The Murder at the Vicarage · Chapter
XXVIII explained
The Vicar visits Hawes late on Sunday night, finds him asleep with an empty cachet box and a crumpled confession letter, and discovers an anonymous letter identical to the one received earlier.
What happens
The Vicar visits Hawes late on Sunday night, finds him asleep with an empty cachet box and a crumpled confession letter, and discovers an anonymous letter identical to the one received earlier. He telephones Melchett, who has traced the call, and asks him to come to Hawes's lodging.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Secrets
The Vicar discovers a confession and an anonymous letter, revealing hidden truths and the tension between concealment and revelation.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
Hurries to Hawes's lodging, discovers the confession and anonymous letter, and telephones Melchett.
- Mr. Hawes
Found asleep in his chair with an empty cachet box and a crumpled confession letter beside him.
- Colonel Melchett
On the telephone with the Vicar, having traced the call; is asked to come to Hawes's lodging.
Key passages
“I hurried down the village street. It was eleven o’clock, and at eleven o’clock on a Sunday night the whole village of St. Mary Mead might be dead.”
The Vicar rushed through the village at eleven on a Sunday night, when St. Mary Mead was completely still.
Sets the late-night, quiet atmosphere of the village.
“I picked it up and straightened it out. It began: “ My dear Clement— ” I read it through, uttered an exclamation and shoved it into my pocket.”
He picked up the crumpled paper, read the letter addressed to him, exclaimed in surprise, and pocketed it.
The Vicar discovers a confession letter from Hawes.