# In Which Mr. Field's Tophats Begin to Assume Proportions explained — The Roman Hat Mystery

> Chapter companion for The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen.

## What happens

Inspector Queen and Ellery visit Monte Field's law office, where they interview office manager Oscar Lewin and learn about Field's business and personal habits. They examine evidence from the theatre, including a program with scribbles that appears to be Field's, showing the number '50,000' and other marks. The Inspector deduces that Field likely went to the theatre for business rather than pleasure, and they confirm that the missing ticket stubs for seats near Field's have not been found.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and False Appearances

Field's office and personal demeanor present a facade of success and generosity, but his small bank accounts and the mystery of his theatre attendance suggest hidden motives and deception.

### The Relentless Quest for Truth

The Queens systematically examine evidence, from the office manager's testimony to theatre sweepings, seeking to uncover why Field was at the theatre and who killed him.

## Character check-ins

### Ellery Queen

Accompanies his father to Field's office, examines the scribbled program, and argues that Field's writing his own name is a natural psychological action, not necessarily egotism.

### Richard Queen

Leads the investigation at Field's office, interviews Lewin, examines theatre sweepings, and deduces Field went to the theatre for business.

### Oscar Lewin

Field's office manager, interviewed by the Inspector; claims Field was in good spirits before his death and that he knew little about Field's personal life.

### Thomas Velie

Sergeant who reports on fingerprint findings from Field's flask and brings the theatre sweepings and stub list for examination.

### Monte Field

The murdered lawyer; his office is searched, and his scribbled program is found among theatre sweepings, showing the number '50,000' and other marks.

## Key lines

> It was exactly ten o'clock in the morning when Inspector Queen and his son opened the frosted glass door marked: Monte Field Attorney-at-Law

At 10 a.m., Inspector Queen and Ellery enter Monte Field's law office.

_Marks the start of the office investigation._

> I don't agree with you when you say the '50,000' probably refers to Field's bank account. When a man jots down his bank balance he will not do it in such round numbers.

Ellery argues that the '50,000' scribbled on the program is unlikely to be Field's bank balance because it is too round a number.

_Ellery's deduction proves correct when the Inspector learns Field's accounts total less than $6,000._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters/part-two-x-in-which-mr-field-s-tophats-begin-to-assume-proportions
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roman_hat_mystery_se/chapters