# Rupert Baxter — Something New character guide

> Rupert Baxter in Something New by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Baxter, the Efficient Baxter, The Efficient Baxter, Rupert

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

Lord Emsworth's secretary, whose devotion to the castle's scarab collection makes him a sleepless, suspicious watchdog — and the house party's favorite target for ridicule.

## Who they are

Rupert Baxter is the Efficient Baxter, a secretary whose collector's passion for Lord Emsworth's curios exceeds even the owner's, and who regards the museum as his personal domain. When he suspects Ashe Marson of plotting to steal the scarab, he stalks the corridors at night, dodging shadows and weighing the risk to his position against his duty. His zealous vigilance makes him a figure of fun to the other guests, but his determination to catch the thief red-handed keeps him dangerously close to the truth.

## Relationships

### [Ashe Marson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/ashe_marson)

_rivalry_

They are antagonists, with Baxter suspicious of Ashe's motives and working against him.

### [Lord Emsworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/lord_emsworth)

_professional_

Baxter is Lord Emsworth's secretary, a formal employer-employee relationship with tension.

### [J. Preston Peters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/j_preston_peters)

_rivalry_

They are adversaries, with Peters distrusting Baxter's interference in his affairs.

### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/freddie_threepwood)

_rivalry_

They dislike each other, with Freddie often clashing with Baxter's strictness.

### [J. Preston Peters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/j_preston_peters)

_rivalry_

They are adversaries, with Peters distrusting Baxter's interference in his affairs.

### [Ashe Marson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/ashe_marson)

_rivalry_

They are antagonists, with Baxter suspicious of Ashe's motives and working against him.

### [Lord Emsworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/lord_emsworth)

_professional_

Baxter is Lord Emsworth's secretary, a formal employer-employee relationship with tension.

### [Lord Emsworth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/lord_emsworth)

_professional_

Baxter is Lord Emsworth's secretary, a formal employer-employee relationship with tension.

### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/freddie_threepwood)

_rivalry_

They dislike each other, with Freddie often clashing with Baxter's strictness.

### [J. Preston Peters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/j_preston_peters)

_rivalry_

They are adversaries, with Peters distrusting Baxter's interference in his affairs.

### [Freddie Threepwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/freddie_threepwood)

_rivalry_

They dislike each other, with Freddie often clashing with Baxter's strictness.

## In the story

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

The Efficient Baxter confronts Ashe in the hall, suspects him of theft, and decides to leave the museum door open as a trap to catch him in the act.

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

The Efficient Baxter broods on the intimacy between Aline and George, and has been keeping nightly vigils in the gallery, waiting and watching.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/viii)

Baxter, exhausted from his nightly vigils, struggles to stay awake and concentrate on guarding the scarab, his thoughts wandering despite his efforts.

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/chapters/ix)

The Efficient Baxter obsessively searches for a shoe with red paint, suspecting a servant of stealing the scarab.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters/rupert_baxter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/something_new_se/characters