VI: In the East Corridor explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Secrecy and Deception

  The detective enjoins absolute secrecy on the household, and Rachel considers her own attempts to hoodwink the law.

• Family and Loyalty

  The Armstrong family's troubled history is revealed, including the estrangement between Arnold and his father, and the lawyer's lament about the prodigal son.

• Crime and Justice

  The murder investigation continues with the detective gathering clues, examining evidence, and pursuing a suspect in the house.

• Isolation and Vulnerability

  Rachel feels the weight of the situation alone, with Gertrude locked in her room and Halsey missing, as the murder casts suspicion on the household.

Characters to notice

• Rachel Innes

  Rachel interviews Mr. Harton, views the body, and later confronts Mr. Jamieson about the clues. She accompanies him to the east corridor and discovers the clothes chute.

• Mr. Jamieson

  The detective investigates the grounds, examines Arnold Armstrong's effects, and later locks a suspect in a small room that turns out to be the clothes chute.

• Mr. Harton

  The Armstrong family lawyer visits Sunnyside to discuss the murder and the family's situation. He reveals details about Arnold Armstrong and the family's history.

• Gertrude Innes

  Gertrude is mentioned as being locked in her room with a headache and does not appear in the chapter.

• Halsey Innes

  Halsey is absent and his whereabouts are unknown. A scrap of paper with his signature practiced repeatedly is found among Arnold's effects.

• Arnold Armstrong

  The murder victim. His body is viewed by Rachel and Mr. Harton before being taken away. His effects include the two scraps of paper.

• Mrs. Watson

  Mrs. Watson appears briefly at the cardroom door while Rachel and Mr. Harton view the body, showing regret for the dead man.

• Louise Armstrong

  Mentioned as the stepdaughter of Paul Armstrong, currently in California with the family.

Key passages

• ““This is very unfortunate, Miss Innes,” he said, after we had shaken hands. “Most unfortunate⁠—and mysterious. With the father and mother in the west, I find everything devolves on me; and, as you can understand, it is an unpleasant duty.””

  Mr. Harton expresses regret over the murder and the burden of handling the Armstrong family's affairs in the parents' absence.

  Mr. Harton's opening remarks to Rachel about the difficulty of his role.

• ““The prodigal has come home, Miss Innes,” he said. “How often the sins of the fathers are visited on the children!””

  Mr. Harton reflects on Arnold Armstrong's return to Sunnyside in death, alluding to the consequences of parental wrongdoing.

  Mr. Harton's comment after viewing the body, referencing the biblical prodigal son.

• ““I have,” he said with a smile, “and the print of a foot in a tulip bed, and a number of other things. The oddest part is, Miss Innes, that the thumbmark is probably yours and the footprint certainly.””

  Mr. Jamieson reveals he has collected a thumbprint and a footprint from the tulip bed, implying Rachel's involvement.

  Mr. Jamieson's teasing accusation that Rachel left clues at the crime scene.

• ““Miss Innes,” he said quickly, “will you come with me and light the east corridor? I have fastened somebody in the small room at the head of the cardroom stairs.””

  Mr. Jamieson urgently asks Rachel to help illuminate the east corridor because he has trapped a person in a small room.

  Mr. Jamieson's request that leads to the discovery of the clothes chute.