# The Search explained — The Three Just Men

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

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters/xxii-the-search
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters