# X: In Which a Book Is More Communicative Than a Lady explained — The Viaduct Murder > Chapter companion for The Viaduct Murder by Ronald A. Knox. ## What happens Mordaunt Reeves visits Miss Rendall-Smith with the photograph found on Brotherhood's body, but she reacts defensively and dismisses his inquiries. Meanwhile, Carmichael discovers that the cipher key was a copy of Momerie's 'Immortality' left on a train, but when they attempt to decode the message, the cipher itself has vanished from Reeves' room. They successfully decode the message from memory using a marked book, revealing the warning: 'You will perish if you go back upon your faith.' Carmichael hints that the cipher's disappearance is itself a significant clue. ## Themes in this chapter ### Deception and Secrecy Miss Rendall-Smith's evasiveness and the disappearance of the cipher underscore the theme of hidden truths and deliberate concealment. ### Detection and Rationality The amateur detectives employ logical deduction to trace the book, decode the message, and interpret the missing cipher as a clue. ### Fate and Coincidence The discovery of the key book through a porter's wife and the timely decoding of the warning message suggest a pattern of fateful coincidences. ## Character check-ins ### Mordaunt Reeves Visits Miss Rendall-Smith with the photograph; later discovers the cipher has gone missing from his room. ### Miss Rendall-Smith Receives Reeves in her drawing-room; recognizes the photograph but becomes evasive and defensive, ultimately dismissing him. ### Mr. Carmichael Traces the cipher key to a copy of Momerie's 'Immortality' left on a train; helps decode the message and notes the cipher's disappearance as an extra clue. ### Marryatt Insists the photograph changed; remains certain despite others' doubts. ### Gordon Davenant Drives Reeves to Miss Rendall-Smith's but refuses to enter; later laughs at Reeves' account and participates in decoding. ## Key lines > Rooms do echo personalities, and this drawing-room spoke of a forceful one; the furnishing was strategically perfect, the flowers were arranged purposefully, the books were books that had been collected, not simply amassed. The room's decor reflected Miss Rendall-Smith's strong, deliberate character, with every item carefully chosen and placed. _Reeves observes the room as a reflection of its owner's personality._ > You felt at once that she was kind and that she was competent, but you felt that if a choice had to be made she would be competent rather than kind. Miss Rendall-Smith gave an impression of kindness, but her competence was more dominant. _Reeves' impression of Miss Rendall-Smith's character._ > You will perish if you go back upon your faith. The decoded message warns that abandoning one's beliefs will lead to destruction. _The decoded cipher message sent to Brotherhood._ > The other clue is the disappearance of the cipher. There’s more in that than meets the eye, unless I’m mistaken. Carmichael suggests that the missing cipher is itself a significant clue. _Carmichael hints at the importance of the cipher's theft._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters/x-in-which-a-book-is-more-communicative-than-a-lady - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_viaduct_murder_se/chapters