# The Middle of Things — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Middle of Things by J. S. Fletcher.

- [I: Faced with Reality](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/i-faced-with-reality.md): Richard Viner and his aunt, Miss Bethia Penkridge, discuss the nature of fiction versus reality after finishing a sensational novel. Miss Penkridge insists that truth is stranger than fiction, recounting real-life unsolv
- [II: Number Seven in the Square](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/ii-number-seven-in-the-square.md): Richard Viner discovers the murdered body of Mr. Ashton in a passage near Markendale Square, having just encountered a young man fleeing the scene. He alerts a policeman, who summons Dr. Cortelyon and the police. Inspect
- [III: Who Was Mr. Ashton?](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/iii-who-was-mr-ashton.md): Inspector Drillford questions Miss Wickham and Mrs. Killenhall about Mr. Ashton, learning that neither knew him well. Miss Wickham reveals she was left in Ashton's care after her father's death and had not seen him for t
- [The Ring and the Knife](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/iv-the-ring-and-the-knife.md): Viner attends the police court hearing for the man arrested in connection with Ashton's murder. Despite strong circumstantial evidence—the ring, the knife, and Viner's own identification—Viner becomes convinced of the ma
- [V: Look for That Man!](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/v-look-for-that-man.md): Viner visits Hyde in custody and hears his account of finding the ring near the body. Hyde describes a tall man in a white muffler leaving the passage. Drillford remains skeptical, but Viner believes Hyde and resolves to
- [VI: Speculations](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/vi-speculations.md): Mr. Pawle and Richard Viner discuss the mystery surrounding John Ashton's murder and the lack of information about his past. They learn that Miss Wickham has no papers to prove her identity and that Ashton was a reserved
- [VII: What Was the Secret?](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/vii-what-was-the-secret.md): Viner and Pawle interview two Australian witnesses, Fosdick and Stephens, who reveal that Ashton claimed to possess a secret affecting one of the first families in England. They believe Ashton was murdered to suppress th
- [News from Arcadia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/viii-news-from-arcadia.md): Viner and Mr. Pawle learn that John Ashton stayed at the Ellingham Arms in Marketstoke, Buckinghamshire, and they travel there to interview the landlady, Mrs. Hannah Summers, who has information about his visit.
- [IX: Looking Backward](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/ix-looking-backward.md): Mr. Pawle and Richard Viner dine at the Ellingham Arms in Marketstoke, after which the landlady, Mrs. Summers, recounts the story of the disappearance of Lord Marketstoke thirty-five years earlier. She describes the quar
- [X: The Parish Register](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/x-the-parish-register.md): Mr. Pawle and Viner investigate the possibility that the murdered John Ashton was actually the long-lost Lord Marketstoke. Pawle discovers a parish register entry showing that the sixth Earl of Ellingham married a Georgi
- [XI: What Happened in Paris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xi-what-happened-in-paris.md): Mr. Armitstead visits Mr. Pawle and Viner to share his encounter with John Ashton in Paris, where he saw Ashton with a mysterious man muffled in a white silk handkerchief. He also suggests the murder might have involved 
- [XII: The Grey Mare Inn](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xii-the-grey-mare-inn.md): Viner learns from florist Barleyfield that Ashton regularly visited the Grey Mare Inn, where he often met a mysterious elderly gentleman. Meanwhile, diamond merchant Van Hoeren reveals that Ashton carried a priceless dia
- [The Japanese Cabinet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiii-the-japanese-cabinet.md): Viner and Barleyfield visit the Grey Mare Inn, where they observe a mysterious man who had been meeting with Ashton on the night of the murder. Viner questions the landlord and learns that Ashton and the man left togethe
- [XIV: The Ellingham Motto](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiv-the-ellingham-motto.md): Viner and Mr. Pawle examine letters from the seventh Countess of Ellingham to her son, Lord Marketstoke, which came into Ashton's possession. They theorize that Wickham was the missing Lord Marketstoke, making Avice Wick
- [The Present Holder](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xv-the-present-holder.md): Viner and Pawle visit Lord Ellingham to inform him that John Ashton possessed important papers relating to his missing uncle, Lord Marketstoke. Lord Ellingham reveals he has just received surprising news from two visitor
- [The Outhouse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvi-the-outhouse.md): Viner and his solicitor Felpham visit Inspector Drillford to discuss the discovery of Ashton's watch and ring hidden in the shed where Hyde claimed to have spent the night. Viner argues that the evidence is planted by th
- [XVII: The Claimant](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvii-the-claimant.md): Mr. Pawle and Richard Viner visit the law offices of Carless and Driver in Lincoln's Inn Fields, where they meet Lord Ellingham and his solicitor, Mr. Carless. Carless reveals that two solicitors, Methley and Woodlesford
- [XVIII: Let Him Appear!](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xviii-let-him-appear.md): A formal meeting takes place between the solicitors of the claimant to the Ellingham title and Lord Ellingham's legal team. Methley and Woodlesford present documents purporting to prove their client's identity as the mis
- [XIX: Under Examination](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xix-under-examination.md): Mr. Pawle, Mr. Carless, Lord Ellingham, and Viner prepare to question Miss Wickham about her past. Mr. Pawle outlines his theory that Wickham was actually the missing Lord Marketstoke, making Avice the rightful Countess 
- [XX: Surprising Readiness](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xx-surprising-readiness.md): Mr. Pawle, Mr. Carless, and others discuss the legal implications of Avice Wickham's claim to the Ellingham title. A claimant, Mr. Cave, arrives with his solicitor Methley, claiming to be the missing Lord Marketstoke. He
- [XXI: The Marseilles Meeting](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxi-the-marseilles-meeting.md): Mr. Perkwite, a barrister recently returned from the Continent, meets with Mr. Pawle and Richard Viner to reveal that he spent time with Ashton in Marseilles three months prior. Ashton confided that Lord Marketstoke had 
- [On Remand](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxii-on-remand.md): Langton Hyde is brought before the magistrate in a crowded court. His defense, led by Mr. Millington-Bywater, argues that the incriminating items were planted by the real murderer to divert suspicion. Hyde testifies, rec
- [XXIII: Is This Man Right?](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiii-is-this-man-right.md): In a dramatic courtroom scene, a witness claiming to be the long-lost Lord Marketstoke testifies about his identity and the recovery of crucial papers. He explains that he left England 35 years ago, worked as a miner in 
- [XXIV: The Broken Letter](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiv-the-broken-letter.md): After the dramatic court testimony of the man calling himself Mr. Cave, the legal team and Viner convene at Viner's home to discuss the implications. Miss Penkridge joins the council and astutely identifies clues in the 
- [XXV: Through the Telephone](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxv-through-the-telephone.md): Viner receives a phone call from Felpham, who reveals that Hyde insists the man calling himself Cave is actually the actor Nugent Starr. Felpham plans to find another actor, George Bellingham, to confirm the identificati
- [XXVI: The Dismal Street](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxvi-the-dismal-street.md): Millwaters, a clerk from Carless and Driver's office, is tasked with tailing the so-called Mr. Cave. He follows Cave from Lancaster Gate to the police court, then to Markendale Square, and eventually to Paddington Statio
- [The Back Way](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxvii-the-back-way.md): Viner and Miss Wickham find themselves trapped in a well-furnished room after being lured by Mrs. Killenhall under the pretense of meeting Dr. Martincole. Viner discovers a locked outer door and a window facing a blank w
- [XXVIII: The Truth](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxviii-the-truth.md): Viner and Miss Wickham discover that Mrs. Killenhall has defrauded Miss Wickham of ten thousand pounds by cashing a forged check. They report to Scotland Yard, where an official directs them to Inspector Drillford. Drill
- [XXIX: Who Is to Tell Her?](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxix-who-is-to-tell-her.md): Viner, Lord Ellingham, and the solicitors Pawle and Carless examine the recovered papers proving Avice Wickham is the rightful Countess of Ellingham. Lord Ellingham insists on being the one to tell her, and after a priva

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