# Mr. Goyles — Clouds of Witness character guide

> Mr. Goyles in Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** The Goyles, Goyles, poor Mr. Goyles, Donne Mr. Goyles, this Mr. Goyles

**First appearance:** 0009-vi-mary-quite-contrary

## Snapshot

A socialist agitator with a pistol and a talent for vanishing, whose panicked shot at Lord Peter turns a political flirtation into a family catastrophe.

## Who they are

George Goyles, whom the Dowager cannot help reading as 'Gargoyles,' is Lady Mary's radical friend and the man she has been secretly meeting. When Peter approaches him at a Soviet Club, Goyles fires and flees, leaving Mary to lie to protect him and Peter to wonder whether her lover is a coward, a murderer, or both. His flight and Mary's perjury fracture the family's trust and give the prosecution its most damaging witness.

## Relationships

### [Lord Peter Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/characters/lord_peter_wimsey)

_rivalry_

Antagonistic relationship as Goyles is a suspect and socialist agitator, clashing with Peter's aristocratic perspective.

### [Lady Mary Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/characters/lady_mary_wimsey)

_romantic_

Secret romantic involvement, with Goyles as Mary's lover and a key figure in the murder mystery.

### [Lord Peter Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/characters/lord_peter_wimsey)

_rivalry_

Antagonistic relationship as Goyles is a suspect and socialist agitator, clashing with Peter's aristocratic perspective.

### [Lady Mary Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/characters/lady_mary_wimsey)

_romantic_

Secret romantic involvement, with Goyles as Mary's lover and a key figure in the murder mystery.

### [Lady Mary Wimsey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/characters/lady_mary_wimsey)

_romantic_

Secret romantic involvement, with Goyles as Mary's lover and a key figure in the murder mystery.

## In the story

### [X: Nothing Abides at the Noon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/chapters/x-nothing-abides-at-the-noon)

Interviewed about his movements on the night of the murder; claims he arrived at 2:45 a.m., found Cathcart's body, and denies any involvement; resentful of being pressured.

### [XIII: Manon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/chapters/xiii-manon)

Mentioned as a former suitor of Lady Mary; Peter criticizes his character.

### [Bar Falling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/chapters/xv-bar-falling)

Testifies that he found Cathcart already dead at 3 a.m. near the water-trough.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/characters/mr_goyles
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/clouds_of_witness_se/characters