The Circular Staircase · Chapter
At the Foot of the Stairs explained
Rachel Innes returns to Sunnyside and, driven by curiosity, discovers the secret entrance to the hidden room behind the mantel in the trunk-room.
What happens
Rachel Innes returns to Sunnyside and, driven by curiosity, discovers the secret entrance to the hidden room behind the mantel in the trunk-room. She becomes trapped inside, and later a mysterious intruder joins her in the darkness. A chase ensues as Jamieson and the detectives break in, but the intruder escapes through a hidden passage.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Deception
The hidden room behind the mantel, the secret panel, and the detectives' feigned departure all underscore the theme of concealed truths and deceptive appearances.
Isolation and Vulnerability
Rachel's entrapment in the dark, hidden room and her confrontation with the intruder highlight her physical and psychological vulnerability.
Characters to notice
- Rachel Innes
Investigates the trunk-room, discovers the secret mantel door, becomes trapped in the hidden room, and confronts an intruder.
- Mr. Jamieson
Leads the search for the secret room and orchestrates the pursuit of the intruder.
- Liddy Allen
Brings Rachel tea and a book, then naps before dinner.
- Halsey Innes
Expected to return home that night; his arrival is signaled by the sound of an automobile.
- Gertrude Innes
Sends a message that Halsey insists on coming home.
- Alexander Graham
Determined to liberate Rachel from the hidden room.
Key passages
“Trust a woman to add two and two together, and make six.”
Halsey jokingly criticizes Rachel for overcomplicating simple deductions.
Reflects the gender dynamics and Rachel's counter-argument about discovering the unknown quantity.
“I am not fond of a height. The few occasions on which I have climbed a stepladder have always left me dizzy and weak in the knees. The top of the Washington Monument is as impossible to me as the elevation of the presidential chair. And yet—I climbed out on to the Sunnyside roof without a second’s hesitation.”
Despite her fear of heights, Rachel climbs onto the roof driven by determination.
Highlights Rachel's courage and the intensity of her investigation.