# XXXI: John Percival Liggitt explained — The Avenger

> Chapter companion for The Avenger by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Adele feels out of sorts despite praise from Jack Knebworth for her acting. Reggie Connolly boasts about his abilities and Hollywood offers, but Knebworth dismisses his claims. A disheveled tramp waits outside the studio with a letter for Michael Brixan, refusing to hand it to anyone else. Adele later narrowly avoids a car driven recklessly by Stella Mendoza, who is in a hurry to reach Sir Gregory Penne at Griff Towers.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearances

Reggie's exaggerated claims about Hollywood offers and the tramp's mysterious letter highlight the theme of deception and hidden truths.

## Character check-ins

### Adele Leamington

Feels out of sorts despite success; concerned about the tramp waiting for Brixan; nearly hit by Stella's car.

### Jack Knebworth

Praises Adele's acting; dismisses Reggie's boasts; informs Adele about the tramp with a letter for Brixan.

### Reggie Connolly

Boasts about his acting skill and Hollywood offers; receives sarcastic remarks from Knebworth.

### Stella Mendoza

Drives recklessly near Adele; in a desperate hurry to reach Sir Gregory Penne at Griff Towers.

### Mike Brixan

Absent from the studio; a tramp waits with a letter for him; mentioned as having left London.

## Key lines

> I’ll be perfectly frank and honest, Mr. Knebworth, Leamington is good. Of course, I’m always on the spot to give her tips, and there’s nothing quite so educative—if I may use the term—

Reggie claims he helps Adele improve by acting opposite her.

_Reggie's self-serving praise of Adele while taking credit for her success._

> There never was an actor that hadn’t a better contract up his sleeve and was ready to take it. But when it comes to a showdown, you find that the contracts they’re willing to tear up in order to take something better, are locked away in a lawyer’s office and can’t be got out.

Jack says actors often bluff about having better offers, but the contracts are never real.

_Jack's cynical view of actors' boasts about Hollywood opportunities._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters/xxxi-john-percival-liggitt
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_avenger_se/chapters