# The Account Book explained — The Three Just Men

> Chapter companion for The Three Just Men by Edgar Wallace.

## What happens

Manfred confronts Monty Newton about Mirabelle Leicester's whereabouts and warns him of deadly consequences if she is harmed. Meanwhile, at Heavytree Farm, it is discovered that Mirabelle has been abducted using dental gas and with the help of a woman. Poiccart's unexpected visit to the farm is revealed. Manfred later interviews a client with a suspicious story about his sister, which he recognizes as a setup by Dr. Oberzohn.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Disguise

Monty Newton's lies about Joan's whereabouts and the use of a woman to gain entry for the abduction highlight the theme of deception.

### Loyalty and Betrayal

Manfred's loyalty to Mirabelle contrasts with the betrayal by those involved in her kidnapping, including the unknown woman.

## Character check-ins

### George Manfred

Confronts Monty Newton, warns him, and later investigates Mirabelle's abduction at Heavytree Farm.

### Montague Newton

Visited by Manfred; panics upon hearing a ticking clock, revealing his guilty conscience.

### Leon Gonsalez

Arrives at Heavytree Farm with Manfred, examines clues from the abduction, and later trails a suspect.

### Aunt Alma

Reports the abduction at Heavytree Farm, found a gas bottle and evidence of a woman's involvement.

### Raymond Poiccart

Visited Heavytree Farm earlier; later speaks with Manfred and Leon about the case.

### Digby

Guard at Heavytree Farm who was absent during the abduction; returns from consulting the Chief Constable.

## Key lines

> You’ve got a guilty conscience, Newton, and that’s halfway to being arrested.

Manfred tells Newton that his guilty conscience makes him nearly as good as arrested.

_Manfred's psychological manipulation of Monty Newton._

> You’re more scared of us than you are of the law, and you’re right, because we do not put our men to the hazard of a jury’s intelligence.

Manfred asserts that Newton fears the Three Just Men more than the police, as they deliver their own justice without juries.

_Highlights the extrajudicial nature of the Three Just Men._

> The new dental gas. But how did they get in? No window was open or forced? They came in at the door: I’m sure of that. And they had a woman with them.

Leon identifies the gas used and deduces that a woman helped the kidnappers enter through the front door.

_Key clue in the abduction investigation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters/xxi-the-account-book
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters