# Second Night explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Thomas Hardy. ## What happens The shepherd boy returns to the hut on the downs, witnessing the Duke arrive and hide in the hut. Captain Fred appears for the assignation, but the Duke confronts him, kills him, and hides the body. The Duke then waits for the Duchess, but she never comes. Later, the Duke rides home and meets his wife, who explains she received a desperate letter from her cousin Fred Ogbourne asking for a meeting, which she attended but fled from, and never intended to keep the second appointment. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Secrecy The Duchess's secret meeting with her cousin, the Duke's hidden surveillance, and the concealment of the murder all revolve around deception and hidden truths. ### Fate and Coincidence The Duke arrives a night early, the Duchess fails to keep the second appointment, and the shepherd boy's presence ties the events together in a chain of coincidences. ### Sacrifice and Duty The Duke's sense of honor drives him to kill Captain Fred, while the Duchess's duty to her husband conflicts with her compassion for her cousin. ## Character check-ins ### Mr. Barnet The old shepherd who leaves the boy alone on the downs for the night. ### Barbara The Duchess, wife of the Duke, who receives a letter from her cousin Fred and meets him once but avoids the second meeting. ### Christine Everard The Duke, who hides in the hut, kills Captain Fred, and later confronts his wife about the assignation. ### Lizzy Newberry Captain Fred Ogbourne, the Duchess's cousin, who is killed by the Duke at the trilithon. ## Key lines > The Duke came close to the clump of furze and stood by the spot where his wife and the Captain had held their dialogue; he examined the furze as if searching for a hiding-place, and in doing so discovered the hut. The Duke approached the furze clump where his wife and the Captain had spoken, searching for a hiding spot and finding the hut. _The Duke's discovery of the hut sets the stage for the murder._ > You have dishonoured her, and you shall die the death you deserve! The Duke accuses Captain Fred of dishonoring the Duchess and declares he must die. _The Duke's motive for the murder is stated directly._ > The Duke vanished into this depression with his burden, reappearing after the lapse of a few seconds. When he came forth he dragged nothing behind him. The Duke disappeared into a hollow with the body and returned without it, having hidden the corpse. _The Duke disposes of Captain Fred's body in a badger hole._ > Now for the second! The Duke now waits for the Duchess, intending to confront or harm her as well. _The Duke's intent to also punish his wife is revealed._ > I have thought of something which I hardly like to suggest to you. He said that if I failed to come tonight he would wait again tomorrow night. Now, shall we tomorrow night go to the hill together⁠—just to see if he is there; and if he is, read him a lesson on his foolishness in nourishing this old passion, and sending for me so oddly, instead of coming to the house? The Duchess suggests they go together to the hill the next night to confront her cousin and scold him for his behavior. _The Duchess remains unaware of the murder and proposes a joint visit to the meeting place._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/second-night - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_53_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters