The Big Bow Mystery · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill.
Chapter 1
The Big Bow Mystery
The opening chapter introduces the setting of a foggy London morning in the Bow district, where Mrs. Drabdump discovers the body of her lodger, Arthur Constant, in his locked bedroom. The police are called, and the mystery of the locked-room murder begins to unfold, with initial suspicions falling on the absent Tom Mortlake.
Chapter 2
I
Mrs. Drabdump, the landlady, grows increasingly anxious when her lodger Arthur Constant fails to respond to her morning calls. After repeated knocking and attempts to enter his locked bedroom, she becomes convinced he is dead. In panic, she rushes across the street to fetch the retired detective Grodman, who initially dismisses her fears but soon finds the door securely locked and bolted from within, raising serious concerns.
Chapter 3
II
The inquest into Arthur Constant's death begins, with testimony from Mrs. Drabdump, George Grodman, Denzil Cantercot, Inspector Howlett, Sergeant Runnymede, and Dr. Robinson. The medical evidence suggests the wound could not have been self-inflicted, yet the room was locked from within with no weapon found. Meanwhile, Tom Mortlake is arrested in Liverpool but quickly released, and he gives an interview blaming police harassment. The chapter also covers public reactions and the media's shifting narrative from suicide to mystery.
Chapter 4
III
The inquest into Arthur Constant's death continues, with witnesses testifying to his character and a letter revealing a rare moment of despondency. The coroner systematically argues against suicide, pointing to physical impossibilities, and then examines the possibility of murder, highlighting the sealed-room nature of the crime. The chapter ends with the coroner's summation, leaving the jury to decide between suicide and homicide.
Chapter 5
IV
The chapter describes the public and media frenzy following the open verdict in Arthur Constant's death. Letters pour into newspapers, including a notable one from retired detective George Grodman, who offers to solve the mystery and criticizes Scotland Yard. The public becomes obsessed with the case, spawning wild theories, jokes, and even a suggestion that a monkey committed the murder. Grodman's letter also includes a passage from Constant's last letter to Lucy Brent, showing Constant's hopeful yet realistic view of his work in the East End. The chapter ends with Grodman reading a critical letter from 'Scotland Yard' (Edward Wimp) and dismissing him scornfully.
Chapter 6
V
Denzil Cantercot visits Grodman, who teases him about his writer's cramp and an epic poem. Denzil returns to the Crowl household, where Mrs. Crowl confronts him about unpaid board. Peter Crowl mentions that Tom Mortlake had once denounced Arthur Constant. Denzil leaves and goes back to Grodman's house, where they discuss the book 'Criminals I Have Caught' and the murder.
Chapter 7
VI
Denzil Cantercot visits Detective Wimp to offer information about Tom Mortlake's missing sweetheart, Jessie Dymond, in hopes of earning money. Wimp interrogates him, revealing knowledge of Denzil's past and his authorship of 'Criminals I Have Caught'. Denzil later visits Grodman, who claims to know the murderer but cannot yet prove it. Denzil's financial desperation and erratic behavior are highlighted.
Chapter 8
VII
Wimp invites Grodman to Christmas dinner, where they engage in a tense, deceptive conversation about Denzil Cantercot and the Constant murder. Grodman feigns ignorance while revealing an alibi for Denzil, unsettling Wimp. Later, Wimp encounters Mrs. Drabdump at Arthur Constant's grave on a rainy Bank Holiday.
Chapter 9
VIII
The New Year brings a new lodger to Mrs. Drabdump's—an old gentleman with a long gray beard who rents Arthur Constant's old rooms. This lodger is revealed to be Edward Wimp, who quietly observes Mortlake. The chapter builds toward the unveiling of Constant's portrait at the Bow Break o' Day Club, where Mr. Gladstone speaks and reveals that Lucy Brent painted and donated the portrait. At the climax, Wimp arrests Tom Mortlake for the murder of Arthur Constant. Meanwhile, Denzil Cantercot returns after a three-day absence, and Grodman tracks him to the event.
Chapter 10
The Riot at the Unveiling
During the unveiling of Arthur Constant's portrait, Wimp attempts to arrest Tom Mortlake for murder, triggering a riot. Mortlake delivers a defiant speech, and the crowd, led by Peter Crowl, turns violent. In the chaos, the gas is turned off, allowing Mortlake to escape. Wimp is humiliated, and Grodman watches with amusement.
Chapter 11
The Trial of Tom Mortlake
The trial of Tom Mortlake for the murder of Arthur Constant unfolds, with the prosecution presenting circumstantial evidence of jealousy and premeditation, while the defense argues the case is built on weak hypotheses. The jury returns a guilty verdict, and Mortlake is sentenced to death. Meanwhile, the public and press react to the arrest, and Grodman revels in Wimp's perceived blunder.
Chapter 12
Chapter XI
As Tom Mortlake's execution approaches, public agitation intensifies. Grodman leads a rescue campaign, writing letters and organizing meetings, while the Home Secretary remains inflexible. Grodman confronts Denzil Cantercot about his betrayal in selling information to Wimp, threatening him with arrest for bigamy if Mortlake is hanged. The search for Jessie Dymond continues, as she holds the key to Mortlake's innocence.
Chapter 13
XII
Grodman confesses to the Home Secretary that he murdered Arthur Constant, detailing his scientific approach to the perfect crime and his motives for revealing the truth to save the innocent Tom Mortlake from execution.
