# Rupert Baxter — Leave It to Psmith character guide > Rupert Baxter in Leave It to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Baxter, The Efficient Baxter, Mr. Baxter, Comrade Baxter **First appearance:** 0000-i-dark-plottings-at-blandings-castle ## Snapshot Lord Emsworth's efficient, high-strung secretary, whose sleepless nights and flowerpot excavations convince everyone — including his employer — that he has lost his mind. ## Who they are Baxter is the one man at Blandings who suspects Psmith from the start, and his suspicions cost him dearly: he spends a night digging up flowerpots, gets his face dirty, and is publicly dismissed as stark, staring mad. His tragedy is that he is usually right and never believed, his employer's woolly persistence driving him to shrill fury. He matters because he is the only obstacle with both the intelligence and the motive to expose the impostor — if he can stay coherent long enough to do it. ## Relationships ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/psmith) _rivalry_ Psmith and Baxter are antagonists, with Baxter suspicious of Psmith's motives and schemes. ### [Lord Emsworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/lord_emsworth) _professional_ Lord Emsworth employs Baxter as his secretary, though he finds him overbearing and irritating. ### [Eve Halliday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/eve_halliday) _rivalry_ Eve and Baxter clash due to Baxter's suspicion of her involvement with Psmith's schemes. ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/psmith) _rivalry_ Psmith and Baxter are antagonists, with Baxter suspicious of Psmith's motives and schemes. ### [Lord Emsworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/lord_emsworth) _professional_ Lord Emsworth employs Baxter as his secretary, though he finds him overbearing and irritating. ### [Eve Halliday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/eve_halliday) _rivalry_ Eve and Baxter clash due to Baxter's suspicion of her involvement with Psmith's schemes. ### [Eve Halliday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/eve_halliday) _rivalry_ Eve and Baxter clash due to Baxter's suspicion of her involvement with Psmith's schemes. ### [Lord Emsworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/lord_emsworth) _professional_ Lord Emsworth employs Baxter as his secretary, though he finds him overbearing and irritating. ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/psmith) _rivalry_ Psmith and Baxter are antagonists, with Baxter suspicious of Psmith's motives and schemes. ## In the story ### [Dark Plottings at Blandings Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i-dark-plottings-at-blandings-castle) The efficient secretary who reminds Lord Emsworth of his London trip and is praised by Lady Constance. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i) The efficient secretary locates Lord Emsworth's glasses and firmly reminds him of the afternoon trip to London to meet Mr. McTodd. ### [Baxter Suspects](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/vii-baxter-suspects) Secretary; becomes suspicious of Psmith; observes the autograph incident and broods over Psmith's identity. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iii) Arrives and stares at Psmith with suspicion; switches on the light in the arbour; broods alone after the party disperses. ### [Confidences on the Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/viii-confidences-on-the-lake) Appears at the library window after Psmith throws a flowerpot; is introduced to Eve. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i) Announces Miss Halliday's arrival; reacts strongly to Psmith's claim of friendship. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as possibly suspicious of Psmith; described as looking like a dyspeptic lizard. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iii) Referenced as a diligent worker whom Psmith advises Eve to avoid. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iv) Appears at the library window after Psmith throws a flowerpot; is angry and confronts Psmith. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/vi) Revealed to have compared handwriting samples and deduced Psmith's impersonation; suspects Psmith of planning to steal Lady Constance's necklace. ### [Psmith Engages a Valet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/ix-psmith-engages-a-valet) Mentioned as having gone to the unveiling; Psmith and Eve discuss their mutual dislike of him. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i) Disliked by both Psmith and Eve; has gone to the unveiling; Eve fears his reaction if she shirks work. ### [Sensational Occurrence at a Poetry Reading](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/x-sensational-occurrence-at-a-poetry-reading) Calls Psmith to the poetry reading; accompanies him inside. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/ii) Grants Eve permission to leave for the afternoon, though he disapproves of her association with Psmith. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iv) Leaves the terrace with Psmith, described as silent and chilly. ### [Almost Entirely About Flowerpots](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/xi-almost-entirely-about-flowerpots) Baxter, exhausted and agitated, digs in the garden and throws flowerpots, claiming he thought Lady Constance's necklace was in one. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i) The Efficient Baxter, secretary at Blandings, is feverishly investigating the theft of Lady Constance's necklace. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/ii) Lies awake, investigates a noise, falls down the stairs due to a golf ball, and locks himself out of the castle. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iii) Locked out of Blandings Castle in pyjamas, searches for the necklace, digs up fifteen flowerpots, and grows increasingly frustrated. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/iv) Throws flowerpots through Lord Emsworth's window in the early morning, wearing lemon-colored pyjamas. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/v) Exhausted and frustrated, he throws flowerpots at Lord Emsworth's window, confesses to digging for the necklace, and is deemed mad by his employer. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as having patrolled the terrace the previous night, causing Eve to hide in the bushes. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/i) Vexed by the noise as he prepares to leave Blandings. ### [Psmith Accepts Employment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/chapters/xiv-psmith-accepts-employment) Arrives to say goodbye, icily reproaching Lord Emsworth; departs after accusing Psmith of being an impostor. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters/rupert_baxter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/leave_it_to_psmith_se/characters