The Man with Two Beards

The Man with Two Beards by G.K. Chesterton

Father Brown tells the story to Professor Crake at a club, after the professor lays out his classification of murder motives; Brown says he once knew a murderer who fits none of the categories, since he had no motive of profit, obstruction, or hatred, and tells the tale that follows. At breakfast, the Bankes family of Chisham—Simon Bankes, his wife, their psychic daughter Opal, their sons John and Philip, and family friend Daniel Devine—read a newspaper report that the released burglar Michael Moonshine has settled in their suburb. Devine recalls a reclusive neighbor, Mr. Carver, staying with old Mr. Smith to keep bees, and suspects him of being Moonshine. Devine visits Smith's farm and meets Carver, who cryptically warns that his bees "sting" and that there is "moonshine" in his business. Carver introduces Father Brown, also visiting Smith. John Bankes arrives in his new car, pressing everyone for a ride; Carver maneuvers old Smith into being driven off to visit his sister at Holmgate, seeming eager to have the farm to himself. Once John and Smith depart, Carver drops his hospitable manner. Devine tells Father Brown he believes Carver wanted the house empty that evening. That evening at the Bankes house, Opal Bankes, alone in a dim room, sees a ghostly pale, goggling face at a window and is badly shaken. Father Brown arrives, having come from Beechwood House, and tells the family that a robbery has occurred there: Lady Pulman's jewels are gone and her secretary, Barnard, was shot by the fleeing burglar. Brown mentions that a servant at Beechwood also saw a face at a window, and Opal confirms she saw one too. John Bankes returns, complaining that Smith bolted from the car mid-ride. Carver then arrives and reveals he is a detective investigating Moonshine, who he believes has resumed crime; his suspicion fell on Smith, and he used the joyride to search Smith's house, finding a fake red beard, horn-rimmed spectacles, and a coded memorandum listing jewels to steal, including Mrs. Bankes's emerald necklace. As Carver explains this, the ghostly bearded, goggled face appears again at the round window. Immediately John Bankes shouts that the necklace is gone and rushes into the garden with a revolver; shots are heard, and John is found alive while the disguised man—Moonshine—lies shot dead in the garden, beard and spectacles askew. Carver declares the case closed: Moonshine shot dead by John Bankes in self-defense. Father Brown, however, states plainly he does not believe the account, though he cannot yet explain it; he had been Moonshine's confessor and knew him to be a sincerely reformed penitent who would never resume burglary. Brown notes the strangeness that Moonshine wore an entirely new beard and spectacles rather than his own well-kept old set left behind, and asks aloud, "Why did he have two beards?" As he leaves, Brown remarks that John Bankes's car has driven off and will not return, concluding John has fled with the jewels. The next day, Father Brown explains to Devine, among Smith's beehives, the true solution. Barnard being shot didn't fit Moonshine's honor code against killing. The duplicate disguise revealed the deception: Moonshine never disguised himself that night at all—he was already dead, killed by John Bankes during the drive, and John staged the rest. John dressed the corpse in a freshly made beard and spectacles, propped the dead face at windows (explaining both "ghost" sightings, including at the Bankes house while John was ostensibly searching for the necklace), then dumped the body in the garden and fired two pistols to fake a fatal exchange, framing the dead Moonshine for a burglary he never committed while John himself stole the necklace and fled. Father Brown reflects that Moonshine, truly redeemed, kept his old beard from vanity-free honesty rather than fear, and closes by tending the bees and telling them of his dead friend's death, per custom.

By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1928 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime Fiction · 8,997 words

First lines

THIS tale was told by Father Brown to Professor Crake, the celebrated criminologist, after dinner at a club, where the two were introduced to each other as sharing a harmless hobby of murder and robbery. But, as Father Brown's version rather minimized his own part in the matter, it is here re-told in a more impartial style. It arose out of a playful passage of arms, in which the professor was very scientific and the priest rather sceptical.

"My good sir," said the professor in remonstrance, "don't you believe that criminology is a science?"

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The Man with Two Beards is listed on Textopian as a short story by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1928 CE.

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mystery · detective · crime · humor · philosophy · identity · dualism · narrative · suspense · social commentary · character study · whodunit

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