The Leavenworth Case · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green.
Chapter 1
Book I: The Problem
The narrator is introduced to the murder of Mr. Leavenworth and begins investigating the case alongside Mr. Gryce, uncovering initial suspicions and the disappearance of the maid Hannah.
Chapter 2
A Great Case
The narrator, a lawyer substituting for Mr. Veeley, arrives at the Leavenworth house with the late Mr. Leavenworth's secretary. He meets Detective Gryce, who hints at the complexity of the case. The narrator views the body and the scene of the murder, learning that the house was secure and no burglary occurred, suggesting the murderer was inside. The coroner's inquest begins.
Chapter 3
II: The Coroner’s Inquest
The narrator describes the surreal atmosphere of the coroner's inquest held in the opulent Leavenworth mansion, contrasting the luxurious surroundings with the grim proceedings. Dr. Maynard testifies about the fatal pistol wound, establishing that the murder could not have been a suicide and that the victim was likely seated and writing when shot. The coroner sends an officer on a mysterious errand.
Chapter 4
III: Facts and Deductions
The coroner's inquest continues with the examination of Mr. Harwell and the butler Thomas. Mr. Harwell reveals a shadow between Mr. Leavenworth and Eleanore, but denies knowing its cause. The narrator notes Harwell's evasiveness and suspicion. Thomas describes the discovery of the body and Eleanore's actions afterward, including her lingering at the library table. The missing key becomes a focal point of the investigation.
Chapter 5
A Clue
The coroner's inquest continues with testimony from the cook, Katherine Malone, and the upstairs maid, Molly O'Flanagan. Molly reveals that Hannah, the ladies' maid, fully dressed and went downstairs during the night, claiming to seek toothache medicine from Miss Eleanore. Hannah has since disappeared. Mr. Gryce produces a half-burned paraffine candle found in the carriage yard, suggesting Hannah left the house by the back door. However, Thomas insists all doors and windows were locked that morning, raising the question of who locked them after Hannah.
Chapter 6
Expert Testimony
The coroner's inquest continues with expert testimony from a clerk at Bohn & Co., who identifies a bullet as coming from a Smith & Wesson pistol. The butler reveals Mr. Leavenworth kept a small pistol in his bedside stand drawer, which is retrieved and found to be loaded. The clerk notes that one chamber shows evidence of having been recently fired, as the barrel was cleaned but the cylinder was not. Mr. Harwell is then called and reluctantly testifies that he saw Miss Eleanore Leavenworth with the pistol three weeks ago, when she asked him to explain how to load, aim, and fire it. The narrator is sent to fetch the young ladies.
Chapter 7
VI: Sidelights
The narrator and Mr. Gryce overhear Mary Leavenworth accusing Eleanore of moral responsibility for the murder. They enter the room to find Mary in a dramatic pose and Eleanore standing in antagonism. The narrator is immediately captivated by Eleanore's beauty and feels a deep conflict between his attraction and his horror at the crime. He escorts Mary downstairs while Mr. Gryce supports Eleanore, and the narrator reflects on the profound emotional impact of the encounter.
Chapter 8
VII: Mary Leavenworth
Mary Leavenworth testifies before the coroner's inquest, denying any knowledge of the murder or suspicion of anyone. She reveals that Eleanore had charge of Mr. Leavenworth's apartments and that she herself did not enter the room where her uncle lay. The chapter highlights the tension between Mary and Eleanore, especially when Mary is asked about a paper Eleanore may have had.
Chapter 9
VIII: Circumstantial Evidence
During the coroner's inquest, Eleanore Leavenworth is questioned about her relationship with her uncle, her actions on the morning of the murder, and the discovery of her handkerchief in the library with pistol stains. She denies taking a paper from the table and refuses to answer further, leading to heightened suspicion. The chapter ends with Eleanore fainting.
Chapter 10
IX: A Discovery
The narrator observes Mary Leavenworth's distress and attempts to console her, while Mr. Gryce receives a report from his subordinate Fobbs about Eleanore's suspicious behavior. Mary expresses fear that Eleanore's manner is incriminating her, though she insists on her cousin's innocence. The chapter deepens the mystery surrounding Eleanore's actions and the investigation.
Chapter 11
X: Mr. Gryce Receives New Impetus
Mr. Gryce reveals that the missing library key was found in Eleanore's possession, leading to a confrontation. Eleanore refuses to answer questions about the key, maintaining a stubborn silence. Mary pleads with Mr. Gryce to find the true culprit, offering a reward. The narrator lists the evidence against Eleanore but struggles with his own belief in her innocence, ultimately writing 'Suspicious' next to the key evidence. Mary writes and mails a mysterious note during their carriage ride.
Chapter 12
The Summons
The narrator reads newspaper accounts of the murder, focusing on the missing maid Hannah. He attends the inquest and learns the verdict is murder by person or persons unknown. He visits Mary Leavenworth and persuades her to return home to support Eleanore. Later, he receives an urgent summons from Eleanore.
Chapter 13
XII: Eleanore
The narrator visits Eleanore Leavenworth, who is distraught after a newspaper article accuses her of her uncle's murder. She protests her innocence and, in a dramatic act, leads the narrator to her uncle's bedroom where she kisses the dead man's lips and invokes divine judgment, convincing the narrator of her innocence.
Chapter 14
XIII: The Problem
The narrator returns to the parlor to find Mary Leavenworth waiting. A tense confrontation between Mary and Eleanore reveals deep mistrust, culminating in Mary declaring they cannot live under the same roof. Eleanore then privately confides to the narrator that she took a paper from the library table and that it no longer exists, but refuses to disclose how she obtained the key or what she heard on the night of the murder. The narrator resolves to find the true culprit despite Eleanore's resistance.
Chapter 15
Book II: Henry Clavering
Henry Clavering is introduced as a new character who becomes involved in the investigation of Mr. Leavenworth's murder. His arrival brings new perspectives and potential leads to the case.
Chapter 16
XIV: Mr. Gryce at Home
The narrator resolves to investigate James Harwell as a possible suspect in Mr. Leavenworth's murder, believing Eleanore is sacrificing herself for someone she loves. He visits Mr. Gryce at home, where they discuss the case and the need to cultivate an acquaintance with Henry Clavering, a mysterious gentleman at the Hoffman House. The narrator resists playing the spy but agrees to approach Clavering. Mr. Gryce admits his limitations as a detective in high society and proposes the narrator as a suitable coadjutor.
Chapter 17
Ways Opening
The narrator attends Mr. Leavenworth's funeral and has a puzzling conversation with Mr. Harwell, who hints that a newspaper insinuation might drive the guilty party to confess. He receives a note from Eleanore saying she is too ill for visitors. Following Mr. Gryce's advice, he goes to the Hoffman House and spots Henry Clavering, who seems to study him with unusual interest. Later, he visits Mary Leavenworth, who expresses her distress over the murder, her wealth, and her separation from Eleanore. He then goes to the study where Mr. Harwell is working, but Harwell refuses to discuss the murder. The narrator agrees to help with a manuscript, gaining an opportunity to observe the household.
Chapter 18
XVI: The Will of a Millionaire
The will of Horatio Leavenworth is published, revealing that while Mary inherits the bulk of the estate, Eleanore receives a modest legacy. The narrator discusses the will's implications with Mr. Gryce, who asks him to investigate the connection between the cousins and Mr. Clavering. The narrator agrees to assist Mr. Harwell with Leavenworth's manuscript but refuses to act as a spy. Later, Eleanore questions the narrator about whether a person can become good after doing wrong, hinting at a hidden guilt. The chapter ends with the narrator attempting to question Thomas about a mysterious Mr. Robbins.
Chapter 19
The Beginning of Great Surprises
The narrator reflects on days of little progress, observing Mr. Clavering's avoidance and Mr. Harwell's stoic reliability. He confronts Mary Leavenworth about Eleanore's situation, revealing that Eleanore herself told Mary about the key being in her possession. The narrator presses Mary for information, but she denies knowledge of Eleanore's motives, leading to a tense exchange about the accusation Mary made against Eleanore.
Chapter 20
XVIII: On the Stairs
The narrator learns from Thomas that Henry Clavering (previously known as Mr. Robbins) was in the house on the night of the murder and may not have left. Later, while working with Mr. Harwell, Harwell suddenly sees Clavering in the hall and accuses him of being the murderer. Harwell then flees, and the narrator receives a note from Mary Leavenworth refusing further explanation.
Chapter 21
XIX: In My Office
The narrator, Raymond, is visited in his office by Henry Clavering, who presents himself as a stranger seeking legal advice for a friend. Clavering recounts a story of a secret marriage between an Englishman and an American girl, asking whether it is legally binding. Raymond provides an opinion that mutual consent suffices for a valid marriage under New York law. Clavering then reveals the story is his own, returns the written opinion to Raymond with a cryptic warning about leading a woman to the altar, and departs. Raymond later learns Clavering has sailed for Liverpool, leaving him shocked and suspicious.
Chapter 22
XX: “Trueman! Trueman! Trueman!”
Mr. Harwell visits the narrator to apologize for his previous accusation against Henry Clavering, but under pressure reveals that his denunciation was based on a prophetic dream he had the night before the murder. In the dream, he saw a woman's face and then experienced the murder from Mr. Leavenworth's perspective, finally glimpsing the murderer's face—which he recognized as Henry Clavering's when he saw him in the hall.
Chapter 23
XXI: A Prejudice
Mr. Raymond confronts Mr. Harwell about his dream and his knowledge of a letter from Henry Clavering. Harwell admits he opened the letter by mistake, which complained of treatment by one of Mr. Leavenworth's nieces. He also reveals Mr. Leavenworth's intense prejudice against the English, deepening suspicion around Clavering.
Chapter 24
Patchwork
The narrator and Mr. Gryce reconstruct a torn letter from Mr. Clavering to Horatio Leavenworth, which criticizes Eleanore Leavenworth. The narrator questions whether the letter is the same paper Eleanore took from the table, noting discrepancies. He then outlines his theory that Clavering and Eleanore were secretly married, and plans to investigate by traveling to R—. He visits Mr. Gryce, who is ill, and discusses Clavering's departure and the need for further investigation.
Chapter 25
XXIII: The Story of a Charming Woman
Mr. Veeley recounts the tragic story of Horatio Leavenworth's marriage to a woman who had suffered abuse and lost her child, leading to her early death and Leavenworth's subsequent obsession with wealth. Later, the narrator unexpectedly encounters Eleanore Leavenworth at the Veeley home, where she expresses her distress over her estrangement from Mary and her ignorance of events at the house. She questions the narrator about Mary's visitors, particularly a man named Clavering, and reveals her deep unease about the ongoing investigation.
Chapter 26
A Report Followed by Smoke
The narrator presents Mr. Gryce with evidence that Henry Clavering is secretly married to Eleanore Leavenworth, based on a timeline of events from the previous summer. Mr. Gryce warns that this actually strengthens the case against Eleanore, but then reveals he believes her innocent. The narrator hires a detective named Q to investigate the Leavenworths' movements at a hotel in R—.
Chapter 27
XXV: Timothy Cook
Mr. Gryce and the narrator interrogate Timothy Cook, who witnessed a secret marriage ceremony at Mr. Stebbins's house. Cook describes the bride as strikingly beautiful and recalls that she married a Mr. Clavering. When shown photographs, Cook identifies Mary Leavenworth as the bride, confirming Mr. Gryce's suspicion that Mary was secretly married to Henry Clavering before her uncle's murder.
Chapter 28
Mr. Gryce Explains Himself
Mr. Gryce reveals his theory that Eleanore Leavenworth believes in Mary's guilt and has been shielding her, and that he plans to arrest Eleanore unless a missing link—proof of motive—is found. The narrator, desperate to prevent this, is tasked with traveling to R⸺ to find Mrs. Belden and possibly Hannah, with Q as backup.
Chapter 29
Book III: Hannah
The narrator and Mr. Gryce investigate Hannah, the missing maid, uncovering her connection to the case and her possible knowledge of the murder.
Chapter 30
XXVII: Amy Belden
The narrator travels to R⸺ to meet Mrs. Amy Belden, a widow who may hold secrets related to the case. With the help of his client Mr. Monell, he gains entry into her home by posing as a lodger. He observes her suspicious behavior at the post-office and her reluctance to take him in, deepening his suspicion that she is hiding something.
Chapter 31
A Weird Experience
The narrator inspects Mrs. Belden's room for clues about Hannah, discovering a pair of stockings marked with an 'H' and a cryptic diamond-point inscription on a window pane. During supper, Mrs. Belden seeks legal advice about papers she holds in trust for two parties, one of whom now wants them destroyed. Later, the narrator follows a tramp (revealed to be Hannah) to a dilapidated barn, where she hides a tin box. After she leaves, the narrator retrieves the box and hurries back, encountering Mrs. Belden on the road.
Chapter 32
The Missing Witness
The narrator is woken by Q disguised as a tramp, who gives him a note revealing that Hannah is hiding in a specific room in Mrs. Belden's house. After a tense breakfast, a ruse lures Mrs. Belden away, and the narrator forces his way into the locked room, only to find Hannah dead.
Chapter 33
XXX: Burned Paper
The narrator discovers Hannah dead in her room, leading to a tense investigation with Q. They find a paper with powder traces and a bowl of burned paper, suggesting suicide or foul play. Q reveals he saw Hannah take a dose the night before, and they discuss the implications for the Leavenworth murder case.
Chapter 34
XXXI: Q
The narrator confronts Mrs. Belden about her role in hiding Hannah. Mrs. Belden admits she concealed Hannah at Mary Leavenworth's request without knowing why. Q discovers Hannah dead in her room. A letter from Mary Leavenworth is found, urging Mrs. Belden to destroy something. Mrs. Belden is distraught and insists she knew nothing of Hannah's death.
Chapter 35
Mrs. Belden’s Narrative
Mrs. Belden recounts her first meeting with Mary Leavenworth a year ago, describing her enchantment with Mary's beauty and charm. She details Mary's secret romance with Henry Clavering, the plan for a clandestine marriage, and Eleanore's unexpected intervention. Eleanore insists on accompanying them to ensure the marriage is legitimate, leading to a tense confrontation between the cousins.
Chapter 36
Unexpected Testimony
Mrs. Belden testifies that Hannah came to her house on the night of the murder, sent by Mary Leavenworth, and remained silent until her death. The narrator discovers a letter from Hannah under her body, which names a tall, splendid-looking gentleman with a black mustache as the murderer, exonerating Eleanore.
Chapter 37
Book IV: The Problem Solved
The mystery surrounding Mr. Leavenworth's murder is finally resolved. Through a series of revelations and confessions, the truth comes to light, bringing closure to the investigation and clearing the names of the innocent.
Chapter 38
Mr. Gryce Resumes Control
Mr. Gryce arrives at Mrs. Belden's house and takes charge of the investigation into Hannah's death. The narrator presents Hannah's written confession, but Mr. Gryce quickly becomes suspicious of its authenticity, noting discrepancies between Hannah's spoken account and the written document. Through questioning Mrs. Belden, he deduces that the confession may be a forgery, possibly written by someone else. He decides to return to New York immediately to pursue the case, while the narrator follows later.
Chapter 39
XXXV: Fine Work
Mr. Gryce and the narrator examine Eleanore's diary and a pile of paper from Mr. Leavenworth's library. The diary reveals that Mary Leavenworth secretly married Henry Clavering against her uncle's wishes, providing a motive for the murder. Mr. Gryce matches the paper of the confession to the paper in the library, concluding that Mary is the murderer. Despite his certainty, he shows hesitation and asks the narrator to return at three for the final report.
Chapter 40
Gathered Threads
Mr. Gryce reveals to the narrator that he has gathered evidence pointing to Mary Leavenworth as the true murderer, including the perfumed handkerchief, the whittled table, and Eleanore's accusation. He also explains that a forged confession was planted on Hannah. Suddenly, Trueman Harwell bursts in and confesses to the murder.
Chapter 41
Culmination
In a dramatic confrontation, Trueman Harwell confesses to the murder of Mr. Leavenworth, revealing his motive was love for Mary Leavenworth and a desire to secure her fortune. Mary, initially accused, is vindicated by Henry Clavering's faith in her innocence. She then confesses her own selfish fears and silence that allowed suspicion to fall on Eleanore, leading to a moment of reckoning and forgiveness.
Chapter 42
A Full Confession
The narrator confesses to the murder of Mr. Leavenworth, detailing his motives, the events leading up to the crime, and his subsequent actions to conceal his guilt. He reveals his unrequited love for Mary Leavenworth, his discovery of her secret marriage to Henry Clavering, and his decision to kill her uncle to secure her fortune and win her favor. The confession also explains his manipulation of evidence, including the use of Eleanore's handkerchief and the disposal of the key and letter.
Chapter 43
XXXIX: The Outcome of a Great Crime
The narrator brings Eleanore the news that Trueman Harwell, not Mary, is guilty of Mr. Leavenworth's murder. Eleanore, overwhelmed with relief and remorse, insists on going to Mary to beg forgiveness. The cousins reconcile, and Mary, humbled, wishes to give Eleanore the fortune, but Eleanore refuses. They agree to devote the money to charity. The narrator and Eleanore then go to inform Mr. Veeley of the truth, leaving Mary and Henry Clavering together with hope for the future.
Chapter 44
Endnotes
A brief endnote providing a diagram of the library and bedroom layout for readers interested in the spatial details of the murder scene.
Chapter 45
List of Illustrations
This chapter presents a list of illustrations including a cursive inscription reading 'Gnirevalc Yram', a plan of the upper floor with a cross marked in a room, and a floorplan showing a library connected to a bedroom via a passageway, with doors leading to a hallway.
