# III: His Deduction explained — The Old Man in the Corner

> Chapter companion for The Old Man in the Corner by Baroness Orczy.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Intelligence vs. Institutional Investigation

The Old Man's deductive reasoning contrasts with the police's flawed investigation, highlighting the superiority of individual insight over institutional methods.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Kershaw's disguise and assumption of Smethurst's identity underscore the theme of deceptive appearances.

### Deception and Forgery

The letters and the pocketbook are key elements of Kershaw's elaborate deception.

## Character check-ins

### The Old Man in the Corner

Delivers his detailed reasoning, tying knots in string to illustrate each point.

### Polly Burton

Listens to the Old Man's deduction, expressing disbelief and bewilderment.

### William Kershaw

Revealed as the murderer who killed Smethurst and assumed his identity.

### Francis Smethurst

The victim whose body was found in the barge, mistaken for Kershaw.

### Sir Arthur Inglewood

Mentioned as the lawyer who produced the landlord of the Torriani Hotel.

### Mrs. Kershaw

Mentioned as not being asked for a handwriting specimen, and failing to recognize her husband in court.

## Key lines

> obviously it was impossible for Kershaw not to have been acquainted with Smethurst, since he was fully apprised of the latter’s arrival in England by two letters.

Kershaw must have known Smethurst because he received two letters informing him of Smethurst's arrival.

_The Old Man establishes the connection between Kershaw and Smethurst._

> It never entered their heads that it was the body of Francis Smethurst, and that William Kershaw was his murderer.

The police never considered that the corpse was Smethurst and that Kershaw had killed him.

_The Old Man reveals the true nature of the crime._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/iii-his-deduction
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters