The narrative follows Thomas Elton, a struggling artist, who encounters his creditor, Solomon Gordon, while on a brief change of scenery at Margate. Gordon, a moneylender, pressures Elton for repayment of a loan, which Elton cannot afford. Their interaction is tense, revealing Elton's financial struggles and Gordon's predatory nature. During a walk along the beach, a confrontation escalates into a physical fight, resulting in Gordon accidentally falling off a cliff to his death. In a panic, Elton flees the scene, haunted by the implications of his actions. He spends a restless night grappling with guilt and fear of being implicated in Gordon's death, especially as he possesses Gordon's belongings, including a wallet containing incriminating evidence. The next day, Elton returns to the beach, hoping to confirm that Gordon's body has not been discovered. He finds the body in a cave, partially covered by seaweed, and realizes the danger of being linked to the crime. In a moment of desperation, he decides to assume a new identity, believing that by removing identifying items from the body, he can escape his past. The story shifts to an investigation led by a medical examiner and a detective, who uncover discrepancies surrounding Elton's death and the identity of the body. They discover that the deceased was not Elton but Gordon, who had been wearing Elton's clothes at the time of his death. The investigation reveals that Gordon had been a manipulative figure in Elton's life, and the circumstances of his death raise questions about foul play. Ultimately, the narrative concludes with Elton's disappearance, leaving behind a letter that suggests he may have escaped to start anew, while the truth of the events remains ambiguous. The story explores themes of desperation, identity, and the moral complexities of survival in the face of overwhelming pressure.
By R. Austin Freeman · First published 1920 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller · 2 chapters