# Mr. Paul Snyder — Short Fiction character guide

> Mr. Paul Snyder in Short Fiction by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Snyder, the amazed Mr. Snyder, Paul

**First appearance:** 0000-when-papa-swore-in-hindustani

## Snapshot

A visiting American who finds himself drawn into a boarding-house murder mystery when a landlady produces a harmonica and a black cat as evidence.

## Who they are

Mr. Snyder is a guest at Mrs. Pickett's establishment, where he watches with mounting excitement as the old woman confronts Captain Muller over the death of his roommate. Something in her expression tips him off that a psychological moment is at hand, and he leans forward eagerly as the harmonica falls onto the table. As a would-be detective, he is the reader's surrogate, bearing witness while the truth about the poisoned cat is laid bare.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Oakes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters/mr_oakes)

_professional_

Mr. Oakes and Mr. Paul Snyder are colleagues or business associates, interacting regularly in a professional setting.

### [Eve Rastall-Retford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters/eve_rastall_retford)

_social_

Eve and Mr. Paul Snyder are acquaintances or social contacts, possibly with underlying tension.

### [Mr. Oakes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters/mr_oakes)

_professional_

Mr. Oakes and Mr. Paul Snyder are colleagues or business associates, interacting regularly in a professional setting.

### [Eve Rastall-Retford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters/eve_rastall_retford)

_social_

Eve and Mr. Paul Snyder are acquaintances or social contacts, possibly with underlying tension.

### [Eve Rastall-Retford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters/eve_rastall_retford)

_social_

Eve and Mr. Paul Snyder are acquaintances or social contacts, possibly with underlying tension.

### [Mr. Oakes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters/mr_oakes)

_professional_

Mr. Oakes and Mr. Paul Snyder are colleagues or business associates, interacting regularly in a professional setting.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/chapters/ii)

Head of the detective agency, assigns the case to Oakes, skeptical of Oakes' methods.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/chapters/iii)

Reads Oakes' report with amusement and writes a supportive but cautionary reply.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as having commented on the case; his earlier remarks about the room's lack of a chimney are recalled.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/chapters/v)

Receives Oakes's telegram and listens to his explanation, feeling annoyed but fair-minded.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/chapters/vi)

The detective who listens to Mrs. Pickett's claims and agrees to dine with her to hear her evidence.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/chapters/vii)

Detective attending Mrs. Pickett's dinner; observes Captain Muller's strange behavior and later witnesses his confession.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters/mr_paul_snyder
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_42_se/characters