That Affair Next Door · Character

Randolph Stone

A polished friend of the Van Burnams whose reluctant testimony places Howard on the stoop at four in the morning.

supporting

Also known as Stone, Mr. Stone

First appearance: XV: A Reluctant Witness

As a supporting figure in That Affair Next Door, Randolph Stone is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Called as a reluctant witness; testifies to seeing Howard Van Burnam on the stoop at 4 a.m.

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Randolph Stone moves easily among the Van Burnams as a well-known man of unquestionable integrity, yet he gives his evidence under visible compulsion and casts a look of regret at his friend Howard. His account of recognizing Howard at four on the morning of the eighteenth supplies one of the inquiry's most damaging facts, and his reluctance makes his own position feel less settled than it appears. He is the witness everyone trusts and no one, including the reader, quite knows how to read.

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See Randolph Stone in XV: A Reluctant Witness

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Randolph Stone sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Social
Romantic
Other

Character groups

Primary suspects and investigators
Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it reveals the full emotional and psychological peak of Ruth Oliver’s desp…

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Relationships

Amelia Butterworth
social · ambivalent
Amelia encounters Randolph Stone as a peripheral figure in the Van Burnam circle, often… How this plays out →
Mrs. Howard Van Burnam
romantic · ambivalent
Amelia Butterworth
social · ambivalent
Amelia encounters Randolph Stone as a peripheral figure in the Van Burnam circle, often… How this plays out →

Amelia Butterworth
Amelia encounters Randolph Stone as a peripheral figure in the Van Burnam circle, often exchanging observations.
Mrs. Howard Van Burnam
Mrs. Howard Van Burnam and Randolph Stone are suspected of having a romantic relationship, which becomes a motive for murder.
Amelia Butterworth
Amelia encounters Randolph Stone as a peripheral figure in the Van Burnam circle, often exchanging observations.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Randolph Stone in XV: A Reluctant Witness

In the story

Randolph Stone appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XV: A Reluctant Witness
Called as a reluctant witness; testifies to seeing Howard Van Burnam on the stoop at 4 a.m. on the 18th, causing a stir in the courtroom.
XVI: Cogitations
His testimony about the time Howard left the Van Burnam house is recalled as a key point in Amelia's reasoning.
XXIII: Ruth Oliver
Mentioned as Miss Althorpe's lover; his voice is heard in the adjoining room.
A House of Cards
Mentioned as Miss Althorpe's fiancé, described as estimable and brilliant.
Exactly Half-Past Three
Shares labors with Miss Butterworth in the library, is described as a man in ten thousand by Miss Butterworth.
XLI: Secret History
Revealed to be John Randolph, the man who married Ruth Oliver and later attempted to murder her.
With Miss Butterworth's Compliments
Confessed to the murder; his contradictory feelings during the inquest are pondered by Miss Butterworth.
Endnotes
The actual person identified by Amelia, later confused with Franklin Van Burnam.

Chapter companion notes

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See Randolph Stone in XV: A Reluctant Witness