# The Three Taps — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Three Taps by Ronald A. Knox.

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/dedication.md): The book is dedicated to Susan and Francis Baker, with a playful warning that Francis must not stay up too late reading it.
- [The Three Taps](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/the-three-taps.md): The chapter introduces the setting and the mysterious death of Mr. Mottram, whose body is found in a locked room. The investigation begins, with Miles Bredon arriving to assist Inspector Leyland. The chapter explores the
- [I: The Euthanasia Policy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/i-the-euthanasia-policy.md): This chapter introduces the Indescribable Insurance Company and its innovative Euthanasia policy, which provides both a death benefit and an annuity. The reader meets Mr. Mottram, a wealthy but ailing client who attempts
- [II: The Detective Malgré Lui](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/ii-the-detective-malgr-lui.md): This chapter introduces Miles Bredon, the private detective for the Indescribable insurance company, and his wife Angela. It explains Bredon's background, his role investigating fraud for the company, and his capricious 
- [III: At the Load of Mischief](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/iii-at-the-load-of-mischief.md): Miles and Angela Bredon arrive at the Load of Mischief inn in Chilthorpe, where they learn from a fishing old gentleman that Mr. Mottram has been found dead, apparently by suicide. The landlady, Mrs. Davis, is voluble an
- [IV: The Bedroom](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/iv-the-bedroom.md): Miles Bredon and his wife Angela arrive at the Load of Mischief inn and are shown to their room by Mrs. Davis. Bredon encounters Inspector Leyland, an old war comrade, who is investigating Mottram's death. Leyland shares
- [V: Supper, and Mr. Brinkman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/v-supper-and-mr-brinkman.md): During supper at the Load of Mischief, the guests discuss Mottram's death. Brinkman deflects the old gentleman's ironic comments about Mottram's wealth and fishing habits, revealing that Mottram was from Chilthorpe. Late
- [VI: An Ear at the Keyhole](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/vi-an-ear-at-the-keyhole.md): Bredon and Angela discuss the case in their room, debating suicide versus murder. Bredon presents evidence for suicide (locked door, match usage, gas tap marks), while Angela playfully challenges him. They suspect someon
- [VII: From Leyland’s Notebook](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/vii-from-leyland-s-notebook.md): Inspector Leyland, having placed a bet with Bredon on his theory, begins to doubt his own conclusions. He meticulously records his reasoning, focusing on the turned-off gas tap and the open window as evidence of foul pla
- [VIII: The Bishop at Home](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/viii-the-bishop-at-home.md): Miles Bredon visits the Bishop of Pullford to discuss Mottram's death. The Bishop reveals that Mottram was a friend and neighbor, had seemed in good health, and had invited him to fish at Chilthorpe. Bredon shares that M
- [IX: The Late Rector of Hipley](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/ix-the-late-rector-of-hipley.md): Bredon dines with the Bishop and his clergy, meeting Mr. Eames, the Bishop's secretary and former rector of Hipley. After dinner, Eames accompanies Bredon to Mottram's house, where the housekeeper provides little new inf
- [X: The Bet Doubled](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/x-the-bet-doubled.md): Bredon and Leyland discuss the implications of Mottram's will and the Euthanasia policy, leading Bredon to double the bet. Bredon presents his theory that Simmonds is the murderer, motivated by the insurance money and th
- [XI: The Generalship of Angela](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xi-the-generalship-of-angela.md): Angela Bredon devises a clever social scheme to inspect the cigarette cases of Brinkman and Pulteney, hoping to find evidence of a rare brand of cigarettes. Through dinner conversation and a blindfolded tasting game, she
- [XII: The Makings of a Trap](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xii-the-makings-of-a-trap.md): Bredon and Leyland discuss their suspicions about Brinkman and Simmonds, and plan a fake conversation to trap Brinkman into revealing his involvement. Bredon is uneasy about the underhanded tactics, but Leyland persuades
- [XIII: A Morning with the Haberdasher](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xiii-a-morning-with-the-haberdasher.md): The morning after the inquest, Bredon and Leyland stage a conversation for a hidden listener (Brinkman) in which Leyland outlines his case against Simmonds for Mottram's murder, citing motive, disposition, threat, occasi
- [XIV: Bredon Is Taken for a Walk](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xiv-bredon-is-taken-for-a-walk.md): Angela Bredon, having befriended the barmaid Emmeline by posing as the advice columnist 'Aunt Daphne,' extracts a story about Emmeline's friend (actually herself) whose fiancé—revealed to be Simmonds—offered to release h
- [XV: A Scrap of Paper](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xv-a-scrap-of-paper.md): Leyland reveals a burnt fragment of paper found in Mottram's room, which appears to be a corner of a will copy referencing the Euthanasia policy. Bredon and Leyland discuss its implications, concluding that Simmonds, kno
- [XVI: A Visitor from Pullford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xvi-a-visitor-from-pullford.md): Eames arrives at the Load of Mischief, representing the Bishop at Mottram's funeral. The group discusses Mottram's will, the funeral, and village gossip. Bredon plans to play patience to clear his mind, and later confide
- [XVII: Mysterious Behaviour of the Old Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xvii-mysterious-behaviour-of-the-old-gentleman.md): Bredon and Angela, astonished that Brinkman might have been eavesdropping, discover he was at Mottram's funeral. They instead suspect Pulteney, who skipped the funeral on a false pretext. Eames reveals Pulteney's rod is 
- [XVIII: The Barmaid Is Brought to Book](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xviii-the-barmaid-is-brought-to-book.md): Angela reveals that the barmaid Emmeline was the eavesdropper at the millhouse, having overheard Leyland and Bredon's conversation and fabricated a story to protect Simmonds. The group realizes her testimony is unreliabl
- [XIX: How Leyland Spent the Evening](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xix-how-leyland-spent-the-evening.md): Leyland orchestrates a plan to trap Brinkman by using the cinema night as cover. The group stages a false departure, leaving Bredon at the inn to watch from his window while Angela and Eames secretly return to monitor Br
- [XX: How Bredon Spent the Evening](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xx-how-bredon-spent-the-evening.md): Bredon plays patience by the window while keeping watch for Brinkman. Angela returns from a stealthy outing with Eames and reports. Bredon spots Brinkman leaving with a despatch-box, and Angela telephones the police. A g
- [XXI: How Eames Spent the Evening](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxi-how-eames-spent-the-evening.md): Eames follows Brinkman through a stormy night, observing him make a mysterious leap near a ledge in the gorge. Brinkman flees, and Eames retrieves an envelope addressed to the Bishop of Pullford. He reports to Leyland, a
- [XXII: At a Standstill](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxii-at-a-standstill.md): The chapter opens with Angela returning late and refusing to share her movements unless Bredon reveals his theory. At breakfast, Leyland recounts the failed attempt to catch Brinkman, who cleverly arranged a car from the
- [XXIII: Leyland’s Account of It All](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxiii-leyland-s-account-of-it-all.md): Leyland presents his theory of the murder, arguing that Brinkman killed Mottram for a combination of motives: the thousand pounds and anti-clerical sentiment. He explains that the locked door and turned-off gas tap led h
- [XXIV: Mottram’s Account of It All](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxiv-mottram-s-account-of-it-all.md): The Bishop of Pullford reveals Mottram's suicide letter, which explains his plan to take his own life due to an incurable disease and bequeath his insurance money to the diocese. Bredon deduces the letter was copied, and
- [XXV: Bredon's Account of It All](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xxv-bredon-s-account-of-it-all.md): Bredon reveals the truth behind Mottram's death, explaining it was an accident, not suicide or murder. He details Mottram's plan to test the Bishop's honesty, Brinkman's involvement, and the series of mishaps that led to
- [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations.md): This chapter lists the illustrations in the book, specifically depicting the three taps as Brinkman found them and as they were found in the morning.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters