In Touch with the Missing explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Identity and Deception

  The chapter solidifies the theory that the current Squire is an impostor, and the real Marston Greyle's identity is traced through hotel records and medical testimony.

• Mystery and Detection

  Gilling and Copplestone conduct a systematic investigation in Falmouth, using hotel registers and witness interviews to uncover the real Greyle's movements.

Characters to notice

• Richard Copplestone

  Accompanies Gilling to Falmouth to trace the real Marston Greyle's arrival.

• Mr. Gilling

  Leads the investigation in Falmouth, now out of clerical disguise; interviews the hotel landlord and Dr. Tretheway.

• Sir Cresswell Oliver

  Presents the theory that the impostor murdered his brother Bassett Oliver to prevent exposure.

• Peter Chatfield

  Discovered to have met the real Marston Greyle at Falmouth in October 1912; his signature appears in the hotel register.

• Marston Greyle

  The real heir to Scarhaven; arrived in Falmouth on October 5, 1912, but was seriously ill with myocarditis.

• Mr. Petherton

  Solicitor who receives the cablegram and plans to block the sale of the estate.

Key passages

• ““Don’t you think, Petherton, that we had better get a clear notion of our exact bearings?” he said as he laid it back on the solicitor’s desk. “Seems to me that the time’s come when we ought to know exactly where we are. As I understand it, the case is this⁠—rightly or wrongly we suspect the present holder of the Scarhaven estates. We suspect that he is not the rightful owner⁠—that, in short, he is no more the real Marston Greyle than you are. We think that he’s an impostor⁠—posing as Marston Greyle.””

  Sir Cresswell Oliver insists they clarify their position: they believe the current Squire of Scarhaven is an impostor, not the true Marston Greyle.

  Sir Cresswell articulates the central suspicion of the investigation.

• ““I think that Bassett Oliver met the Squire⁠—we’ll call this man that for the sake of clearness⁠—when he entered the ruins. He probably introduced himself and mentioned that he had met a Marston Greyle in America. Then the Squire saw the probabilities of detection⁠—and what subsequently took place was most likely what you suggest. It may have been that the Squire recognized Bassett Oliver, and knew that he’d met Marston Greyle; it may have been that he didn’t know him and didn’t know anything until Bassett Oliver enlightened him. But⁠—either way⁠—I firmly believe that Bassett Oliver came to his death by violence⁠—that he was murdered.””

  Petherton reconstructs the murder: Bassett Oliver likely revealed he knew the real Marston Greyle, prompting the impostor to kill him to prevent exposure.

  Petherton presents his theory that Oliver was murdered to silence him.

• ““I can recollect plenty,” replied the landlord, shaking his head. “As for his looks⁠—a tallish, slightly-built young fellow, between, I should say, twenty-five and twenty-eight. Stooped a good bit. Very dark hair and eyes⁠—eyes a good deal sunken in his face. Very pale⁠—good-looking⁠—good features. But ill⁠—my sakes! He was ill!””

  The Falmouth landlord describes the real Marston Greyle as a tall, pale, dark-haired young man who appeared very ill.

  The landlord's description confirms Greyle's poor health upon arrival.

• ““I made a careful examination of him, and I came to the conclusion that he was suffering from a form of myocarditis which was rapidly assuming a very serious complexion. I earnestly advised him to take as much rest as possible, to avoid all unnecessary fatigue and all excitement, and I strongly deprecated his travelling in one journey to the north, whither I learnt he was bound.””

  Dr. Tretheway diagnosed the real Marston Greyle with severe myocarditis and advised him to rest and break his journey northward.

  The doctor's medical opinion underscores Greyle's fragile condition.