Sorry, I’m late posting this thread ! Here are the write-ups
Chapter 4.1
After having found Nobuko pased out, holding what appears to be the murder weapon for Ekisuke, Norimizu calls on the coroner. Even though Nobuko isn’t dead, there is a mysteryn here : what happened ? Physiologically, it seems she is only passed out. However, the causes are unclear, and some form of hysteria, that is, reaction to a shock, self-inflected probably, is suspected. Norimizu tries to gain some knowledge by asking Nobuko to write her name right after she recovers; in a famous case, the subconscious knowledge of the murderer led on of the female victim to name herself after him. Here, strangely enough, Nobuko writes her family name as Furiyagi, not Kamiya. Kumashiro deducts that Hataro must be the culprit, but Norimizu isn’t so sure : some Furiyagi is responsible, but who ?
The followinf day, Horimizu once again interrogates Tago Shinsai, to try to figure out who might be reponsible for the previous day’s murders. He bases himself both on acoustics observation, optical tricks, but also on the way various members of the hosuehold answered when they had their little poetical duel (in the previous chapter). From that, Norimizu deducts that someone else was there the following night : Oshigane Tsutako (who presided over 黒死館 before Santetsu himselfcame back). Tago says this simply isn’t possible, as Tsutako had left by the time of the murders; but Norimizu says it isn’t so, and Tsutako has herself been murdered…. and is in the antique clock room.
This text will be hidden
Chapter 4.2
Norimizu’s deductions prove to be (partly) correct, as Tsutako is indeed lying in the antique clock room. However, she isn’t dead, but has also passed out; this time, figuring out what happens is easier, as she has been intoxicated with chloral hydrate (remains of which had been found in the pharmacy/drug room/poison room earlier). However, the reason for the intoxication isn’t clear : whoever did it did not intend for her to die, and took great pain, when moving her to the antique clock room, to insure she would stay alive. Tago says that Tsutako wasn’t seen after 6pm the previous night or so, after receiving a phone call from her husband. She certainly wasn’t there for the séance.
The clock room itself is full of many artefacts, of all style and time periods. Among them is a mechanical clock from the 16th century, which also serves as a reliquary for St Francis Xavier. The room is devoid of dust : it was cleaned just the day before. As usual, Hasekura, Kumashiro, Tago, have no clue as to how Norimizu deducted Tsutako’s whereabouts. According to him, it has to do with the suit of armors, who changed place, and by their banner gave him a clue. Following the same logic, he makes Therese appear again, this time of the inner door of the room.
Thoughts :
This was again a very heavy chapter; more because I couldn’t quite follow Norimizu’s logic. Obviously there are some tricks, and apparently he sees through them, but most of his explanations are barely that. The chronology also felt off to me, but I guess with all that is going on, it would be easier if I tried to keep a clear timeline. I’m not refering to the murders/posionings/passing out themselves, so much as to how the investigation is going. We are roughly halfway through the book and so far, it’s onlt mysteries piling up on other mysteries. However, I guess the accumulation of small details will pay off when eveything is explained at the end !
黒死館殺人事件 
Norimizu always quotes some pseudo-science to explain something but may not work in real life.