The D’Arblay Mystery · Chapter
A Surprise for the Superintendent explained
Thorndyke, Superintendent Miller, Stephen Gray, and Dr.
What happens
Thorndyke, Superintendent Miller, Stephen Gray, and Dr. Usher conduct an exhumation of Jonathan Crile's coffin, only to find it contains a sack of sawdust and a lead pipe instead of a body. Thorndyke reveals he suspected the coffin was empty based on discrepancies in the alleged deaths of Crile and Bendelow. The group swears the cemetery officials to secrecy to preserve the element of surprise. Later, Thorndyke shows Gray a gate from the garden to the canal towpath, hinting at a connection to the murder of Julius D'Arblay.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Fraud
The empty coffin reveals a deliberate deception involving a mock funeral and substitution of the body.
Forensic Science and Deduction
Thorndyke deduces the coffin might be empty based on discrepancies in the alleged deaths, and plans fingerprint analysis.
Murder and Investigation
The exhumation is part of the ongoing investigation into Julius D'Arblay's murder, linking the empty coffin to the case.
Characters to notice
- Dr. Thorndyke
Leads the exhumation, reveals he suspected the coffin was empty, and shows Gray the garden gate to the canal.
- Detective-Superintendent Miller
Obtains the exhumation license, is astonished by the empty coffin, and agrees to keep the discovery secret.
- Stephen Gray
Accompanies the party, is bewildered by the empty coffin, and later learns of the garden gate's significance.
- Dr. Usher
Attends the exhumation to identify the body, recounts his attendance on Crile, and is puzzled by the empty coffin.
- Dr. Garroll
Medical Officer of Health supervising the exhumation for sanitary purposes.
- Julius D'Arblay
Referenced as the murder victim whose case is being investigated.
Key passages
“In place of the mortal remains of the late Jonathan Crile, was a portly sack oozing sawdust from a hole in its side, through which coyly peeped a length of thick lead pipe.”
The coffin contained a sack of sawdust and a lead pipe instead of a body.
The central discovery of the exhumation, confirming the coffin was a decoy.
“Two men were alleged to have died, and one of them was certainly cremated. It followed that either the other man had died, as alleged, or that his funeral was a mock funeral.”
Since one man was cremated, the other's funeral must have been faked.
Thorndyke's logical deduction leading to the exhumation.
“It was undoubtedly Bendelow who was cremated.”
The cremated body was Bendelow's, not Crile's.
Gray's realization after the empty coffin is found.