Deception and Concealment

Themes of hidden identities, secret locations, forged documents, and deliberate obfuscation (like the blinded carriage and inverted cuneiform inscription) drive the plot, highlighting how appearances can be manipulated to commit crimes.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding the patient at 31, New Inn involve deliberate concealment of identity and motives.

The entire chapter revolves around the deliberate concealment of the patient's identity and location, with the carriage being locked and windows shuttered to prevent Jervis from knowing where he is.

Weiss's secretive behavior, the locked carriage, the housekeeper's odd squinting and loud interruptions, and the patient's confusion about Jervis's identity all suggest hidden motives and deliberate obfuscation.

The will appears genuine, but Thorndyke probes for hidden motives and undisclosed relationships.