Jim Steele

Eunice Weldon

Eunice and Jim share a deep romantic bond, with mutual affection and loyalty.

Digby Groat

Digby views Jim as a romantic rival and antagonist, leading to intense conflict.

Mr. Salter

Jim works under Mr. Salter as a detective or assistant, with a respectful professional dynamic.

Lady Mary Danton

Jim and Lady Mary are acquaintances moving in similar social circles, with polite interactions.

Mrs. Groat

Jim is a supportive ally to Mrs. Groat, often helping her navigate her troubled marriage.

Mr. Villa

Jim and Mr. Villa are opponents, with Jim investigating Villa's shady dealings.

Mr. Mansar

Jim and Mr. Mansar have a cooperative professional relationship, often working on legal matters.

Eunice Weldon

Eunice and Jim share a deep romantic bond, with mutual affection and loyalty.

Digby Groat

Digby views Jim as a romantic rival and antagonist, leading to intense conflict.

Mr. Salter

Jim works under Mr. Salter as a detective or assistant, with a respectful professional dynamic.

Digby Groat

Digby views Jim as a romantic rival and antagonist, leading to intense conflict.

Eunice Weldon

Eunice and Jim share a deep romantic bond, with mutual affection and loyalty.

I

Mr. Salter's secretary, a war hero with a V.C., who is obsessed with solving the Danton case and believes Lady Mary can be found.

II

Secretary to Mr. Salter; a Victoria Cross recipient; maintains composure despite Digby's provocations; his private notebook on the Thirteen Gang draws Digby's hostile attention.

III

Meets Eunice for tea, learns she will work for Mrs. Groat, and later discovers a crucial diary entry about Madge Benson.

IV

Appears sitting on the front steps as Eunice flees the house.

V

Confronts Digby Groat, rescues the dog from vivisection, and investigates the midnight disturbance.

VI

Mentioned as the one who persuaded Digby to release the dog; Eunice briefly wonders if he left the card.

VIII

Investigates Eunice's background, sends a cable to Cape Town, and visits Selenger & Co.'s office.

Chapter IX

Informs Mr. Salter of his absence and probes Groat's Spanish connections; later visits the Home Office to investigate Madge Benson's past.

Chapter XI

Mentioned as the man Digby hates and whom Eunice secretly meets; she compares him to the hero of her book.

XII

Receives Eunice's letter and chocolates, investigates the blue hand, and rescues Mrs. Fane from a fire.

XIII

Consults Mr. Salter about the blue hand and Mrs. Groat's will; brings chocolates to analyst Mendhlesohn for testing.

XIV

Smitten by Eunice's evening attire, he confesses his love but holds back from proposing until he can offer financial security.

The Key

Returns to his flat in a romantic haze, but is jolted back to reality by the discovery of a mysterious key left by an intruder.

XVII

Loves London and reflects on other cities; meets with Mr. Salter to discuss the case and admits feeling lost in the search.

Chapter XVIII

Caught on Eunice's balcony; later investigates Selengers and discovers Mrs. Fane's secret.

XIX

Discovers Mrs. Fane's true identity as Lady Mary Danton and confesses his love for Eunice.

Chapter XX

Receives Eunice's angry letter, consults Lady Mary Danton, and is unable to explain the key without betraying her secret.

XXII

Follows Digby Groat, sneaks into his house, steals a letter, and later confronts his pursuers.

XXIII

Mentioned as the masked stranger who knocked down Jackson; Eunice waits for his letter.

XXIV

Meets Eunice, expresses relief at her leaving the Groats, struggles with his secret about Lady Mary, lies to Eunice about the key, receives the telegram about Eunice's true identity.

XXV

Investigates Mrs. Weatherwale and learns of Estremeda's connection to Digby Groat; receives shocking cablegram about Eunice's supposed death; confronts Lady Mary about Eunice's origins.

XXVI

Travels to Somerset to investigate Digby Groat's past; learns the truth about the circular burn scar.

XXVII

Investigates Eunice's true identity, gathers evidence from Mrs. Weatherwale and shipping company, confronts Eunice at Digby's house.

XXVIII

Obtains the log of the Battledore, presents evidence to Mr. Salter, and confronts Digby Groat about Eunice's whereabouts.

XIX

Confronts Digby Groat, learns from Salter the need to conceal Eunice's inheritance, and begins inquiries into her disappearance.

XXXII

Arrives at the house with Mr. Salter and detectives, prompting Digby's final plan.

XXXIII

Mentioned as having been puzzled by Digby's car storage; his friends are breaking into the house.

XXXIV

Present in Mr. Salter's office, gaunt and hollow-eyed, learning of Jane Groat's death and Lady Mary's story.

XXXV

Mentioned by Digby as 'your friend Steele' in connection with the reason he cannot return to Grosvenor Square.

XXXVI

Mentioned by Eunice as her 'man' and as the source of the revelation that Lady Mary Danton is her mother.

XXXVII

Receives a call from Lady Mary and climbs onto the moving train to rescue Eunice, enduring extreme danger and physical pain.

XXXIX

Survives a fall into a muddy pond and a near-suffocation, then tracks Digby Groat's men to a house, overhears their plans, and disarms Bronson.

XL

Captures Bronson, takes his place as pilot, rescues Eunice, and is ambushed at the house.

XLI

Captured by Digby's men, noosed and dragged to the ground, then taken away.

XLII

Imprisoned and tied up, Jim taunts Digby and Bronson about Villa's death, revealing he caused Villa to fall from the plane.

XLIII

Frees himself from bonds and locked room using a broken window and fireplace grate; rushes outside to find Fuentes dying.

XLIV

Interviews Masters and the police sergeant, learns of Groat's escape, and plans to pursue by seaplane.

XLV

Mentioned by Digby as a poor rival; Eunice's anger at any reference to him shows her loyalty.

XLVI

Not directly present in this chapter, but the wireless message offering the reward is attributed to Salter & Salter, his employers.

XLVII

Mentioned as the sender of a wireless message from an aeroplane searching for the ship, causing Digby to panic.

XLVIII

Mentioned as approaching in an airship, a threat to Digby's plans.

XLIX

Pilots a seaplane to search for Eunice, uses wireless to contact the yacht, drops a smoke bomb to force the ship to stop, boards the yacht, and rescues Eunice from Digby.