Secrecy and Blackmail

Where it surfaces

• I: Blackmail

  Kitely's threat to expose the partners' criminal past unless they pay him an annuity drives the central conflict of the chapter.

• II: Crime—and Success

  Kitely's blackmail threatens to expose the partners' hidden criminal history.

• III: Murder

  Cotherstone's fear of Kitely's blackmail and the secret he and Mallalieu share drives the tension leading to the murder.

• IV: The Pine Wood

  Cotherstone's extreme reaction to the murder and his whispered mention of a clue hint at hidden knowledge and possible blackmail connections.

• The Cord

  Cotherstone's secret relief at Kitely's death and the missing pocketbook suggest hidden dealings and potential blackmail.

• VIII: Retained for the Defence

  Harborough's mysterious refusal to reveal his whereabouts, hinting at a secret that could clear him.

• Antecedents

  Kitely's entire life is shrouded in mystery; Miss Pett admits she never knew his business or past, suggesting hidden secrets that may be key to the murder.

• X: The Hole in the Thatch

  The hidden banknotes and papers in the thatch suggest secret dealings and potential blackmail.

• XI: Christopher Pett

  Kitely's secret past as a detective and the hidden contents of his will underscore themes of concealed information and potential blackmail.

• XII: Parental Anxiety

  Cotherstone and Mallalieu's mutual suspicion and veiled threats reveal a shared secret about Kitely's murder, with each man hinting at the power to expose the other.

• XIII: The Anonymous Letter

  Harborough's secret alibi and the anonymous letter's hidden sender underscore the theme of secrecy surrounding the case.

• XIV: The Sheet of Figures

  Stoner's secret theft of the paper and his suspicion of Cotherstone's hidden connection to Kitely highlight themes of secrecy and potential blackmail.

• XV: One Thing Leads to Another

  Stoner considers accepting hush money from M. & C. to keep their secret, but Myler advises against it.

• XVII: The Medical Opinion

  Brereton discovers a cryptic entry in Stoner's pocketbook referencing 'M. & C.' and 'K.', suggesting Stoner was involved in uncovering secrets related to Kitely's murder.

• The Scrap Book

  The central secret of Mallalieu and Cotherstone's past is uncovered through Kitely's scrap-book, leading to blackmail and murder.

• XIX: A Tall Man in Grey Clothes

  Brereton shares confidential information with Avice, and Mrs. Hamthwaite's secret observation of Harborough and the tall man reveals hidden knowledge.

• At Bay

  Kitely's attempt to blackmail Cotherstone over the Wilchester affair and the subsequent murders underscore the destructive power of secrets.

• Comfortable Captivity

  Miss Pett's hidden motives and the secret harboring of a fugitive.

• Mr. Wraythwaite of Wraye

  The secret marriage and hidden identity of Wraythwaite, along with the anonymous money, underscore the theme of secrecy.

• XXVIII: Pages from the Past

  Miss Pett's hidden past and the secret investigations reveal how concealed histories can be used as leverage.

• XXX: Cotherstone

  Cotherstone's confession reveals that Miss Pett blackmailed him to keep silent about discovering Kitely's body, threatening to expose his and Mallalieu's criminal past.