# Robert Cairn — Brood of the Witch-Queen character guide > Robert Cairn in Brood of the Witch-Queen by Sax Rohmer. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Robert, Mr. Cairn, Mr. Robert Cairn, Cairn **First appearance:** 0001-brood-of-the-witch-queen ## Snapshot A tall, square-jawed Scots journalist with crisp light hair and grey eyes, Robert Cairn has sworn to kill the man who tried to murder him by hellish art. ## Who they are Robert Cairn returned from Egypt with lines on his face that tell of fires passed through, and now he works at the British Museum on articles while hunting Antony Ferrara through London. He loves Myra Duquesne, who still thinks of Ferrara as a brother, and must keep the truth from her while every night might bring some unholy visitant to his rooms. He is the eyes through which the horror is seen, and the will that refuses to break. ## Relationships ### [Dr. Bruce Cairn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/characters/dr_bruce_cairn) _family_ Robert Cairn is Bruce's uncle, a supportive family member who aids in the fight against supernatural evil. ### [Sir Michael Ferrara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/characters/sir_michael_ferrara) _family_ Robert Cairn is Sir Michael's brother, and they share a close familial bond, both concerned for Bruce's safety. ### [Dr. Bruce Cairn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/characters/dr_bruce_cairn) _family_ Robert Cairn is Bruce's uncle, a supportive family member who aids in the fight against supernatural evil. ### [Dr. Bruce Cairn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/characters/dr_bruce_cairn) _family_ Robert Cairn is Bruce's uncle, a supportive family member who aids in the fight against supernatural evil. ## In the story ### [Brood of the Witch-Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/brood-of-the-witch-queen) Dr. Cairn's son, who assists in the investigation and is deeply concerned about Ferrara's influence on Myra. ### [I: Antony Ferrara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/i-antony-ferrara) Main perspective; confides in Sime about Ferrara's strange behavior and visits Ferrara's rooms. ### [II: The Phantom Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/ii-the-phantom-hands) Visits Sir Michael's house, investigates the hospital death, and learns of Myra's terrifying experience. ### [III: The Ring of Thoth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/iii-the-ring-of-thoth) Relates his observations of Antony Ferrara and the dead girl; questions his father about Ferrara's origin. ### [At Ferrara's Chambers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/iv-at-ferrara-s-chambers) Visits Ferrara's chambers under pretense, then reports to his father about the will. ### [The Rustling Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/v-the-rustling-shadows) Sees Myra Duquesne outside Ferrara's chambers and later experiences supernatural horrors in his rooms. ### [VI: The Beetles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/vi-the-beetles) Under psychic attack from beetle apparitions; calls his father for help and struggles to maintain his sanity. ### [VII: Sir Elwin Groves’ Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/vii-sir-elwin-groves-patient) Mentioned as experiencing heartburnings over Myra's departure. ### [IX: The Polish Jewess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/ix-the-polish-jewess) Reports seeing Antony Ferrara with Lady Lashmore and discusses Ferrara's menace. ### [X: The Laughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/x-the-laughter) Takes notes during his father's explanation and accompanies him to the Lashmore house. ### [XI: Cairo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xi-cairo) Arrives in Cairo for a rest-cure after a nervous breakdown; engages with local superstitions about an Afreet. ### [The Mask of Set](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xii-the-mask-of-set) Participates in the carnival chase, witnesses the scorpion and the masked figure, and is unsettled by the khamsin. ### [XIII: The Scorpion Wind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xiii-the-scorpion-wind) Confides in Sime about Ferrara's crimes and sorcery; becomes delirious after confronting Ferrara during the khamsin. ### [XIV: Dr. Cairn Arrives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xiv-dr-cairn-arrives) Dr. Cairn's son, in deadly peril in Egypt, motivating his father's journey. ### [XV: The Witch-Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xv-the-witch-queen) Awakens to find his father about to stab him; learns of Ferrara's manipulation via a false wireless and hypnotic suggestion. ### [Lair of the Spiders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xvi-lair-of-the-spiders) Accompanies his father, discovers the trapdoor, and is horrified by the spider attack; later receives Ferrara's taunting gift. ### [The Story of Ali Mohammed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xvii-the-story-of-ali-mohammed) Listens intently to the report and questions his father about the meaning of Ali Mohammed's story. ### [XVIII: The Bats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xviii-the-bats) Accompanies his father, expresses confusion about the mission, and listens to explanations about Julian the Apostate and anthropomancy. ### [XIX: Anthropomancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xix-anthropomancy) Mentioned as having fired shots at something like a huge bat on the first stage. ### [XX: The Incense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xx-the-incense) Returns from Egypt, deeply anxious about Myra's safety and haunted by the scent of the incense. ### [XXI: The Magician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxi-the-magician) Agitated, clenches fists, questions Ferrara's origins and expresses despair over Myra's safety. ### [XXII: Myra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxii-myra) Declares his love for Myra, kisses her, and discusses Ferrara's visit and Myra's health. ### [The Face in the Orchid-House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxiii-the-face-in-the-orchid-house) Waits in agony downstairs, then accompanies his father to Half-Moon Street. ### [Flowering of the Lotus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxiv-flowering-of-the-lotus) Assists his father, provides crucial information about the orchid, and witnesses Myra's recovery. ### [Cairn Meets Ferrara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxv-cairn-meets-ferrara) Visits the British Museum, encounters Ferrara, and struggles with his inability to act against him in public. ### [The Ivory Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxvi-the-ivory-hand) Protagonist; alone in his chambers, he experiences auditory hallucinations, a mysterious shadow, and unconscious writing. He examines the silken cord and falls into a trance. ### [XXVII: The Thug’s Cord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxvii-the-thug-s-cord) Subjected to a supernatural strangulation attempt by disembodied hands; fights for his life until rescued by his father. ### [XXVIII: The High Priest, Hortotef](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxviii-the-high-priest-hortotef) Observes the stormy morning and reflects on the beginning of the conflict at Oxford; questions Myra about her dreams; learns the truth about Antony Ferrara from his father. ### [The Wizard's Den](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxix-the-wizard-s-den) Tracks Ferrara to his hidden den near Dulwich Common, using a photographer's shop and a taxi pursuit. ### [The Elemental](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxx-the-elemental) Observes the attack in horror, helps revive Myra after she faints. ### [The Book of Thoth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xxxi-the-book-of-thoth) Assists his father in breaking into the barn and witnesses the destruction of the Book of Thoth. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/characters/robert_cairn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/characters