# XXI: 3:51 a.m.—A Woman’s Slipper explained — Murder by the Clock

> Chapter companion for Murder by the Clock by Rufus King.

## What happens

Lieutenant Valcour interrogates Miss Roberts, who reveals that Mrs. Endicott may have faked unconsciousness and poured out her narcotic. Roberts admits to fetching her gun and nearly killing Mrs. Endicott in a fit of rage. Valcour examines the balcony and discovers a woman's slipper, a potential clue.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception of the Senses

Mrs. Endicott's apparent unconsciousness is questioned, and the damp spread suggests a trick.

### Guilt and Innocence

Roberts's confession of intent to kill and her accusations against Mrs. Endicott blur the lines.

### Obsession and Control

Roberts's intense hatred and near-violence toward Mrs. Endicott.

## Character check-ins

### Lieutenant Valcour

Interrogates Miss Roberts and examines the balcony, finding a woman's slipper.

### Roberts

Reveals her suspicions about Mrs. Endicott and admits to nearly killing her.

### Mrs. Endicott

Suspected of faking unconsciousness and possibly shooting her husband.

### Cassidy

Assists Valcour and is present during the interrogation.

### Officer Hansen

Escorts Roberts to her room to retrieve the gun.

### Dr. Worth

Mentioned as having administered the narcotic and later sleeping; Valcour plans to consult him.

## Key lines

> The spread was damp; something had been poured on it. There wasn’t anything that could have been poured on it except the narcotic.

Roberts noticed the bedspread was wet, likely from the narcotic that Mrs. Endicott was supposed to have taken.

_Roberts's key observation that suggests Mrs. Endicott faked taking the drug._

> I think I was going to kill her. I would have killed her if the nurse hadn’t come in just then.

Roberts admits she nearly murdered Mrs. Endicott but was interrupted by the nurse.

_Roberts's confession of intent to kill._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se/chapters/xxi-3-51-a-m-a-woman-s-slipper
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se/chapters