The Red House Mystery · Chapters

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Chapter companions for The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne.

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Chapter 1
Dedication
A. A. Milne dedicates the book to his father, John Vine Milne, acknowledging his love for detective stories and expressing gratitude and affection.
Chapter 2
The Red House Mystery
Antony Gillingham arrives at the Red House and, upon hearing a shot and discovering a locked-room murder, decides to investigate the crime as an amateur detective.
Chapter 3
I: Mrs. Stevens Is Frightened
On a drowsy summer afternoon at the Red House, the household staff discusses the surprising news that Mr. Mark Ablett's brother, Robert, is expected for a visit after fifteen years. Audrey Stevens, the parlourmaid, shows Robert into the office and reports his rude demeanor. Later, the women hear loud bangs and a man's voice shouting to open a door, leading Mrs. Stevens to fear they are all about to be murdered.
Chapter 4
Mr. Gillingham Gets Out at the Wrong Station
The chapter introduces the Red House guests at breakfast, where Mark Ablett receives a letter announcing the unexpected arrival of his brother Robert. Meanwhile, Antony Gillingham, a curious and observant young man with a history of taking odd jobs to study people, arrives at Woodham station by chance and begins exploring the village.
Chapter 5
III: Two Men and a Body
Antony Gillingham, having arrived at the Red House to visit his friend Bill Beverley, encounters Matthew Cayley in a state of agitation. Cayley reports hearing a shot from a locked office. Together they force entry through a French window and discover the body of Robert Ablett, shot between the eyes. Cayley initially fears the victim is his cousin Mark Ablett, but identifies the body as Mark's brother. Antony deduces that the killer likely escaped through the same window into the shrubbery. Cayley telephones the police, and Antony accepts an invitation to stay at the house, offering his moral support.

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Dedication

The Red House Mystery

I: Mrs. Stevens Is Frightened

Mr. Gillingham Gets Out at the Wrong Station

III: Two Men and a Body