# XIV: The Second Body explained — The Murder on the Links

> Chapter companion for The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie.

## What happens

A second body is discovered in the garden shed, stabbed with the same dagger that was stolen from the library. Giraud examines the scene and deduces that the victim was killed elsewhere and dragged to the shed. He finds a woman's long black hair on the dagger handle. Mrs. Renauld, Jack Renauld, and Madame Daubreuil are brought in to identify the body, but none recognize him. The doctor later reveals that the man has been dead for at least forty-eight hours, contradicting Giraud's initial timeline.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

The victim's clothing suggests wealth, but his hands are those of a laborer, indicating he was masquerading as someone else. Giraud notes the man was anxious to conceal his identity.

### Crime and Its Consequences

The discovery of a second body deepens the mystery, with the same dagger used in both murders, suggesting a connected series of violent acts.

## Character check-ins

### M. Giraud

Leads the investigation of the second body, meticulously searching the shed and deducing the victim was dragged there by two people, one a woman.

### Captain Hastings

Observes Giraud's methods and questions him about the case, noting the discovery of a woman's hair on the dagger.

### Mrs. Renauld

Brought to identify the body but remains calm and denies recognizing the victim.

### Jack Renauld

Also fails to identify the dead man, reacting in a completely natural manner.

### Madame Daubreuil

Brought in indignantly; she vehemently denies any connection to the crime and is shown the black hair, which causes her to panic.

### M. Hautet

Arrives with the doctor and M. Bex, expressing astonishment at the second murder.

## Key lines

> He was as anxious to conceal his identity as we are to discover it.

The victim deliberately hid who he was, making it as hard for us to find out as we are trying to.

_Giraud comments on the victim's efforts to disguise his true identity._

> Does a man stabbed to the heart fall like that—neatly with his feet together, and his arms to his side? No. Again does a man lie down on his back and permit himself to be stabbed without raising a hand to defend himself?

A person stabbed in the heart wouldn't land so neatly or lie still without trying to defend themselves.

_Giraud explains to Hastings why the victim was killed elsewhere and then moved._

> This man has been dead at least forty-eight hours, and probably longer.

The doctor determines the man died at least two days ago, possibly more.

_The doctor's medical opinion contradicts Giraud's earlier assumption about the time of death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters/xiv-the-second-body
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_murder_on_the_links_se/chapters