Basil Randolph

Bertram Cope

Basil Randolph is obsessively infatuated with Bertram Cope, pursuing him with a mix of admiration and possessive desire.

Medora Phillips

Basil Randolph and Medora Phillips compete for influence over and access to Bertram Cope.

Joe Foster

Basil Randolph and Joe Foster are friendly acquaintances, with Randolph often seeking Foster's company.

Arthur Lemoyne

Arthur Lemoyne and Basil Randolph are rivals for Bertram Cope's attention and affection.

Amy Leffingwell

Amy Leffingwell and Basil Randolph are polite acquaintances, sharing a common interest in Bertram Cope.

Hortense Dunton

Basil Randolph and Hortense Dunton are social acquaintances, with Randolph sometimes using her to get closer to Cope.

Bertram Cope

Basil Randolph is obsessively infatuated with Bertram Cope, pursuing him with a mix of admiration and possessive desire.

Medora Phillips

Basil Randolph and Medora Phillips compete for influence over and access to Bertram Cope.

Bertram Cope

Basil Randolph is obsessively infatuated with Bertram Cope, pursuing him with a mix of admiration and possessive desire.

Joe Foster

Basil Randolph and Joe Foster are friendly acquaintances, with Randolph often seeking Foster's company.

Medora Phillips

Basil Randolph and Medora Phillips compete for influence over and access to Bertram Cope.

Joe Foster

Basil Randolph and Joe Foster are friendly acquaintances, with Randolph often seeking Foster's company.

I: Cope at a College Tea

A middle-aged man who observes Cope from the doorway, feeling a wistful longing for youth and a desire for intimate connection with promising young men.

IV: Cope Is Considered

Investigates Cope's background at the university registrar's office, then discusses Cope with Medora Phillips.

V: Cope Is Considered Further

Visits Foster, discusses Cope, and accepts an invitation to Medora's dinner.

VI: Cope Dines—and Tells About It

A middle-aged guest at the dinner; Cope finds him easy, pleasant, and a little shy.

VII: Cope Under Scrutiny

Visits Cope's lodgings, invites him to dinner and the theatre, and discusses the Bacon-Shakespeare cipher and Cope's academic plans.

Cope Undertakes an Excursion

Meets Mrs. Phillips in front of the bank, recounts Cope's refusal of cocktails and his evasive address, and agrees to bring Cope to the sandhill bungalow.

IX: Cope on the Edge of Things

Accompanies Cope, observes his energy, and reflects on age and social maneuvering.

X: Cope at His House Party

Randolph accompanies Cope to the party, advises him to praise everything, and declines to join the walk, having taken it before.

XI: Cope Enlivens the Country

Observes Cope's performance and remains silent on the trolley ride home.

Cope Amidst Cross-Purposes

Meets Cope on campus; discusses the campus's appearance, Cope's thesis, and his own plan to rent a larger apartment; privately delights in Cope's enthusiasm.

Cope Makes an Evasion

Visits Foster, discusses Cope's fainting, and announces his plan to move to a new apartment.

XVII: Cope Among Crosscurrents

Takes Cope to the president's wife's reception, hosts Cope for dinner in his new apartment, probes Cope's intentions regarding marriage.

XIX: Cope Finds Himself Committed

Disappointed by Cope's absence and the news of his courtship, he reflects on Cope's ingratitude and his own disrupted plans.

Cope Shall Be Rescued

Meets Cope at the library, learns of Cope's true feelings, and arranges a dinner to promote Pearson as a suitor for Amy.

XXIII: Cope Regains His Freedom

Waits for Cope but is stood up; learns of Cope's engagement ending and remains disappointed.

XXIV: Cope in Danger Anew

Visits Hortense's studio, walks with Cope afterward, expresses sympathy over Amy's engagement, and renews his invitation to Cope and Lemoyne.

XXVI: Cope as a Go-Between

Hosts a tense dinner; feels physical distaste for Lemoyne but eventually helps secure him a university position as a favor to Cope.

Cope Absent from a Wedding

Gives Amy away at the wedding; after the ceremony, he and Medora have a tense exchange about their influence over Cope.

XXXI: Cope Gets New Light on His Chum

Attends the performance, offers a veiled critique to Cope, and later refuses to help Lemoyne again, appearing almost pleased by the outcome.

XXXII: Cope Takes His Degree

Reflects on Cope's indifference, attends convocation with Medora, and observes Cope's brief interaction with his family.

Cope in a Final View

Has his last view of Cope on campus; later dines at Medora's and discusses Cope's possible future with Arthur Lemoyne.