# Ned Cromarty — Simon character guide > Ned Cromarty in Simon by J. Storer Clouston. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland, Mr. Cromarty, Ned, Cromarty, Uncle Ned **First appearance:** 0002-iii-the-heir ## Snapshot The blunt laird of Stanesland, unable to get Sir Reginald's murder out of his head, who barges into the fiscal's office insisting he be allowed to play a hand in the game. ## Who they are Ned Cromarty is a man of action in a case built on thin suggestions and hearth brushes, and he matches wits with Rattar over broken table legs, dried mud, and Bisset's deductions, refusing to let a dashed thin theory pass unchallenged. He is loyal to the dead baronet and hungry for facts, but his impatience makes him easy to deflect. When he catches a defiant note in the fiscal's voice, he names it aloud — we're on the same side in this racket — and that suspicion quietly seeds the novel's central unease. ## Relationships ### [F. T. Carrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/f_t_carrington) _friendship_ Carrington and Ned are close allies, often working together and sharing confidences against common adversaries. ### [Simon Rattar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/simon_rattar) _rivalry_ Ned and Rattar are antagonists, with Ned opposing Rattar's manipulative schemes and defending his family's interests. ### [Cicely Farmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/cicely_farmond) _romantic_ Cicely and Ned share a deep romantic attachment, though their relationship is complicated by family loyalties and external pressures. ### [Sir Reginald Cromarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/sir_reginald_cromarty) _family_ Ned is Sir Reginald's son, and their relationship is strained by Sir Reginald's vulnerability to Rattar's manipulation. ### [James Bisset](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/james_bisset) _friendship_ James and Ned are loyal friends, often collaborating and standing together against common threats. ### [Lady Cromarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/lady_cromarty) _family_ Lady Cromarty is Ned's mother, and they share a caring but sometimes tense relationship due to family conflicts. ### [Cicely Farmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/cicely_farmond) _romantic_ Cicely and Ned share a deep romantic attachment, though their relationship is complicated by family loyalties and external pressures. ### [Sir Reginald Cromarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/sir_reginald_cromarty) _family_ Ned is Sir Reginald's son, and their relationship is strained by Sir Reginald's vulnerability to Rattar's manipulation. ### [Simon Rattar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/simon_rattar) _rivalry_ Ned and Rattar are antagonists, with Ned opposing Rattar's manipulative schemes and defending his family's interests. ### [F. T. Carrington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/f_t_carrington) _friendship_ Carrington and Ned are close allies, often working together and sharing confidences against common adversaries. ### [Simon Rattar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/simon_rattar) _rivalry_ Ned and Rattar are antagonists, with Ned opposing Rattar's manipulative schemes and defending his family's interests. ### [Cicely Farmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/cicely_farmond) _romantic_ Cicely and Ned share a deep romantic attachment, though their relationship is complicated by family loyalties and external pressures. ## In the story ### [III: The Heir](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/iii-the-heir) Announced as 'Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland' at the end of the chapter, arriving to see Rattar. ### [IV: The Man from the West](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/iv-the-man-from-the-west) Visits Simon Rattar to discuss his debts and loan repayment to Sir Reginald. Described as a tall, lean man with a glass eye, a humorous and honest personality, and a Western twang. He offers to drive Cicely Farmond home. ### [VII: The Drive Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/vii-the-drive-home) Drives Cicely home, expresses romantic interest, and later discusses her with his sister Lilian. ### [A Philosopher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/ix-a-philosopher) Discussed by Bisset as an interesting gentleman with a glass eye and a reputation for hanging a man; considered unlikely to marry. ### [XI: News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xi-news) Hears the news of the murder and rushes to the castle; actively investigates the crime scene, questioning details about the window and the table. ### [XII: Cicely](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xii-cicely) Visits Cicely and Sir Malcolm, expresses grief and confusion about the murder, and later reflects alone before Bisset shares his conclusions. ### [XIII: The Deductive Process](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xiii-the-deductive-process) Listens to Bisset's deductions, challenges his conclusions with sharp logic, and ultimately advises him to be more careful. ### [XIV: The Question of Motive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xiv-the-question-of-motive) Visits Rattar to discuss the murder, learns his debt was cancelled, and reveals Cicely's engagement to Sir Malcolm. ### [XVI: Rumour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xvi-rumour) Receives Bisset's visit, hears the rumor about Malcolm and Cicely, and reacts with fury, breaking his pipe and vowing to stop the slander. ### [A Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xvii-a-suggestion) Visits Simon Rattar to demand action against the scandalous rumors and insists on hiring a London detective. ### [XVIII: £1,200](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xviii-1-200) Ned is home and is confronted by his sister Lilian about using the £1,200 to buy a car. He is grim, obstinate, and troubled by the murder case, showing frustration with the rumors about Cicely Farmond and Malcolm Cromarty. ### [XX: The Sporting Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xx-the-sporting-visitor) Mentioned as the heir commonly suspected of the crime, along with a young girl (Cicely Farmond). ### [XXIII: Simon's Views](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxiii-simon-s-views) Mentioned as a distant relative who benefited by £1,200 from the will and who lives nearby; Rattar describes him as a 'rough and ready customer'. ### [At Stanesland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxvi-at-stanesland) Hosts Carrington at Stanesland; defends Cicely Farmond's innocence passionately, dismisses suspicion against Sir Malcolm, and reveals his inheritance through his sister's complaints. ### [XXVII: Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxvii-flight) Observes Cicely at the station, impulsively follows her train, and later rescues her from wandering into the wilderness, adopting a false identity as 'Uncle Ned' to protect her. ### [The Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxviii-the-return) Disguises himself as Mr. Dawkins to rescue Cicely; reveals he hired Carrington to clear her; confronts Rattar's lies; develops romantic feelings for Cicely. ### [Brother and Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxix-brother-and-sister) Confronts his sister Lilian about the false engagement rumor, reveals its devastating consequences, and decides to consult Carrington. ### [XXXIV: A Confidential Conversation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxxiv-a-confidential-conversation) Reveals himself as the anonymous employer and reports Rattar's advice to Cicely. ### [XXXVII: Bisset's Advice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxxvii-bisset-s-advice) Returns home, proposes to Cicely, and receives a telegram from Carrington. ### [XXXVIII: Trapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxxviii-trapped) Confronts Simon Rattar, disarms him after an attack, and is present during the arrest. ### [The Yarn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xxxix-the-yarn) Present during the confession, his glass eye unnerves George, and he presses for details about Sir Reginald's murder. ### [XL: The Last Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/chapters/xl-the-last-chapter) Ned listens as Carrington recounts the investigation, expressing admiration for Carrington's deductive abilities and reflecting on his own role in the events. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters/ned_cromarty - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/simon_se/characters