Murder by Nail *

UK Publisher: Sampson Low, Marston and Co. Ltd. (London). First published 1942

This is another triumphant episode in the career of Jasper Shrig, that shrewd, dour limb of the law whose amazing career has provided so much enjoyment for Jeffery Farnol's readers. Murder by Nail is an enthralling tale of mystery and intrigue which is set in eighteenth-century England and ranges from London to that wild Cornish coast where the shipwreckers plied their nefarious trade. Although Jeffery Farnol has created a host of memorable characters, Edward Brandonleigh and Virginia Wrybrook will live among his best creations, and their individual love stories, beset as they were by murder, intrigue, and greed, will not soon be forgotten. Mr. Farnol has outdone himself in his exciting and eerie descriptions of the shipwreckers of the Cornish coast and in his depiction of the aged, scheming Lady Polgarth, whose desperate attempt on the life of Edward Brandonleigh, in her efforts to conceal the secret of the disinterred skull, forms one of the high lights of a book which contains the last full measure of sustained and thrilling romance. Jasper Shrig, that magnificent Cockney, who is brought into the case by Brandonleigh and whose thick accent and homely philosophy have been such a high light in other Farnol books, is once again in the center of the gripping events with which "Murder by Nail" is replete. This is magnificent entertainment in the well-known Farnol manner.

Extended plot summary (by Jeffrey Bidwell):

[Chapter 1]. Edward Brandonleigh (EB) and his man Enoch discover a skull, within which is a rusted nail, whilst walking through a cemetery. It belonged to Jonas Wrybrook, who died 1748, seventy years earlier.

[Chapter 2]. Two months later, Jasper Shrig, Bow Street detective and friend of EB, visits him with some facts regarding Jonas Wrybrook: he was a wealthy knight; he had one son Henry; a year before his death he wed Marianne Marbury (also referred to as Henrietta, p46), a young beauty, and kicked out Henry. Shrig theorises that Marianne killed her husband and later married Sir Thomas Polgarth of Trelant (also referred to as George, p46) of Trelant, Cornwall; they departed suddenly to live in Cornwall at Trelant Manor. Henry Wrybrook, dispossessed, became a painter and married Ellen Travis, who later died; their child Virginia Wrybrook (VW) is then orphaned. VW is therefore the grand daughter of Jonas Wrybrook and heir to his estate, if his murder can be proved. Shrig asks EB to provide funds to assist VW to come by her rights. VW appears at their interview but pointedly refuses their help.

[Chapter 3]. A week later VW disappears and her friend Eustace (Bill) Vokes falsely accuses EB of complicity. She has left a note at her (and Bill's) lodging. EB and Bill visit the landlady of their boarding house ("Ma", Harriet Dolittle) and are introduced to a third lodger, Irishman Mike O'Dowd (later revealed to be a Bow Street officer known to Shrig). They decide to follow her to Cornwall.

[Chapter 4]. EB, Bill, and the uninvited Mike, travel in EB's coach to Cornwall and on the way are beset by Highwaymen, but Bill and Mike overpower them. They lodge at the Red Lion Inn, Truro.

[Chapter 5]. Shrig is there before them, and warns EB that he is in cognito, and to ignore him. He has learned that VW has taken a job as a governess at Trelant Manor house, under the assumed name of Cecily Dare. In the house live Lady Marianne/Henrietta Polgarth (wife of Sir Thomas/George Polgarth, now deceased), her son Sir Wilfred Polgarth, his son Jason Polgarth, and Jason's daughter Tamsin. Lady P is suspected of involvement in local smuggling and wrecking activities. Shrig's undercover name is Thomas Rigg.

[Chapter 6]. EB visits Trelant on horseback, meets "Cecily Dare" who tells him she is in no danger and refuses to leave and return to London. On his way back to Truro, EB meets and befriends Samuel Trevanion, a retired parson.

[Chapter 7]. EB discovers that his man Enoch was previously a convicted felon, rehabilitated by Shrig.

[Chapter 8]. EB has his pockets picked on Truro market day, but protects the boy thief from the brutality of the drunken Jason Polgarth, who turns violent but is brought to heel by the appearance of "granmama", Lady P, who takes him away in her coach.

[Chapter 9]. Mike O'Dowd is a potential problem because he is talkative when drunk. EB is persuaded by Will to revisit Trelant with him, to help him get VW to see sense. Will is revealed to be a hero of Waterloo.

[Chapter 10]. EB and Will ride to Trelant and speak with VW who still refuses to come back to London. Jason Polgarth, drunk again, interrupts and fights will but is beaten down. On their return, they become lost and discover an old ruined tower which reeks of evil, before finding their way back to Truro.

[Chapter 11]. Shrig reveals: that the figure-head of a wrecked ship (Neptune) has been seen in the garden of Sam Trevanion; that he witnessed the meeting of EB, Will and VW, and the fight, from a vantage point in the ruined tower. Later, Mike vows never to drink again.

[Chapter 12]. EB visits Sam Trevanion and his sister Evadne. In their garden is the figure-head of the Neptune. Evadne admits to receiving smuggled goods. Sam is disturbed about wreckers. About six month's previously, Evadne heard a 'long bubbling scream' coming from the ruined Trelant tower. EB relays this news to Shrig via his assistant Dan'l.

[Chapter 13]. Mike has a win on the horses at a race with Jason Polgarth. He gets drunk and reveals he is moving from the Red Lion to the 'Coach and Horse' to be on-hand for contact with Jason Polgarth; and claims he will solve the Wrybrook case before Shrig can.

[Chapter 14]. EB meets VW in her "Pixey Dell" and they discuss the Polgarth family: Jason's wife fled away with a shipwrecked mariner. They make friends and have tea in the dell, agreeing to meet there again in three days.

[Chapter 15]. EB sets out to school Will to improve himself so that he may win Virginia, and offers him a job as manager of his planned stud farm in Sussex.

[Chapter 16]. EB and VW meet again for tea, EB reveals his plans for Will but Virginia says she will never marry Will. They inspect a nearby cave which seems to lead from the pixy dell to Alwannack cove (where the Neptune was wrecked) - it seems an ideal place for the use of smugglers.

[Chapter 17]. EB sets out to visit Sam Trevanion but gets lost, ending up in Alwannack cove where he is beset by Pentreath and his gang, but is rescued by Charles Over, Harold Nichols, Bill Crewes and Freddy Chaffyn, arriving by boat in response to a signal from the shore (Shrig).

[Chapter 18]. They all dine at the "Plume of Feathers" and discuss local legends about smuggling, apparitions, and the Polgarth family, who, with the exception of Lady P (who is charitable), are disliked and distrusted.

[Chapter 19]. Shrig escapes being shot by a bloodstained arrow. Mike has disappeared.

[Chapter 20]. EB receives an invitation to tea with Lady Polgarth. Will reveals he has seen her beating Pentreath for "bungling and missing a chance" (the arrow?). EB accepts the invitation.

[Chapter 21]. They meet for tea. Lady P accuses EB of "surveying" her maids and being seen forever about the place. Tamsin enters with a new doll, given to her by a peddler (Shrig in disguise). The doll has a nail in its head - this upsets Lady P who throws it on the fire. Tamsin tells her the peddler called it "Sir Jonas". EB departs, leaving Lady P in shock.

[Chapter 22]. EB meets Shrig at "The Wheel" and Shrig reveals it was he that gave the doll to Tamsin. EB tells him of Lady P's reactions to it. Mike O'D is still missing and Shrig suspects Lady P of involvement. Shrig also suggests that EB might one day marry VW, which EB flatly denies.

[Chapter 23]. EB sends Will, in gentleman's clothes, to met Virginia at the pixy dell. Meanwhile EB has tea with Evadne Trevanion at the Red Lion, tells her all about the Murder by Nail and why he is there, and asks her to help him persuade Virginia to leave Trelant. She agrees and they part as friends. Will returns, having been humiliated by VW, who has written a scornful note to EB, accusing him of debasing Will. EB returns a note to her, accusing her of heedlessly wounding Will.

[Chapter 24]. EB and Will set off to visit the Trevanions. They stop at the "Wheel" and EB tells Will that Shrig is staying there in cognate. They are overheard by the landlord and possibly by Sir Wilfred Polgarth. They arrive at the Travanion's cottage for tea. Will is soon befriended by Sam and Evadne. Sam is impressed by Will's boxing history (with Jessamy Todd etc.) and Sam offers to take Will to talk with Jem Purvis, and old pugilist who lives nearby. They depart, but on their way encounter Morley Billing, who has just found Mike O'Dowd's body washed ashore.

[Chapter 25]. Mike is buried in a local church. EB informs Shrig that his identity may have been overheard by Sir Wilfred P.  EB receives a note from Virginia cancelling their next meeting at the pixy dell. EB decides to leave Truro.

[Chapter 26]. EB meets Sam who takes him see a cottage for rent in Portscatha village, which EB decides to rent. They return to Sam's cottage for supper. A storm has been brewing. Sam decides to assemble a gang of men to patrol the coast that night in search of wreckers and EB volunteers to help.

[Chapter 27]. Sam, EB and the rest (Fred Chenowith, Charles Over, Harold Nicholls, Fred Chaffyn, Morley Billing and sergeant-major Phillips) meet at the "Plume of Feathers". On patrol, they interrupt a wrecking gang on Towan beach and a fight ensues. They are eventually joined by Preventive men (organised by Shrig) and the wreckers are dispersed or captured EB is injured and taken to Sam's cottage where he is nursed by Evadne.

[Chapter 28]. He recovers somewhat overnight and is captured by the charms of Evadne. Back in Truro, Enoch gives him a note from the absent Will, asking for a meeting at 2pm that Thursday at the dell.

[Chapter 29]. On the Thursday, Will appears but EB will not go with him to the dell. They argue bitterly and Will storms out. EB discovers that Enoch is actually George Drake, whom EB used to worship and fag for 30 years ago. They are discussing the Wrybrook case, now as equals, when Lady P arrives. She says Will has been seen with Cecily and was heard to call her Virginia. She denands to be given tea. Her son Wilfred arrives to take her home, saying that Cecily has disappeared and that the maid has heard screams in Tower Wood. Lady P accuses EB of kidnap, and leaves with her son.

[Chapter 30]. The bond between EB and George grows ever stronger. Dan'l delivers a cryptic note to them from Shrig, who claims he is giving up the case and advising them to do the same. They realise it is probably a part of Shrig's strategy and ignore it. EB and George then visit Evadne, who is baking. Sam returns to the cottage with a group of men, carrying Will on a hurdle - he has been hauled from the sea. A doctor is called and says Will will recover. George tells EB not to worry, that he is an old acquaintance and collaborator of Shrig's, and VW is still being watched over day and night.

[Chapter 31]. EB and George, out riding, encounter Sir Wilfred, who tells them that Cecily returned home, was not abducted but had just gone walking. The three men take tea at the "Wheel". George persuades Sir Wilfred that the "London officer" (not named as Shrig) has completed his task rounding up the wrecking gang and has returned to London; and that they suspect a "Jew peddler" (Shrig's disguise) of killing Mike O'Dowd and injuring Will (named as "an acquaintance" and "a friend" respectively). Sir W claims he also has been plagued and spied on by the Jew peddler and vows to hunt him down.

[Chapter 32]. EB and George, visiting Will, recovering still at Sam's cottage, encounter Lady P approaching to visit, bringing gifts of food and drink for the invalid Will. They ask if Wilfred has made progress hunting the Jew peddler, but Lady P claims Wilfred must be mistaken, there is no threat from the Jew. She taunts EB and Evadne by suggesting they should marry.

[Chapter 33]. George leaves on urgent and secret business. Anne Pentreath, Lady P's maid, arrives with a note for EB supposedly from Cecily who claims to be in great danger and begging him to rescue her from the Manor house that night at 11.30pm. EB enlists the help of the postmaster, Mr. Greet, to assist in her rescue.

[Chapter 34/35]. They arrive at Trelant, Mr Greet waits nearby while EB enters the house through a window left open for him. It is a trap, he encounters only Lady P. She admits to murdering her first husband, O'Dowd, and others. EB is then knocked unconscious.

[Chapter 36]. He wakes, bound and helpless, in Trelant Tower. Lady P, alone with him, tells him he will soon be killed together with Virginia and it made to look like a coaching accident. Dan'l, unseen and unheard, makes the skull of Jonas Wrybrook, complete with nail, arise from the pit, moving and speaking to Lady P. summoning her to her death from falling into the Tower's pit.

[Chapter 37]. EB lies at death's door for 6 or 7 weeks, cared for by Evadne and other nurses. When he awakes he believes he has gone mad, and when well enough to move, begs George to get him away, not being able to face Evadne. Later, George convinces him that the talking skull was a trick of Shrig's to lead Lady P to confess, and fall to her death to avoid hanging and the gibbet. Will had rescued Virginia. Wilfred, Jason and Tamsin Polgarth have escaped to France.

[Chapter 38]. From London, Virginia writes to EB - she has returned, and will soon inherit Trelant Manor, and wishes to marry Will, whom she now sees as a great man and true hero. Shrig pays EB a visit and reveals his methods, finally saying that he always thought EB wanted to marry Virginia and that he had told Evadne so much that morning. Shocked and dismayed by this, EB travels by coach with Shrig to Sam and Evadne's cottage to set the matter straight. On their way, Shrig gives EB a note from Will - he has joined the Bow Street runners, under Shrig, and hopes one day to marry Virginia. At the cottage, EB and Evadne are reconciled and Evadne returns EB's love.