Payment Deferred · Chapter
XVI explained
Dr.
What happens
Dr. Atkinson discovers Annie Marble dead in her bed. Mr. Marble's suspicious behavior and the evidence of cyanide poisoning lead to his arrest and conviction for murder. The chapter concludes with Marble being hanged and Winnie inheriting twelve hundred a year.
Themes in this chapter
Guilt and Paranoia
Marble's thumping heart and racing thoughts reveal his paranoia and guilt as he fears detection.
Crime and Punishment
Marble is tried, convicted, and hanged for the murder of his wife, illustrating the theme of justice.
Marriage and Domestic Dysfunction
Neighbors testify to bad blood and quarrels between Marble and his wife, highlighting a dysfunctional marriage.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Marble
Discovers his wife dead; his suspicious behavior and possession of cyanide lead to his conviction for murder.
- Annie Marble
Found dead in her bed from cyanide poisoning.
- Dr. Atkinson
Discovers Annie's death, notices signs of cyanide poisoning, and sets in motion the investigation that leads to Marble's arrest.
- Winnie Medland
Inherits twelve hundred a year after Marble's execution.
Key passages
“She’s dead! said Atkinson, moving forward. Marble was there before him, standing by the bed with his hands clasped in front of him. It is impossible to say whether he was moved or not; all that he was conscious of at the moment was that his heart was thumping and thudding within him the way it always did nowadays when anything unusual happened.”
Atkinson declares Annie dead, and Marble stands by the bed, his heart pounding with anxiety rather than grief.
Marble's physical reaction reveals his guilt and fear of discovery.
“So they hanged William Marble for the murder of his wife. It was a simple case.”
William Marble was executed for killing his wife, a straightforward case.
The chapter concludes with Marble's conviction and execution.