Partners in Crime · Chapter
XV: The Red House explained
Tommy and Tuppence investigate the mysterious happenings at the Red House, suspecting the invalid mother and the faithful maid Crockett.
What happens
Tommy and Tuppence investigate the mysterious happenings at the Red House, suspecting the invalid mother and the faithful maid Crockett. They discover that the former owner withdrew all her money in gold and hid it somewhere in the house. Tommy's clever questioning leads them to a box of papers, where they find a cryptic verse with a biblical reference that hints at a hidden treasure. The chapter ends with the couple deciphering the clue, realizing the word 'potatoes' is the key.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure vs. Boredom
Tommy and Tuppence's investigation of the Red House is driven by their desire for excitement and their willingness to engage in detective work.
Deception and Trust
The chapter revolves around the deception of the 'poltergeist' and the trust placed in Crockett, who may be betraying the Deane family.
Crime and Detection
The Beresfords act as amateur detectives, uncovering clues and deducing the hidden motive behind the haunting.
Characters to notice
- Tommy Beresford
Investigates the Red House, suspects the invalid mother and Crockett, and devises a plan to outbid the nephew.
- Tuppence Beresford
Eager to solve the mystery, she deciphers the cryptogram and identifies the word 'potatoes'.
- Monica Deane
The owner of the Red House, she provides access to the house and papers, unaware of the hidden treasure.
- Crockett
The elderly maid suspected of being involved in the poltergeist activity and knowing about the hidden money.
Key passages
“Well, let's get on with the spade work.”
Let's continue the tedious investigation.
Tommy uses a metaphor for the laborious task of sorting through papers.
“My first you put on glowing coal And into it you put my whole My second really is the first My third mislikes the winter blast.”
The first part is something you place on hot coals, the second is the letter 'A', and the third dislikes cold weather.
The cryptic verse is a riddle that leads to the word 'potatoes'.