The Cheyne Mystery · Chapter
XVII: On the Flood Tide explained
Inspector French investigates the departure of vessels from Antwerp on the previous Thursday, focusing on a tramp steamer, the L'Escaut, which sailed for Casablanca.
What happens
Inspector French investigates the departure of vessels from Antwerp on the previous Thursday, focusing on a tramp steamer, the L'Escaut, which sailed for Casablanca. He discovers that Blessington and Dangle were rowed out to the ship, but not Sime. French confronts M. Lowenthal, who claims ignorance of the criminal nature of Blessington, Sime, and Dangle, but later flees to Holland, prompting French to involve the Belgian police.
Themes in this chapter
Cunning and Intellect
French uses clever questioning and deduction to trace the gang's escape route via the L'Escaut.
Deception and Identity
Lowenthal's false story about Dangle being a writer and the secret boarding of the ship highlight deception.
Greed and Criminal Conspiracy
The involvement of Blessington, Sime, and Dangle in a criminal plot to flee the country.
Characters to notice
- Inspector French
Leads the investigation in Antwerp, tracing vessels and questioning witnesses.
- Blessington
Identified by a boatman as having been rowed out to the L'Escaut.
- M. Dangle
Also rowed out to the L'Escaut; claimed to be a writer by Merkel.
- M. Lowenthal
Junior partner of Merkel & Lowenthal; questioned by French and later flees to Holland.
- M. Merkel
Senior partner who sailed with the L'Escaut; allegedly took Dangle, Blessington, and Sime as passengers.
- M. Jules Renard
Young linguist hired by French as interpreter to assist with inquiries on the quays.
Key passages
“When French wished to be suave, as he usually did, he could, so to speak, have wheedled his best bone from a bulldog.”
French's charm was so effective that he could persuade even the most stubborn person to cooperate.
Illustrates French's diplomatic skill in obtaining information.
“He had no doubt that Dangle had sailed with the senior partner on the tramp, but he felt he must make sure, and he walked slowly back towards the quays, turning over in his mind possible methods for settling the point.”
French was confident Dangle was on the ship but wanted to confirm it, so he considered ways to verify.
Shows French's methodical approach to investigation.
“Not a single word of this statement did French believe, but he saw that unless he could get some further information, or surprise this Lowenthal into some more damaging admission, he could not have him arrested.”
French doubted Lowenthal's story entirely but lacked enough evidence to arrest him without more proof.
Highlights the tension between suspicion and legal proof.