# XIII explained — The Door with Seven Locks

> Chapter companion for The Door with Seven Locks by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Dick Martin visits Inspector Sneed at Scotland Yard to share his findings and suspicions. Sneed identifies the nearly naked attacker as Dr. Stalletti, who has a history of bizarre experiments aimed at reverting humans to a primitive state. Sneed arranges surveillance and a raid on Gallows Cottage. Later, Dick returns to his flat and is attacked in the night by a monstrous hand, but he escapes and the assailant flees via a rope ladder. Dick deduces this is the same murderer who killed Lew Pheeney.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Detection

Dick Martin collaborates with Inspector Sneed to investigate the attacks and murder, employing deduction and police resources.

### Madness and Control

Dr. Stalletti's experiments to create primitive humans reflect a twisted desire to control human evolution.

### Secrecy and Deception

Dick uses covert tactics to evade surveillance and the mysterious assailant employs stealth and a rope ladder to infiltrate the flat.

## Character check-ins

### Dick Martin

Visits Inspector Sneed, shares his discoveries, and later survives an attack in his flat by a mysterious assailant.

### Inspector Sneed

Listens to Dick's report, identifies Stalletti as the likely attacker, and orders surveillance and a raid on Gallows Cottage.

### Antonio Stalletti

Identified by Sneed as the nearly naked attacker; known for his experiments to create primitive humans.

### Slick

Present during the conversation at Scotland Yard, asking about Stalletti's 'old tricks.'

### Lew Pheeney

Mentioned as the victim whose murder Dick believes was committed by the same assailant who attacked him.

## Key lines

> Rearranging the human race

Altering humanity's natural development

_Inspector Sneed describes Stalletti's experiments to create primitive humans._

> To be seen out with you is like wearing my name and licence

Being seen with you is as conspicuous as displaying my identity publicly

_Dick Martin declines Sneed's offer to walk him home, fearing association with a police officer._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xiii
- 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