# Edward Cootes — Leave It to Psmith character guide > Edward Cootes in Leave It to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Cootes, Eddie, Ed, Eddie Cootes, Ed Cootes, Cootes, Comrade Cootes **First appearance:** 0000-i-dark-plottings-at-blandings-castle ## Snapshot A hard-faced American crook who came to Blandings impersonating a poet to steal a necklace, only to find a smoother impostor already installed in his place. ## Who they are Cootes arrives at the castle expecting to play the visiting poet and instead gets smoothly demoted to Psmith's 'valet' — a humiliation he swallows because, as he puts it, once in, he's in. He is a professional, which makes him dangerous, but he's also outclassed by a man who lies for pleasure rather than profit. His partnership with Miss Peavey gives the plot its counterweight: two schemers trying to outmaneuver a third who is enjoying himself far too much. ## Relationships ### [Eve Halliday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/eve_halliday) _rivalry_ Edward Cootes, a thief, antagonizes Eve by attempting to steal a necklace she is protecting. ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/psmith) _rivalry_ Cootes and Psmith are adversaries, with Psmith outwitting Cootes in the theft plot. ### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/freddie_threepwood) _rivalry_ Cootes and Freddie are antagonists, as Cootes tries to frame Freddie for the necklace theft. ### [Eve Halliday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/eve_halliday) _rivalry_ Edward Cootes, a thief, antagonizes Eve by attempting to steal a necklace she is protecting. ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/psmith) _rivalry_ Cootes and Psmith are adversaries, with Psmith outwitting Cootes in the theft plot. ### [Eve Halliday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/eve_halliday) _rivalry_ Edward Cootes, a thief, antagonizes Eve by attempting to steal a necklace she is protecting. ### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/freddie_threepwood) _rivalry_ Cootes and Freddie are antagonists, as Cootes tries to frame Freddie for the necklace theft. ### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/freddie_threepwood) _rivalry_ Cootes and Freddie are antagonists, as Cootes tries to frame Freddie for the necklace theft. ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/psmith) _rivalry_ Cootes and Psmith are adversaries, with Psmith outwitting Cootes in the theft plot. ## In the story ### [Psmith Engages a Valet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/ix-psmith-engages-a-valet) Arrives at Blandings posing as McTodd, is discovered by Psmith, and is sent away after confessing his plan to steal the necklace. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/ii) Cootes arrives at Blandings intending to impersonate McTodd and steal Lady Constance's necklace, but is exposed by Psmith and sent away. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iii) Dejected after his failed attempt to infiltrate Blandings Castle; reflects on his past as a cardsharper and his lost partner Smooth Lizzie. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iv) Meets Peavey by chance; explains he lost his finger and can no longer work the boats; tried to impersonate Ralston McTodd but was turned away by the impostor with an eyeglass. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/v) Cootes confronts Psmith, revealing he knows Psmith is not McTodd, and demands to be brought into the castle. He is introduced as Psmith's valet. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/vi) Confronts Psmith, threatens to search his room, and reveals his discontent as a valet. ### [Sensational Occurrence at a Poetry Reading](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/x-sensational-occurrence-at-a-poetry-reading) Emerges from a yew tree; has become Psmith's valet; discusses the scheme with Miss Peavey. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i) Emerges from a yew tree; explains he has been working as Psmith's valet; agrees to cut the electric lights as part of the theft plan. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/vi) Arrives late on the terrace, sprinting lustily. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i) The valet to the pseudo-McTodd, suspected by Miss Simmons of being a crook. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/v) Implied to have hidden the necklace; Psmith suspects him of the theft. ### [More on the Flowerpot Theme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/xii-more-on-the-flowerpot-theme) Hidden in a tree in the Yew Alley, conferring with Miss Peavey; she relays her deduction about the necklace's location. ### [Psmith Receives Guests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/xiii-psmith-receives-guests) Enters with a pistol borrowed from Miss Peavey, threatens Psmith and Eve, and takes the necklace. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iii) Appears at the cottage door at the end of the chapter, pointing a pistol. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iv) Brandishes a revolver and threatens Psmith and Eve, but is ultimately disarmed by Psmith after Freddie's fall through the ceiling. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/edward_cootes - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters