# The Things in the Box explained — The Three Just Men

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

## What happens

Mirabelle and the drugged Joan are imprisoned in the factory cellar. Gurther attacks them, but during the struggle a snake escapes from a broken green box. Gurther is bitten and dies, while Oberzohn forces Mirabelle to leave Joan and come with him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Innocence and Corruption

Mirabelle's innocence is contrasted with Gurther's monstrous corruption, culminating in his grotesque death by snakebite.

### Crime and Punishment

Gurther's violent death by snakebite serves as a form of poetic justice for his murders and attempted assaults.

## Character check-ins

### Mirabelle Leicester

Imprisoned in the factory cellar, she tends to the drugged Joan and witnesses Gurther's attack and death by snakebite.

### Joan Newton

Drugged and semi-conscious, she is brought to the cellar, later attacks Gurther in a frenzy, and is tied to the bed.

### Gurther

Disguised without beard or wig, he attacks the women, is bitten by a snake from the broken green box, and dies.

### Dr. Eruc Oberzohn

Arrives with Joan's body, orders Gurther to inject her with an antidote, later finds Gurther dying and forces Mirabelle to accompany him.

## Key lines

> He heard the soft purr of engines, and, looking through the hall window, saw the dim lights of the car approaching the house, and turned out the hall lamp.

Oberzohn hears a car approaching and turns off the hall light to wait in darkness.

_Sets the scene for Gurther's return with Joan._

> Something was coming from the broken green box! A black, spade-shaped head, with bright, hard eyes that seemed to survey the scene in a malignant stare.

A snake emerges from the shattered green box, its head appearing menacingly.

_Climactic moment where the hidden snakes are revealed._

> He put the writhing head under his heel, and Mirabelle shut her eyes and put her hands to her ears.

Gurther crushes the snake's head under his foot, and Mirabelle covers her eyes and ears in horror.

_Gurther's final act before succumbing to the venom._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters/xxxi-the-things-in-the-box
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_just_men_se/chapters