# XI: Mr. Errington 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 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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Forgery

Edward Hazeldene's elaborate plan to impersonate Frank Errington and frame him for murder.

### Greed and Motive

The murder was motivated by Mrs. Hazeldene's £15,000 inheritance, as revealed by the Old Man's investigation.

### Justice and Impunity

The actual murderer escapes punishment while an innocent man is nearly convicted, highlighting the flaws in the justice system.

## Character check-ins

### Polly Burton

The listener to the Old Man's explanation, who misses her appointment with Mr. Richard Frobisher.

### The Old Man in the Corner

The narrator who unravels the true solution to the crime, identifying Edward Hazeldene as the murderer.

### Frank Errington

The accused man, a wealthy bachelor, who was framed for the murder but later acquitted and now lives abroad.

### Edward Hazeldene

The actual murderer, who killed his wife for her inheritance and framed Frank Errington.

### Andrew Campbell

A stockbroker who testified about seeing Mrs. Hazeldene with a man in a tweed suit on the Underground.

### Sir Arthur Inglewood

The lawyer who successfully defended Frank Errington by discrediting the prosecution's witnesses.

## Key lines

> Money is in nine cases out of ten the keynote to a crime.

Financial gain is the primary motive for most crimes.

_The Old Man explains the motive behind the murder._

> The great secret of successful crime is to study human nature.

Understanding human behavior is the key to committing a successful crime.

_The Old Man's insight into the murderer's method._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xi-mr-errington
- 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