# XVI explained — Payment Deferred

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

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

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