# XXIX: The Closed Doors explained — The Middle Temple Murder

> Chapter companion for The Middle Temple Murder by J. S. Fletcher.

## What happens

Spargo arrives at Elphick's chambers for a scheduled appointment, only to find the door locked and no response. Ronald Breton joins him and uses his key to enter, discovering the rooms in disarray with papers burned and a bag hastily packed, indicating Elphick has fled. Breton is shocked and insists on consulting Cardlestone to find his guardian.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Blackmail

Elphick's sudden flight and destruction of papers suggest he is hiding secrets related to the murder and his own past.

### The Past Haunting the Present

Aylmore's past as Ainsworth is exposed, and Elphick's actions imply his own history is catching up with him.

## Character check-ins

### Frank Spargo

Arrives for an appointment with Elphick, finds him gone, and deduces his flight is due to their previous conversation.

### Ronald Breton

Meets Spargo at the stairs, enters Elphick's chambers with his key, and is horrified by the evidence of a hasty departure.

### Septimus Elphick

Absent from his chambers; the room shows signs of frantic paper destruction and packing, suggesting he has fled.

### Nicholas Cardlestone

Mentioned by Breton as the person who might know Elphick's whereabouts.

## Key lines

> Alone of all the London morning newspapers, the Watchman appeared next day destitute of sensationalism in respect to the Middle Temple Murder.

The Watchman was the only London paper that did not sensationalize the Middle Temple Murder story the next day.

_Highlights the Watchman's restraint in reporting Aylmore's past._

> I came here to keep an appointment with Mr. Elphick—an appointment which he made when I called on him, as you suggested, at nine o'clock. The appointment—a most important one—was for eleven o'clock.

Spargo explains he had a crucial meeting scheduled with Elphick at eleven, arranged the previous evening.

_Establishes the missed appointment as a key plot point._

> He's off! Off!

Spargo declares that Elphick has fled.

_Spargo's immediate conclusion upon finding the empty chambers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxix-the-closed-doors
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters