# Bertie van Tahn — Short Fiction character guide > Bertie van Tahn in Short Fiction by Saki. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Bertie, Gilbert, Egbert, Robert **First appearance:** 0004-reginald ## Snapshot A glum young man about town who, sulking through a family Christmas, declines the midnight cow-house expedition and is left behind to mind the house. ## Who they are Bertie resents the festive season and the eager social planning around him, contributing only a scandalous remark about bed-space and a refusal to join the others. Left in charge while the household troops out to hear the animals talk, he becomes the still point in a story of mild heathen frolic. His scornful detachment matters because it isolates him at the exact moment the household's carefully chaperoned expedition begins. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Peter Pigeoncote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters/mrs_peter_pigeoncote) _social_ Bertie van Tahn and Mrs. Pigeoncote share a high-society social connection, with frequent interactions. ### [Clovis Sangrail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters/clovis_sangrail) _friendship_ Bertie and Clovis are friends and frequent companions in social settings. ### [Mrs. Peter Pigeoncote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters/mrs_peter_pigeoncote) _social_ Bertie van Tahn and Mrs. Pigeoncote share a high-society social connection, with frequent interactions. ### [Clovis Sangrail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters/clovis_sangrail) _friendship_ Bertie and Clovis are friends and frequent companions in social settings. ### [Clovis Sangrail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters/clovis_sangrail) _friendship_ Bertie and Clovis are friends and frequent companions in social settings. ### [Mrs. Peter Pigeoncote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters/mrs_peter_pigeoncote) _social_ Bertie van Tahn and Mrs. Pigeoncote share a high-society social connection, with frequent interactions. ## In the story ### [Reginald on Christmas Presents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/reginald-on-christmas-presents) Mentioned as the recipient of the ill-fitting gloves sent by Reginald. ### [Reginald's Christmas Revel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/reginald-s-christmas-revel) Referenced as 'the Major' who boasts about his hunting exploits and is offended by Reginald's mockery. ### [Tobermory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/tobermory) Turns pale when Tobermory reveals his remarks, but does not flee. ### [The Jesting of Arlington Stringham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-jesting-of-arlington-stringham) Mentioned as coming to dinner with Clovis, but does not speak. ### [A Matter of Sentiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/a-matter-of-sentiment) Participates in the racing discussions and murmurs audible prayers during Mrs. Packletide's awkward lie. ### [The Recessional](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-recessional) Converses with Clovis in the Turkish bath, critiquing his poem and discussing its imagery. ### [The Talking-Out of Tarrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-talking-out-of-tarrington) Mentioned as the aunt of Clovis, who seeks to avoid Tarrington. ### [The Remoulding of Groby Lington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-remoulding-of-groby-lington) Mentioned as the nephew who drew the caricature of Groby and his parrot. ### [The Way to the Dairy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-way-to-the-dairy) Mentioned as joining the aunt and nephew for supper; also referenced in a quote about paté de foie gras. ### [The Blind Spot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-blind-spot) Sir Lulworth's nephew and the executor of great-aunt Adelaide's estate; he discovers the Canon's letter and tries to present it as evidence against the cook Sebastien. ### [Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/laura) Amanda's husband; his poultry and garden are repeatedly ravaged by the otter, and he is later tormented by a Nubian boy in Cairo. ### [A Touch of Realism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/a-touch-of-realism) Plays the character of Little Bo-Peep, disrupting Waldo's sleep by searching for his 'lost sheep' in Waldo's room. ### [The Forbidden Buzzards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-forbidden-buzzards) Referenced as 'Hugo Peterby' in the story; seeks Clovis's help to win Betty Coulterneb and keep Lanner away. ### [Fur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/fur) Bertram Kneyght, the wealthy cousin, is the target of the plot; he ends up giving Eleanor the fur and Suzanne a fan. ### [Down Pens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/down-pens) Appears as Egbert, the husband who argues for a reform of Christmas correspondence. ### [The Toys of Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-toys-of-peace) Eric, the older nephew (age 11) who leads the imaginative play, repurposing the peace toys for a military scenario. ### [A Bread and Butter Miss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/a-bread-and-butter-miss) Discusses Derby betting odds and interprets Lola's dream. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters/bertie_van_tahn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_49_se/characters