The Patient in Room 18 · Chapter
Under the Barberry Bush explained
Sarah Keate and Lance O'Leary search the barberry bushes for the object thrown over her shoulder on the night of June 7th.
What happens
Sarah Keate and Lance O'Leary search the barberry bushes for the object thrown over her shoulder on the night of June 7th. They discover a hypodermic syringe with a scratched 'D', identified as belonging to Maida Day. O'Leary confronts Maida, asking why she replaced her syringe with Sarah's, but Jim Gainsay intervenes and leads Maida away. O'Leary later discusses the multiple possible means of death in Room 18 and the various suspects, including Maida, Gainsay, Dr. Hajek, and Dr. Balman.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Suspicion
The discovery of the syringe and Maida's evasive answers, along with Gainsay's intervention, heighten the atmosphere of secrecy and suspicion among the characters.
Truth and Justice
O'Leary's investigation into the syringe and the multiple means of death reflects the pursuit of truth and justice in the face of conflicting evidence and hidden motives.
Characters to notice
- Sarah Keate
Leads O'Leary to the barberry bush where the syringe was thrown; identifies the syringe as Maida's.
- Lance O'Leary
Finds the hypodermic syringe under the barberry bush; confronts Maida about the syringe substitution; discusses multiple suspects with Sarah.
- Maida Day
Encountered by O'Leary and Sarah; admits the syringe is hers but does not explain how it got there; is led away by Jim Gainsay.
- Jim Gainsay
Interrupts the conversation between O'Leary and Maida, taking her away before she can answer O'Leary's question about the syringe substitution.
- Dr. Fred Hajek
Mentioned as having a wet coat on the night of the murder; O'Leary explains he claimed rain from an open window.
- Dr. Balman
Mentioned as having a bruise on his face; O'Leary confirms his alibi via the elevator man.
Key passages
“I think so. It seems to me it should have fallen somewhere about that clump of barberry. Over there.”
Sarah indicates the barberry bush as the likely landing spot for the object thrown over her shoulder.
Sarah recalls the trajectory of the thrown object, leading to the discovery of the syringe.
“It is Miss Day’s, is it not?”
O'Leary confirms that the syringe belongs to Maida Day.
O'Leary identifies the syringe by the scratched 'D' and seeks Sarah's confirmation.
“Why, then, did you replace it with Miss Keate’s needle?”
O'Leary asks Maida why she substituted her syringe with Sarah's.
O'Leary confronts Maida about the syringe substitution, a key point of suspicion.