# XVIII explained — The Square Emerald

> Chapter companion for The Square Emerald by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Peter Dawlish, desperate to find Elizabeth, searches Mrs. Inglethorne's room and discovers a collection of baby clothes with death notes, revealing she is a baby farmer. He finds a bundle labeled 'Miss Martha's girl Elizabeth,' linking the child to Martha. Rushing to tell Leslie, he finds her flat dark and is directed to Inspector Coldwell's house. Returning, he sees a light in her window, enters, and is knocked unconscious.

## Themes in this chapter

### Poverty and Exploitation

Mrs. Inglethorne's baby farming exploits the poor and vulnerable, as seen in the collection of baby clothes with death notes.

### Secrecy and Blackmail

Peter's secret search for clues about Elizabeth and the hidden evidence in Mrs. Inglethorne's room highlight themes of secrecy.

### Family and Betrayal

Peter's desperate search for his child Elizabeth and the betrayal by Mrs. Inglethorne, who likely harmed the child, underscore family and betrayal.

## Character check-ins

### Peter Dawlish

Searches Mrs. Inglethorne's room, discovers evidence of baby farming and a bundle labeled 'Miss Martha's girl Elizabeth,' then is attacked and knocked unconscious at Leslie's flat.

### Mrs. Inglethorne

Revealed as a baby farmer through her collection of baby clothes with death notes; her room is searched by Peter.

### Martha

Referenced as 'Miss Martha' on a label found on a baby garment, linking her to Elizabeth.

### Elizabeth Dawlish

The child Peter is desperately searching for; a bundle labeled 'Miss Martha's girl Elizabeth' is found.

### Leslie Maughan

Not present at her flat; Peter seeks her to share his discovery but is attacked.

## Key lines

> He had been such a short time in the lodging that he was not even acquainted with her friends—the slinking little thieves who came to barter and haggle over the property they had stolen knew no more of her than that she was a mean and grinding bargainer.

Peter had not been lodging long enough to know Mrs. Inglethorne's associates; the petty thieves who traded stolen goods with her only knew her as a harsh negotiator.

_Highlights Peter's isolation and Mrs. Inglethorne's secretive, exploitative nature._

> He untied a bundle and opened it. It consisted of a child's cotton nighdress, a little pair of woollen shoes, and a small knitted shawl. Pinned to the shoes was a scrap of paper on which was written in an illiterate hand the words: ' Mrs. Larse boy, 10 days old, measles 9 months.'

Peter opened a bundle containing a baby's nightgown, wool shoes, and a shawl, with a note indicating it belonged to Mrs. Larse's boy, who died of measles at nine months.

_Reveals Mrs. Inglethorne's baby farming and the tragic fate of the children._

> The nightdress he unrolled was of the finest linen, the most expensive of all he had examined. The shawl was of heavy silk, and the microscopic shirt of the most delicate flannel. For some time he could not find the inscription, but eventually it was discovered inside the shawl. Only three words, but they set his heart beating: 'Miss Martha's girl.'

Peter found a high-quality baby outfit with a label inside the shawl reading 'Miss Martha's girl,' which excited him as a clue to Elizabeth.

_Key discovery linking Elizabeth to Martha and confirming Peter's search._

> Something soft and heavy fell with a thud on his head, crushing his soft hat as though it were paper. He stumbled on to his knees, and a second blow laid him prostrate, the blood trickling down his face and staining the soft silk that had once enwrapped his child.

Peter was struck on the head by a soft, heavy object, collapsing to his knees, then a second blow knocked him unconscious, blood staining the silk shawl that had belonged to his baby.

_Climactic attack on Peter, emphasizing the danger and the symbolic staining of the child's garment._

## Links

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