# IX explained — The Door with Seven Locks > Chapter companion for The Door with Seven Locks by Edgar Wallace. ## What happens Dick Martin drives through a storm to visit Bertram Cody, where he discovers a key similar to Sybil Lansdown's. On his return journey, he is waylaid by a staged road closure and attacked by a naked, bestial figure at the home of Dr. Stalletti, whom he had earlier encountered for petrol. ## Themes in this chapter ### Secrecy and Deception Cody's denial of contact with Lord Selford and the staged road closure highlight layers of deceit. ### Crime and Detection Dick's investigation of the key and the attack at Stalletti's house advance the criminal plot. ## Character check-ins ### Dick Martin Drives to Cody's, finds a key, and later fights a naked assailant at Stalletti's house. ### Sybil Lansdown Recalled by Dick when he touches the notebook; her key is compared to the one he found. ### Bertram Cody Visited by Dick; denies communication with Lord Selford. ### Antonio Stalletti Encountered at his house; sells petrol to Dick and is linked to the attack. ### Slick Mentally referred to as Dick examines the red lamps on the road. ## Key lines > Dick drove a six-cylinder coupé whose bodywork had seen better days, though he claimed for its engine that the world had not seen its equal. Dick's car was old and worn on the outside, but he boasted that its engine was unmatched. _Establishes Dick's character and the setting of the journey._ > Before he unfastened the thin flap of the purse he knew what it contained. But he was unprepared for the shape and size of the key that lay in his palm. Dick anticipated finding a key in the purse, but was surprised by its size and shape. _Key discovery moment, linking to Sybil's key._ > It was an almost exact replica, in point of size, of that which Sybil Lansdown had shown him in the train, and which was now in the strongroom of his bank. The key was nearly identical in size to the one Sybil had shown him, now stored in his bank's safe. _Direct comparison to Sybil's key, reinforcing the mystery._ > The enterprising gentlemen who had made such strenuous efforts, and gone to such expense, to secure Sybil Lansdown’s key would not hesitate to hold up a car. The people who tried so hard to get Sybil's key would likely rob a car without hesitation. _Dick's realization of the danger he faces._ > He threw the middle light into the ditch, and found a satisfaction in hearing the crash of the glass. He tossed the middle lamp into the ditch, enjoying the sound of it breaking. _Dick's defiance against the staged roadblock._ > Huge bare arms were encircling his shoulders; a great hand was groping for his face, and he struck blindly at a bare torso, so muscled that, even as he struck, he realized that he was wasting his strength. A massive, naked figure grabbed Dick from behind; his punches had no effect on the muscular body. _Description of the attack, emphasizing the assailant's strength._ > Suddenly, with a mighty effort, he jerked round, gripped the huge arm with both his hands, and, stooping, jerked his assailant over his head. With a powerful move, Dick twisted, grabbed the arm, and threw the attacker over his head. _Dick's counterattack, showing his physical prowess._ > He flashed the lamp left and right without discovering a trace of his assailant. Was he behind him? Turning, he sent the rays in the direction of the house, and in that second caught sight of a great figure, naked except for a loincloth, disappearing into the bushes. Dick searched with his torch but found no one; then he saw a nearly naked giant vanishing into the bushes near the house. _The attacker's mysterious disappearance, hinting at something inhuman._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/ix - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters