# Mr. Carrington's Walk explained — Simon

> Chapter companion for Simon by J. Storer Clouston.

## What happens

Mr. Carrington takes a walk towards Keldale House, where he encounters Cicely Farmond on a path. He pretends to be a casual stranger and mentions a false rumor that Sir Malcolm Cromarty has been arrested for the murder, which Cicely vehemently denies. After the conversation, Carrington becomes deeply thoughtful, returns to the Kings Arms, and eventually decides to visit Simon Rattar's office under the pretense of inquiring about shooting or fishing leases.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secrecy and Silence

Carrington conceals his true purpose and uses a false rumor to probe Cicely's knowledge, while Cicely withholds her connection to the family until pressed.

### Suspicion and Rumor

The false rumor of Sir Malcolm's arrest, spread by a drunken local and amplified by Carrington, illustrates how easily suspicion circulates.

### Identity and Deception

Carrington adopts a casual, nonchalant persona to disguise his investigative interest, while Cicely initially hides her relation to the Cromarty family.

## Character check-ins

### F. T. Carrington

Takes a walk to Keldale House, encounters Cicely Farmond, and deliberately spreads a false rumor about Sir Malcolm's arrest to gauge her reaction.

### Cicely Farmond

Meets Carrington on the path, corrects his assumption about her surname, and defends Sir Malcolm's innocence against the rumor of his arrest.

### Malcolm Cromarty

Mentioned as the subject of a false arrest rumor spread by Carrington; Cicely insists he could not have committed murder.

### Miss Peterkin

Manageress of the Kings Arms; Carrington consults her about shooting and fishing leases before deciding to visit Simon Rattar.

### Simon Rattar

Carrington decides to call on him under the pretext of inquiring about estate leases, though his true motive is likely investigative.

## Key lines

> “I hear they have arrested Sir Malcolm Cromarty.”

Carrington tells Cicely that Sir Malcolm has been taken into custody.

_Carrington uses this false information to test Cicely's reaction._

> “If Sir Malcolm really has been arrested, it can only have been for something quite silly. He couldn’t commit a murder!”

Cicely insists that Sir Malcolm is incapable of murder and that any arrest must be for a trivial reason.

_Cicely's defense reveals her loyalty and belief in Sir Malcolm's innocence._

> “I have been thinking that my best plan will perhaps be to call upon Mr. Simon Rattar and see whether he knows of anything to let.”

Carrington decides to visit the lawyer Simon Rattar under the guise of inquiring about shooting or fishing leases.

_Carrington uses this pretext to initiate contact with a key figure in the case._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxi-mr-carrington-s-walk
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/simon_se
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