# Number Four — The Big Four character guide

> Number Four in The Big Four by Agatha Christie.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Number Two, Number Three, Meanwhile Number Four

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-unexpected-guest

## Snapshot

A shadowy operative of the Big Four who moves through the world in disguise, and whose true face is an obscure English actor named Claud Darrell.

## Who they are

Number Four is the Big Four's field agent — the one who appears in person while Li Chang Yen directs from afar and Ryland and Olivier lend wealth and genius. Poirot believes him to be Claud Darrell, an actor whose profession makes him a master of assuming any identity he needs. When the countess tears the moustaches from the man posing as Poirot, it is Number Four who snarls the death threat — and Number Four who must reckon with an adversary willing to die for success.

## Relationships

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Number Four is a key member of the Big Four, a dangerous enemy working against Poirot.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Number Four is a key member of the Big Four, a dangerous enemy working against Poirot.

### [Hercule Poirot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/hercule_poirot)

_rivalry_

Number Four is a key member of the Big Four, a dangerous enemy working against Poirot.

## In the story

### [II: The Man from the Asylum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/ii-the-man-from-the-asylum)

Implied to be the murderer; disguised as an asylum keeper; referred to as 'the destroyer'.

### [We Hear More About Li Chang Yen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/iii-we-hear-more-about-li-chang-yen)

Referred to as the executive of the organization; Poirot suggests his visit was a reconnaissance to see Hercule Poirot.

### [In the House of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/viii-in-the-house-of-the-enemy)

The footman who impersonates Ryland during the meeting with Hastings, later revealed to be Number Four of the Big Four.

### [XI: A Chess Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xi-a-chess-problem)

Identified as the servant Ivan; master of disguise and orchestrator of the murder plot.

### [The Mouse Walks In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xiii-the-mouse-walks-in)

Dictates the deceptive letter to Hastings; orchestrates the trap.

### [XIV: The Peroxide Blonde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xiv-the-peroxide-blonde)

The elusive master of disguise; Poirot identifies him as an actor and later as Claud Darrell.

### [Number Four Wins a Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xvii-number-four-wins-a-trick)

Recognized by Poirot at dinner in the hotel due to his habit of dabbing bread. He is startled by Poirot's reappearance and leaves to make arrangements.

### [In the Felsenlabyrynth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-felsenlabyrynth)

Leads the capture of Hastings and Poirot; mocks them in the headquarters; later dies unrecognizably in the explosion.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters/number_four
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_big_four_se/characters