The Circular Staircase · Chapter
XXII: A Ladder Out of Place explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Jamieson returns to town, leaving Halsey and Alex to guard Sunnyside. Rachel observes Gertrude's secretive movements and discovers Alex waiting on a bridge instead of Jack Bailey. The household maintains vigilance against intruders. On Thursday, the laundress Mary Anne reports finding a ladder propped up inside the clothes chute, indicating another attempted break-in. Halsey and Alex remove the ladder and reinforce the chute door. Rachel grows increasingly nervous as the mystery deepens.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Deception
Rachel secretly follows Gertrude to confirm her meeting with Jack Bailey, and the household keeps its security arrangements hidden from the servants.
Isolation and Vulnerability
The repeated invasions and the discovery of the ladder in the chute heighten the sense of vulnerability and nervousness among the household.
Characters to notice
- Rachel Innes
Narrates the chapter, observes Gertrude's movements, interrogates Mary Anne about the ladder, and grows increasingly nervous.
- Mr. Jamieson
Suggests sending a man out in his place, then returns to town early in the evening.
- Halsey Innes
Plays golf, sleeps on the davenport, and later guards the house with Alex; helps remove the ladder from the chute.
- Gertrude Innes
Wanders out into the starlight, presumably to meet Jack Bailey, but returns quickly.
- Alexander Graham
Alex the gardener is seen on the bridge smoking a pipe; he helps guard the house and removes the ladder from the chute.
- Mary Anne
The laundress reports finding a ladder in the clothes chute; she is nervous and admits to leaving a window open.
Key passages
“I had no intention of eavesdropping, but I wanted to be certain that it was Jack Bailey she was meeting.”
Rachel followed Gertrude not to spy, but to confirm she was meeting Jack Bailey.
Rachel's protective concern over Gertrude's involvement.
“There’s a ladder up the clothes chute, Miss Innes. It’s up that tight I can’t move it, and I didn’t like to ask for help until I spoke to you.”
Mary Anne discovered a ladder wedged in the clothes chute and reported it to Rachel.
Evidence of an attempted break-in via the chute.