# XV: Fessenden’s Detective Work explained — The Clue

> Chapter companion for The Clue by Carolyn Wells.

## What happens

Rob Fessenden begins his own investigation, determined to prove Schuyler Carleton innocent. He interviews Mrs. Markham and learns about Miss Morton's inheritance and the burning of a will. Kitty French shares her suspicions about Cicely Dupuy, and the maid Marie reveals that she saw Miss Morton burn a paper, which Fessenden believes may be a later will. The chapter deepens the mystery around Miss Morton's motives and the possibility of a premeditated murder.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Inheritance

The burning of a will and Miss Morton's sudden inheritance become central to the motive for murder.

### Secrecy and Confession

Marie's confession about the burned paper and Cicely's ramblings highlight hidden truths and guilty knowledge.

### Detection and Reasoning

Fessenden systematically gathers clues and interviews witnesses, applying logical deduction to solve the crime.

## Character check-ins

### Rob Fessenden

Takes charge of the investigation, interviews witnesses, and develops theories about the murder.

### Mrs. Markham

Provides key background on Miss Morton's inheritance and expresses doubts about Carleton's innocence.

### Elizabeth Morton

Revealed as the heir to the Van Norman house; her burning of a paper raises suspicion.

### Kitty French

Assists Fessenden and shares her concerns about Cicely Dupuy's guilty behavior.

### Cicely Dupuy

Reported to be ill and rambling, suggesting a guilty conscience.

### Marie

The French maid who confesses to seeing Miss Morton burn a paper, implicating her in a possible cover-up.

## Key lines

> I think I’m justified in telling you this. Mr. Carleton didn’t love Madeleine, and he did love another girl. Madeleine worshipped him, and I think he came last night to ask her to release him, and she refused, and then⁠—and then⁠—

Mrs. Markham suggests that Carleton came to break off the engagement, and when Madeleine refused, he may have killed her.

_This theory introduces a possible motive for Carleton, challenging Fessenden's belief in his friend's innocence._

> The will she burnt was a later one, that didn’t give her this house. She burnt it so the earlier one would stand.

Kitty French theorizes that Miss Morton destroyed a newer will that did not benefit her, leaving the older will that bequeathed the house to her as the valid one.

_This deduction points to Miss Morton's potential motive for murder and cover-up._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xv-fessenden-s-detective-work
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_clue_se/chapters