The Eight Strokes of the Clock · Chapter
The Lady with the Hatchet explained
Hortense Daniel disappears on October 18, becoming the seventh victim of the serial killer known as the Lady with the Hatchet.
What happens
Hortense Daniel disappears on October 18, becoming the seventh victim of the serial killer known as the Lady with the Hatchet. Prince Rénine, realizing he loves Hortense, dedicates himself to solving the mystery of the six previous murders—women abducted and found dead a week later with a hatchet blow to the forehead. After days of intense study and a breakthrough clue, he confronts M. de Lourtier-Vaneau, who reveals that the killer is his mad wife Hermance, driven insane by the death of their twin children.
Themes in this chapter
Crime and Punishment
The chapter details a series of brutal hatchet murders and the investigation to stop the killer, culminating in the revelation of the perpetrator.
Love and Romance
Rénine's deep love for Hortense is revealed as he desperately works to save her, risking everything to find her.
Identity and Deception
M. de Lourtier hides his true marital status and his wife's madness, while the killer's identity is concealed until the climax.
Fate and Superstition
The killer's notebook with numbered names suggests a methodical, almost fated pattern of murder, and Rénine races against time to alter Hortense's fate.
Characters to notice
- Prince Rénine
Desperately searches for Hortense after her disappearance, realizing his love for her; deduces the killer's identity and confronts M. de Lourtier.
- Hortense Daniel
Abducted on October 18, the seventh victim of the Lady with the Hatchet; her disappearance drives Rénine's investigation.
- de Lourtier - Vaneau
Retired colonial governor; initially evasive but eventually confesses that his mad wife Hermance is the serial killer.
- Hermance
M. de Lourtier's first wife, driven mad by the death of her twin children; revealed as the Lady with the Hatchet.
- Williamson
Miss Hermione Williamson, the sixth victim; her name appears in the killer's notebook, leading to the discovery of her body.
- Covereau
Mlle. Covereau, the second victim; a washerwoman from Courbevoie, mentioned in the list of murdered women.
- Honorine Vernisset
Mlle. Honorine Vernisset, a dressmaker and the fourth victim; listed in the killer's notebook.
- Madame Ladoue
The first victim, wife of a doctor; her name appears in the killer's list.
Key passages
“The abduction precedes the blow of the hatchet by a week. I have, therefore, at the present moment, seven full days before me.”
Rénine calculates that Hortense will be killed exactly one week after her disappearance, giving him seven days to find her.
Highlights the urgency and Rénine's methodical approach to the case.
“He was attached to Hortense by a much stronger and deeper feeling than the appearance of the relations between them would have led an onlooker to believe.”
Rénine realizes his feelings for Hortense have deepened into love, far beyond their initial adventures.
Reveals Rénine's emotional vulnerability and the romantic subplot.
“The truth about this monstrous tragedy, which suddenly flashed upon you, this truth, if it were known, would spell dishonour to you, disgrace … and you are shrinking from your duty.”
Rénine accuses M. de Lourtier of hiding the truth to protect his reputation, even at the cost of Hortense's life.
Shows the conflict between personal honor and moral duty.
“The poor thing went mad … with the silent, secretive madness which you imagined.”
M. de Lourtier describes how his wife Hermance became quietly insane after their children's accidental death.
Provides the backstory for the killer's motive and madness.
