probing Loreen about the phantom coach and the family's secrets. She becomes convinced that the sisters are hiding a prisoner—likely Silly Rufus—in the house, and she contemplates whether to summon the police or rely on her own wits. After a tense conversation, Loreen reluctantly agrees to let her explore the drawing-room, but Amelia suspects she is being steered away from the true mystery.
Chapter 21
The Flower Parlor
Amelia Butterworth explores the forbidden Flower Parlor, William Knollys's private den, and discovers a disturbing book that confirms her suspicions about his morbid experiments. She marks the window for future reference and is interrupted by Miss Knollys, who expresses fear that William will discover the intrusion. Amelia then tours other rooms with Miss Knollys and later investigates the locked drawing-room, finding it decayed and empty, and spots William in the courtyard with a dog.
Chapter 22
The Second Night
Miss Butterworth prepares for a second night of vigilance, determined to maintain her composure despite the household's gloom. She falls asleep while guarding her door and wakes to find a key inserted in the lock, locking her in. After a night of fitful sleep, she is released in the morning by Hannah, who denies any lock or key exists. Miss Butterworth suspects deception but resolves to continue her investigation.
Chapter 23
A Knot of Crape
Amelia Butterworth observes a surprising change in the household's spirits as the Knollys sisters appear more cheerful and natural. Despite their improved demeanor, she remains suspicious and investigates the house, noting a locked door and a window tied with black crape. She cleverly maneuvers William into allowing her to explore the grounds, where she confirms the location of the Flower Parlor window and discovers the ominous knot of crape.
Chapter 24
Questions
Miss Butterworth encounters Mr. Trohm on the road and engages in a conversation about Mother Jane and the mysterious knot of crape she observed on the house. She grapples with questions about the signal's meaning and her own growing unease about the Knollys mansion.
Chapter 25
Mother Jane
Amelia Butterworth encounters William Knollys, who questions her about Mr. Trohm's visit. She deflects his suspicions with a plausible explanation. William then asks her to help deliver a message to Mother Jane, who is in a stubborn mood. They visit Mother Jane's cottage, where Amelia observes the woman's refusal to cooperate and notes the remarkable cleanliness of the home. William grows increasingly irritable, and the chapter ends with an ominous tapping sound from the house.
Chapter 26
The Third Night
Amelia Butterworth, suspecting a secret burial, stays awake and observes the household carrying a body through the hall. She follows the procession to the Flower Parlor, where she witnesses the lowering of a coffin into a grave dug in the cellar. Overcome with horror, she retreats to her room without alerting the police.
Chapter 27
Book III: Forward and Back
Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce continue their investigation into the Knollys family mysteries, moving between past and present to uncover hidden truths.
Chapter 28
Room 3, Hotel Carter
Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce debate their respective clues to the disappearances on Lost Man's Lane. Gryce insists Mother Jane is the culprit, while Miss Butterworth, having witnessed a secret burial at the Knollys mansion, believes the truth lies within that family. She secures a private room at the hotel to prepare her story, wrestling with how to protect the Knollys sisters while revealing the nefarious secret.
Chapter 29
The Enigma of Numbers
In this chapter, Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce debate the significance of Mother Jane's numerical mutterings and the evidence found in her cabin. Mr. Gryce reveals that he discovered hidden trinkets and a ring inside dried vegetables corresponding to the numbers seventy, twenty-eight, and ten, linking Mother Jane to the disappearances of a peddler and young Mr. Chittenden. Miss Butterworth counters with her own discovery of a knot of crape and an open Bible in William's room, insisting that a human being was buried, not an animal. The chapter ends with Mr. Gryce revealing that he was the one who helped bury the body, and he presses Miss Butterworth for details about the crape.
Chapter 30
Trifles, but Not Trifling
Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce compare notes on the burial in the Flower Parlor. Mr. Gryce reveals he impersonated Mother Jane to secretly observe the Knollys sisters, and shares what he overheard, including Lucetta's instructions about secrecy and Miss Knollys's remark about locking Miss Butterworth in her room. Miss Butterworth insists the buried remains are human, but Mr. Gryce's observations lead him to doubt murder.
Chapter 31
A Point Gained
Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce discuss the evidence found in William's room, including a pair of small, dainty shoes and a blue silk dress, leading them to deduce that the victim was a well-dressed girl-child. They connect this to the legend of the phantom coach, theorizing that the Knollys family used the coach to secretly bring victims to the house, wrapping the wheels in rags to make it noiseless. Mr. Gryce resolves to investigate further by checking the Mountain Station for a missing child and plans to visit the Knollys house to examine the Flower Parlor.
Chapter 32
The Text Witnesseth
Amelia Butterworth returns from her errands and rides home with William Knollys, who expresses resentment toward the neighborhood and hints at an impending change in their fortunes. Once at the house, she contrives to obtain the family Bible from Lucetta under the pretense of settling a dispute about a verse, but her true purpose is to examine a marked passage in Corinthians associated with funerals, deepening her suspicions about the family's secrets.
Chapter 33
An Intrusion
Miss Butterworth is deeply moved by her discovery under the Flower Parlor and resolves to maintain her role as a visitor. She hears a cry from Lucetta and meets the two Miss Knollys, who reveal that Mr. Trohm and Mr. Gryce have arrived with a police officer. Lucetta confronts them at the door, and Mr. Gryce explains his intention to search the premises as part of an investigation into the lane's disappearances, with Mr. Trohm offering his own house for inspection. Loreen reluctantly agrees to the search, but Lucetta objects to Mr. Trohm's presence.
Chapter 34
XXIX: In the Cellar
Mr. Gryce and his detectives search the cellar of the Knollys mansion, uncovering evidence of recent digging and a concealed opening from the Flower Parlor above. Lucetta, in despair, throws herself upon the spot, declaring it to be her mother's grave. Miss Butterworth stands by as a friend to the family, while Loreen resigns herself to the inevitable humiliation.
Chapter 35
Investigation
Mr. Gryce and Miss Butterworth exhume a body from the cellar, revealing it to be Althea Knollys, the mother of Lucetta and Loreen, who had been secretly buried there. Lucetta confesses that her mother died only days ago, despite the world believing her dead for years, and that the family resorted to secret burial to protect their honor. Mr. Gryce, having impersonated Mother Jane to assist in the burial, forces the revelation, and the sisters reluctantly agree to further examination of the remains.
Chapter 36
Strategy
Miss Butterworth learns the full truth about the Knollys family's deception: their mother, who had committed forgery and fled the country, returned secretly to die in their home. To protect her reputation, they staged a phantom coach and pretended her death was a supernatural event. Meanwhile, Mr. Gryce investigates the cellar, and Miss Butterworth secretly plants tacks in William's boots as part of a plan to expose the hidden grave.
Chapter 37
Relief
Mr. Gryce's plan succeeds as William unknowingly reveals the location of hidden evidence. After a second search, Mr. Gryce clears the Knollys sisters of suspicion, confirming the real clue lies in Mother Jane's cottage. William returns angry, blaming his sisters for exposing his secret vivisection, and declares he will investigate the disappearances himself.
Chapter 38
Book IV: The Birds of the Air
Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce continue their investigation into the Knollys family secrets, uncovering more about the mysterious events surrounding the household and the tragic fate of Althea Knollys.
Chapter 39
XXXIII: Lucetta
Miss Butterworth rises early, feeling restored, and takes a morning stroll where she unexpectedly meets Mr. Trohm again. They engage in a brief conversation, but she later realizes she lost track of time. Back at the house, Lucetta expresses concern that Miss Butterworth might have spoken to Mr. Trohm about family matters, but Miss Butterworth reassures her. Later, William returns with news of the police searches at Deacon Spear's and Mr. Trohm's houses. Mr. Gryce reveals a telegram about Mr. Ostrander's disappearance, shocking Lucetta, who then vows to uncover the truth.
Chapter 40
Conditions
Lucetta, in a state of extreme agitation, demands absolute secrecy and solitude, instructing that the men dig all day at Mother Jane's cottage. Mr. Gryce, deeply troubled, reveals that a telegram he received is genuine, and he sets the men to work digging up the garden.
Chapter 41
The Dove
Amelia Butterworth, dissatisfied with her passive role in the investigation, reflects on her failure to uncover the central mystery and decides to take action. She approaches Mother Jane, using the number 'ten' to provoke a reaction, and witnesses the old woman's violent fury toward a dove. Amelia realizes the dove was the means by which Mr. Chittenden's ring reached Mother Jane, giving her a new clue.
Chapter 42
An Hour of Startling Experiences
Miss Butterworth, after retrieving a dove from Mother Jane's hut, discovers a ring and decides to investigate Deacon Spear's house. She manipulates William Knollys into accompanying her to the Deacon's under the pretense of apologizing for a trick. On their drive, they encounter Mr. Trohm, who offers pears and a private conversation that ends with Miss Butterworth refusing his proposal. The chapter concludes with doves landing on Mr. Trohm, startling Miss Butterworth.
Chapter 43
I Astonish Mr. Gryce and He Astonishes Me
Miss Butterworth reveals to Mr. Gryce that Mr. Chittenden's ring was found on a pigeon's neck, indicating the victim attempted to send a message. She then describes seeing a hand in a hidden loft in Deacon Spear's barn, which Mr. Gryce reveals belongs to Mr. Ostrander, Lucetta's lover, who is hiding there.
Chapter 44
A Few Words
Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce discuss the whereabouts of Mr. Ostrander, who is in hiding at Deacon Spear's. Gryce reveals that Lucetta's intuition points to Mr. Trohm as the criminal, and he plans to use her boldness to uncover the truth. Miss Butterworth is conflicted but agrees to keep the secret.
Chapter 45
Under a Crimson Sky
Lucetta prepares to confront Mr. Trohm alone, leaving behind a will and letters. Loreen breaks her promise and leads Miss Butterworth through a secret path to follow her. They witness Mr. Trohm's madness as Lucetta disappears into a hidden trapdoor on the lawn. Mr. Gryce and his men rescue Lucetta, and Mr. Trohm is exposed as a murderer and maniac.
Chapter 46
Explanations
In the aftermath of the revelations, Miss Butterworth and Mr. Gryce oversee the restoration of peace at the Knollys mansion. Plans for Lucetta's wedding are set in motion, with William agreeing to fix the grounds and Miss Butterworth ordering wedding attire. Mr. Gryce explains how Mother Jane came by the peddler's trinkets and how Mr. Trohm's crime was revealed by a ring. A gathering that night includes Mr. Ostrander, Lucetta, Loreen, William, Mr. Gryce, and Miss Butterworth, with Saracen the dog present. Miss Butterworth writes two letters: one to her sister ordering wedding clothes, and another to the president of Mr. Ostrander's company to secure his position. The next morning, the group takes a walk, and Loreen expresses newfound happiness. Mr. Gryce pays Miss Butterworth a compliment on her character before departing.
Chapter 47
Epilogue
The epilogue presents excerpts from Althea Knollys's old diary, revealing her youthful infatuation with Charles Knollys, her disdain for Obadiah Trohm, and her eerie experiences in the Knollys mansion, including references to the phantom coach and the Flower Parlor. The diary breaks off abruptly, and the narrator reflects on the tragic events that followed—forgery, revenge, and Althea's untimely death.
Chapter 48
List of Illustrations
A hand-drawn map of the area where the disappearances occurred is presented as an illustration.
