Scales of Justice Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vic

Sir Harold was the patriarch of the Lacklanders, one of the last true country aristocratic families. They were called the Lucky Lacklanders because scandal and misfortune never seemed to find them. Sir Harold was in the process of writing his memoirs when he died.

These memoirs prove to be controversial and contain information about "Vic" who it turns out is Ludovic Danberry-Phinn, son of a neighbor, Octavius.

Answer: Colonel Cartarette

On his death bed, Sir Harold asked for Colonel Cartarette, his friend and neighbor, and handed over his memoirs to him to edit and to publish after he died. Upon reading the memoirs after Sir Harold's death, Colonel Cartarette immediately went to see George and informed him of the shocking revelations within (that are withheld from the reader). George asked the colonel not to publish the papers but the colonel insisted he must because he promised Sir Harold.

Answer: It was not the same fish the colonel caught

The dead fish that was found beside Colonel Cartarette's body was the Old 'un, a very large and notorious fish in the town's river system. The Old 'un was much sought after by the local men. Octavius Danberry-Phinn caught the old and then got into an argument with Cartarette because Phinn allegedly poached the fish from Cartarette's property. Phinn threw the fish on a bridge a short distance away from the crime scene but then the Old 'un showed up on a hook near the colonel's body. Alleyn knew there was originally another fish near the colonel because the colonel had clearly caught a fish shortly before he died, but it could not have been the Old 'un.

Answer: Sir Harold was actually a traitor during World War II and blamed it on Ludovic Danberry-Phinn

Sir Harold had been stationed in Zlomce during World War II with Phinn's son Ludovic. Ludovic strongly admired Sir Harold. During their time in Zlomce, it appeared that Ludovic had given out information to the Nazis. That story was commonly believed by everyone. Ludovic then committed suicide, apparently in remorse for what he had done. Octavius Phinn never forgave the Lacklanders for this incident.

However, as the memoirs reveal, Sir Harold was actually the traitor. He collaborated with Nazis in order to prevent further war and save the aristocracy of Britain. Ludovic accidentally revealed that information and then killed himself because his idol was a traitor.

Answer: Doing so would eliminate the motive for Phinn

In the memoirs, Sir Harold revealed that he was the traitor and not Ludovic Phinn. Colonel Cartarette had revealed this to Octavius Phinn yet Phinn refused to reveal such information to Alleyn even though doing so would eliminate him as a suspect. Phinn kept quiet because Ludovic idolized Sir Harold. Ludovic has written to his parents before he committed suicide and revealed the whole story.

He also asked his parents to keep quiet so as not to sully Sir Harold's reputation.

Answer: A rag used by Lady Lacklander

According to a book written by Colonel Cartarette and read by Alleyn, no two trout have the same scales, similar to how no two humans have identical fingerprints. Because the trouts were switched, Alleyn realizes that only the killer's clothing would have both trout scales on them. Alleyn and Inspector Fox collected everyone's clothing, but none had both scales on them.

However, a rag used by Lady Lacklander while sketching did. This rag was left about and everyone had access to it.

Answer: Playing golf

Sir George was teaching Mrs. Cartarette how to play golf. While they did shoot around a bit, they used the golf lessons as a guise to conduct their affair. Several people did see them playing golf but the course swerved in and out all over town and was hidden in certain places.

Answer: Sir George

Sir George wanted to destroy his father's memoirs to save the family reputation (and his money). He knew that Colonel Cartarette kept them in his bottom drawer. He broke it open but the memoirs weren't there. Colonel Cartarette had taken them out before he was murdered, and gave them to Octavius Phinn.

Answer: Kitty Cartarette

Kitty killed her husband. After finishing her liaison with Sir George, Kitty came across her husband fishing, where she hit him with the golf club. Unsure if he was dead or not, Kitty grabbed Lady Lacklander's shooting stick and slammed that into the colonel's head.

In doing so, she accidentally stepped on the trout he caught and left an impression on the fish. She took that trout and gave it to one of Mr. Phinn's cats. She replaced it with the Old 'Un.

Answer: Love

Despite justice being the theme of the novel, and the ubiquity of the memoirs, the actual motive was love. Kitty Cartarette had fallen for Sir George who, since his father's death, was leading her on in an attempt to steal the memoirs and preserve his family's name.

He would lead her on with phrases like "if only you weren't married" or "under different circumstances." Believing she would marry Sir George if her husband was dead, Kitty killed the colonel. However, Sir George then declined to marry Kitty, believing it was too soon since the colonel's death and that he was not seriously interested in her. Kitty tried to accuse Sir George of the murder to Nurse Kettle but the nurse did not believe her.

It was implied that Sir George may have used such phrases to induce Kitty into killing her husband and preventing the publication of the memoirs.