The Mystery of a Hansom Cab · Chapter
XXII: A Daughter of Eve explained
Madge presses Brian to reveal the secret Rosanna Moore told him, but he refuses, fearing it would ruin her life.
What happens
Madge presses Brian to reveal the secret Rosanna Moore told him, but he refuses, fearing it would ruin her life. After a tense struggle between curiosity and love, Madge agrees to trust him. Brian proposes they marry at once and leave Australia. They seek Mark Frettlby's consent, who initially refuses but eventually proposes a yachting honeymoon on his newly purchased yacht, the 'Rosanna,' startling Brian and Madge with the name's coincidence.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Deception
Brian's refusal to reveal Rosanna Moore's secret creates a tense barrier between him and Madge, highlighting how hidden truths can threaten trust and intimacy.
Love and Sacrifice
Madge sacrifices her curiosity to preserve her love for Brian, agreeing to never ask about the secret again, while Brian is willing to bear the burden alone to protect her.
The Past and Its Consequences
The secret from Rosanna Moore, the murder of Oliver Whyte, and the yacht's name 'Rosanna' all show how past events continue to shadow the present, influencing decisions and relationships.
Characters to notice
- Brian Fitzgerald
In riding dress, looks handsome but ill and worried; pleads with Madge to trust him and not pursue the secret; proposes immediate marriage and departure from Australia; reacts with surprise to the yacht's name 'Rosanna'.
- Madge Frettlby
Persists in questioning Brian about the secret, but ultimately chooses love over curiosity; agrees to marry him at once and leave Australia; delighted by her father's yachting proposal.
- Mark Frettlby
Appears aged and stooped, though his eyes remain keen; initially refuses Brian's request to marry Madge at once, then relents and offers a yachting honeymoon on the 'Rosanna'; flushes when Brian notes the name.
- Sal Rawlins
Departs just before the chapter begins; her visit prompts Madge's renewed questioning about the secret.
Key passages
“Where the apple reddens Never pry, Lest we lose our Edens, Eve and I.”
Brian warns Madge not to investigate the secret, comparing their situation to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Brian uses Browning's verse to caution Madge against curiosity that could destroy their happiness.
“I am going to follow the example of Cain, and be a wanderer on the face of the earth!”
Brian says he will become a restless traveler, like the biblical figure Cain.
Brian expresses his intention to leave Australia and wander the world, feeling marked by the secret he carries.