The Three Just Men · Chapter
The Search explained
Leon Gonsalez, George Manfred, and Digby search the factory grounds for Mirabelle Leicester.
What happens
Leon Gonsalez, George Manfred, and Digby search the factory grounds for Mirabelle Leicester. They discover a sprung mantrap with blood, a strip of cloth, and a ventilator grating. Descending into a vault, they find Gurther dead from snakebite and Joan Newton unconscious on a bed. Manfred takes Joan to the hospital while Leon searches Oberzohn's house, finding it empty. Oberzohn returns with Mirabelle, locks her in a room, and prepares to defend the house with hired gunmen, including Cuccini, offering them a share of a goldmine fortune.
Themes in this chapter
Crime and Punishment
The chapter depicts the aftermath of murder (Gurther's death) and the threat of police warrants, with Oberzohn planning to defend the house to avoid imprisonment.
Deception and Disguise
Gurther's apartment contains powder puffs, beards, crepe hair, and spirit bottles, indicating his use of disguises.
Wealth and Power
Oberzohn offers the gunmen a fortune from a goldmine, using wealth to secure their loyalty and control the situation.
Characters to notice
- Leon Gonsalez
Leads the search, discovers the mantrap and Gurther's body, searches Oberzohn's house, and is trapped by Oberzohn.
- George Manfred
Assists in the search, carries Joan Newton to the car, and takes her to the hospital.
- Gurther
Found dead in the vault from snakebite, having died in a last effort to climb out for help.
- Joan Newton
Found unconscious on a bed in the vault, wrists unstrapped by Leon, and taken to the hospital by Manfred.
- Dr. Eruc Oberzohn
Returns to the house with Mirabelle, locks her in a room, and prepares to defend the house with hired gunmen.
- Mirabelle Leicester
Brought back by Oberzohn, forced to remove her shoes, and locked in a room; her whereabouts were unknown earlier in the chapter.
Key passages
“I shall probably telephone from the house”
Leon plans to use the house phone to contact the police.
Leon's intention to call the police from Oberzohn's house.
“I will hold it until they are tired, and make terms.”
Oberzohn intends to defend the house until the police give up and negotiate.
Oberzohn's strategy to resist a siege and bargain for his freedom.