The Cloven Foot · Chapter
XLII: The Undertaker's Evidence explained
Laura is horrified by the revelation that Desrolles claims to be her father and a murderer.
What happens
Laura is horrified by the revelation that Desrolles claims to be her father and a murderer. John comforts her and insists they investigate. Laura travels to Chiswick with Mr. Sampson to find Ivy Cottage and uncover the truth about her father's death. They visit an undertaker who confirms that Mr. Malcolm died and was buried in Chiswick, lifting a heavy burden from Laura's mind.
Themes in this chapter
Secrets and Deception
Desrolles' false claim about being Laura's father is exposed through investigation.
Inheritance and Legitimacy
Laura's anxiety about her father's criminality and her own legitimacy is resolved.
Characters to notice
- Laura Malcolm
Horrified by Desrolles' claim, then relieved after discovering her father truly died in Chiswick.
- John Treverton
Comforts Laura and devises the plan to investigate Desrolles' story.
- Thomas Sampson
Accompanies Laura to Chiswick and leads the investigation at the undertaker's.
- Mr. Desrolles
Revealed as the murderer of La Chicot and accused of falsely claiming to be Laura's father.
- Stephen Malcolm
Confirmed to have died and been buried in Chiswick, clearing his name.
Key passages
“My father guilty of this cruel murder! A crime of the vilest kind, without a shadow of excuse. And to think that this man's blood flows in my veins, that your wife is the daughter of a murderer.”
Laura is devastated by the idea that Desrolles is her father and a murderer.
Laura's emotional reaction to Desrolles' accusation.
“I no more believe that he is your father than that he is mine. While his claim upon you meant no more than an annuity which it cost us no sacrifice to give, I was too careless to trouble myself about his credentials. But now that he stands revealed as the murderer of that unfortunate woman, it is our business to explode his specious tale.”
John expresses disbelief in Desrolles' paternity and urges Laura to help disprove it.
John's determination to uncover the truth.
“What infinite relief it was to know that her father had never been the pitiful trickster—the crawling pensioner upon a woman's bounty—that she had been taught to think him.”
Laura feels immense relief upon learning her father was not the fraud Desrolles claimed.
Laura's relief at the undertaker's confirmation.