The Jade God · Chapter
VII: A Mysterious Peddler explained
Derrick encounters a mysterious peddler who speaks in a strange chant and converses with Martin in an unknown language.
What happens
Derrick encounters a mysterious peddler who speaks in a strange chant and converses with Martin in an unknown language. Suspicious, Derrick retrieves the jade god from its hiding place, makes a wax copy, and arms himself. He questions Martin about the peddler and the night of Mr. Millicent's death, probing for connections. The peddler later reveals knowledge of the jade god's origins in an Indo-Chinese temple, claiming the original may have a life of its own. Derrick visits Sergeant Burke to report an anticipated robbery attempt at Beech Lodge, reigniting interest in the Millicent case.
Themes in this chapter
The Occult and Supernatural
The peddler's chant, the jade god described as having 'a sort of life in it,' and the sense of a malevolent presence waiting for its servants highlight supernatural elements.
Fear and Paranoia
Derrick's suspicion of Martin and the peddler, Martin's fear and desperation, and the tense atmosphere of hidden knowledge drive a sense of paranoia.
Guilt and Secrecy
Martin's lies about knowing the peddler and his fearful reaction to questions about Mr. Millicent's death suggest hidden guilt and secrets.
Characters to notice
- Mr. John Derrick
Derrick retrieves the jade god, creates a wax copy, and arms himself. He interrogates Martin about the peddler and the Millicent murder, then visits Sergeant Burke to report a planned robbery.
- John Martin
Martin is visibly tense and fearful during Derrick's questioning, lies about knowing the peddler, and shows desperation when the Millicent case is mentioned.
- The Stranger
The mysterious peddler arrives at Beech Lodge, speaks in a strange chant, converses with Martin in an unknown language, and reveals detailed knowledge of the jade god's origins.
- Sergeant Burke
Burke listens to Derrick's report about the peddler and the planned robbery, becoming excited that the Millicent case may be revived.
- Perkins
Derrick briefly considers whether Perkins might know Eastern languages, recalling her dream-haunted sleep and babbling.
Key passages
“though he were delivering a verdict, framed almost in a mysterious chant that sounded as though it came from an infinite distance.”
The peddler spoke in a strange, rhythmic chant that seemed to come from far away, as if pronouncing a judgment.
Describes the peddler's eerie manner of speaking.
“Derrick felt a quickening of his pulse. Once again everything fitted in. The peddler would stay, but not on account of sore feet.”
Derrick's heart raced as he realized the peddler's true purpose was not his sore feet but something more sinister.
Derrick's suspicion that the peddler's arrival is connected to the jade god.
“I was wondering whether it was possible that anyone answering to the description of this stranger had been hanging about the night Mr. Millicent was killed.”
Derrick suggested that the peddler might have been present on the night of Mr. Millicent's murder.
Derrick probes Martin about a possible link between the peddler and the murder.
“the copy is dead, but, from what I gathered in the East, the real thing may have a sort of life in it.”
The peddler said the wax copy was lifeless, but the original jade god might possess a kind of vitality.
The peddler's belief in the supernatural nature of the jade god.