The Rasp · Chapter
XIII: Irons in the Fire explained
Anthony Gethryn comforts Dora Masterson, who confesses she failed to meet Archie Deacon for a walk, inadvertently undermining his alibi.
What happens
Anthony Gethryn comforts Dora Masterson, who confesses she failed to meet Archie Deacon for a walk, inadvertently undermining his alibi. He then visits Spencer Hastings' flat to see Jimmy Masterson, learning that the newspaper cuttings in John Hoode's desk were part of a coordinated attack by a single person, which led to Jimmy's dismissal as Hoode's secretary.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Blackmail
The newspaper cuttings represent a hidden campaign against John Hoode, and Dora's secret meeting with Archie Deacon is a concealed alibi.
The Role of the Press
The cuttings are described as vicious attacks on Hoode, suggesting a coordinated effort by a single person using newspapers as a weapon.
The Fallibility of Evidence
Anthony lists contradictory clues (fingerprints, letters, clock tampering) that do not yet form a coherent picture, highlighting the unreliability of surface evidence.
Characters to notice
- Anthony Gethryn
Comforts Dora Masterson and later visits Jimmy Masterson to investigate the newspaper cuttings.
- Miss Dora Masterson
Confesses her guilt over not meeting Archie Deacon, and directs Anthony to her brother for information about the cuttings.
- Lucia Lemesurier
Opens the door for Anthony at Hastings' flat and initially tries to prevent him from seeing her brother.
- Jimmy Masterson
Sick in bed, he confirms the cuttings were part of a coordinated attack and that he was fired after arguing with Hoode about it.
- Spencer Hastings
Mentioned as being out at his office; his flat is the setting for the second part of the chapter.
Key passages
“I was frightened. Oh, so horribly, horribly frightened!”
Dora Masterson admits she was terrified after the inquest verdict.
She reveals her fear and guilt over not meeting Archie Deacon.
“I ought to have seen him! I, I, I! I was to have met him down there on the bank, this side, by the bridge.”
Dora confesses she was supposed to meet Archie but deliberately stayed home to punish him.
This confession explains why no one saw Archie during his walk, damaging his alibi.
“Reconcile for me—put these things into order and make 'em mean something—if you can.”
Anthony asks Dora to help him make sense of the contradictory clues in the case.
He lists fingerprints, stolen letters, a tampered clock, and newspaper cuttings as puzzling evidence.
“I'd been watching these three papers for a long time, and I'd come to a definite conclusion that there was one man behind all the attacks.”
Jimmy Masterson tells Anthony he believed a single person orchestrated the newspaper attacks on Hoode.
This leads to his dismissal after arguing with Hoode about it.