# Mr. Ricardo — At the Villa Rose character guide > Mr. Ricardo in At the Villa Rose by A. E. W. Mason. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Ricardo, Julius Ricardo, M. Ricardo **First appearance:** 0000-i-summer-lightning ## Snapshot A wealthy English amateur with a taste for the bizarre, whose eager theories about séances and spirit-writing keep goading Hanaud's sharper mind. ## Who they are Ricardo follows Hanaud through the Villa Rose with the delighted horror of a man who reads too many detective stories, seizing on tambourines and torn scraps of paper as clues. His orderly mind recoils from the eerie even as it craves the bizarre, and his half-formed deductions become the foil against which Hanaud's real reasoning takes shape. He matters because his misreadings dramatize how easily a clever observer can mistake atmosphere for evidence. ## Relationships ### [Hélène Vauquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/helene_vauquier) _professional_ Ricardo observes and questions Hélène as part of the investigation, with growing suspicion. ### [Harry Wethermill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/harry_wethermill) _social_ Harry and Ricardo are acquaintances in Aix, with Ricardo initially viewing Harry as a respectable young man. ### [Celia Harland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/celia_harland) _social_ Ricardo meets Celia socially in Aix and is charmed by her innocent demeanor before the crime. ### [Hélène Vauquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/helene_vauquier) _professional_ Ricardo observes and questions Hélène as part of the investigation, with growing suspicion. ### [Harry Wethermill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/harry_wethermill) _social_ Harry and Ricardo are acquaintances in Aix, with Ricardo initially viewing Harry as a respectable young man. ### [Celia Harland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/celia_harland) _social_ Ricardo meets Celia socially in Aix and is charmed by her innocent demeanor before the crime. ### [Hélène Vauquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/helene_vauquier) _professional_ Ricardo observes and questions Hélène as part of the investigation, with growing suspicion. ### [Harry Wethermill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/harry_wethermill) _social_ Harry and Ricardo are acquaintances in Aix, with Ricardo initially viewing Harry as a respectable young man. ### [Celia Harland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/celia_harland) _social_ Ricardo meets Celia socially in Aix and is charmed by her innocent demeanor before the crime. ## In the story ### [I: Summer Lightning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/i-summer-lightning) The chapter opens with a detailed portrait of Ricardo's character and habits. He is the primary observer, noting Celia's distress and Wethermill's actions. ### [II: A Cry for Help](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/ii-a-cry-for-help) Witnesses Wethermill's agitation and recalls his own observations of Celia's hysterical behavior the night before. ### [III: Perrichet's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/iii-perrichet-s-story) Present during Perrichet's narration and accompanies the group to the villa. ### [IV: At the Villa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/iv-at-the-villa) Accompanies Hanaud and observes the investigation, noting the implications of the evidence. ### [V: In the Salon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/v-in-the-salon) Observes the investigation, examines the petticoat, and makes a misguided comment about a destroyed clue. ### [VI: Hélène Vauquier’s Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/vi-h-l-ne-vauquier-s-evidence) Present during the testimony; attempts to contribute but is mocked by Hanaud for his pedantic explanation of 'pseudonym.' ### [VII: A Startling Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/vii-a-startling-discovery) Observes Hanaud's methods and is deeply impressed by Hanaud's shiver and the ominous atmosphere. ### [The Captain of the Ship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/viii-the-captain-of-the-ship) Admits overlooking key points in his earlier questions, feels like a child before Hanaud, and suggests advertising the woman's description. ### [IX: Mme. Dauvray's Motorcar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/ix-mme-dauvray-s-motorcar) Amazed by the car's proximity; suggests checking the Pont de la Caille for proof of the journey to Geneva. ### [X: News from Geneva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/x-news-from-geneva) Outraged by Hanaud's advertisement but later intrigued by the limelight; decides not to inform Wethermill until Marthe Gobin's news is known. ### [XII: The Aluminium Flask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xii-the-aluminium-flask) Disappointed by Hanaud's lack of disguise and handcuffs; excited by the danger; exculpates himself from leaking the jewel discovery. ### [XIII: In the House at Geneva](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiii-in-the-house-at-geneva) Confused by the apparent contradiction between the evidence against Celia and Hanaud's belief in her innocence; assists in caring for Celia and later questions Hanaud about his deductions. ### [XIV: Mr. Ricardo Is Bewildered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xiv-mr-ricardo-is-bewildered) Spends a tempestuous night wrestling with suspicions about Harry Wethermill and reflecting on Hanaud's earlier hints. ### [XVI: The First Move](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xvi-the-first-move) Observes Celia's nervous breakdown in the garden, which she later explains to the Juge d'instruction. ### [XXI: Hanaud Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/chapters/xxi-hanaud-explains) Listens to Hanaud's explanation and admits he suspected Celia. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters/mr_ricardo - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/at_the_villa_rose_se/characters