# XX: The Green Man explained — The Talleyrand Maxim

> Chapter companion for The Talleyrand Maxim by J. S. Fletcher.

## What happens

Byner places advertisements in Barford newspapers to pressure Pratt, then visits the Green Man to investigate Parrawhite's disappearance. Pickard shares a quarry worker's account of seeing Parrawhite and Pratt together on a moonlit night near Stubbs' Lane, leading Byner to inspect a water-filled quarry shaft.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters/xx-the-green-man
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_talleyrand_maxim_se/chapters