# Maxwell Cheyne — The Cheyne Mystery character guide > Maxwell Cheyne in The Cheyne Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Cheyne, Mr. Cheyne, Max, Amateur Sleuth Cheyne, Captain Cheyne **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-episode-in-the-plymouth-hotel ## Snapshot A restless yachtsman and war veteran who turns amateur sleuth when a burglary and a drugging leave him with nothing but questions and wounded pride. ## Who they are Cheyne is a young Devon man of leisure whose comfortable world is upended when his house is ransacked and he is chloroformed, apparently for a document he never knew he possessed. Impulse rules him more than cold reason, and the humiliation of being outwitted drives him to pursue the gang himself rather than wait on the police. His stubborn curiosity and hunger to restore his self-respect pull him into a battle of wits that steadily widens from a local mystery into something far larger. ## Relationships ### [Joan Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/joan_merrill) _romantic_ Joan and Maxwell share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting a central love story. ### [Susan Dangle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/susan_dangle) _family_ Maxwell and Susan appear to be closely related, likely siblings or close family, given their high interaction frequency. ### [Mr. Speedwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/mr_speedwell) _professional_ Maxwell and Mr. Speedwell have a professional relationship, possibly as employer and employee or business associates. ### [Arnold Price](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/arnold_price) _rivalry_ Arnold Price and Maxwell Cheyne are antagonists, with frequent interactions suggesting conflict or competition. ### [Blessington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/blessington) _professional_ Blessington is likely a servant or employee of Maxwell Cheyne, given the professional dynamic. ### [Mr. Hubert Parkes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/mr_hubert_parkes) _social_ Maxwell and Mr. Hubert Parkes are acquaintances, possibly through social or business circles. ### [Mr. Arthur Lamson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/mr_arthur_lamson) _social_ Maxwell and Mr. Arthur Lamson have a social acquaintance, likely meeting through mutual interests. ### [Inspector French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/inspector_french) _professional_ Inspector French investigates Maxwell Cheyne, maintaining a formal detective-suspect or detective-ally dynamic. ### [Brother Fritz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/brother_fritz) _friendship_ Brother Fritz and Maxwell Cheyne are friends or allies, possibly sharing a common cause or background. ### [James Dangle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/james_dangle) _family_ James Dangle is likely a relative of Susan Dangle, and thus connected to Maxwell Cheyne through family ties. ### [Charles Sime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/charles_sime) _social_ Charles Sime and Maxwell Cheyne are social acquaintances, possibly from the same community or events. ### [Mr. Speedwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/mr_speedwell) _professional_ Maxwell and Mr. Speedwell have a professional relationship, possibly as employer and employee or business associates. ## In the story ### [The Episode in the Plymouth Hotel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/i-the-episode-in-the-plymouth-hotel) The protagonist, who is drugged during a lunch meeting with a stranger in Plymouth. ### [II: Burglary!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/ii-burglary) Receives news of the burglary, returns home, interviews the maids, and resolves to investigate the mystery personally. ### [III: The Launch Enid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/iii-the-launch-enid) Hires Speedwell to investigate the drugging and burglary; later kidnapped on the Enid and pressured to hand over Arnold Price's letter. ### [Concerning a Peerage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/iv-concerning-a-peerage) Imprisoned on the launch, Cheyne deduces the motive behind his earlier ordeals and endures a night of thirst and despair before being released. ### [V: An Amateur Sleuth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/v-an-amateur-sleuth) Decides to become an amateur sleuth, pursuing the gang on his own initiative; follows Price and Lewisham by train and taxi. ### [VI: The House in Hopefield Avenue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/vi-the-house-in-hopefield-avenue) Observes the gang from a ladder, discovers Susan's betrayal, and enters the room to examine the document. ### [VII: Miss Joan Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/vii-miss-joan-merrill) Recovers from the attack, crawls to safety, and later visits Joan Merrill to thank her and share his story. ### [A Council of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/viii-a-council-of-war) Returns to his hotel jubilant after visiting Joan Merrill, confirms the Hull barony story is false, and struggles to trace the gang members. He is determined to break into the house again despite risks. ### [Mr. Speedwell Plays His Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/ix-mr-speedwell-plays-his-hand) Visits Speedwell, loses his temper, but eventually pays for information and decides to continue his own investigation. ### [X: The New Firm Gets Busy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/x-the-new-firm-gets-busy) Breaks into Earlswood, searches for the tracing, and escapes with it after a confrontation. ### [XI: Otto Schulz's Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xi-otto-schulz-s-secret) Anxious about Joan Merrill's safety, Cheyne confronts Dangle and listens to his proposition, ultimately agreeing to join the gang after hearing the truth about Otto Schulz's secret. ### [XII: In the Enemy's Lair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xii-in-the-enemy-s-lair) Narrowly escapes assassination via a bomb in Joan's purse; reluctantly agrees to join the gang under duress to protect Joan. ### [XIII: Inspector French Takes Charge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-inspector-french-takes-charge) Relates his entire adventure to Inspector French, expresses fear for Joan Merrill's safety, and accompanies French on raids. ### [XIV: The Clue of the Clay-Marked Shoe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-the-clue-of-the-clay-marked-shoe) Listens to Speedwell's revelations with indignation; later examines Joan's shoes with French. ### [A Tale of Two Cities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-a-tale-of-two-cities) Cheyne visits French at the Yard, looking aged and anxious, seeking news about Joan Merrill. ### [XVIII: A Visitor from India](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-a-visitor-from-india) Cheyne meets French at Victoria, reports Arnold Price's letter from Bombay, and participates in the discussion about the cipher and the tracing being a map. ### [XIX: The Message of the Tracing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-message-of-the-tracing) Participates in analyzing the tracing, reconstructs the entire plot, and insists on rescuing Joan Merrill. ### [XX: The Goal of the L'Escaut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/chapters/xx-the-goal-of-the-l-escaut) Anxious about Joan Merrill's fate; joins French and Price on the bridge at dawn, thrilled by the approaching finale. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters/maxwell_cheyne - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cheyne_mystery_se/characters