# XXVI: Mr. Grierson Tries His Hand explained — The Layton Court Mystery

> Chapter companion for The Layton Court Mystery by Anthony Berkeley.

## What happens

Roger Sheringham interviews Major Jefferson, who reveals his secret marriage to Lady Stanworth and confirms that Victor Stanworth was a blackmailer who controlled many victims, including the butler Graves. Jefferson insists Stanworth could not have been murdered and that his suicide was genuine. Roger, now convinced of Jefferson's innocence, shares his findings with Alec Grierson, who suggests the killer was an unknown blackmail victim.

## Themes in this chapter

### Blackmail and Secret Pasts

Major Jefferson reveals that Stanworth blackmailed Lady Stanworth into marriage and controlled Graves through threat of hanging.

### Secrecy and Deception Within Households

The secret marriage between Major Jefferson and Lady Stanworth, hidden from Stanworth and the household, is uncovered.

### Justice and Morality

Roger grapples with the moral implications of Jefferson's relief at Stanworth's death and the question of whether the killer was a victim seeking justice.

## Character check-ins

### Roger Sheringham

Interviews Major Jefferson and learns of his secret marriage; becomes convinced of Jefferson's innocence.

### Major Jefferson

Reveals his secret marriage to Lady Stanworth and explains Stanworth's blackmail hold over them and others.

### Lady Stanworth

Revealed to be secretly married to Major Jefferson; was under Stanworth's blackmail control.

### Alexander Grierson

Suggests the murderer is an unknown blackmail victim; discusses the case with Roger.

### Graves

Revealed to be another victim of Stanworth's blackmail, employed as a bodyguard under duress.

## Key lines

> So Lady Stanworth had little enough reason to love her brother-in-law. And since Jefferson fell in love with her, her cause would naturally become his. Truly he had motive and to spare for ridding the world of such a man.

Lady Stanworth had no love for her brother-in-law, and Jefferson's love for her gave him ample motive to kill Stanworth.

_Roger considers Jefferson's motive for murder._

> No, he wouldn't have allowed it. It would have looked like a combination against him. He wanted us separate, for his own ends.

Stanworth would not have permitted the marriage because it would have seemed like a conspiracy against him; he preferred them apart.

_Jefferson explains why the marriage was kept secret from Stanworth._

> If you're trying to look for someone who induced Stanworth to shoot himself, you're wasting your time. Couldn't be done.

You're wasting your time if you think anyone could have forced Stanworth to kill himself; it was impossible.

_Jefferson dismisses the idea that Stanworth was coerced into suicide._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/chapters/xxvi-mr-grierson-tries-his-hand
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_layton_court_mystery_se/chapters