# Mr. Marl Squeezes a Little More explained — The Crimson Circle

> Chapter companion for The Crimson Circle by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Thalia Drummond, now working as Brabazon's secretary, receives a letter from the Crimson Circle instructing her to investigate Felix Marl's hold over Brabazon and to report on Parr and Derrick Yale's visits. Meanwhile, Marl blackmails Brabazon over a past scandal and his recent secret meeting, forcing Brabazon to agree to a loan. After Marl leaves, Brabazon sends a coded message to the Crimson Circle about Marl.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Control

Marl uses blackmail to control Brabazon, while the Crimson Circle exerts control over Thalia through instructions.

### Deception and Identity

Thalia works undercover as a secretary while serving the Crimson Circle; Marl hides his true intentions behind a jovial facade.

## Character check-ins

### Thalia Drummond

Now employed as Brabazon's private secretary; receives instructions from the Crimson Circle to spy on Marl and report on Parr and Yale.

### Felix Marl

Blackmails Brabazon over a past accident and a recent secret meeting; shows interest in Thalia Drummond.

### Brabazon

Bank president being blackmailed by Marl; reluctantly agrees to a loan and later sends a coded message to the Crimson Circle.

### Derrick Yale

Visits the bank briefly; Thalia reports his presence to the Circle.

### Mr. Parr

Mentioned as not having visited the bank, but Thalia is instructed to report if he does.

## Key lines

> Make the acquaintance of Marl. Discover why he has a hold over Brabazon. Send me the figures of his account and notify me immediately his account is closed.

Get to know Marl, find out why he controls Brabazon, send me his account details, and tell me as soon as his account is closed.

_Instructions from the Crimson Circle to Thalia._

> I'll tell you a story, a story about a penniless young clerk that married the widow of Seller, of Seller's Bank. She was old enough to be his mother, and died suddenly—in Switzerland. She fell over a precipice.

Let me remind you of the tale of a poor clerk who married the elderly widow of Seller, who then died in a fall in Switzerland.

_Marl blackmails Brabazon by referencing a past scandal._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crimson_circle_se/chapters/xiii-mr-marl-squeezes-a-little-more
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crimson_circle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crimson_circle_se/chapters