65 pages 2 hours read

G. K. Chesterton

The Man Who Was Thursday

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1908

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Chapters 13-14Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 13 Summary: “The Pursuit of the President”

The next morning, the five detectives get on a boat for Dover. They are confused but also relieved. The Secretary explains the mob believed Syme and the other detectives were anarchists. The men with the Secretary wore black masks in order to appear to be part of the conspiracy. Despite the events of the past few days, all five men have the same questions about Sunday: why did he choose a council of policemen, what is he planning, and who is he?

The Secretary reminds the others there is a breakfast meeting the next day where they can confront Sunday. They stop at a hotel near Leicester Square for the night. Dr. Bull takes a walk and discovers Gogol outside the hotel. Gogol enters and is stunned to learn they are all policemen.

As the detectives approach the restaurant for the meeting, they see Sunday on the balcony. He greets them cheerfully and asks if the Czar is dead. The Secretary denounces the act and says it didn’t happen. He goes on to demand that Sunday tell them who he is, what he is doing, and why they are all together.

Sunday avoids giving a direct answer and calls them jackasses.