# Porky Grout — Continental Op Stories character guide

> Porky Grout in Continental Op Stories by Dashiell Hammett.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Porky ' Grout, Porky, This Porky Grout, Porky Grout, this Porky Grout, Grout

**First appearance:** 0004-bodies-piled-up

## Snapshot

A plump, bold-eyed underworld fixer who trades loyalty for leverage, offering to stand off the Continental Op while his partners slip clear.

## Who they are

Grout moves through the shadow economy of favors and betrayals, the kind of man who knows which doors open for a price and which names buy silence. His willingness to cover a getaway while others run suggests a code that bends toward self-preservation, and the Op's pursuit of him exposes how quickly criminal alliances curdle. He matters because his choices force the detective to weigh information against the cost of trusting a man who sells it.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as an unreliable source who claims Ledwich is an ex-bunco man in with a gambling ring.

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

The Op leaves a message for Porky Grout to contact him, indicating a standing arrangement for communication.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/x)

A cowardly, flashily dressed informant who has worked for the Op for three years; he is sent to watch for Pangburn and the girl at Tin-Star Joplin's.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/xi)

Mentioned as having left the Op's office earlier; the Op expects a call from him.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/xii)

Provides intelligence that Pangburn is at the White Shack with a woman; is sent back to confirm Pangburn's presence.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/xiv)

Provides an alibi for Joplin, Kilcourse, and Jeanne Delano during Pangburn's murder.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/xv)

Double-crosses the Op and stands in the road firing at the Op's car, is run over and killed.

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

A rat who tipped off the police about Burke and Billie's location at the White Shack.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/xviii)

Remembered by the narrator as a cowardly drug addict who died sacrificially for the woman.

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

Mentioned as having tipped off Cara about the Op's arrival.

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

Punched the Op in the temple and choked him under Flora's orders.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/chapters/xiv)

Referred to as 'Pogy'; dragged to the cell and tied up after being knocked down.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/characters/porky_grout
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/continental_op_stories_se/characters