# How does The Middle Temple Murder develop the theme of The Past Haunting the Present?

> The Middle Temple Murder by J. S. Fletcher

## Answer

The Middle Temple Murder by J. S. Fletcher develops The Past Haunting the Present across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

Long-buried events, such as Maitland's imprisonment and the theft of the walking stick, resurface to shape current actions and relationships, driving the mystery and characters' fears.

Webster's testimony brings a past sighting of Marbury into the present investigation, suggesting that events from the previous night are key to solving the murder.

Aylmore's past acquaintance with Marbury resurfaces, and Marbury's remark about the box having been buried 'for many and many a year' hints at hidden history.

Aylmore's reference to a document kept for twenty years and his refusal to discuss events of twenty years ago indicate that past actions are now resurfacing.

## Evidence

- [vi-witness-to-a-meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/vi-witness-to-a-meeting.md): Webster's testimony brings a past sighting of Marbury into the present investigation, suggesting that events from the previous night are key to solving the murder.
- [viii-the-man-from-the-safe-deposit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/viii-the-man-from-the-safe-deposit.md): Aylmore's past acquaintance with Marbury resurfaces, and Marbury's remark about the box having been buried 'for many and many a year' hints at hidden history.
- [xiii-under-suspicion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xiii-under-suspicion.md): Aylmore's reference to a document kept for twenty years and his refusal to discuss events of twenty years ago indicate that past actions are now resurfacing.
- [xv-market-milcaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xv-market-milcaster.md): The silver ticket, a relic from a defunct race meeting, links the present murder investigation to events decades old.
- [xvi-the-yellow-dragon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xvi-the-yellow-dragon.md): The old-timers' nightly reminiscences and the silver ticket from a bygone racecourse highlight how past events and objects continue to influence the present investigation.
- [xvii-mr-quarterpage-harks-back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xvii-mr-quarterpage-harks-back.md): The discovery of the silver ticket brings the history of Market Milcaster and the forgotten figure of John Maitland into the present investigation.
- [xviii-an-old-newspaper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xviii-an-old-newspaper.md): Spargo's discovery of the old newspaper reveals past events that continue to influence the current mystery.
- [xix-the-chamberlayne-story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xix-the-chamberlayne-story.md): The unresolved Maitland case and the mystery of Chamberlayne's death continue to affect current events.

## Links

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