# The Secret of Chimneys — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie.

- [The Secret of Chimneys](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/the-secret-of-chimneys.md): Anthony Cade arrives at Chimneys and is drawn into the intrigue surrounding the Herzoslovakian diamond and the murder of Prince Michael. He meets Virginia Revel and other key figures, and begins to unravel the secrets of
- [I: Anthony Cade Signs On](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/i-anthony-cade-signs-on.md): Anthony Cade, working as a tour guide for Castle's Select Tour in Bulawayo, meets his old friend Jimmy McGrath. McGrath proposes that Anthony deliver a manuscript of Count Stylptitch's memoirs to London in exchange for a
- [A Lady in Distress](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/ii-a-lady-in-distress.md): Anthony Cade agrees to travel to England under the alias James McGrath to deliver a manuscript by the late Count Stylptitch. During their conversation, Anthony deduces that the manuscript may be linked to political intri
- [Anxiety in High Places](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/iii-anxiety-in-high-places.md): Lord Caterham is cornered by George Lomax outside his London club and reluctantly agrees to host a politically sensitive house party at Chimneys for Prince Michael Obolovitch, with the aim of securing oil concessions for
- [IV: Introducing a Very Charming Lady](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/iv-introducing-a-very-charming-lady.md): George Lomax returns to Whitehall and sends Bill Eversleigh to deliver a message to Virginia Revel, pretending her telephone is out of order so he can see her. Virginia agrees to meet Lomax at four o'clock, and she and B
- [First Night in London](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/v-first-night-in-london.md): Anthony Cade arrives in London under the alias Jimmy McGrath, checks into the Blitz Hotel, and is visited by Baron Lolopretjzyl, who attempts to buy off the memoirs of Count Stylptitch. After the Baron leaves, Anthony di
- [VI: The Gentle Art of Blackmail](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/vi-the-gentle-art-of-blackmail.md): Virginia Revel returns home to find a foreign blackmailer waiting for her. He presents a letter signed 'Virginia Revel' that she did not write, attempting to extort money. Instead of exposing him, she plays along, pays h
- [Mr. McGrath Refuses an Invitation](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/vii-mr-mcgrath-refuses-an-invitation.md): Anthony Cade, still posing as James McGrath, wakes to discover that the packet of letters he had taken from Giuseppe has been stolen. He decides not to involve the police, reasoning that Giuseppe mistook the letters for 
- [A Dead Man](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/viii-a-dead-man.md): Virginia Revel returns home from Ranelagh to find her household has been sent away by a bogus telegram. Her maid Élise remains, and Virginia discovers a dead man—her blackmailer—shot in her study. She struggles with whet
- [IX: Anthony Disposes of a Body](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/ix-anthony-disposes-of-a-body.md): Anthony Cade and Virginia Revel decide to dispose of the body of the blackmailer Giuseppe rather than call the police. Anthony devises a plan: Virginia will travel to Chimneys while he handles the body. He drives to a re
- [X: Chimneys](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/x-chimneys.md): The chapter opens at Chimneys, where Inspector Badgworthy and Constable Johnson are summoned to investigate a murder. Lord Caterham, visibly agitated, leads the police and Dr. Cartwright to the Council Chamber where the 
- [XI: Superintendent Battle Arrives](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xi-superintendent-battle-arrives.md): Superintendent Battle arrives at Chimneys to investigate the murder of Prince Michael. Lord Caterham, George Lomax, and Colonel Melrose brief him on the case. Battle reveals that footprints from the scene match the boots
- [XII: Anthony Tells His Story](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xii-anthony-tells-his-story.md): Anthony Cade presents himself at Chimneys, confessing to being in the grounds at the time of the murder. He recounts his journey from Bulawayo, his encounter with the manuscript, and the events leading to his presence at
- [XIII: The American Visitor](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xiii-the-american-visitor.md): Superintendent Battle shows Anthony Cade the recovered memoirs manuscript, revealing that Anthony has been outmaneuvered and lost his claim to the £1,000 reward. Battle suggests Anthony might have been mistaken about the
- [Mainly Political and Financial](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xiv-mainly-political-and-financial.md): Superintendent Battle discusses the murder of Prince Michael with George Lomax and financier Herman Isaacstein. They consider motives, the possibility of King Victor's involvement, and the political stakes for the Herzos
- [XV: The French Stranger](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xv-the-french-stranger.md): Virginia and Anthony walk to the lake, discussing the disposal of the body and the murder investigation. Anthony reveals that Count Stanislaus was actually Prince Michael Obolovitch in disguise, and suggests that the mur
- [Tea in the Schoolroom](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xvi-tea-in-the-schoolroom.md): After lunch, Anthony Cade and Virginia Revel discuss the murder and Mademoiselle Brun's migraine. Anthony later speaks with Superintendent Battle about traveling to Dinard and the political implications of Prince Michael
- [A Midnight Adventure](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xvii-a-midnight-adventure.md): After the inquest, Anthony Cade departs, leaving Bill Eversleigh exhausted from George Lomax's demands. That night, Virginia wakes Bill to investigate a light in the Council Chamber. They discover a burglar examining the
- [Second Midnight Adventure](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xviii-second-midnight-adventure.md): Anthony Cade returns to Chimneys and meets Superintendent Battle at the station, discussing his failed suspicion of Mademoiselle Brun. Battle mentions the mysterious King Victor and a shooting at Staines. Later, Anthony,
- [Secret History](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xix-secret-history.md): The characters gather to hear the full story behind the Herzoslovakian jewel and the murder at Chimneys. Superintendent Battle and M. Lemoine reveal the secret history involving Queen Varaga, the thief King Victor, and t
- [Battle and Anthony Confer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xx-battle-and-anthony-confer.md): Anthony Cade confesses to Superintendent Battle that he was the one who brought the body of Giuseppe Manelli to Staines. Battle, having already suspected this, accepts the confession calmly and explains his methods of in
- [Mr. Isaacstein’s Suitcase](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxi-mr-isaacstein-s-suitcase.md): Superintendent Battle questions Virginia about Anthony Cade's past, revealing his lack of knowledge about Anthony's history before South Africa. Later, Virginia and Bill Eversleigh walk with M. Lemoine, who deliberately 
- [The Red Signal](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxii-the-red-signal.md): Superintendent Battle and George Lomax discuss the coded letters found in Anthony Cade's room. Battle has summoned Professor Wynward to decode them, revealing a cipher that points to a hidden diamond. The decoded message
- [Encounter in the Rose Garden](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxiii-encounter-in-the-rose-garden.md): A party including Bundle, Virginia, Superintendent Battle, M. Lemoine, and Anthony Cade searches the secret passage behind the Holbein portrait, finding a hidden cavity containing a card of pearl buttons, a square of coa
- [The House at Dover](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxiv-the-house-at-dover.md): Bundle drives Anthony to London, discussing Virginia Revel's past. Anthony then travels alone to Dover, where he investigates a house called Hurstmere. He observes a group of conspirators and discovers a bound prisoner. 
- [XXV: Tuesday Night at Chimneys](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxv-tuesday-night-at-chimneys.md): On Tuesday evening at Chimneys, Lord Caterham, Virginia, and Bundle discuss Anthony Cade's mysterious disappearance. French detective M. Lemoine arrives and reveals his suspicions that Anthony Cade is actually the notori
- [The 13th of October](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxvi-the-13th-of-october.md): Anthony Cade visits Baron Lolopretjzyl and Captain Andrassy at Harridge's Hotel, hinting that he can supply a genuine prince for the Herzoslovakian Loyalist cause. He then calls on financier Herman Isaacstein in the City
- [The 13th of October (Continued.)](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxvii-the-13th-of-october-continued.md): Anthony Cade arrives at Chimneys and presents his theory that the Herzoslovakian diamond is hidden in the library behind a book related to the Earl of Richmond. M. Lemoine, suspecting Anthony is the notorious King Victor
- [King Victor](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxviii-king-victor.md): Anthony Cade reveals that Mademoiselle Brun is the murderer of Prince Michael, having recognized him and shot him to avoid exposure. He explains her true identity as a former actress connected to the Herzoslovakian revol
- [XXIX: Further Explanations](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxix-further-explanations.md): Anthony Cade reveals his true identity as Prince Nicholas Obolovitch, heir to the Herzoslovakian throne, and explains his role in the plot to recover the historic diamond. He describes how he and Hiram Fish worked togeth
- [XXX: Anthony Signs on for a New Job](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxx-anthony-signs-on-for-a-new-job.md): Anthony reveals his true identity as Prince Nicholas Obolovitch to Superintendent Battle and later to Virginia and Jimmy. He explains his democratic ideals and his decision to become king for Virginia's sake. Jimmy arriv
- [Sundry Details](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_secret_of_chimneys_se/chapters/xxxi-sundry-details.md): At Chimneys, a solemn ceremony unfolds as a police constable digs up a buried package. George Lomax presides with a speech, while Lord Caterham, dreading further political entanglements, flees with his daughter Bundle to

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