# Mr. Salter — Blue Hand character guide

> Mr. Salter in Blue Hand by Edgar Wallace.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Salter, Septimus Salter, old Salter

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

Septimus Salter, a stout Victorian-dressed solicitor with a taste for snuff, knows more about the Blue Hand than he will say — and enjoys watching Jim Steele figure it out.

## Who they are

Mr. Salter runs a modern London practice in the dress of 1850, and he has spent years quietly tracking the Danton disappearance while his clerk Jim Steele chased it openly. He teases Steele with the name Lady Mary Danton and the riddle of the Blue Hand, refusing to explain until the right moment. His caution and his private inquiries make him the story's keeper of secrets — and the man who decides when Steele is ready to hear them.

## Relationships

### [Jim Steele](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters/jim_steele)

_professional_

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

### [Digby Groat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters/digby_groat)

_professional_

Digby and Mr. Salter have a strained professional relationship, with Salter often opposing Digby's schemes.

### [Jim Steele](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters/jim_steele)

_professional_

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

### [Jim Steele](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters/jim_steele)

_professional_

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

### [Digby Groat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters/digby_groat)

_professional_

Digby and Mr. Salter have a strained professional relationship, with Salter often opposing Digby's schemes.

### [Digby Groat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters/digby_groat)

_professional_

Digby and Mr. Salter have a strained professional relationship, with Salter often opposing Digby's schemes.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/i)

The elderly lawyer and Jim's godfather, who recounts the Danton mystery and expresses fondness for Jim despite his distraction.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/ii)

Lawyer who oversees the meeting; dislikes Digby Groat and suspects the Groats will change lawyers once they gain the Danton fortune.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/iii)

Grumbles about Jim's punctuality for tea; his private diary containing a key entry about Madge Benson is found by Jim.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/viii)

Jim calls him for information about Brade Street Buildings, but Salter knows nothing.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/ix)

Provides Jim with background on the Danton family's Spanish ties, the estrangement between Jonathan Danton and his sister, and Groat's lowly origins.

### [The Secret Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/x)

Mentioned as the original holder of instructions related to the will, but later replaced by another firm.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xiii)

Skeptical about the blue hand; discusses Mrs. Groat's will with Jim; dismisses the idea of poison.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xvii)

Questions Jim about the Selengers investigation and theorizes that the Groats may be behind them; suggests finding Lady Mary could clear up other mysteries.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xxv)

Provides information about Mrs. Weatherwale as a legatee in Mrs. Groat's will and reveals Estremeda as Digby Groat's father; discusses the Danton family scandal.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xxvii)

Advises Jim on legal aspects, confirms Eunice Weldon died in Cape Town, warns of Digby's intent to sell estate.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xxviii)

Reviews the log extracts and agrees to accompany Jim to confront Digby.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xix)

Prevents revealing Eunice's inheritance to protect her, hires ex-police detectives, and reveals Lady Mary Danton's identity.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xxxii)

Arrives with Jim Steele and detectives, having insisted that Dorothy Danton is still alive.

### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xxxiv)

Listens silently to Lady Mary's recital of her tragic history.

### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xliv)

Arrives to inform Jim about Villa's death and the yacht Pealigo; arranges Admiralty help.

### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/chapters/xlvi)

Mentioned as part of the firm Salter & Salter, which issued the reward for Digby's arrest.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters/mr_salter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/blue_hand_se/characters