The Secret House · Chapter
XVII explained
T.
What happens
T. B. Smith explains to Ela his theory that Farrington knew George Doughton was the heir to the Tollington millions and manipulated events to secure the fortune, including faking his own death. Meanwhile, Poltavo plans to blackmail the Duke of Ambury and orders an assassination attempt on T. B. Smith, which is foiled. The would-be assassin is deported, and T. B. intercepts his telegram to Poltavo.
Themes in this chapter
Crime and Blackmail
Poltavo's scheme to blackmail the Duke of Ambury for fifty thousand pounds, using a secret marriage certificate and death certificate, exemplifies the central criminal enterprise.
Deception and Secrecy
Farrington's faked death and hidden knowledge of the Tollington heir, along with Poltavo's covert communications via the Agony column, highlight pervasive deception.
Justice and Detection
T. B. Smith's methodical unraveling of Farrington's plot and the foiling of the assassination attempt demonstrate the pursuit of justice.
Characters to notice
- T. B. Smith
Plays golf at Walton Heath, receives news, and explains his deductions about Farrington's scheme to Ela. Later foils an assassination attempt and arranges the deportation of the attacker.
- Mr. Ela
Meets T. B. at the Fritz Hotel for luncheon and discusses the case, expressing haziness about the solution.
- Mr. Gregory Farrington
Revealed by T. B. to have known George Doughton was the Tollington heir, planned Doughton's death, and faked his own death to force a marriage between Frank Doughton and Doris Gray.
- Count Poltavo
Plans to blackmail the Duke of Ambury for fifty thousand pounds, disregards Farrington's share, and orders an assassination attempt on T. B. Smith via Carlos.
- Lady Constance Dex
Mentioned as being in danger; T. B. believes Farrington spirited her away and she may be in an underground chamber.
- Carlos Freggetti
Poltavo's Italian henchman, tasked with delivering a letter and receiving a reply; also involved in the assassination plot.
Key passages
“The whole thing is perfectly clear, now. The inexplicable disappearance of Mr. Farrington is explained in poster type, 'that he who runs may read.'”
T. B. Smith declares that Farrington's disappearance is now fully understood and obvious to anyone.
T. B. begins explaining his deductions to Ela.
“With diabolical ingenuity and with a remorselessness which is reminiscent of the Borgias he planned first George Doughton's death, and then the bringing together of Doughton's son and his own ward.”
Farrington cunningly and ruthlessly arranged for George Doughton to be killed and then schemed to unite Doughton's son with his ward.
T. B. describes Farrington's calculated plot.
“I want to crush this blackmailing force; I want to sweep out of England the whole organization which is working right under the nose of the police and in defiance of all laws; and until I have done that, I shall not sleep soundly in my bed.”
T. B. is determined to dismantle the blackmail ring operating openly despite police presence.
T. B. expresses his resolve to Ela.
“Poltavo can wait for just a little while.”
T. B. decides to postpone dealing with Poltavo temporarily.
T. B. prioritizes the larger organization over Poltavo.