The Clue of the New Pin · Chapter
XIII explained
Inspector Carver and Tab Holland investigate a break-in at Mayfield, discovering a hidden steel brick box that had been emptied.
What happens
Inspector Carver and Tab Holland investigate a break-in at Mayfield, discovering a hidden steel brick box that had been emptied. Mr. Stott, who witnessed the intruders, is confronted by Carver for withholding information. Tab begins to wonder if Jesse Trasmere was a worse man than anyone imagined.
Themes in this chapter
Crime and Justice
The break-in at Mayfield and Carver's investigation highlight the pursuit of justice, while Mr. Stott's failure to report the crime raises questions about civic duty.
Secrecy and Deception
The hidden brick box, the woman's identity, and Mr. Stott's withholding of information all underscore themes of secrecy and deception.
Characters to notice
- Tab Holland
Accompanies Carver to Mayfield after the break-in; silently identifies the woman as Ursula Ardfern but keeps it to himself; begins to question Trasmere's character.
- Inspector Carver
Leads the investigation into the break-in; discovers the secret brick box; confronts Mr. Stott about withholding information.
- Mr. Stott
Witnesses the break-in and reports it to Carver; later boasts about the incident at Toby's café; is confronted by Carver for not reporting earlier.
- Ursula Ardfern
Implied to be the woman who garaged her car at Trasmere's and entered the house with a square black bag; Tab suspects her but finds the idea unthinkable.
- Jesse Trasmere
The deceased; Tab wonders if he was a worse man than anyone imagined.
- Eline Simpson
Mentioned as Mr. Stott's servant who was sent to find a policeman; Mr. Stott threatens to fire her.
Key passages
“only had the pluck to telephone to the police when the girl first told him the story, we could have caught those birds.”
If only he had been brave enough to call the police when the girl first told him, we could have caught them.
Carver criticizes Mr. Stott for not reporting the break-in earlier.
“Who was the woman who, night after night, garaged her car in Trasmere’s garden and let herself into the house carrying a square black bag?”
Who was the woman who parked her car in Trasmere's garden every night and entered the house with a square black bag?
Carver puzzles over the identity of the woman, whom Tab suspects is Ursula Ardfern.
“I am wondering whether old Trasmere was a much worse man than any of us imagine”
I'm wondering if old Trasmere was a far worse man than any of us think.
Tab expresses doubt about Trasmere's character after the break-in.