The Old Man in the Corner · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Old Man in the Corner by Baroness Orczy.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The author dedicates the book to their dear Uncle and Aunt, Count and Countess Wass of Czege, in remembrance of happy days spent in Transylvania in October 1908.
Chapter 2
The Old Man in the Corner
Polly Burton, a journalist, encounters an eccentric old man in a corner of a restaurant who claims to have solved famous unsolved mysteries through logic and observation. He recounts the details of several cases, including the Fenchurch Street murder and the Phillimore Terrace robbery, demonstrating his superior reasoning compared to the police.
Chapter 3
I: The Fenchurch Street Mystery
Polly Burton, a journalist for the Evening Observer, encounters the eccentric Old Man in the Corner at an Aërated Bread Company shop. He challenges her belief that the Fenchurch Street mystery is unsolvable, arguing that intelligence can unravel any crime. He then recounts the case: William Kershaw disappeared after meeting the Siberian millionaire Francis Smethurst, who Kershaw claimed was actually a murderer named Barker from thirty years prior. Kershaw's wife and friend Karl Müller reported his disappearance, and the Old Man reveals letters from Smethurst arranging a meeting at Fenchurch Street Station.
Chapter 4
II: A Millionaire in the Dock
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the case of Francis Smethurst, a millionaire arrested for the murder of William Kershaw. Despite strong circumstantial evidence, Smethurst proves he never wrote the incriminating letters and that Kershaw was seen alive after the supposed murder, leading to his discharge. The Old Man hints that the mystery is clear to him.
Chapter 5
III: His Deduction
The Old Man in the Corner explains his deduction that William Kershaw was not murdered but instead murdered Francis Smethurst and assumed his identity. He points to the letters, the visit to the Torriani Hotel, and the unidentifiable body as evidence of Kershaw's clever scheme.
Chapter 6
IV: The Robbery in Phillimore Terrace
Polly Burton returns to the A.B.C. shop and meets the Old Man in the Corner, who recounts the details of a diamond robbery at No. 22 Phillimore Terrace. The story involves a tramp caught by a constable and a frantic servant named Robertson, who claims the diamonds of his master, Mr. Ferdinand Knopf, have been stolen. The investigation leads to Mr. Shipman, a jeweller who had just purchased £25,000 worth of diamonds from Knopf, only to discover that he too has been robbed.
Chapter 7
A Night’s Adventure
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the investigation into the double robbery at Phillimore Terrace. He describes the police's initial focus on the servants, the discovery of diamonds trampled in the garden, and the detective's decision to release and follow the anonymous tramp in hopes of catching the thief. The tramp leads the detective on a long, wearying chase through London, eventually returning to Phillimore Terrace.
Chapter 8
VI: All He Knew
The Old Man in the Corner reveals the intricate scheme behind the Phillimore Terrace diamond theft, explaining how Mr. Knopf and his servant Robertson—likely twin brothers—orchestrated a double impersonation to steal Mr. Shipman's diamonds. He details the use of a drugged wine, a forged letter, a staged fight with a tramp, and the careful avoidance of being seen together to maintain the illusion.
Chapter 9
VII: The York Mystery
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the York Mystery, a case involving the murder of bookmaker Charles Lavender during the York racing week. Lord Arthur Skelmerton initially appears as a hero who captured the assassin, but is later arrested for the murder himself. The chapter explores the background of Lord Arthur and his wife, Lady Arthur Skelmerton, including their strained marriage and financial troubles.
Chapter 10
VIII: The Capital Charge
At the inquest into Charles Lavender's murder, evidence mounts against Lord Arthur Skelmerton. Bookmaker James Terry testifies that Lavender had threatened to expose something about Lord Arthur to secure a £500 debt. The murder weapon, a hunting knife, is identified as belonging to Lord Arthur by his footman Chipps. Despite Lord Arthur's own testimony accusing George Higgins, the jury returns a verdict against a person unknown. Lord Arthur is arrested for murder. At his trial, prosecution witnesses present damning circumstantial evidence, but the defense, led by Sir Marmaduke Ingersoll, calls Colonel McIntosh, who casts doubt on the timeline. The case remains unresolved, with public opinion divided.
Chapter 11
IX: A Brokenhearted Woman
The Old Man in the Corner analyzes the murder of Charles Lavender, arguing that Lady Arthur Skelmerton was the true culprit. He points to overlooked evidence: a lady's voice interrupting the argument, Lavender's sudden calm after Lady Arthur's arrival, and the fact that an Englishman would not stab a victim in the back. He concludes that Lord Arthur deliberately accused an innocent man to shield his wife, who died of a broken heart after his acquittal.
Chapter 12
X: The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway
A young woman is found dead in a first-class compartment of the Metropolitan Railway at Aldgate station. The guard discovers her body, and the subsequent inquest reveals she died from prussic acid poisoning. Her husband, Mr. Hazeldene, appears grief-stricken but evasive when questioned about her mental state and possible motives for suicide. The presence of a small empty bottle that once contained prussic acid suggests suicide, but the medical officers cannot confirm how the drug was administered, deepening the mystery. The Old Man in the Corner recounts the case, emphasizing the difficulty of identifying the average man and hinting that a clever criminal remains unpunished.
Chapter 13
XI: Mr. Errington
The Old Man in the Corner reveals to Polly Burton the true culprit behind the mysterious death on the Underground Railway. He explains that Frank Errington was framed by Edward Hazeldene, who meticulously copied Errington's appearance and used a poisoned ring to murder his wife, Mary Beatrice Hazeldene, for her inheritance. The chapter details the trial, the evidence, and how Errington was acquitted due to lack of proof, while the actual murderer remains free.
Chapter 14
XII: The Liverpool Mystery
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the Liverpool Mystery to Polly Burton, detailing how a young German clerk named Mr. Schwarz was duped by a man posing as Prince Semionicz. Schwarz, sent by his uncle Mr. Winslow to deliver valuable jewels to the supposed prince, accepted forged banknotes in payment. A man claiming to be a Russian secret police officer, M. Burgreneff, then intervened, took the notes, and disappeared with the jewels, leaving Schwarz to vanish as well.
Chapter 15
A Cunning Rascal
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the Liverpool Mystery, where a young jeweler named Schwarz is tricked by a man posing as a Russian police officer into handing over £10,500 in banknotes intended for Prince Semionicz. Despite police investigations, the thief vanishes. The Old Man argues that the real culprit is Mr. Vassall, the junior partner of the firm, who had the motive and opportunity to plan the theft.
Chapter 16
XIV: The Edinburgh Mystery
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the Edinburgh Mystery, the murder of Lady Donaldson and theft of her diamonds, focusing on the family dynamics, the arranged marriage between David Graham and Edith Crawford, and the subsequent arrest of Edith Crawford for the crime.
Chapter 17
A Terrible Plight
Edith Crawford is committed for trial in Edinburgh for the murder of Lady Donaldson. Public opinion turns against her, viewing her as a mercenary girl willing to kill for jewels. The trial lasts six days, with key testimonies from the maid Tremlett, doctors, and David Graham, who is revealed to have been engaged to Edith. The chapter highlights the emotional tension in court, particularly when David Graham is questioned about the broken engagement.
Chapter 18
XVI: “Non Proven”
The man in the corner recounts the trial of Edith Crawford for the murder of Lady Donaldson. He describes how public sympathy turned against her after she broke off her engagement with David Graham, and how the prosecution's key witness, jeweller Mr. Campbell, was discredited by Sir James Fenwick's cross-examination. The jury returned a verdict of 'Non Proven,' reflecting lingering suspicion but insufficient proof.
Chapter 19
XVII: Undeniable Facts
Polly Burton and the Old Man in the Corner debate the Edinburgh Mystery, focusing on the guilt of Edith Crawford and the possible role of David Graham. The Old Man argues that the thief and the murderer were different people, suggesting that Graham killed Lady Donaldson to protect Crawford, while Polly struggles with the logic of the case.
Chapter 20
XVIII: The Theft at the English Provident Bank
The Old Man in the Corner discusses the role of motive and human passions in crime, arguing that a clever woman is behind the unsolved theft at the English Provident Bank. He details the bank's layout, the night watchman James Fairbairn's routine, and the discovery of manager Mr. Ireland unconscious after the safe was found open. The police investigation is hampered by Mr. Ireland's incapacitation and the apparent lack of forced entry.
Chapter 21
XIX: Conflicting Evidence
Public unease grows as James Fairbairn's evidence is scrutinized. Mrs. Ireland contradicts Fairbairn's account, claiming she did not see or speak to her husband at the time he described. Robert Ireland provides an alibi for his father. The chapter explores the logical inconsistencies in the case and the public's sympathy for the ailing Mr. Ireland, who remains unaware of the mounting suspicion against him.
Chapter 22
An Alibi
The old man in the corner reveals the true solution to the English Provident Bank theft, explaining that Mrs. Ireland perjured herself not for her husband but for her son, Robert Ireland, who was the actual thief. He details how Lewis Ireland's alibi was proven through a concert incident, and how the case was ultimately resolved, leaving the Irelands to retire to Sittingbourne.
Chapter 23
XXI: The Dublin Mystery
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the Dublin Mystery, involving the sudden death of Millionaire Brooks, the murder of his solicitor Patrick Wethered, and a dispute over Brooks's will. Percival Brooks inherits nearly everything, while his brother Murray is left a pittance and claims the later will is a forgery.
Chapter 24
XXII: Forgery
The chapter details the contested will case of the late Mr. Brooks, where Percival Brooks claims a will leaving him the bulk of the estate, while Murray Brooks argues it is a forgery. The court hears testimony, including from the butler John O'Neill, and expert evidence confirms the will is forged, leading to probate being granted to Murray Brooks.
Chapter 25
XXIII: A Memorable Day
The trial of Percival Brooks for forgery of his father's will unfolds. The Crown argues that the forged will solely benefits Percival, making him the prime suspect. However, defense counsel Mr. Oranmore presents two key points: first, the timeline makes it impossible for Percival to have forged the will within the available time; second, witnesses Mary Sullivan and Dr. Mulligan testify that the original will was in lawyer Wethered's pocket after he left the house. The case against Percival collapses, and the Old Man in the Corner reveals that the true culprit was Murray Brooks, who forged the will in Percival's favor to ensure it would be invalidated, allowing the earlier will favoring Murray to stand. Murray later died intestate, and Percival ultimately inherited the business.
Chapter 26
XXIV: An Unparalleled Outrage
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Francis Morton, a wealthy Brighton resident, who vanished on March 17th. Despite his regular habits, he failed to return home, and police discovered he had not left the city. After several days, acting on information, they found him tied up and starved in a locked room at Russell House. The perpetrator, Edward Skinner, was later charged with the 'Brighton Outrage.'
Chapter 27
The Prisoner
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the Brighton case of Edward Skinner, arrested for assaulting and robbing Mr. Francis Morton of £10,000. The trial reveals that Morton refused to prosecute, and his deposition hints at a secret payment related to his wife's affairs. The police case rests on circumstantial evidence, including Mrs. Chapman's testimony about Skinner's rental and the discovery of Morton bound and drugged in a locked room.
Chapter 28
XVI: A Sensation
In a dramatic courtroom scene, the magistrate questions a woman about blackmail letters allegedly from the Comte de la Tremouille, which she believes are genuine. The case against Edward Skinner collapses when Mr. Francis Morton, the victim, testifies that Skinner is not his assailant, describing a different man with a foreign accent. Skinner is remanded on bail pending further police investigation.
Chapter 29
XXVII: Two Blackguards
The Old Man in the Corner explains to Polly Burton that the supposed return of the Comte de la Tremouille was a forgery orchestrated by Mr. Morton, who, with the help of Edward Skinner, staged an assault to blackmail his wife. He argues that Morton forged typewritten letters, faked his own kidnapping, and used Skinner as an accomplice to extort money, concluding that both men are blackguards.
Chapter 30
XXVIII: The Regent's Park Murder
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the Regent's Park murder of Aaron Cohen, a wealthy gambler, on a foggy February night. The investigation reveals connections to the Harewood Club, high-stakes gambling, and young John Ashley, who lost heavily to Cohen and was arrested for the murder. The chapter details the crime scene, the police investigation, and the circumstantial evidence leading to Ashley's arrest.
Chapter 31
The Motive
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the Regent's Park murder case, focusing on the seemingly damning circumstantial evidence against John Ashley—including a overheard conversation, a found revolver, and a valet's testimony—which is ultimately shattered by an unassailable alibi proving Ashley was playing bridge at the Ashton Club at the time of the murder.
Chapter 32
XXX: Friends
Polly and the Old Man in the Corner discuss the Regent's Park murder of Aaron Cohen. The Old Man reveals his theory that John Ashley and Walter Hatherell collaborated in the murder, with Ashley killing Cohen and Hatherell providing an alibi by staging a confrontation and firing a pistol to mislead the police.
Chapter 33
The de Genneville Peerage
The Old Man in the Corner recounts the bizarre murder of the Hon. Robert Ingram de Genneville, a younger son who, on the advice of the disgraced solicitor Timothy Beddingfield, had claimed a joint title and revenues from the ancient barony of Genneville based on a 400-year-old document. The claim was set to be bolstered by his marriage to Miss Mabel Brandon, but on the morning before the wedding he was found brutally murdered in his hotel room. The chapter explores the legal complexities of peerage cases, the motives of the claimant, and the shocking violence of the crime.
Chapter 34
A High-Bred Gentleman
The chapter details the coroner's inquest into the murder of the Hon. Robert de Genneville, focusing on the testimony of his brother, the Earl of Brockelsby, who identifies the body and describes their strained relationship over a legal dispute. The night porter, Peter Tyrrell, creates a sensation by hinting that the mysterious visitor on the night of the murder resembles the Earl, though he refuses to swear to it.
Chapter 35
XXXIII: The Living and the Dead
The Old Man in the Corner unravels the de Genneville peerage murder, proposing that the Hon. Robert de Genneville murdered his lawyer Timothy Beddingfield, swapped clothes with the corpse, and fled to start a new life, while the police mistakenly suspected Beddingfield or the Earl of Brockelsby.
Chapter 36
The Mysterious Death in Percy Street
Polly Burton, increasingly drawn to the old man in the corner despite her journalist friend Dick Frobisher's jealousy, presses him for his views on the mysterious death of Mrs. Owen in Percy Street. He dismisses accident or suicide, asserting it was a clever murder. He describes the Rubens Studios, the victim's frugal life and savings, and the discovery of her body by tenant Mr. Charles Pitt: the caretaker found dead on the floor in her nightgown, with windows wide open and snow drifting in, alongside her dead cockatoo.
Chapter 37
XXXV: Suicide or Murder?
The chapter delves into the mysterious death of Mrs. Owen, initially thought to be an accident but later suspected as murder. The old man in the corner reconstructs the crime, suggesting a nephew killed her for her money, then staged the scene to mislead police. At the inquest, Arthur Greenhill is arrested due to his association with Mrs. Owen and her changed behavior, but his father provides alibi witnesses who saw Mrs. Owen alive at 8 a.m., leading to Greenhill's discharge.
Chapter 38
XXXVI: The End
Polly Burton experiences a sudden epiphany, realizing that the murderer in the Fenchurch Street case is the Old Man in the Corner himself, based on the distinctive knots in the string used to secure the window. She confronts him, but he silently departs, never to be seen again. The chapter concludes with Polly marrying Mr. Richard Frobisher.
