Mystery at Lynden Sands · Chapter
XI: Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux’s Evidence explained
Wendover and Sir Clinton discuss alternative theories for Staveley's murder, with Wendover suggesting Mme.
What happens
Wendover and Sir Clinton discuss alternative theories for Staveley's murder, with Wendover suggesting Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux as the killer. They then interview her, and she provides a detailed account of her past relationship with Staveley, her arrival at Lynden Sands, her meeting with him at Neptune's Seat, and her departure after hearing a car and discovering his body. She confirms hearing Mrs. Fleetwood's voice and identifies her footprints, which match her shoe size, corroborating her presence at the scene.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Deception
Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux's hidden past and her deceptive account of her relationship with Staveley.
Justice and Investigation
Wendover and Sir Clinton's deductive reasoning and the forensic examination of footprints.
Murder and Motive
Discussions of possible motives for Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux to kill Staveley.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Wendover
Proposes alternative murder theories and questions Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux.
- Sir Clinton Driffield
Listens to Wendover's theories and facilitates the interview with Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux.
- Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux
Provides her account of past with Staveley and events on the night of the murder.
- Inspector Armadale
Takes notes during the interview and examines footprints.
- Nick Staveley
Referenced as the victim and former lover of Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux.
- Cressida Fleetwood
Identified by Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux as the woman whose voice she heard in the car.
Key passages
“Suppose that Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux herself was the murderess. She makes her appointment with Staveley at the cottage as she told us; and she goes there, just as she said she did. She meets Staveley, and he refuses to see her.”
Wendover suggests that Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux could be the murderer, following her own account of meeting Staveley at the cottage.
Wendover proposes an alternative theory to Sir Clinton.
“I discovered his character, so different from that which I had believed it. He abandoned me, and I was very rejoiced to let him go; but he had taught me things, and forced me to work for him while he had me.”
Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux explains that Staveley's true nature was a shock, and though she was glad to be rid of him, he had changed her.
Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux describes her past with Staveley.
“I went away from the rock by the same road as I had come. I was much agitated, you understand? It was a great disappointment that I had attained to no arrangement at that moment.”
She left the rock the same way she came, upset that she couldn't reach an agreement with Staveley.
Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux recounts leaving Neptune's Seat.
“I noted the hour mechanically on the clock in the hall. It was midnight less five minutes when I arrived.”
She checked the hall clock automatically and saw it was five minutes to midnight when she got back.
Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux provides her arrival time at the hotel.
