The Viaduct Murder · Chapter
XII: A Search with Piano Accompaniment explained
Carmichael reveals that he locked Reeves' room the previous night to trick the intruder into entering through a hidden passage.
What happens
Carmichael reveals that he locked Reeves' room the previous night to trick the intruder into entering through a hidden passage. With Reeves playing piano loudly as cover, Carmichael and Gordon search the room for secret panels, eventually discovering a sliding panel in the cornice that leads to a priest's hiding place.
Themes in this chapter
Detection and Rationality
Carmichael uses logical deduction and a staged deception to force the intruder's hand, demonstrating methodical investigation.
Deception and Secrecy
Carmichael deceives his colleagues to manipulate the suspect, and the hidden priest hole underscores the theme of concealment.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Carmichael
Leads the search, explains his strategy of locking the door and using chewing-gum to detect the intruder.
- Mordaunt Reeves
Plays piano loudly to cover the search, provides information about neighboring rooms.
- Alexander Gordon
Assists in the search, steps the rooms and passage to measure wall thickness.
- Colonel Steele
Mentioned as the occupant of the room to the left of Reeves'.
- Mr. Murdoch
Mentioned as the occupant of the room to the right of Reeves', plays the cello.
Key passages
“I had an intuition, almost amounting to a certainty, that the visitor who intruded upon your room does not come in through the door.”
Carmichael was sure the intruder used a hidden entrance rather than the door.
Carmichael explains his reasoning for locking the door.
“If you play it loudly, you will drown any little thumping noises we may happen to make. And if you play it very badly, the gentleman on the other side, if he is at all musical, will probably retreat to the utmost limits of his hiding-place.”
Loud, bad piano playing will cover the sounds of the search and drive the hidden person away from the wall.
Carmichael's plan to use music as cover.
“A pace and a half? The priests must have been on the thin side. Yes, that would be it: there must be a length of about ten feet from the fireplace to the wall on the side of the fireplace opposite to the window.”
The hidden space is about ten feet long, suggesting a priest hole.
Gordon calculates the dimensions of the secret passage.