# IV: Raoul Legarde explained — The Man in the Queue

> Chapter companion for The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey.

## What happens

Grant receives an anonymous letter containing £25 for the burial of the queue murder victim, sparking theories about the sender's identity and motives. He dines with Williams at Laurent's, where he senses he is being watched through a screen. After a failed attempt to catch the observer, Grant interviews Raoul Legarde, a young waiter who witnessed the murder and provides a crucial description of the left-handed killer. Grant issues an all-stations alert for the suspect.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Concealment

The anonymous sender uses block capitals and no fingerprints to hide their identity; Legarde initially conceals his knowledge of the murder out of fear.

### Justice and Miscarriage

Grant's methodical investigation and use of forensic evidence aim to bring the murderer to justice, while the anonymous burial money suggests a hidden moral conscience.

### Urban Anonymity and Alienation

The killer remains unidentified in the crowd; the anonymous benefactor cares for the victim but remains unknown, highlighting the isolation of individuals in London.

## Character check-ins

### Inspector Grant

Receives the anonymous burial money, dines with Williams, senses he is being watched, and interviews Legarde, issuing a warrant for a left-handed suspect.

### Williams

Dines with Grant, offers theories on the murder being a gang affair, and helps Grant attempt to catch the watcher behind the screen.

### Raoul Legarde

A young waiter at Laurent's who witnessed the murder and provides Grant with a detailed description of the killer, including that he is left-handed.

### Marcel

The head waiter at Laurent's who greets Grant and Williams, expressing sorrow over the lack of a good table.

## Key lines

> To bury the man who was found in the queue.

This money is for the burial of the man discovered in the queue.

_The note accompanying the £25 in banknotes, indicating the sender's intent to provide a proper burial._

> Somewhere in London tonight was someone who cared sufficiently for the dead man to spend twenty-five pounds to keep him from a pauper’s grave, but who would not claim him.

There is someone in London who cares enough about the dead man to pay for his burial but refuses to identify themselves.

_Grant's reflection on the anonymous sender's motives._

> I am sorry now that I did not tell before, but you understand how it was? To have run away at first made it difficult. And I did not know that the police were so gentil.

I regret not coming forward earlier; running away made it harder, and I didn't realize the police could be so kind.

_Legarde's apology to Grant for initially withholding his eyewitness account._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters/iv-raoul-legarde
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_man_in_the_queue_se/chapters