# VI explained — The Square Emerald

> Chapter companion for The Square Emerald by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Leslie Maughan interviews Lady Raytham, who is visibly distressed and evasive about her evening. Leslie deduces that Lady Raytham lied about going out to dinner. Later, Leslie and Mr. Coldwell investigate the murder of Anthony Druze, whose body is found near Barnes. Leslie discovers a steamship ticket, passport, and a pocketbook stuffed with thousand-dollar notes hidden behind a bush, indicating the killer searched for something specific. Coldwell notes bare footprints and a button fastened incorrectly on the victim's overcoat. Leslie is sent to inform Lady Raytham, and at the house she encounters a nervous Greta Gurden before being summoned upstairs by Lady Raytham.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Identity

Lady Raytham lies about her evening and her whereabouts; Leslie uncovers the deception through observation of the wheeled table and stockings.

### Crime and Justice

The murder of Anthony Druze is investigated by Leslie and Coldwell; evidence suggests a deliberate search by the killer, not a random robbery.

### Secrecy and Blackmail

Lady Raytham's evasiveness and the killer's search for specific documents hint at hidden secrets and potential blackmail.

## Character check-ins

### Leslie Maughan

Interviews Lady Raytham, investigates the murder scene, discovers evidence (steamship ticket, passport, money) behind a bush, and returns to inform Lady Raytham.

### Jane Raytham

Visibly distressed and made-up; lies about her evening, admits Druze was 'dreadful,' and reacts with horror when Leslie suggests bringing Druze to her house, revealing she knew he was dead.

### Mr. Coldwell

Examines Druze's body, notes bare footprints and a misbuttoned overcoat, suspects Peter Dawlish, and sends Leslie to Lady Raytham with the emerald pendant.

### Greta Gurden

Nervous and agitated at Lady Raytham's house; tells Leslie that Druze made a terrible scene and walked out.

### Anthony Druze

Found murdered near Barnes; shot three times through the heart, overcoat misbuttoned, and his pockets searched by the killer.

## Key lines

> He was grossly insulting, and left me at a second's notice.

Druze was very rude and walked out immediately.

_Lady Raytham describes Druze's abrupt departure to Leslie._

> The second button has been fastened to the third buttonhole. Whoever killed him, put on his overcoat and buttoned it.

The overcoat was buttoned incorrectly, suggesting the murderer dressed the victim after killing him.

_Leslie points out a crucial clue to Coldwell at the crime scene._

> Somebody had come behind this bush to examine the contents of the pockets; the papers had been taken out one by one, examined, and thrown away, and the object had not been robbery.

The killer searched the victim's belongings behind a bush, looking for something specific rather than stealing money.

_Leslie reconstructs the killer's actions based on the evidence she finds._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_square_emerald_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_square_emerald_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_square_emerald_se/chapters