# XIII explained — Payment Deferred

> Chapter companion for Payment Deferred by C. S. Forester.

## What happens

After Madame Collins's visit, Mr. Marble becomes anxious about his wife's potential independence and resolves to be more affectionate. He struggles to reconnect with Annie, who notices his changed behavior. Later, Collins visits, devastated that his wife has left him and taken their savings. The Marbles witness his despair, and Mr. Marble uses the moment to rekindle intimacy with Annie. Meanwhile, Madame Collins blackmails Marble into giving her £300, threatening to reveal their affair to Annie. She leaves for France, and Marble fears the consequences.

## Themes in this chapter

### Blackmail and Manipulation

Madame Collins blackmails Mr. Marble for £300, threatening to expose their affair to his wife.

### Marriage and Domestic Dysfunction

Mr. Marble's strained relationship with Annie; Collins's devastation over his wife's desertion.

### Guilt and Paranoia

Mr. Marble's fear that Annie will discover his infidelity; his anxious behavior and attempts to win her favor.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Marble

Anxious about his wife's potential independence; tries to be affectionate; blackmailed by Madame Collins; gives her £300.

### Annie Marble

Notices her husband's changed behavior; feels comforted by his attentions; witnesses Collins's despair.

### Mrs. Marble

Also referred to as Annie; reacts emotionally to Collins's story; rekindles intimacy with her husband.

### Collins

Visits the Marbles, devastated by his wife's departure; reveals she took their savings and left.

### Madame Collins

Blackmails Mr. Marble for £300; threatens to reveal their affair; leaves for France.

## Key lines

> It was rather a pity that Mr. Marble should have been so obviously anxious to get rid of her. Why, she herself was most anxious to be out of the house too, so that she could hurry and cash that cheque before Marble could stop it

Both Mr. Marble and Madame Collins were eager for her to leave, but for different reasons: he wanted her gone, and she wanted to cash the check before he could stop payment.

_Highlights the mutual urgency and deception in their interaction._

> If Annie got to know that he had been unfaithful to her; if she had it forced home upon her that his love for her⁠—if ever it had existed; and it had in her imagination, which was all that mattered⁠—was dead, then she would be capable of doing the most unexpected things.

Mr. Marble fears that if Annie learns of his affair, she might act unpredictably and betray him, even unintentionally.

_Reveals Marble's paranoia and the precariousness of his control over Annie._

> Poor old Collins seems broken up about it,” was Marble’s comment. “He must have loved her a lot. Poor chap! And she’s gone now, and left him alone. Hateful woman!”

Mr. Marble expresses sympathy for Collins, calling his wife hateful for leaving him.

_Irony: Marble is complicit in the affair that led to Collins's abandonment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters/xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/payment_deferred_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/payment_deferred_se/chapters