# A Gold Sequin explained — The Patient in Room 18

> Chapter companion for The Patient in Room 18 by Mignon G. Eberhart.

## What happens

Miss Keate learns that a new patient, Mr. Gastin, is being assigned to Room 18 despite the recent deaths. She discovers a gold sequin on the windowsill of Room 18, which she believes came from Corole Letheny's dress worn on the night of the dinner party. Keate visits Corole to inquire about the dress, while the inquest continues with testimonies from Corole, Dr. Balman, Dr. Hajek, and Jim Gainsay.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secrecy and Suspicion

The assignment of a new patient to Room 18 and the discovery of the sequin deepen the mystery surrounding the deaths.

### Death and Mortality

The inquest and the continued use of Room 18 highlight the lingering presence of death in the hospital.

### Truth and Justice

The inquest seeks to uncover the truth about Dr. Letheny's death, but testimonies raise more questions.

## Character check-ins

### Sarah Keate

Narrator and nurse; discovers the gold sequin in Room 18 and investigates its origin.

### Corole Letheny

Testifies at the inquest about her revolver and her last sight of Dr. Letheny; later receives Sarah Keate at her cottage.

### Dr. Balman

Assigns Mr. Gastin to Room 18; testifies about his movements after the dinner party.

### Dr. Fred Hajek

Objects to placing a patient in Room 18; testifies about his response to the emergency.

### Jim Gainsay

Testifies at the inquest about his presence near the hospital and taking Dr. Letheny's car.

### Lance O'Leary

Mentioned as controlling the inquest; Sarah Keate plans to give him the sequin.

## Key lines

> I needed no one to tell me from where the thing had come; the night of June seventh Corole Letheny had worn a dress of gold sequins cunningly arranged over net with flashes of green here and there.

Sarah Keate immediately recognizes the gold sequin as belonging to the dress Corole Letheny wore on the night of the dinner party.

_The sequin is a key clue linking Corole to Room 18._

> He had not any more than got out of the room, when Dr. Hajek entered. 'Was there a telephone call for me—thank you,' as Miss Jones handed him the pad with a number scribbled on it.

Dr. Hajek enters the office immediately after Dr. Balman leaves, and Miss Jones gives him a phone message.

_Shows the busy atmosphere and the doctors' reactions to Room 18._

## Links

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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters