The Charing Cross Mystery · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Charing Cross Mystery by J. S. Fletcher.
Chapter 1
The Last Train East
Hetherwick, a young barrister, catches the last eastbound train at Sloane Square and observes two men who board at St. James's Park. The elder, a robust, military-looking man, and his sallow, shabby companion discuss recognizing a woman from a portrait. During the journey, the elder man suddenly dies. The companion claims he will fetch a doctor but never returns. Hetherwick assists the police, and the dead man is identified as ex-Superintendent Robert Hannaford of Sellithwaite. Inspector Matherfield investigates, noting the suspicious disappearance of the second man.
Chapter 2
Whose Portrait Is This?
Hetherwick and Matherfield visit the hotel where Robert Hannaford had been staying and meet his granddaughter Rhona. They inform her of Hannaford's sudden death. Hetherwick recalls seeing Rhona earlier with Kenthwaite. Later, Hetherwick returns to speak with Rhona and learns about a photograph Hannaford had cut from a newspaper, annotated with 'Through my hands ten years ago!' Matherfield arrives with news that the postmortem confirms Hannaford was poisoned.
Chapter 3
III: The Potential Fortune
The inquest into Hannaford's death reveals new evidence from a witness, Martin Charles Ledbitter, who saw Hannaford meet a mysterious man in blue spectacles and a muffler at Victoria Station. The coroner adjourns the proceedings. Later, Matherfield and Hetherwick question Rhona about Hannaford's recent activities; she reveals his hobby of chemical experimentation and a sealed envelope containing a 'potential fortune' that is now missing from his pocketbook.
Chapter 4
IV: The Diamond Necklace
Hetherwick becomes increasingly obsessed with the photograph of a woman found in Hannaford's pocketbook, convinced it holds the key to the murder. He visits Rhona Hannaford to trace the newspaper from which the picture was cut, then travels to Sellithwaite with a letter of introduction to solicitor Michael Hollis. Hollis recounts the story of the Honourable Mrs. Whittingham, who ten years earlier had purchased a diamond necklace from jeweller Malladale with a bad cheque and fled, only to be traced by Superintendent Hannaford—but she ultimately escaped prosecution.
Chapter 5
The Police Return
Hetherwick learns the full story of how Mrs. Whittingham tricked Superintendent Hannaford and escaped with a diamond necklace. Hollis and Gandham confirm her identity from a photograph, and Malladale reveals that he was eventually paid for the necklace years later.
Chapter 6
Samples of Ink
Hetherwick, accompanied by Hollis and the analytical chemist Collison, visits Hannaford's old laboratory in Sellithwaite. There, Collison deduces that Hannaford was attempting to invent a superior writing-ink, a potentially valuable commercial secret. Hetherwick also learns that the woman Hannaford mentioned in the train is a former adventuress, Mrs. Whittingham, still liable for past crimes. These discoveries reinforce Hetherwick's suspicion that Hannaford's death may be linked to his invention.
Chapter 7
Black Velvet
Hetherwick identifies Lady Riversreade as the woman in the photograph and learns she is a wealthy widow. He and Rhona Hannaford devise a plan for her to go undercover as Miss Featherstone to investigate Lady Riversreade. Rhona secures the secretary position and confirms Lady Riversreade wears a black velvet band on her right wrist, matching the description of Mrs. Whittingham. The chapter ends with news that the police have found the man who was with Rhona's grandfather in the train, and he is dead.
Chapter 8
VIII: Fligwood’s Rents
Hetherwick and Matherfield visit Granett's lodgings at Fligwood's Rents, where they confirm the dead man is indeed the one who was with Hannaford in the train. They discover letters linking Granett to Sellithwaite and a new five-pound note, suggesting he received money from Hannaford that night. Matherfield explains how a chemist named Appleyard led them to Granett's address.
Chapter 9
IX: The Medicine Bottle
Hetherwick and Matherfield discuss the poisoning of Granett, which mirrors Hannaford's death. Matherfield discovers a medicine bottle and glass in Granett's room, which he believes to be a clue. Hetherwick reveals his investigation into Lady Riversreade and his plan to have Rhona Hannaford go undercover as her secretary. After weeks, Matherfield traces a five-pound note to a night club, and Rhona reports nothing suspicious from Riversreade Court.
Chapter 10
X: The Mysterious Visitor
Rhona recounts to Hetherwick the visit of a mysterious Dr. Cyprian Baseverie to Riversreade Court, who used a printed card and was not listed in the medical directory. Lady Riversreade was visibly upset after the meeting. Hetherwick decides to have his clerk Mapperley follow Baseverie on his next visit. Hetherwick then updates Matherfield, who is investigating the poison that killed both Hannaford and Granett, and is tracing a five-pound note and a medicine bottle.
Chapter 11
XI: Lady Riversreade
Hetherwick learns from Mapperley that Lady Riversreade's mysterious visitor was tracked to Vivian's Night Club, linking him to the five-pound note found on Granett. Hetherwick and Matherfield follow Lady Riversreade to St. Mary's Mansions and keep watch through the night, eventually seeing her emerge alone at dawn.
Chapter 12
Alias Madame Listorelle
Matherfield pursues Lady Riversreade early in the morning, leaving Hetherwick behind. Hetherwick later learns from his clerk Mapperley that Dr. Baseverie was seen with a woman at Vivian's and that Hannaford had been there with Baseverie before his death. Hetherwick then visits the lodging-house keeper near the flats and discovers that Lady Riversreade rents a flat under the alias Madame Listorelle.
Chapter 13
XIII: Who Was She?
Matherfield recounts his failed pursuit of Lady Riversreade, whom he suspects is the former Mrs. Whittingham involved in a ten-year-old fraud. He followed her from London to Southampton, where he believed she intended to sail to New York, but she eluded him. He and Hetherwick plan to meet Rhona Hannaford in Dorking to further investigate.
Chapter 14
Is It Blackmail?
Hetherwick and Matherfield meet Rhona in Dorking to discuss the mysterious woman Matherfield followed to Southampton. Rhona insists Lady Riversreade was at Riversreade Court at the time, leading to confusion about a possible double. Hetherwick reveals the woman is known as Madame Listorelle, who keeps a flat in St. Mary's Mansions. Rhona then recounts a confrontation at the Home where Major Penteney, armed with a revolver, expelled Dr. Baseverie after a tense private meeting, hinting at blackmail.
Chapter 15
XV: Revelations
Hetherwick and Matherfield learn from Blenkinsop that Lady Riversreade is not Mrs. Whittingham; the portrait Hannaford cut out was of Madame Listorelle, Lady Riversreade's twin sister. They then see a newspaper advertisement offering a £5,000 reward for information about Hannaford's murder, signed by Penteney, Blenkinsop & Penteney. They decide to visit the solicitors, and at the meeting, Blenkinsop reveals that Lady Riversreade is not the woman from Sellithwaite.
Chapter 16
XVI: Still More
Blenkinsop reveals the full background of the blackmail plot targeting Lady Riversreade and her twin sister Madame Listorelle (formerly Mrs. Whittingham). He explains that Dr. Baseverie approached Lady Riversreade claiming to represent a gang demanding £30,000 to keep silent about the Sellithwaite affair. The detectives theorize that Baseverie is the gang's leader, that Hannaford was murdered after revealing he knew Madame Listorelle's identity, and that Granett was killed as a witness. A telegram arrives reporting that Baseverie has evaded their surveillance in Dover.
Chapter 17
The Torn Labels
Matherfield and Hetherwick learn from a telegram that the man tailing Baseverie lost him at Dover. Matherfield suspects Baseverie doubled back to London. A plainclothes policeman leads them to chemist Macpherson, who identifies the torn labels as from a tonic he made for Dr. Charles Ambrose. Macpherson describes Ambrose as a tall, dark, distinguished man who muffles himself in a big coat and scarf—matching the mystery man who met Hannaford at Victoria. Matherfield connects this to Granett's mention of a nearby doctor at Charing Cross.
Chapter 18
XVIII: The Telegram
Matherfield and Hetherwick discover a telegram confirming that Dr. Charles Ambrose met Hannaford at Victoria station. They investigate Ambrose's flat, learning from the caretaker that he has been absent for three weeks without luggage. At the General Medical Council, they obtain records showing both Ambrose and Baseverie were struck off the medical register for misconduct. Matherfield resolves to track Ambrose, suspecting he may have fled with Hannaford's secret invention.
Chapter 19
XIX: The London Road
Hetherwick and Penteney arrive at Riversreade Court to investigate the kidnapping of Madame Listorelle and Miss Featherstone. Lady Riversreade explains that the two women vanished shortly after leaving for the Home, and a housemaid spotted a car speeding away. Penteney deduces the kidnapping occurred at a sunk road crossing the park, where a car could have waited. An old labourer confirms seeing a closed car of a light color with two men inside and a liveried driver. A gardener, Thomas Chillam, identifies one of the men as the same tall, bearded individual he saw earlier in Victoria Street—likely Dr. Ambrose. Hetherwick concludes that Ambrose and Baseverie are behind the abduction and urges a return to London.
Chapter 20
XX: Converging Tracks
Hetherwick and Penteney return to Matherfield's headquarters with news of the kidnapping of Madame Listorelle and Miss Featherstone. Matherfield reveals he has a lead on Ambrose from a tavern landlord. Lord Morradale arrives and theorizes that the kidnapping is tied to a jewel heist, suggesting the kidnappers may force Madame Listorelle to retrieve jewels from the Imperial Safe Deposit. The chapter ends with Matherfield and Hetherwick heading to the Green Archer Tavern to follow up on the Ambrose sighting.
Chapter 21
The Order in Writing
Hetherwick meets Mapperley and his associate, Mr. Isidore Goldmark, who has been tailing Dr. Baseverie. Goldmark reports that Baseverie visited St. Mary's Mansions, where Madame Listorelle's flat is located, using a note purportedly from her to gain entry. Hetherwick and Mapperley later inspect the flat, finding a drawer open and notepaper with her engraved address. Mapperley secretly takes the note and envelope, believing it to be a key piece of evidence.
Chapter 22
The Highly-Respectable Solicitor
Lord Morradale, Hetherwick, and Mapperley examine a note from Madame Listorelle, suspecting she was forced to write it. They plan to intercept whoever comes to collect valuables from the Imperial Safe Deposit. Mapperley disappears on his own errand. At the Safe Deposit, they witness the highly-respectable solicitor Mr. Garrowell retrieve a box, raising suspicions of his involvement under duress.
Chapter 23
The Landlady of Little Smith Street
Matherfield, Hetherwick, and Lord Morradale visit solicitor Garrowell to retrieve a box of jewels from Madame Listorelle's safe, but discover it has already been sent to Southampton. Matherfield resolves to intercept the package there. Meanwhile, Hetherwick and Mapperley trace Baseverie's hiding place to 56 Little Smith Street, where the landlady Mrs. Mallett denies knowing Baseverie or Basing and slams the door. Hetherwick suspects the missing women are trapped inside, and they follow Mrs. Mallett as she leaves the house.
Chapter 24
The House in the Yard
Hetherwick and Mapperley, with the help of Issy Goldmark, track a mysterious woman to a hidden house behind a wall in Pencove Street. After discovering the location, Hetherwick sends Mapperley to fetch Detective-Sergeant Robmore. They enter the premises through a grocer's backyard and find a chemical laboratory and office, with azure-tinted notepaper linking it to earlier clues. Goldmark then discovers a dead man upstairs.
Chapter 25
XXV: Dead!
Hetherwick and Robmore discover Dr. Ambrose dead in a chair, apparently poisoned. They find evidence of his planned escape, including a booked passage under a false name. Robmore suspects Baseverie poisoned him to eliminate an accomplice. Two new owners, Marshall and Wilkinson, reveal they bought the property from 'Andrews' and 'Basing' (Ambrose and Baseverie) and shared a celebratory drink. Robmore and Hetherwick then go to question Mrs. Mallett, but find her house open and seemingly empty.
Chapter 26
Waterloo
Hetherwick and Robmore search a house where Rhona and Madame Listorelle were imprisoned, finding evidence of their recent captivity. Hetherwick retrieves Rhona's handbag and later meets her. They then go to Waterloo station to meet Matherfield's train, where they spot Baseverie waiting. Robmore and his men surveil Baseverie as the Southampton train arrives.
Chapter 27
The Assurance
Hetherwick and Rhona discuss the case and the motive for the murders, suspecting Baseverie and Ambrose sought both the ink formula and blackmail. A policeman summons them to Matherfield's office, where two chemists, Culthwaite and Houseover, confirm that Baseverie tried to sell them the formula for a new black ink, which they identify as Hannaford's invention. Rhona identifies her grandfather's handwriting on the formula. Hetherwick and Rhona share a tender moment, confirming their mutual affection.
Chapter 28
List of Illustrations
A list of illustrations is presented, featuring a medicine bottle with two torn labels. The first label shows partial text including 'C. A.' and 'No. A.1152', while the second label contains a chemist's guarantee with missing portions.
