# The Marks of the Beast explained — The Avenger

> Chapter companion for The Avenger by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Michael Brixan confronts Sir Gregory Penne at Griff Towers, demanding to see the room where a violent struggle occurred. He discovers bloodstains, a broken chair, and a handprint that he identifies as Bhag's. Brixan reconstructs the scene, finding a broken sword and evidence of a fight. He searches the house and Bhag's quarters, finding a hidden exit. With police assistance, he traces a trail of blood and footprints through the grounds, suggesting bodies were carried away by Bhag. Inspector Lyle suspects Penne is the Headhunter, but Brixan remains uncertain.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Justice

Brixan's investigation into the violent struggle and the search for evidence of murder and abduction.

### The Macabre and Grotesque

The bloodstained room, the inhuman handprint, and the hidden lair of Bhag evoke a sense of horror.

### Deception and Appearances

Penne's attempts to mislead Brixan and the hidden nature of the crimes contrast with the surface calm of Griff Towers.

## Character check-ins

### Mike Brixan

Investigates the crime scene at Griff Towers, reconstructs the struggle, and searches the grounds with police.

### Sir Gregory Penne

Reluctantly allows Brixan into the room, provides evasive answers, and is suspected of being the Headhunter.

### Bhag

The hideous creature whose handprint is found; suspected of carrying bodies away through a hidden exit.

### Detective Inspector Lyle

Assists in the search and theorizes that Penne is the Headhunter and Bhag carried the bodies.

## Key lines

> The mark of the beast, said Michael, pointing. That's Bhag!

Michael identifies the inhuman handprint as belonging to Bhag.

_Brixan connects the physical evidence to the monstrous creature._

> I'll reconstruct the scene. You and your Bhag caught the man after he had got into this room. The chair was broken in the struggle, probably by Bhag, who used the chair. The man escaped from the room, ran downstairs into the library and got the sword from the wall, then came up after you.

Brixan deduces the sequence of events: Penne and Bhag attacked an intruder, who fought back with a sword.

_Brixan uses forensic clues to reconstruct the violent encounter._

> The question is, who carried whom? said Inspector Lyle... It looks to me as if these people were killed in the house and their bodies carried away by Bhag.

Inspector Lyle suggests that Bhag removed the bodies from the house after the murders.

_Lyle theorizes that Bhag acted as the cleanup agent for the killings._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxiv-the-marks-of-the-beast
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters