The Man Called "Merrill" explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Identity and Deception

  Jasper Cole reveals his true identity as John Minute's son, while the girl is deceived by a man using the name Frank Merrill.

• Secrecy and Knowledge

  Saul Arthur Mann's secret knowledge of John Minute's past and Jasper's hidden family history come to light.

• Family and Betrayal

  Jasper's mother was abandoned by her husband and later by Crawley; the girl is betrayed by her husband who uses a false name.

Characters to notice

• Frank Merrill

  Denies being the husband of the frightened girl who claims to be his wife; appears perplexed and dismayed.

• John Minute

  Referenced in Jasper Cole's revelation as his father, with a detailed history of his life and marriage.

• Jasper Cole

  Reveals himself as John Minute's son; accused by Saul Arthur Mann of being already married and of planning May's abduction.

• The Girl

  Claims to be married to Frank Merrill; reveals she ran away from a cruel husband who used the name Merrill.

• May Nuttall

  Recovering from her abduction; visited by Jasper Cole and later by Saul Arthur Mann who accuses Jasper.

• Saul Arthur Mann

  Accuses Jasper Cole of being already married and of planning the abduction; interviews the girl claiming to be Mrs. Merrill.

Key passages

• “You surely do not mean what you say. I mean that Mr. Cole has every reason for wishing to marry you. What that reason is I do not know completely, but I shall discover. I am satisfied that Mr. Cole is already married.”

  Saul Arthur Mann insists that Jasper Cole wants to marry May for ulterior motives and claims he is already married.

  Mann's accusation sets off the confrontation about Jasper's past.

• “I am his son. I am one of his two children. Your information is that there was one. As a matter of fact, there were two.”

  Jasper reveals that he is John Minute's son and that there were two children, not just one.

  Jasper's revelation of his true identity and family history.

• “My husband. I ran away with him a long time ago. It has been an awful life; it was Mr. Crawley's idea. He told me that if I married Mr. Merrill he would take me to see my mother and Jasper. But he was so cruel.”

  The girl explains that she married a man named Frank Merrill on Crawley's advice, but he was abusive.

  The girl's account of her marriage and deception.

• “The man you married as Merrill is an impostor. He has taken a good man's name, and I am afraid has committed abominable crimes in that man's name.”

  Saul Arthur Mann tells the girl that her husband is not the real Frank Merrill but an impostor using his name.

  Mann reveals the identity theft and crimes committed under Merrill's name.