An Unsuitable Job for a Woman

Cordelia returns to her office and discovers a check for her expenses has come from Sir Ronald’s estate. She is contemplating what her future might hold when the telephone rings and she is summed to meet with Chief Superintendent Dalgliesh. The novel then skips forward, picking up 10 days later, when Cordelia is on her third visit to Dalgliesh.

The narrator recaps how the prior visits went, what Dalgliesh has been like, and how Cordelia has stuck to her story about Sir Ronald’s death. Dalgliesh clearly suspects her of not telling the full truth. He surprises her with deep knowledge of her investigation, having clearly traced her path. He horrifies her by accusing her of lying about Sir Ronald confiscating the gun. He has testimony from Miss Markland and the drunken stranger who accosted her, both of whom told Dalgliesh she claimed to have a gun during the time it was supposedly in Sir Ronald’s possession.

Cordelia is on the verge of confessing everything when they are interrupted by a message that announces Miss Leaming has died in a car accident. Dalgliesh tells Cordelia she can go—“there’s not much point in you staying” (246)—implying he has worked out that Miss Leaming killed Sir Ronald.