The Case with Nine Solutions · Chapter
XVI: Written Evidence explained
Inspector Flamborough receives a new communication from the anonymous 'Justice,' containing photographs of a letter between Dr.
What happens
Inspector Flamborough receives a new communication from the anonymous 'Justice,' containing photographs of a letter between Dr. Silverdale and Miss Deepcar. The letter suggests a plot to use hyoscine to eliminate Mrs. Silverdale and make it appear a suicide pact. Sir Clinton Driffield scrutinizes the evidence, noting slight cramping in certain words, and uses a telephone call to the Croft-Thornton Institute to verify the availability of a microphotographic camera. He then orchestrates a ruse to have Miss Hailsham's name used to summon Dr. Trevor Markfield to his home, intending to investigate further.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Secrecy
The anonymous 'Justice' uses hidden correspondence and photographic evidence to reveal a secret plot, while Sir Clinton employs a ruse to investigate further.
Science and Poison
The letter discusses using hyoscine, a poison, to eliminate Mrs. Silverdale, and the investigation involves microphotographic analysis of the document.
Characters to notice
- Inspector Flamborough
Receives and analyzes the new evidence from Justice, discusses its implications with Sir Clinton.
- Sir Clinton Driffield
Leads the analysis of the photographic evidence, notices subtle anomalies in the handwriting, and devises a plan to contact Dr. Markfield.
- Justice
Sends photographs of incriminating correspondence between Silverdale and Miss Deepcar, remaining anonymous.
- Silverdale
Implicated as the author of the letter discussing a plot involving hyoscine and Hassendean.
- Avice Deepcar
Mentioned as the recipient of the letter from Silverdale, involved in the plot.
- Miss Hailsham
Contacted by Sir Clinton to inquire about the microphotographic camera at the Croft-Thornton Institute; her name is used in a ruse to reach Dr. Markfield.
Key passages
“I enclose photographs of part of the correspondence which has recently taken place between Dr. Silverdale and Miss Deepcar.”
Justice sends photos of letters between Silverdale and Miss Deepcar.
The anonymous informant provides visual evidence of the incriminating exchange.
“The plan we talked over last seems the best. When I have given Hassendean hints about the use of hyoscine, he will probably see for himself how to get what he wants.”
The writer suggests that after hinting to Hassendean about hyoscine, he will figure out how to use it to eliminate Mrs. Silverdale.
The letter outlines a murder plot using poison.
“It will be very easy to make it seem intentional on their part; and no one is likely to look further than that.”
The plan is to make the murder appear as a suicide pact between Hassendean and Mrs. Silverdale.
The conspirators intend to disguise the murder as a double suicide.
“I don't wish to bias you, Inspector, so I won't describe what I see myself. But will you examine the word 'probably' in that text and tell me if anything whatever about it strikes you as peculiar—anything whatever, remember.”
Sir Clinton asks Flamborough to examine the word 'probably' for any oddities without giving his own opinion first.
Sir Clinton subtly guides the inspector to notice the cramped handwriting.
“Did it never occur to you, Inspector, how much the English language depends on the relative positions of words? If I say: 'It struck you,' that means something quite different from: 'You struck it.' And yet each sentence contains exactly the same words.”
Sir Clinton points out that word order changes meaning, hinting at possible manipulation of the letter's text.
He suggests that the cramped words might indicate alterations to the original document.
