# Count Zadowa — The Black Gang character guide

> Count Zadowa in The Black Gang by H. C. McNeile.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Count, Zadowa, the Count

**First appearance:** 0003-iv-in-which-count-zadowa-gets-a-shock

## Snapshot

A hunchbacked foreign count in Peterson's pay, he runs the Communist agitation in England while privately dreading the fate of subordinates who fail their chief.

## Who they are

Zadowa moves through Bloomsbury hotels and Green Street offices as the respectable Mr. Atkinson, fronting a criminal network whose real business he is careful never to ask about. His terror of the man calling himself the Reverend Theodosius Longmoor is matched only by his greed, and when a bomb outrage destroys his office he can think of nothing but the diamonds possibly still in his secret drawer. His sweaty, sleepless scheming in the novel's middle chapters shows exactly what kind of nerve Peterson's organization runs on.

## Relationships

### [Hugh Drummond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/characters/hugh_drummond)

_rivalry_

Count Zadowa is an enemy of Hugh, involved in criminal plots.

### [Charles Latter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/characters/charles_latter)

_professional_

Charles Latter and Count Zadowa are allies in their schemes against Hugh.

### [Charles Latter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/characters/charles_latter)

_professional_

Charles Latter and Count Zadowa are allies in their schemes against Hugh.

### [Hugh Drummond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/characters/hugh_drummond)

_rivalry_

Count Zadowa is an enemy of Hugh, involved in criminal plots.

## In the story

### [In Which Count Zadowa Gets a Shock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/chapters/iv-in-which-count-zadowa-gets-a-shock)

Revealed as the mastermind behind the Hoxton operation, he issues orders to Latter and prepares for an emergency when the alarm bell rings.

### [VI: In Which an Effusion Is Sent to the Newspapers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/chapters/vi-in-which-an-effusion-is-sent-to-the-newspapers)

Furious and worried about the publicity, he receives a threatening letter from 'X' and fears the reactions of his continental associates.

### [In Which There Is a Stormy Supper Party at the Ritz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/chapters/ix-in-which-there-is-a-stormy-supper-party-at-the-ritz)

Recounts his bombing of the Black Gang's headquarters, which inadvertently destroyed the diamonds.

### [X: In Which Hugh Drummond Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/chapters/x-in-which-hugh-drummond-makes-a-discovery)

Alias Mr. Atkinson, the hunchback, is in a state of dread over the failed bombing and the potential loss of diamonds, fearing his chief's retribution.

### [In Which Count Zadowa Is Introduced to Alice in Wonderland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/chapters/xii-in-which-count-zadowa-is-introduced-to-alice-in-wonderland)

Revealed to be the true identity of Mr. Atkinson after being kicked down the stairs.

### [In Which a Murderer Is Murdered at Maybrick Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/chapters/xvii-in-which-a-murderer-is-murdered-at-maybrick-hall)

Present at the meeting, he is visibly shaken by the planned execution.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/characters/count_zadowa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_black_gang_se/characters