The Powerhouse · Theme
Hidden Power and Crime
How The Powerhouse develops Hidden Power and Crime.
The central antagonist, Mr. Andrew Lumley, operates a vast, secret criminal organization called the Powerhouse, using his respectable public persona to conceal his control over a network of spies, murderers, and financial manipulation.
Where it surfaces
- The Powerhouse
The influence of Lumley and the criminal network operating beneath the surface of society.
- I: Beginning of the Wild-Goose Chase
The mysterious embassy passport, secretive meetings, and Pitt-Heron's sudden flight hint at a hidden network of influence and possible wrongdoing.
- I First Hear of Mr. Andrew Lumley
The narrator uncovers a web of secret connections between Lumley, Pavia, and a German spy, suggesting hidden influence and possible criminal activity.
- III: Tells of a Midsummer Night
The host's discussion of an international conspiracy of unlicensed intelligence and the potential for organized anarchy echoes the hidden criminal network surrounding Pitt-Heron.
- I Take a Partner
The Powerhouse is revealed as a secret anarchist organization; Routh's embezzlement and criminal past are exposed.
- VI: The Restaurant in Antioch Street
The trap at Rapaccini's, the photograph of Routh, and the violent rescue reveal a criminal network operating behind respectable facades.
- The Powerhouse
Lumley's power lies in his respectable facade; Leithen exposes the hidden criminal network.