# Sir Clinton Driffield — Mystery at Lynden Sands character guide > Sir Clinton Driffield in Mystery at Lynden Sands by J. J. Connington. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Clinton, sir Clinton **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-death-at-foxhills ## Snapshot A chief constable who reads mannerisms the way other men read golf greens, he is the quiet mind the Lynden Sands murders will have to reckon with. ## Who they are Sir Clinton arrives at the golfing hotel as a holidaying detective, paired with Stanley Fleetwood for a round and already docketing the small tells of everyone he meets. His method is patience and misdirection: he lets the public gape at a beach excavation while he works the real angles, and he cultivates Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux over Wendover's visible unease. His scrutiny of Cressida Fleetwood's guarded frankness signals that the case will be solved through people, not clues. ## Relationships ### [Inspector Armadale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/inspector_armadale) _professional_ Inspector Armadale and Sir Clinton Driffield collaborate closely on the investigation, with Driffield often acting as a consulting detective. ### [Paul Fordingbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/paul_fordingbridge) _professional_ Paul Fordingbridge seeks Sir Clinton Driffield's help regarding his family's troubles and the unfolding mystery. ### [Mrs. Fleetwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/mrs_fleetwood) _social_ Mrs. Fleetwood is a local resident who interacts with Sir Clinton Driffield as a neighbor and acquaintance during the investigation. ### [Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/mme_laurent_desrousseaux) _social_ Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux is a sophisticated French visitor who engages in polite conversation with Sir Clinton Driffield. ### [Inspector Armadale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/inspector_armadale) _professional_ Inspector Armadale and Sir Clinton Driffield collaborate closely on the investigation, with Driffield often acting as a consulting detective. ### [Inspector Armadale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/inspector_armadale) _professional_ Inspector Armadale and Sir Clinton Driffield collaborate closely on the investigation, with Driffield often acting as a consulting detective. ### [Paul Fordingbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/paul_fordingbridge) _professional_ Paul Fordingbridge seeks Sir Clinton Driffield's help regarding his family's troubles and the unfolding mystery. ### [Mrs. Fleetwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/mrs_fleetwood) _social_ Mrs. Fleetwood is a local resident who interacts with Sir Clinton Driffield as a neighbor and acquaintance during the investigation. ### [Paul Fordingbridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/paul_fordingbridge) _professional_ Paul Fordingbridge seeks Sir Clinton Driffield's help regarding his family's troubles and the unfolding mystery. ### [Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/mme_laurent_desrousseaux) _social_ Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux is a sophisticated French visitor who engages in polite conversation with Sir Clinton Driffield. ### [Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/mme_laurent_desrousseaux) _social_ Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux is a sophisticated French visitor who engages in polite conversation with Sir Clinton Driffield. ### [Mrs. Fleetwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/mrs_fleetwood) _social_ Mrs. Fleetwood is a local resident who interacts with Sir Clinton Driffield as a neighbor and acquaintance during the investigation. ## In the story ### [II: A Bus-Driver's Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/ii-a-bus-driver-s-holiday) Plays golf with Stanley Fleetwood, observes Cressida and Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux, and agrees to assist Inspector Armadale on condition that Wendover joins. ### [III: The Police at the Caretaker’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/iii-the-police-at-the-caretaker-s) Leads the investigation, questions Constable Sapcote about Peter Hay's habits, and discovers the hidden silver. ### [IV: What Happened in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/iv-what-happened-in-the-night) Leads the discussion, proposing theories and questioning the others about the evidence. ### [V: The Diary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/v-the-diary) Leads the investigation at Foxhills, examines the house, and notes the significance of the missing diary. ### [VI: The Beach Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/vi-the-beach-tragedy) Awakened by Armadale, he quickly dresses and takes charge of the investigation, using wax casts to preserve footprints before the tide erases them. ### [VII: The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/vii-the-letter) Intervenes diplomatically during the questioning and later reveals the incriminating letter signed by Cressida. ### [VIII: The Colt Automatic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/viii-the-colt-automatic) Observes Armadale's interrogation, criticizes Wendover's sympathy for the suspects, and notes the card-index in the cottage. ### [IX: The Second Cartridge-Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/ix-the-second-cartridge-case) Arranges identification of Staveley's body, questions Paul Fordingbridge, examines the second cartridge case, and attends the hotel dance. ### [X: The Attack on the Australian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/x-the-attack-on-the-australian) Oversees beach digging, engages Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux, and later investigates Cargill's shooting. ### [XI: Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux’s Evidence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/xi-mme-laurent-desrousseaux-s-evidence) Listens to Wendover's theories and facilitates the interview with Mme. Laurent-Desrousseaux. ### [XII: The Fordingbridge Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/xii-the-fordingbridge-mystery) Leads the investigation, insists on protecting Armadale from public ridicule, and hints at a deeper understanding of the footprints and Paul's disappearance. ### [XIII: Cressida's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/xiii-cressida-s-narrative) Leads the examination of Cressida, takes control from Inspector Armadale, and reviews Staveley's letter. ### [XIV: The Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/xiv-the-telegram) Returns to direct the investigation; sends a telegram about defalcations, retrieves oars from a boat, and leads the search for Cressida. ### [XVI: The Manhunt on the Beach](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/xvi-the-manhunt-on-the-beach) Defends his secrecy policy, arranges the manhunt, and pursues the fugitive car, which sinks in quicksand. ### [XVII: The Threads in the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/chapters/xvii-the-threads-in-the-case) Delivers a detailed analysis of the case, explaining his investigative reasoning and the motives of various suspects. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters/sir_clinton_driffield - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mystery_at_lynden_sands_se/characters