# XVIII: The Barmaid Is Brought to Book explained — The Three Taps

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

## What happens

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 unreliable, shifting suspicion back to Brinkman. Leyland plans to watch Brinkman's motor for an attempted escape, while Angela confronts Emmeline and extracts a tearful confession about her motives.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Fraud

Emmeline fabricates a story to protect Simmonds, and the group uncovers the layers of deceit.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Pulteney's scholarly facade hides a desire for adventure; Emmeline's innocent appearance masks her cunning eavesdropping and lies.

### Detection and Rationality

Bredon and Leyland rationally dismantle Emmeline's testimony and refocus on Brinkman using logical deduction.

## Character check-ins

### Angela Bredon

Leads the interrogation of Emmeline, extracts her confession, and explains the barmaid's motives to the group.

### Miles Bredon

Deduces that Emmeline's story was fabricated and that Brinkman is now the prime suspect.

### Mr. Pulteney

Expresses delight at being mistaken for a criminal, then participates in the tense tea with Brinkman.

### Mr. Eames

Correctly deduces that the eavesdropper was the barmaid, noting her stained fingers from purloined cigarettes.

### Mr. Leyland

Accepts that Emmeline's testimony is discredited and shifts focus to Brinkman as the quarry.

### Emmeline

The barmaid who eavesdropped and lied to protect Simmonds; confesses to Angela after being confronted.

## Key lines

> The uneducated do not take Mr. Pulteney’s view about curiosity. I daresay this young lady often listens at keyholes.

Eames suggests that the barmaid, unlike Pulteney, is not above eavesdropping out of curiosity.

_Eames explains the barmaid's habit of listening at keyholes._

> She really believed that the man who had been making love to her, the man she was in love with, was a cold-blooded murderer. She acted I think, very well.

Angela recounts that Emmeline genuinely thought Simmonds was a murderer and acted bravely to protect him.

_Angela describes Emmeline's motivation for lying._

## Links

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