The Door with Seven Locks · Chapter
XX explained
Dick Martin's growing obsession with Sybil Lansdown leads him to the library, where he learns she left with a mysterious woman in a Rolls-Royce.
What happens
Dick Martin's growing obsession with Sybil Lansdown leads him to the library, where he learns she left with a mysterious woman in a Rolls-Royce. His unease deepens when Mrs. Lansdown reveals Sybil's friend is not wealthy. That night, he receives a terrifying phone call from a man being murdered in Sussex. Martin and Inspector Sneed rush to Weald House, break in, and discover the body of a woman leaning over the banisters, her face frozen in horror.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Deception
Sybil's unexplained departure with a stranger and the mysterious phone call highlight layers of hidden truths.
Crime and Detection
Martin's police instincts and the break-in at Weald House drive the investigation of a suspected murder.
Madness and Control
The frantic murder call and the frozen, horrified face of the victim suggest a loss of control and terror.
Characters to notice
- Dick Martin
Driven by personal feelings for Sybil, he investigates her disappearance and receives a murder call, leading him to Weald House.
- Sybil Lansdown
She is absent from home, having left the library with an unknown woman in a Rolls-Royce, causing Martin concern.
- Mrs. Lansdown
She dines with Martin and provides information about Sybil's friend, but is unaware of the mysterious car.
- Inspector Sneed
Accompanies Martin to Weald House, skeptical at first, but witnesses the grim discovery.
- Bertram Cody
The owner of Weald House, whose narrow window is forced by Martin; his home is the scene of a murder.
Key passages
“It was more than accident that took Dick Martin to the library that previous afternoon. He had come to feel that a day without a glimpse of this tantalizing girl was a day wasted.”
Dick Martin's visit to the library was deliberate; he was infatuated with Sybil and couldn't bear to miss seeing her.
Reveals Martin's personal motivation and growing attachment to Sybil.
“Murder. … I'm being murdered. … Oh, God! They are here … the boys … murder!”
A terrified voice on the phone cries out that he is being killed, mentioning attackers.
The pivotal phone call that sets the investigation in motion.
“There's murder here. Can you smell blood?”
Martin senses death in the air, detecting the scent of blood before seeing any body.
Highlights Martin's acute senses and the grim atmosphere of Weald House.