The Just Men of Cordova · Chapter
XIV: Willie Jakobs Tells explained
Colonel Black discovers a thumbprint in his secret office and deduces Willie Jakobs stole a bottle of poison.
What happens
Colonel Black discovers a thumbprint in his secret office and deduces Willie Jakobs stole a bottle of poison. He pursues Jakobs, attempting to cajole him, but Jakobs remains hostile. Meanwhile, Gonsalez (posing as Farmer) meets with Poiccart (posing as Dr. Graille) to discuss their successful deception of Black and Tramber. Later, Jakobs is found stabbed and dies. May Sandford receives a secret note from Black and is visited by a haggard Jakobs, who warns her against Black, but she dismisses him, suspecting Frank Fellowe sent him.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Identity
Gonsalez and Poiccart assume false identities (Farmer and Dr. Graille) to deceive Black and Tramber, while Black himself uses cajolery to manipulate Jakobs.
Crime and Corruption
Black's criminal network is exposed through Jakobs' theft and betrayal, and the Four Just Men's vigilante justice operates in the shadows.
Characters to notice
- Colonel J. Black
Discovers Jakobs' thumbprint, pursues him with a stiletto, and attempts to cajole him into returning the stolen bottle.
- Willie Jakobs
Steals a bottle from Black's office, confronts Black, later is stabbed and dies; visits May Sandford to warn her against Black.
- Gonsalez
Posing as Farmer, meets with Poiccart to discuss their deception of Black and Tramber; reveals his identity as one of the Four Just Men.
- Poiccart
Posing as Dr. Graille, meets with Gonsalez, discusses the fourth man and uses Black's money for charitable purposes.
- May Sandford
Receives a secret note from Black and a visit from Jakobs, but dismisses his warnings, suspecting Frank Fellowe sent him.
Key passages
“He stopped his search suddenly and examined a pad of paper which lay on the table. It was a pad which he kept handy for note-taking—to jot down memoranda. On the white face of the paper was a large brown thumbmark... Then it was Willie!”
Black finds a thumbprint on his notepad and realizes Willie Jakobs has been in his secret office.
Black deduces Jakobs' theft from the thumbprint.
“He lifted from the drawer a long thin knife. It was an Italian stiletto of the sixteenth century—the sort of toy a man might use in these prosaic days for opening his letters.”
Black chooses a stiletto as a quiet weapon instead of a pistol.
Black prefers silent killing methods.
“I shall send those two Brady children to the seaside,” he said. “It probably won’t save their lives, but it will give the little devils some conception of what joy life holds—for a month or so.””
Poiccart plans to use Black's money to give two sick children a seaside holiday.
The Four Just Men use ill-gotten gains for charity.
““You’ve had your chance, miss,” he said ominously. “Black’s Essley, that’s all!””
Jakobs warns May that Black is actually Dr. Essley as he is escorted out.
Jakobs reveals Black's secret identity to May.