# IX: The Inquest explained — The Rasp

> Chapter companion for The Rasp by Philip MacDonald.

## What happens

Anthony Gethryn sends a note to Lucia Lemesurier advising her and her sister to avoid the inquest, predicting a verdict against Archibald Deacon. He attends the inquest briefly but leaves to explore the house while everyone is occupied. After the inquest adjourns, Anthony, Hastings, and Margaret Warren discuss the evidence. Anthony argues Deacon is innocent despite strong circumstantial evidence, including fingerprints on the murder weapon. Margaret shares her unease about Laura Hoode's contradictory behavior, and Hastings notes the suspicious manner of servant Belford.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Fallibility of Evidence

Anthony challenges the strength of circumstantial and fingerprint evidence against Deacon, arguing that a clever murderer would not leave such obvious clues.

### The Detective as Outsider

Anthony operates independently, questioning the official narrative and using intuition and observation to guide his investigation.

### Secrecy and Blackmail

Laura Hoode's contradictory behavior and the suspicious manner of servant Belford hint at hidden motives and secrets within the household.

## Character check-ins

### Anthony Gethryn

Leads the investigation, writes to Lucia, attends inquest briefly, and later interrogates Hastings and Margaret about the proceedings.

### Lucia Lemesurier

Receives Anthony's note advising her to avoid the inquest; she trusts his ability to resolve the case.

### Mr. Deacon

The prime suspect; Anthony insists he is innocent despite the evidence against him.

### Miss Margaret Warren

Provides detailed notes on the inquest evidence and expresses intuitive doubts about Deacon and Laura Hoode.

### Spencer Hastings

Reports on the inquest, skeptical of Anthony's dismissal of the fingerprint evidence, and notes Belford's suspicious behavior.

### Miss Laura Hoode

Margaret finds her behavior contradictory and unsettling during the inquest.

## Key lines

> I am Richard on the Spot. The case is mine, and I say that Archibald Deacon’s a nonstarter.

Anthony asserts his authority over the investigation and declares Deacon is not the murderer.

_Anthony takes charge of the case, dismissing Deacon as a suspect._

> The fingerprint system is wonderful; but its chief use is tracing old-established criminals. If you consider the ingenuity exercised by this murderer in everything else, doesn’t it strike you as queer that he should leave the damning evidence of fingermarks on only one thing, and that the actual weapon?

Anthony argues that the murderer's cleverness elsewhere makes the obvious fingerprint evidence suspicious.

_Anthony questions the reliability of fingerprint evidence in this case._

> At first I thought she wasn’t suffering over her brother’s death, but was just worn out with fear and with trying to hide something. And then after that I began to think she was sorry after all, and that all the queer things about her were due to grief.

Margaret describes her shifting impressions of Laura Hoode's behavior at the inquest.

_Margaret's intuition suggests Laura may be hiding something._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ix-the-inquest
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rasp_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters