# The Cellar Discovery explained — The Clue of the Twisted Candle > Chapter companion for The Clue of the Twisted Candle by Edgar Wallace. ## What happens T. X. and Mansus investigate Kara's bedroom, finding a second candle, an overturned telephone, and books. T. X. discovers a bloodstained pair of scissors with a handkerchief monogrammed 'B. M. B.' in the cellar. Fisher, the valet, receives a mysterious note and flees. T. X. searches the cellar further, finding a luxurious underground apartment with a dead dog behind a screen, leading him to question whether Belinda Mary killed Kara or the dog. ## Themes in this chapter ### Mystery and Detection T. X. meticulously examines the crime scene, traces blood, and uncovers hidden cellar rooms, embodying the detective's methodical pursuit of truth. ### Deception and Appearances The luxurious cellar apartment and the hidden dog contrast with the apparent simplicity of the crime, while T. X. conceals evidence to protect Belinda Mary. ### Crime and Punishment Kara's murder and the subsequent investigation raise questions of guilt, evidence, and the moral dilemmas of law enforcement. ## Character check-ins ### T. X. Meredith Leads the investigation, discovers the bloody scissors and the dead dog, and conceals the evidence to protect Belinda Mary. ### Superintendent Mansus Assists T. X. in the search, finds the second candle, and helps secure the crime scene. ### Fred Fisher The valet who receives a threatening note, becomes agitated, and flees the house, becoming a suspect. ### Belinda Mary Bartholomew Implied to be involved through the monogrammed handkerchief on the bloody scissors; T. X. suspects she may have killed Kara or the dog. ### Mrs. Beale The terrified cook who provides information about Fisher's absence and the cellar's history. ### Mr. Kara Found dead in his bedroom, murdered by strangulation and stabbing; his belongings are examined. ## Key lines > He cut short her loquacity by inserting one of the keys in the lock⁠—it did not turn, but he had more success with the second. He silenced her chatter and tried the first key, which failed, but the second key opened the lock. _T. X. gains access to the cellar using Kara's keys._ > It was a pair of long-bladed scissors and about the handle was wound a handkerchief. It was not this fact which startled him, but that the scissors’ blades were dappled with blood and blood, too, was on the handkerchief. He found scissors with a handkerchief wrapped around the handle, and was shocked to see blood on both the blades and the cloth. _Discovery of the bloody scissors with Belinda Mary's monogram._ > That he, an accredited officer of police, sworn to the business of criminal detection, should attempt to screen one who was conceivably a criminal was inexplicable. He, a sworn police officer, found it inexplicable that he would protect someone who might be a criminal. _T. X. struggles with his duty versus his desire to protect Belinda Mary._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters/xiv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_of_the_twisted_candle_se/chapters