The Door with Seven Locks · Chapter
XV explained
Dick Martin, Sybil Lansdown, and Mr.
What happens
Dick Martin, Sybil Lansdown, and Mr. Havelock return to the Selford tombs, where Dick fires at a mysterious half-naked figure and discovers cylinders of chlorine gas. He later examines the door with seven locks, finding that two keys are insufficient to open it. After returning to London, Dick meets with Inspector Sneed to discuss the day's events and the ongoing investigation, including the planned raid on Stalletti.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Deception
The mysterious figure, the hidden cylinders of chlorine gas, and the locked door with seven keys all underscore the theme of hidden knowledge and deceptive appearances.
Crime and Detection
Dick Martin and Inspector Sneed's investigation into the strange events at the Selford tombs, including the attempted murder and the discovery of poison gas, highlights the process of criminal detection.
Madness and Control
The half-naked 'beast-man' and the suggestion of Stalletti's experiments evoke themes of madness and the loss of control over scientific or criminal creations.
Characters to notice
- Dick Martin
Fires at a mysterious figure, discovers chlorine gas cylinders, examines the door with seven locks, and later meets with Inspector Sneed to discuss the case.
- Sybil Lansdown
Accompanies Dick and Havelock to the tombs, is distressed by the shooting, and later apologizes to Havelock for the unpleasant adventure.
- Mr. Havelock
Accompanies Dick and Sybil to the tombs, provides a key to the gate, and later discusses the day's events with Dick.
- Inspector Sneed
Meets with Dick to discuss the investigation, reveals plans for a raid on Stalletti, and examines the key from the door with seven locks.
- Lew Pheeney
Mentioned as having failed to pick the locks on the door with seven locks, and as a real-world criminal who suffered agony while working on the door.
Key passages
“Suddenly Dick’s pistol leapt up. Twice he fired at the figure he glimpsed through the dripping rhododendrons.”
Dick quickly raised his pistol and fired two shots at a figure he saw through the wet rhododendron bushes.
Dick reacts to a perceived threat by shooting at a mysterious figure.
“He turned the cylinder over; it was about four feet in length and immensely heavy. Attached to the nozzle was a rubber tube about an inch in diameter.”
He examined the cylinder, which was about four feet long and very heavy, with a rubber tube about an inch wide attached to its nozzle.
Dick discovers a large, heavy cylinder with a rubber tube, later identified as containing chlorine gas.
“Seven keys had to turn simultaneously before the door would open; and when it opened, what was there to see?”
The door required all seven keys to be turned at the same time to open, and Dick wondered what lay behind it.
Dick reflects on the complex mechanism of the door with seven locks.
“The beast-man, then, was somewhere at hand; in all likelihood was watching him at this moment with hateful eyes.”
The half-naked man was nearby, probably watching Dick with hostile eyes.
Dick realizes the mysterious figure is still close by, watching him.
“Inspector Sneed sighed. 'I want to get it over before the local Sherlocks arrive,' he said.”
Inspector Sneed sighed and said he wanted to finish the raid before the local detectives showed up.
Sneed expresses his desire to conduct the raid without interference from local police.
