# XXII: The Head explained — The Avenger

> Chapter companion for The Avenger by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Stella Mendoza intercepts Mike Brixan outside the studio and invites him to her home, where she hints at a confession but is interrupted by a telephone call from Sir Gregory Penne. She postpones her revelation. Later, Brixan receives a telegram from Major Staines about a head found on Chobham Common; at the police station, he identifies the head as that of Lawley Foss.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Macabre and Grotesque

The discovery of Lawley Foss's severed head on Chobham Common embodies the macabre and grotesque elements of the narrative.

### Deception and Appearances

Stella Mendoza's interrupted confession and her secretive phone call with Sir Gregory Penne highlight themes of hidden truths and deceptive appearances.

## Character check-ins

### Mike Brixan

Accompanies Stella Mendoza to her house, receives a telegram about a discovered head, and identifies the head as Lawley Foss's.

### Stella Mendoza

Invites Brixan to her home, hints at a secret, but postpones her confession after a phone call from Sir Gregory Penne.

### Lawley Foss

His severed head is discovered on Chobham Common and identified by Brixan.

### Major George Staines

Sends the telegram about the head and meets Brixan at Leatherhead Police Station.

### Sir Gregory Penne

Implied to be the caller who interrupts Stella Mendoza's confession.

## Key lines

> A head found on Chobham Common early this morning. Come to Leatherhead Police Station at once. "Staines."

A head was discovered on Chobham Common at dawn; Brixan is summoned to Leatherhead Police Station by Major Staines.

_The telegram reveals the discovery of a severed head, later identified as Lawley Foss's._

> It was the head of Lawley Foss.

The severed head belonged to Lawley Foss.

_Brixan identifies the head as that of Lawley Foss, confirming a murder._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxii-the-head
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters