# XII explained — The Poisoned Chocolates Case

> Chapter companion for The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.

## What happens

Roger Sheringham conducts a series of investigations to break down an alibi in the Bendix poisoning case. He visits the Anglo-Eastern Perfumery Company under false pretenses to gather information about nitrobenzene, buys a secondhand typewriter to trace a purchase, and interviews taxi drivers at Scotland Yard. He ultimately claims to have discovered who sent the poisoned chocolates to Sir Eustace, though he withholds the evidence from Chief Inspector Moresby.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Art of Detection

Roger employs clever ruses, such as posing as a solicitor and a potential investor, to gather information and break down an alibi.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Roger's false identities and fabricated stories (e.g., the nonexistent Mr. Joseph Lea Hardwick) contrast with his true investigative purpose.

## Character check-ins

### Roger Sheringham

Conducts the investigation, posing as a solicitor and a potential investor, and claims to have solved the case.

### Chief Inspector Moresby

Assists Roger by gathering taxi drivers and is later told that Roger has identified the sender of the chocolates.

### Mrs. Verreker-le-Mesurer

Mentioned as an artless criminologist who would find Roger's activities baffling.

### Mrs. Fielder-Flemming

Referenced in comparison to Roger's willingness to spend money on the investigation.

## Key lines

> I’m a solicitor,” Roger told her now, without truth, “and I’m enquiring into the matter of a certain Mr. Joseph Lea Hardwick, who was employed here.

Roger lies to the young woman, claiming to be a solicitor investigating a fictitious employee named Joseph Lea Hardwick.

_Roger uses deception to gain access to information about the perfumery company's nitrobenzene department._

> Detecting, Roger was discovering, is for the person without official authority to back him, a singularly expensive business.

Roger realizes that amateur detective work requires significant personal expense.

_Highlights the financial cost of Roger's independent investigation._

> On the contrary, my dear Moresby, it just about clinches it.

Roger tells Moresby that the failure of the taxi drivers to identify the photograph actually confirms his theory.

_Roger's confidence in his deduction contrasts with Moresby's skepticism._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_poisoned_chocolates_case_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_poisoned_chocolates_case_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_poisoned_chocolates_case_se/chapters