# But and If explained — The Dain Curse

> Chapter companion for The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett.

## What happens

The narrator and Fitzstephan debate Mrs. Leggett's psychological motives, the Dain curse, and the inconsistencies in the case over dinner. The narrator questions why Mrs. Leggett would kill her husband after years of waiting for him, and discusses Gabrielle's flight to the Haldorns. Later, at the inquests, the narrator sees Gabrielle with Madison Andrews but apart from Eric Collinson. The chapter ends with a call from the Old Man summoning the narrator back as the Leggett case becomes active again.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Illusion

The narrator and Fitzstephan debate whether Mrs. Leggett's confession is truthful or a calculated lie to protect herself.

### Family and Dysfunction

The Leggett family's toxic dynamics are explored, including Mrs. Leggett's manipulation and Gabrielle's flight from home.

### Crime and Detection

The chapter focuses on analyzing motives and evidence in the Leggett murder case, with the narrator recalled to active investigation.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Debates Mrs. Leggett's motives with Fitzstephan, attends inquests, and is recalled to the Leggett case.

### Owen Fitzstephan

Dines with the narrator and discusses the psychological basis of Mrs. Leggett's actions.

### Gabrielle Leggett

Seen at the inquests with Madison Andrews, apparently not with Eric Collinson.

### Madison Andrews

Leggett's attorney and executor, accompanies Gabrielle at the inquests.

### Eric Collinson

Present at the inquests but not with Gabrielle; nods to the narrator.

### Minnie Hershey

Mentioned as having bought some of Gabrielle's jewelry and sent her man to pawn the rest.

## Key lines

> The killing of her sister is plain enough, knowing her character as we now do, and so are the killing of her husband, her attempt to ruin her niece's life when she was exposed, and even her determination to kill herself on the stairs rather than be caught. But the quiet years in between—where do they fit in?

Fitzstephan finds Mrs. Leggett's violent actions understandable given her character, but is puzzled by the long period of calm between them.

_Fitzstephan questions the psychological consistency of Mrs. Leggett's behavior._

> She was simple as an animal, with an animal's simple ignorance of right and wrong, dislike for being thwarted, and spitefulness when trapped.

The narrator describes Mrs. Leggett as fundamentally amoral and reactive, like a wild creature.

_The narrator reduces Mrs. Leggett's motives to primitive instincts rather than complex psychology._

> You're never satisfied until you've got two buts and an if attached to everything.

Fitzstephan accuses the narrator of always finding reasons to doubt or complicate any explanation.

_Fitzstephan criticizes the narrator's skeptical and analytical nature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dain_curse_se/chapters/viii-but-and-if
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dain_curse_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dain_curse_se/chapters