The Charing Cross Mystery · Chapters

Chapters explained

Chapter companions for The Charing Cross Mystery by J. S. Fletcher.

Read with companions Book page

Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.

Chapter 1
The Last Train East
Hetherwick, a young barrister, catches the last eastbound train at Sloane Square and observes two men who board at St. James's Park. The elder, a robust, military-looking man, and his sallow, shabby companion discuss recognizing a woman from a portrait. During the journey, the elder man suddenly dies. The companion claims he will fetch a doctor but never returns. Hetherwick assists the police, and the dead man is identified as ex-Superintendent Robert Hannaford of Sellithwaite. Inspector Matherfield investigates, noting the suspicious disappearance of the second man.
Chapter 2
Whose Portrait Is This?
Hetherwick and Matherfield visit the hotel where Robert Hannaford had been staying and meet his granddaughter Rhona. They inform her of Hannaford's sudden death. Hetherwick recalls seeing Rhona earlier with Kenthwaite. Later, Hetherwick returns to speak with Rhona and learns about a photograph Hannaford had cut from a newspaper, annotated with 'Through my hands ten years ago!' Matherfield arrives with news that the postmortem confirms Hannaford was poisoned.
Chapter 3
III: The Potential Fortune
The inquest into Hannaford's death reveals new evidence from a witness, Martin Charles Ledbitter, who saw Hannaford meet a mysterious man in blue spectacles and a muffler at Victoria Station. The coroner adjourns the proceedings. Later, Matherfield and Hetherwick question Rhona about Hannaford's recent activities; she reveals his hobby of chemical experimentation and a sealed envelope containing a 'potential fortune' that is now missing from his pocketbook.
Chapter 4
IV: The Diamond Necklace
Hetherwick becomes increasingly obsessed with the photograph of a woman found in Hannaford's pocketbook, convinced it holds the key to the murder. He visits Rhona Hannaford to trace the newspaper from which the picture was cut, then travels to Sellithwaite with a letter of introduction to solicitor Michael Hollis. Hollis recounts the story of the Honourable Mrs. Whittingham, who ten years earlier had purchased a diamond necklace from jeweller Malladale with a bad cheque and fled, only to be traced by Superintendent Hannaford—but she ultimately escaped prosecution.
Chapter 5
The Police Return
Hetherwick learns the full story of how Mrs. Whittingham tricked Superintendent Hannaford and escaped with a diamond necklace. Hollis and Gandham confirm her identity from a photograph, and Malladale reveals that he was eventually paid for the necklace years later.

The Last Train East

Whose Portrait Is This?

III: The Potential Fortune

IV: The Diamond Necklace

The Police Return