# XIII: Irons in the Fire explained — The Rasp

> Chapter companion for The Rasp by Philip MacDonald.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xiii-irons-in-the-fire
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rasp_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters