The Borough Treasurer · Chapter
XII: Parental Anxiety explained
Cotherstone's growing irritation with Mallalieu boils over into a heated confrontation, where mutual suspicion about Kitely's murder is barely concealed.
What happens
Cotherstone's growing irritation with Mallalieu boils over into a heated confrontation, where mutual suspicion about Kitely's murder is barely concealed. Mallalieu warns Cotherstone to keep calm for his daughter's sake. Later, Cotherstone pressures Lettie and Windle Bent to marry sooner, claiming health reasons, but Lettie resists altering her wedding plans. Meanwhile, Brereton and the superintendent discuss a scrap-book left by Kitely, and Brereton privately suspects both Cotherstone and Mallalieu know more about the murder than they admit.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Blackmail
Cotherstone and Mallalieu's mutual suspicion and veiled threats reveal a shared secret about Kitely's murder, with each man hinting at the power to expose the other.
Respectability and Hypocrisy
Cotherstone's primary concern is to protect Lettie's marriage prospects by hiding his past, showing the priority of outward respectability over truth.
Family and Loyalty
Cotherstone's desire to see Lettie settled before he retires reflects his paternal concern, though it is intertwined with his own fears and secrets.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Cotherstone
Confronts Mallalieu in a rage, suspecting him of thinking he murdered Kitely; later pressures Lettie to marry early, citing heart trouble and a desire to retire.
- Mr. Mallalieu
Remains cool and sneering during Cotherstone's outburst, hinting he could expose Cotherstone if needed; both men now eye each other with mutual suspicion.
- Lettie Cotherstone
Shows level-headedness when her father urges an early wedding; objects to changing her carefully made plans for bridesmaids and gowns.
- Mr. Bent
Supports Cotherstone's wish for an early marriage, dismissing Lettie's concerns about arrangements; later receives Kitely's scrap-book and discusses it with Brereton.
- Mr. Brereton
Warns the superintendent to keep quiet about a finding; privately suspects Cotherstone and Mallalieu of involvement in Kitely's death.
- Christopher Pett
Visits Brereton and Bent, leaving Kitely's scrap-book; Brereton regards him as a 'cool hand' of the Dodson & Fogg type.
Key passages
“Hang you! I believe you think I did that job! And if you do, blast you, why don't you say so, and be done with it?”
Cotherstone angrily accuses Mallalieu of suspecting him of the murder and demands he speak openly.
Cotherstone's outburst reveals his guilt and paranoia about being implicated in Kitely's death.
“I should advise you to keep yourself cool. There's more than me'll think a good deal if you chance to let yourself out like that.”
Mallalieu warns Cotherstone to control his temper, implying others will also suspect him if he continues.
Mallalieu uses Cotherstone's fear to maintain leverage over him.
“I don't believe there'll be any need. And it doesn't matter the value of that pen that's shaking so in your hand to me if an innocent man suffers—if he's innocent o' that, he's guilty o' something else. You're safe with me.”
Mallalieu dismisses the risk of an innocent man being convicted, suggesting Harborough is guilty of something else, and reassures Cotherstone of his silence.
Mallalieu's cynical morality shows his willingness to let Harborough be punished to protect their secret.
“I'd like to see you settled before I go. What?”
Cotherstone expresses his wish for Lettie and Bent to marry before he leaves on his travels.
Cotherstone's urgency to see his daughter married is driven by his desire to secure her future before his secrets are exposed.
“One would give a good deal if one could get a moment's look into Cotherstone's mind—or into Mallalieu's either! For I'll swear that these two know something—possibly congratulating themselves that it will never be known to anybody else!”
Brereton muses that both Cotherstone and Mallalieu likely have guilty knowledge about the murder and think they will never be discovered.
Brereton's suspicion sets the stage for further investigation into the partners.
