# Barney — Room 13 character guide

> Barney in Room 13 by Edgar Wallace.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Old Barney, old Barney, Barney sotto voce, Barney Ford, the hoarse Barney

**First appearance:** 0013-xiv

## Snapshot

Old Barney, Peter Kane's hoarse and shameless factotum, reads other people's letters upside down and takes a craftsman's pride in knowing everything he shouldn't.

## Who they are

Barney works the margins of Peter's household, eavesdropping at keyholes and reporting what he has read — including Marney's letter to Johnny — with unapologetic relish. His running defiance of Peter's threats gives the grim Kane establishment its only note of low comedy. But his habit of hearing and repeating too much makes him a useful, dangerous instrument in a house where information is currency.

## Relationships

### [Johnny Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters/johnny_gray)

_friendship_

Barney is a friend and ally to Johnny Gray, often involved in the action alongside him.

### [Peter Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters/peter_kane)

_friendship_

Barney is a loyal friend to Peter Kane, standing by him during the conflict with the Legge family.

### [Johnny Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters/johnny_gray)

_friendship_

Barney is a friend and ally to Johnny Gray, often involved in the action alongside him.

### [Johnny Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters/johnny_gray)

_friendship_

Barney is a friend and ally to Johnny Gray, often involved in the action alongside him.

### [Peter Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters/peter_kane)

_friendship_

Barney is a loyal friend to Peter Kane, standing by him during the conflict with the Legge family.

### [Peter Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters/peter_kane)

_friendship_

Barney is a loyal friend to Peter Kane, standing by him during the conflict with the Legge family.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/chapters/ii)

The butler with a criminal past; caught prying by Marney; greets Johnny upon his return.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/chapters/iii)

Announces Emanuel Legge's arrival and comments on Marney's wedding preparations.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/chapters/iv)

Present at the wedding, staring open-mouthed at the scene.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/chapters/xxi)

Announces Mr. Reeder's arrival to Peter, reads Marney's letter to Johnny upside down, and is warned by Peter about his nosiness.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/chapters/xxviii)

Reports Marney's disappearance and provides gossip about the printing works

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters/barney
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/room_13_se/characters