Deception and Secrets

Where it surfaces

• Out of School

  James's secret kiss with Violet is witnessed by Adolf, leading to blackmail; Mr. Blatherwick's own kiss creates an awkward secret between him and James.

• Ahead of Schedule

  Wilson's secret marriage and the hidden relationship between him and the girl create a web of misunderstanding.

• By Advice of Counsel

  Gentleman Bailey and the waiter engage in espionage to monitor Jerry's courtship, and Gentleman attempts to manipulate Jerry's views on women to preserve their situation.

• Deep Waters

  George pretends not to be able to swim to maintain a connection with Mary, leading to a web of deception.

• Misunderstood

  Buffin deceives Constable Keating by feigning friendship to learn his off-duty schedule, hiding his true vengeful intentions. The theme is central to Buffin's plot and the misunderstandings that follow.

• The Good Angel

  Keggs manipulates events and advises Martin secretly, while the servants' hall runs a clandestine sweepstake on Elsa's engagement.

• The Man Upstairs

  Beverley's false identity as Alan Beverley and his secret purchases of Annette's waltz and Sellers' paintings drive the plot.

• The Man, the Maid, and the Miasma

  Ferguson lies about having supper with a chorus girl named Marie Templeton, but Alice reveals she knows the woman is an elderly grandmother, exposing his bluff.

• Pots O'Money

  Edith Butler's alleged theft of Owen's play introduces a theme of intellectual property deception and hidden authorship.

• Absent Treatment

  Reggie and Mary's secret plan to deceive Bobbie about the anniversary backfires, leading to blame and resentment.

• The Best Sauce

  Peter's deceitful means of gaining entry to the household and Eve's false claim about his vegetarianism and teetotalism drive the plot.

• Disentangling Old Duggie

  Reggie's well-intentioned plan to use a palmist leads to a hidden agenda by Florence to undermine the relationship.

• Ruth in Exile

  Mr. Warden's manipulative matchmaking and Ruth's hidden feelings about Mr. Vince involve elements of deception and self-deception.

• Sir Agravaine

  Earl Dorm's scheme of fabricating monsters to trick knights into marrying his daughters is a key plot point.

• The Man Who Disliked Cats

  The Frenchman's schemes to eliminate the cat Alexander involve deception, including releasing a parrot and attempting to steal the cat.

• Death at the Excelsior

  The death at the Excelsior involves hidden truths and deceptive appearances.

• I

  The mysterious circumstances of Captain Gunner's death and the doctor's suspicion of poisoning introduce an element of hidden truth and uncertainty.

• II

  The locked-room mystery and the inexplicable cobra bite suggest hidden truths and deceptive appearances.

• III

  Oakes operates undercover as a retired ship's chandler, and the mystery of Gunner's death involves hidden motives and possible concealment by Mrs. Pickett.

• V

  The apparent impossibility of the locked-room mystery is unraveled by Oakes's logical reasoning, revealing the hidden cause of Captain Gunner's death.

• VI

  Mrs. Pickett claims to know the true killer and holds back her evidence, creating an air of mystery and hidden truths.

• VII

  Mrs. Pickett hides her true intentions and orchestrates a dinner party to expose Captain Muller's secret crime, revealing layers of deception.

• One Touch of Nature

  Benyon hides his criminal identity under the alias Johnson, but Waterall's sharp memory exposes him, leading to a dramatic confrontation.

• At Geisenheimer's

  The narrator swaps tickets to ensure Mrs. Ferris wins the cup, a secret manipulation that leads to a happy outcome.

• Bill the Bloodhound

  Henry's job as a detective involves spying and disguise, and he conceals his true identity from Alice while shadowing the company.

• Black for Luck

  The misunderstanding between Elizabeth and James Boyd leads to a painful secret that nearly destroys their relationship.

• Concealed Art

  Archie hides his comic strip work from his wife and fabricates a sale to a millionaire, leading to a crisis when the lie is exposed.

• The Mixer

  Tommy's perspective reveals the hidden romantic and financial secrets of his owners, highlighting the theme of deception.

• I: He Meets a Shy Gentleman

  The shy man's burglary and the dog's silent complicity underscore the theme of hidden intentions and secretive behavior.

• II: He Moves in Society

  The dog is celebrated as a hero for foiling a kidnapping that never happened, based on Peter's imaginative story about brigands.

• Wilton's Holiday

  Wilton invents a dead fiancée to manipulate others' perceptions, but the lie later sabotages his own romantic prospects.

• Mister Potter Takes a Rest Cure

  Mr. Potter hides from Gandle, Bobbie conceals her dislike of Gandle from her mother, and the plan to leave secretly without saying goodbye.