# XXIII: Is This Man Right? explained — The Middle of Things

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

## What happens

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 Australia under the name Wickham, lost his possessions in a mining accident, and only recently regained the papers through a mysterious letter and a veiled woman at the Speke Monument. The prosecution suggests these papers were stolen from the murdered John Ashton, implying the prisoner is innocent.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Secrecy

The witness claims to be the long-lost Lord Marketstoke, having hidden his identity for decades under the name Wickham.

### Truth vs. Fiction

The court and characters grapple with whether the witness's extraordinary story is true or a fabrication.

### Crime and Detection

The testimony directly ties the recovered papers to the murder of John Ashton, suggesting a motive and pointing toward the real killer.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Millington-Bywater

Prosecuting counsel who questions the witness and suggests the papers link to Ashton's murder.

### Richard Viner

Observes the proceedings, whispers to Pawle that the story seems true, and believes they are on the way to finding Ashton's killer.

### Mr. Pawle

Whispers to Viner that the witness's story is the most extraordinary he has ever heard.

### Mr. Carless

Present in court, shown the letter from the witness.

### Lord Ellingham

Present in court, shown the letter from the witness.

### Langton Hyde

The prisoner in the dock, accused of murder; the witness claims Hyde is mistaken about having met him in America.

### Mr. Ashton

The murdered man; the papers in question were allegedly in his possession until recently.

### Methley

The witness's solicitor in Australia, to whom he first revealed his identity.

## Key lines

> If this man's telling the truth, this is the most extraordinary story I ever heard in my life.

Pawle whispers to Viner that the witness's account is the most remarkable he has ever encountered, if it is true.

_Expresses the central doubt about the witness's credibility._

> It seems to me that it is the truth! And I'm pretty certain that at last we're on the way-to finding out who killed Ashton.

Viner mutters that he believes the story and that it will lead to the discovery of Ashton's murderer.

_Shows Viner's growing conviction and the story's importance to the murder investigation._

> I do not want the title, nor the estate; I will be quite candid and say what I do want—enough to let me live in proper comfort in Australia.

The witness states he does not seek the title or estate, only financial support to return to Australia.

_Highlights the witness's modest claim and his motive for coming forward._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiii-is-this-man-right
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters