# The Landlady of Little Smith Street explained — The Charing Cross Mystery

> Chapter companion for The Charing Cross Mystery by J. S. Fletcher.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Blackmail and Crime

The forced letter from Madame Listorelle and the theft of the jewel box underscore the criminal plot.

### Secrecy and the Past

Baseverie's hidden address and the locked house suggest secrets and past deceptions.

### Justice and Investigation

Matherfield and Hetherwick's pursuit of the criminals and the tracing of the stationery exemplify investigative work.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Matherfield

Leads the investigation to Garrowell's office and decides to intercept the jewel box in Southampton.

### Mr. Hetherwick

Accompanies Matherfield to Garrowell's, then joins Mapperley to investigate 56 Little Smith Street.

### Mr. Mapperley

Traces the special paper to a stationer and identifies Baseverie's address as 56 Little Smith Street.

### Issy Goldmark

Assists Mapperley by watching the house on Little Smith Street.

### Mrs. Mallett

Landlady of 56 Little Smith Street; denies knowing Baseverie or Basing and slams the door on Hetherwick.

### Lord Morradale

Present at Garrowell's office and expresses concern about the jewels' safety.

## Key lines

> But Matherfield suddenly laughed, throwing up both hands as if with a sudden inspiration. 'No, my lord, no!' he said. 'No! The box is safe enough in the post. It's off to Mr. C. Basing, Post Office, Southampton. And when Mr. Basing calls to collect it—he'll find me!'

Matherfield laughs and declares the jewel box is safe in the mail and that he will be waiting for the recipient in Southampton.

_Matherfield's confidence in intercepting the criminals at the post office._

> The woman suddenly banged the door to, narrowly missing Hetherwick's hand, which he had closed on the edge; a second later they heard the bolt slipped and the key turned. And Hetherwick, as with a swift illumination, comprehended things, and turned sharply on his clerk. 'Mapperley!' he exclaimed. 'Sure as fate! Those ladies are in there! Trapped!'

Mrs. Mallett slams the door, nearly crushing Hetherwick's hand, and Hetherwick realizes the missing women are imprisoned inside.

_Hetherwick's sudden insight that the women are held captive in the house._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-the-landlady-of-little-smith-street
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_charing_cross_mystery_se/chapters