# Richard Hatteras — A Bid for Fortune character guide

> Richard Hatteras in A Bid for Fortune by Guy Boothby.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Hatteras, Mr. Hatteras, Dear Mr. Hatteras, Richard, Mr. Richard Hatteras of Thursday Island, Dick, Dick Hatteras

**First appearance:** 0001-part-i-i-i-determine-to-take-a-holiday-sydney-and-what-befell-me-there

## Snapshot

A Thursday Island adventurer returning to England and back again, whose easy charm and old friendships pull him into a conspiracy he never asked for.

## Who they are

He boards the steamer at Naples with his baggage and his memories, greeting Lord Beckenham like a brother and watching Vesuvius fade astern while he thinks of the Southern Cross and the girl he loves. His history with Nikola makes him useful to the frightened men around him, and his instinct for a tail — the stranger who keeps appearing in Melbourne, at the library, in the theatre stalls — keeps the investigation honest. He is the story's eyes and its conscience, moving between drawing rooms and ferries with equal ease.

## Relationships

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_family_

Richard Hatteras is likely a relative of Sir William Hatteras and may be a friend or ally to the narrator.

## In the story

### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/prologue)

Not directly present in this chapter; no appearance.

### [I: I Determine to Take a Holiday—Sydney, and What Befell Me There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-i-i-determine-to-take-a-holiday-sydney-and-what-befell-me-there)

The narrator and protagonist, a wealthy pearler from Thursday Island, decides to take a holiday to England. He is strong, adventurous, and falls in love with Miss Wetherell during the voyage.

### [II: London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-ii-london)

The protagonist and narrator, deeply in love with Phyllis, explores London and encounters a mysterious conjuror.

### [IV: I Save an Important Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-iv-i-save-an-important-life)

Narrator and protagonist; charters the yacht Enchantress, rescues a drowning bather, and expresses distrust toward the tutor Mr. Baxter.

### [V: Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-v-mystery)

The narrator and protagonist, reflecting on fate and coincidence, and growing suspicious of Baxter.

### [I Meet Dr. Nikola Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-vi-i-meet-dr-nikola-again)

Protagonist who has booked passage to Australia and decides to accompany Lord Beckenham to protect him.

### [VII: Port Said, and What Befell Us There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-vii-port-said-and-what-befell-us-there)

Narrator and protagonist; boards the Saratoga in Naples, reunites with Beckenham and Baxter, and accompanies Beckenham ashore at Port Said.

### [Dr. Nikola Permits Us a Free Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-i-ix-dr-nikola-permits-us-a-free-passage)

Investigates the house where he was imprisoned, visits the Saratoga's agent, and confronts Dr. Nikola.

### [I: We Reach Australia, and the Result](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-i-we-reach-australia-and-the-result)

Hatteras is the narrator; he confronts Mr. Wetherell about the impostor and recounts his experiences with Nikola.

### [II: On the Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-on-the-trail)

Takes charge of the investigation, questions Wetherell and Thompson, and leads the police to the Canary Bird Hotel.

### [Lord Beckenham's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-lord-beckenham-s-story)

Receives news of Draper's house discovery; accompanies Inspector to investigate.

### [Following Up a Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-following-up-a-clue)

Hatteras negotiates with a seedy informant for clues about Phyllis, then learns from the solicitors that he has inherited a baronetcy and fortune.

### [V: The Islands and What We Found There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-v-the-islands-and-what-we-found-there)

Mentioned as part of the expedition to rescue Phyllis, but not directly present in the chapter's events.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-conclusion)

Narrates the conclusion, reveals his inherited baronetcy, and marries Phyllis.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters/richard_hatteras
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_bid_for_fortune_se/characters