# M. Boirac — The Cask character guide > M. Boirac in The Cask by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Raoul, M. Raoul Boirac, Armande, M. Armande Boirac **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-london ## Snapshot The dead woman's husband, whose grief, jealousy, and a suspiciously similar cask in his own study keep the detectives circling back to him. ## Who they are Boirac sits at the centre of the case's most obvious motive: a husband who may or may not have known his wife was leaving him for another man. The discovery of a matching cask unpacked in his study briefly hardens suspicion, then dissolves into an explanation that leaves the Chief doubting again. His love, or lack of it, for Annette becomes the pivot on which the whole theory of the crime turns. ## Relationships ### [Mr. Georges La Touche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/mr_georges_la_touche) _rivalry_ M. Boirac and Georges La Touche are bitter enemies, with La Touche suspected of having an affair with Boirac's wife. ### [Mr. Felix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/mr_felix) _rivalry_ M. Boirac and Mr. Felix are locked in a tense conflict over business and personal grievances, with Felix suspected of murder. ### [M. Lefarge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/m_lefarge) _professional_ M. Boirac and M. Lefarge are business associates or colleagues, with Lefarge possibly involved in Boirac's schemes. ### [Inspector Burnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/inspector_burnley) _professional_ Inspector Burnley investigates M. Boirac as a prime suspect in the murder of Mr. Felix. ### [Henri François](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/henri_francois) _professional_ Henri François is a servant or employee of M. Boirac, carrying out his orders. ### [Pierre Bonchose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/pierre_bonchose) _professional_ Pierre Bonchose is a business associate or underling of M. Boirac, involved in his affairs. ### [M. Lefarge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/m_lefarge) _professional_ M. Boirac and M. Lefarge are business associates or colleagues, with Lefarge possibly involved in Boirac's schemes. ### [Mr. Georges La Touche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/mr_georges_la_touche) _rivalry_ M. Boirac and Georges La Touche are bitter enemies, with La Touche suspected of having an affair with Boirac's wife. ### [Inspector Burnley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/inspector_burnley) _professional_ Inspector Burnley investigates M. Boirac as a prime suspect in the murder of Mr. Felix. ### [Mr. Felix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/mr_felix) _rivalry_ M. Boirac and Mr. Felix are locked in a tense conflict over business and personal grievances, with Felix suspected of murder. ### [Mr. Felix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/mr_felix) _rivalry_ M. Boirac and Mr. Felix are locked in a tense conflict over business and personal grievances, with Felix suspected of murder. ### [M. Lefarge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/m_lefarge) _professional_ M. Boirac and M. Lefarge are business associates or colleagues, with Lefarge possibly involved in Boirac's schemes. ## In the story ### [Part II: Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/part-ii-paris) Makes a statement and is involved in the Paris investigation. ### [XIII: The Owner of the Dress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xiii-the-owner-of-the-dress) Identifies his wife's dress and photograph, learns of her murder by strangulation. ### [XIV: M. Boirac Makes a Statement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xiv-m-boirac-makes-a-statement) Provides a detailed statement about his wife's disappearance, describing his actions on the night of the dinner party and his discovery of her farewell letter. ### [XV: The House in the Avenue de l'Alma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xv-the-house-in-the-avenue-de-l-alma) Returns home during the investigation; identified Madame's body earlier and is questioned about the marble group. ### [Inspector Burnley Up Against It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xvi-inspector-burnley-up-against-it) Husband of the missing Madame; considered a suspect due to possible jealousy; his statement about his whereabouts is corroborated. ### [A Council of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xvii-a-council-of-war) Considered as a suspect with a potential motive of jealousy; his alibi is questioned, especially the part about the American. ### [XVIII: Lefarge Hunts Alone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xviii-lefarge-hunts-alone) Provides a detailed alibi for his whereabouts on Monday through Wednesday; returns from London and meets with Lefarge. ### [XIX: The Testing of an Alibi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xix-the-testing-of-an-alibi) The subject of the alibi investigation; his statement is tested and found true. ### [Part III: London and Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/part-iii-london-and-paris) Becomes a prime suspect after his wife Annette is identified as the victim. ### [Mr. Georges La Touche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxiv-mr-georges-la-touche) Considered the prime alternative suspect; Clifford and Heppenstall theorize he murdered his wife and framed Felix. ### [Disappointment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxv-disappointment) The pump manufacturer whose alibi is under scrutiny; all witnesses confirm his telephone calls and presence at Charenton. ### [A Clue at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxvi-a-clue-at-last) Suspected of replacing the typewriter and dismissing the typist to conceal evidence. ### [XXVII: La Touche’s Dilemma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxvii-la-touche-s-dilemma) Observed by La Touche; scar on his hand confirmed; alibi broken by establishing his presence at Charenton café on March 29. ### [XXVIII: The Unravelling of the Web](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxviii-the-unravelling-of-the-web) Revealed as the murderer; killed his wife and used the cask to dispose of the body. ### [A Dramatic Dénouement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxix-a-dramatic-d-nouement) Confesses to the murder and framing of Felix, then escapes by locking La Touche and Mallet in the room. ### [XXX: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/chapters/xxx-conclusion) Sets his house on fire to destroy evidence, attempts to escape, and commits suicide when cornered. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters/m_boirac - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cask_se/characters