The Cheyne Mystery · Character

Arnold Price

A claimant to a barony whose missing papers set the whole affair in motion and give Cheyne a cause worth chasing across the Channel.

supporting

Also known as Price, Mr. Price

First appearance: ii burglary

As a supporting figure in The Cheyne Mystery, Arnold Price is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Former friend of Cheyne who entrusted him with a sealed envelope containing private papers, now sought by the gang.

In the storyIII: The Launch EnidOpen this moment free

Price's claim to the barony of Hull depends on documents that the gang is clearly desperate to obtain, and his stake is what transforms a puzzling burglary into a motive-driven conspiracy. Cheyne's decision to pursue the criminals himself is bound up with recovering Price's papers, and the loyalty between the two men gives the amateur sleuth a personal reason to keep going when the trail goes cold. Price's legal claim also anchors the early arc's central question: what could be worth two months of domestic spying and a drugging?

See Arnold Price in III: The Launch Enid Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

19 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Psychological
Other

Character groups

Core Investigation Team
Protagonist

+14 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

Cheyne reaches his emotional peak here, choking with rage and nearly attacking Dangle, but is forced into utte…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Maxwell Cheyne
rivalry · negative
Arnold Price and Maxwell Cheyne are antagonists, with frequent interactions suggesting… How this plays out →
Inspector French
rivalry · negative
Otto Schulz
rivalry · negative
Susan Dangle
psychological · negative
Inspector French
rivalry · negative
Susan Dangle
psychological · negative
Maxwell Cheyne
rivalry · negative
Arnold Price and Maxwell Cheyne are antagonists, with frequent interactions suggesting… How this plays out →
Inspector French
rivalry · negative
Otto Schulz
rivalry · negative
Maxwell Cheyne
rivalry · negative
Arnold Price and Maxwell Cheyne are antagonists, with frequent interactions suggesting… How this plays out →
Susan Dangle
psychological · negative
Otto Schulz
rivalry · negative

Maxwell Cheyne
Arnold Price and Maxwell Cheyne are antagonists, with frequent interactions suggesting conflict or competition.
Inspector French
Arnold Price and Inspector French are adversaries, with Price likely obstructing or opposing French's investigation.
Otto Schulz
Arnold Price and Otto Schulz are rivals or enemies, with frequent interactions suggesting conflict.
Susan Dangle
Arnold Price may be manipulating or obsessing over Susan Dangle, given the tense dynamic.
Inspector French
Arnold Price and Inspector French are adversaries, with Price likely obstructing or opposing French's investigation.
Susan Dangle
Arnold Price may be manipulating or obsessing over Susan Dangle, given the tense dynamic.
Maxwell Cheyne
Arnold Price and Maxwell Cheyne are antagonists, with frequent interactions suggesting conflict or competition.
Inspector French
Arnold Price and Inspector French are adversaries, with Price likely obstructing or opposing French's investigation.
Otto Schulz
Arnold Price and Otto Schulz are rivals or enemies, with frequent interactions suggesting conflict.
Maxwell Cheyne
Arnold Price and Maxwell Cheyne are antagonists, with frequent interactions suggesting conflict or competition.
Susan Dangle
Arnold Price may be manipulating or obsessing over Susan Dangle, given the tense dynamic.
Otto Schulz
Arnold Price and Otto Schulz are rivals or enemies, with frequent interactions suggesting conflict.

Relationship notes

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

See Arnold Price in ii burglary

In the story

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

III: The Launch Enid
Former friend of Cheyne who entrusted him with a sealed envelope containing private papers, now sought by the gang.
Concerning a Peerage
Referred to as the owner of the letter Cheyne was carrying; he is in the Middle East and has not sought to regain the document.
V: An Amateur Sleuth
Observed by Cheyne on the train; uses a disguise and changes compartments to avoid detection.
A Council of War
The real third officer of the Maurania who has recently disappeared after leaving his ship at Bombay.
XI: Otto Schulz's Secret
Arnold Price is central to Dangle's story, having been third mate on the Maurania in 1917 and involved in the secret that led to the current conspiracy.
XVIII: A Visitor from India
Price is mentioned as having written to Cheyne from Bombay, explaining his disappearance due to an accident in Agra.
XIX: The Message of the Tracing
Examines the tracing, suggests the numbers might be soundings, and is included in the expedition.
XX: The Goal of the L'Escaut
Excited by the prospect of recovering gold; enjoys the sea voyage and joins Cheyne and French on the bridge.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Arnold Price unlock in the free preview.

See Arnold Price in ii burglary

See Arnold Price in III: The Launch Enid