# XV: A Scrap of Paper explained — The Three Taps

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

## What happens

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, knowing he was cut out of the will, likely burned the document in a hurry after murdering Mottram. Bredon explains that Angela informed him of Simmonds's knowledge, which initially seemed to exonerate Simmonds but actually strengthens the case against him. The chapter ends with Bredon and Leyland doubling their bet on the solution.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Fraud

Simmonds's attempt to destroy the will to inherit the Euthanasia policy involves deception and fraudulent intent.

### Detection and Rationality

Bredon and Leyland use logical deduction from the burnt fragment and Simmonds's knowledge to reconstruct the crime.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The burnt paper initially seems insignificant but proves crucial; Simmonds's knowledge of the codicil appears to exonerate him but actually incriminates him.

## Character check-ins

### Miles Bredon

Discusses the burnt will fragment with Leyland, theorizing that Simmonds burned it after murdering Mottram. Reveals Angela told him Simmonds knew about the codicil.

### Mr. Leyland

Shows Bredon the burnt paper fragment he found in Mottram's room. Explains the discovery and its likely connection to the will and the Euthanasia policy.

### Angela Bredon

Revealed to have told Bredon that Simmonds knew about the codicil, which Bredon uses to refine his theory.

### Simmonds

Implied to have murdered Mottram and burned the will copy in a hurry, knowing he was cut out of the inheritance.

### Mr. Mottram

The deceased; the burnt paper fragment is part of a copy of his will referencing the Euthanasia policy.

## Key lines

> Well, it just shows that one should never waste time trying to puzzle out a problem until one’s sure that all the relevant facts have been collated.

Bredon remarks that solving a puzzle is futile without gathering all the facts first.

_Reflects the theme of detection and rationality._

> It seems to me more like the action of a man in a hurry; and I suspect that the man who burned this document was in a hurry.

Bredon deduces that the person who burned the will was rushed, likely due to committing murder.

_Highlights the clue from the burnt fragment._

> You thought that Simmonds’s knowledge of the codicil gave him a sort of moral alibi. On the contrary, it only fastens the halter round his neck.

Bredon explains that Simmonds's awareness of the codicil actually incriminates him rather than clearing him.

_Key twist in the investigation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters/xv-a-scrap-of-paper
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_taps_se/chapters