The Conclusion of the Foregoing Adventure
- The lieutenant thinks that the guard actively helped Northerton escape.
- What actually happened was this:
- Northerton feels no guilt at all about hurting Tom.
- But he is a little concerned about either (a) going to prison, or (b) getting hanged.
- So he decides to escape.
- The landlady of their hotel finds Northerton really attractive.
- He also has a little money, which he passes on to her.
- She agrees to help him go free.
- Together, they arrange that he will climb down the chimney when she gives the signal.
- The landlady then uses the ghost-seeing guard as a scapegoat for Northerton's disappearance.
- Meanwhile, Tom has safely returned to his sickbed.
- He hears all of the commotion in the house and asks to see the lieutenant.
- Tom explains everything about the duel and trying to see Northerton.
- He promises that the guard is innocent of Northerton's escape.