XX: The Green Man explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Deception and Secrecy

  Byner's strategic advertisements aim to expose Pratt's hidden dealings, while the quarry worker's secret observation reveals clandestine meetings.

• Justice and Retribution

  Byner's investigation seeks to uncover the truth about Parrawhite's disappearance, hinting at potential accountability for Pratt.

Characters to notice

• Halstead Byner

  Investigates Parrawhite's disappearance by placing advertisements and visiting the Green Man to examine the meeting site.

• George Pickard

  Landlord of the Green Man; provides hospitality and shares a quarry worker's account of seeing Parrawhite and Pratt together.

• Linford Pratt

  Mentioned as the target of Byner's advertisements and as the man seen with Parrawhite on the night of his disappearance.

• James Parrawhite

  Subject of the search; reported to have been seen with Pratt near Stubbs' Lane on a moonlit night.

• Shepherd

  Property owner of the quarry land; Pickard mentions he should fence or drain the water-filled shaft.

Key passages

• “Byner, in taking his firm’s advertisement for Parrawhite to the three Barford newspaper offices, had done so with a special design⁠—he wanted Pratt to see that a serious wish to discover Parrawhite was alive in more quarters than one.”

  Byner placed the ad in all three Barford papers specifically to make Pratt realize that multiple parties were actively searching for Parrawhite.

  Byner's strategy to pressure Pratt by showing widespread interest in finding Parrawhite.

• “I see’d ’em cross t’ road into t’ owd quarry ground... it wor a moonlit night, that.”

  The quarry worker saw Parrawhite and Pratt cross the road into the old quarry area on a moonlit night.

  Key eyewitness account placing Pratt and Parrawhite together near the quarry.