An Unsuitable Job for a Woman

Cordelia begins her investigation into Mark Callender’s suicide by interviewing his most recent employers at their estate, Summertrees: Major Markland; his wife, Mrs. Markland; and the Major’s sister, Miss Markland. Cordelia is aware that her youthful appearance makes them skeptical about her qualifications but explains that as a result she might be “more successful […] than the more usual type of private detective” (37). The Marklands ask why a private detective, not the police, and Cordelia explains that Sir Ronald isn’t disputing the fact of Mark’s suicide; he simply wants to understand the motivation for it, which “isn’t really [the police’s] kind of job” (37).

Cordelia learns that Mark responded to a help-wanted ad and must have realized the estate had a small, rustic cabin on the property before applying for the job. Major Markland admits he was surprised that a Cambridge student would want to become a gardener and live in a cabin without heat, hot water, or electricity, but he called Mark’s former tutor, who confirmed that Mark had dropped out of school, not been asked to leave because of improper behavior or scandal. Major Markland claims that this information was all he needed; he did not see it his place to inquire further.