The Charing Cross Mystery · Chapter
XI: Lady Riversreade explained
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.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and the Past
Lady Riversreade's secretive visit to Vivian's Night Club and her mysterious destination at St. Mary's Mansions deepen the mystery surrounding her past.
Blackmail and Crime
The link between Vivian's Night Club, the five-pound note, and the mysterious visitor suggests a blackmail plot.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Hetherwick
Receives Mapperley's report and decides to investigate Vivian's Night Club; later joins Matherfield in tailing Lady Riversreade.
- Mr. Matherfield
Insists on following Lady Riversreade to St. Mary's Mansions and maintains a vigil through the night.
- Mr. Mapperley
Reports his surveillance of Lady Riversreade's visitor, tracking him to Vivian's Night Club.
- Lady Riversreade
Emerges from St. Mary's Mansions at dawn after being followed from Vivian's Night Club.
- Dr. Charles Ambrose
Identified as the mysterious visitor to Riversreade Court, tracked to Vivian's Night Club.
- Boxley
Provides Hetherwick with information about Vivian's Night Club.
Key passages
“Spotted him at once at Victoria. Followed him down there. He was at Riversreade an hour. Then went back to Dorking—had lunch at Red Lion. He stopped there till four o’clock, lunching and idling. Went back to town by the 4:29, arriving 6:50. I followed him then to the Café de Paris. He dined there and hung about till past ten. And then he went to Vivian’s Night Club.”
Mapperley reports that he identified the man at Victoria, followed him to Riversreade Court for an hour, then to Dorking for lunch, back to London, dinner at the Café de Paris, and finally to Vivian's Night Club.
Mapperley's detailed surveillance of Lady Riversreade's visitor.
“I don't believe in starting out on any game unless I see it through. Yes, I think we'll wait.”
Matherfield insists on continuing the stakeout until Lady Riversreade leaves the flats.
Matherfield's determination to follow the investigation to its conclusion.