As Lord John Grey and Hal Grey need to speak with Reginald Twelvetrees, there are more pressing concerns about Tobias Quinn in The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 36.
It’s clear that this novel is wrapping up. Some of the big reveals have happened, and now it’s time for John to be able to prove everything. That means talking with Twelvetrees, who doesn’t like the Grey brothers. The two families have been against each other for so long.
However, there is a more pressing matter with Tobias Quinn, who sends a letter to John and Jamie.
Breaking down The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 36
The chapter starts with John and Hal meeting with Reginald Twelvetrees. He is the only surviving Twelvetrees brother, and he needs to be caught up with everything that is going on. After all, his brother Edward was a spy, and now they need to find out everything that he knew.
I do feel for Reginald. He likely knew that his brother was a spy, but couldn’t say or do anything when it came to the court martial without breaking oaths and secrets. It would have been so hard for Reginald to hear all of this, and talking to the Greys now isn’t going to help him. However, at least there is a way to clear his brothers name now.
Jamie things about how the Grey brothers have each other. It’s important to have family. However, his thoughts are interrupted when a letter from Tobias Quinn arrives. Jamie can sense that it is urgent, so he and John quickly leave.
By the time they meet Quinn in the Irish Quarter, they realize that they are too late. Quinn has already taken his own life by slitting his wrists. He’s allowed the blood to flow into the Cupan, and he has written “TEIND.”
What isn’t explained in this chapter is that TEIND is a tithe for the Irish. Quinn is making a payment to the fairy king. Quinn is a superstitious man, and he likely believes that a third sacrifice is necessary. It could also be that he fears that people will come after him as he finds out that Jamie has been working with John all this time.
Could this chapter be used in a TV series adaptation?
If The Scottish Prisoner was used in an adaptation, I could certainly see this chapter being used. It starts to wrap up the story. I would love to see the Greys and Reginald have their conversation. It’s so important to bring their family feud to an end. They need to agree to go their separate ways.
Quinn’s death is also important in the overall story. It leads to some personal feelings for Jamie and John as they realize that they got so much wrong in the case of the Jacobites.
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