Amy Lavigne’s Reviews > The Gentleman Dressed in Newspaper: A Short Story > Status Update

Inspector Marriot explains that Lady Merivale had money of her own, and that should she leave her husband he would be left without a penny. However, if she died he would get all of it. Tuppence seems in shock slightly. She is upset that it seems Inspector Marriot knew of Captain Hale’s innocence and seemed to be testing them.

Knowing he is trapped, Sir Arthur walks to the window of the room and comments about the view. It is now that Tommy calls in Inspector Marriot. Seeing Inspector Marriot just confirms what Sir Arthur suspected. And with a few more words, he jumps out the window. Though it is an unfortunate end, Marriot admits it would have been hard to prove without a confession.

Tuppence recognizes the laugh as that belonging to the man she saw at the Ace of Spades the night before. She knows it was he to killed his wife. And when she explains to him he seems backed into a corner. He didn’t realize they were private detectives and now he realizes that he was being investigated all along.

Sir Arthur is obviously upset by this accusation. In fact, he tells Tuppence that she has a vivid imagination (probably because she reads too much). When Tommy steps in he even accuses him of being guided by his wife before laughing a harsh laugh. Which is the smoking gun.

When Tuppence finally asks what Sir Arthur’s costume was he quickly tells her that he was dressed as a seventeenth-century executioner. “How appropriate”, that is what Tuppence has to say to the confession. This seems to take Sir Arthur by surprise. But Tuppence is unphased. She goes on to tell him about her theory of what happened that night.

As Tuppence talks and tells him about what evidence she could have, Sir Arthur doubles down. If his friend is innocent then surely his wife must have killed herself. But that’s not the case as Tuppence explains to him. She and Tommy did see a man with the Lady, so clearly there was another man dressed in newspaper.

So the couple calls Sir Arthur (the husband) and they invite him over to their place. All while also calling Inspector Marriot also. When Sir Arthur arrives he seems to be at a lost. Tuppence comments that he must be anxious to clear his friend’s name, but he insists that there is nothing to do, he believes the evidence.

Tuppence is simply staring slightly bewildered at the photos. It startles Tommy, he even tries to shake her. She finally mutters, “Denis Riordan”. She has seemingly solved the case. She asks Tommy to bring her the Daily Leaders of the week. And she notices that the piece of paper isn’t the same as the costume though it matches. It is a different paper!

Even as he speaks, Tuppence is in a world of her own staring at the photos Inspector Marriot left behind. When Tommy notices he looks over the photos himself. He notices odd markings which are stitching Tuppence points out. Tommy thinks it creepy that they sit there talking about dots and puzzles. But Tuppence isn’t paying attention.

Tommy however, did ask Marriot what Captain Hale had to say. Bingo Hale insisted that he never spoke to Lady Merivale. That someone had slipped him a note that said, “Don’t try and speak to me tonight. Arthur suspects”. Tommy doesn’t believe this because he and Tuppence saw the pair together at the Ace of Spades.