The Cheyne Mystery · Chapter
XI: Otto Schulz's Secret explained
Cheyne, anxious about Joan Merrill's disappearance, is confronted by James Dangle, who reveals Joan has twisted her ankle and is safe.
What happens
Cheyne, anxious about Joan Merrill's disappearance, is confronted by James Dangle, who reveals Joan has twisted her ankle and is safe. Dangle proposes that Cheyne join their gang, explaining that the secret involves a cipher and a valuable invention. He reveals that the gang has moved Joan to a new location as a precaution, and threatens that if Cheyne refuses, Joan will be killed. Dangle then tells the true story of Arnold Price and their connection during the war, leading to the revelation of Otto Schulz's secret.
Themes in this chapter
Trust and Betrayal
Cheyne struggles to trust Dangle's offer, given the gang's past deceit, while Dangle attempts to build trust by revealing the true story behind the conspiracy.
Cunning and Intellect
Dangle uses a combination of threat and reasoned proposal to persuade Cheyne, and the cipher represents a puzzle requiring intellectual effort to solve.
Greed and Criminal Conspiracy
The gang's motivation is financial gain from Schulz's invention, and they employ kidnapping and coercion to protect their interests.
Characters to notice
- Maxwell Cheyne
Anxious about Joan Merrill's safety, Cheyne confronts Dangle and listens to his proposition, ultimately agreeing to join the gang after hearing the truth about Otto Schulz's secret.
- James Dangle
Dangle approaches Cheyne with a proposal to join the gang, reveals Joan's injury and relocation, and tells the true story of Arnold Price and the secret.
- Joan Merrill
Joan is reported by Dangle to have twisted her ankle while retrieving the tracing and is now held by the gang at an undisclosed location as leverage.
- Susan Dangle
Susan is mentioned as having helped Joan after her injury, bathing and binding her ankle.
- Arnold Price
Arnold Price is central to Dangle's story, having been third mate on the Maurania in 1917 and involved in the secret that led to the current conspiracy.
- Otto Schulz
Schulz is revealed as the inventor of a valuable secret, and his widow is entitled to a share of the proceeds from the invention.
Key passages
“I am sorry to say she has met with a slight accident... only a twisted ankle.”
Dangle informs Cheyne that Joan has twisted her ankle but is otherwise fine.
Dangle uses this news to calm Cheyne and gain his attention for the proposal.
“Mr. Cheyne, if you refuse you will never see Miss Merrill alive!”
Dangle threatens that Joan will be killed if Cheyne does not accept the gang's offer.
This threat underscores the high stakes and the gang's ruthless tactics.
“This time it won't be a yarn. I will tell you the truth.”
Dangle promises that his story about Arnold Price and the secret is genuine.
Dangle contrasts this with his earlier fabricated tale about St. John Price.