# Arnold Armstrong — The Circular Staircase character guide

> Arnold Armstrong in The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Armstrong, Arnold, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Arnold Armstrong, Mistah Armstrong, Armstrong, that Mr. Armstrong

**First appearance:** 0000-i-i-take-a-country-house

## Snapshot

The estranged son of the family that owns Sunnyside, whose midnight visit ends in a bullet on the circular staircase.

## Who they are

Arnold Armstrong lived apart from his family for years after trouble with his father, and his reasons for returning to Sunnyside the night he died remain stubbornly unclear. His handsome, dissipated face and the turned-up collar of his dinner coat tell of a man accustomed to late hours and bad company. Because he was admitted from within—no key, no forced entry—his murder instantly implicates the household, making his corpse the hinge on which the entire mystery turns.

## Relationships

### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes)

_rivalry_

Arnold and Halsey are antagonists, with Arnold's hostility toward Halsey stemming from jealousy and suspicion over Louise.

### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes)

_rivalry_

Arnold is rude and threatening toward Gertrude, creating a tense and hostile dynamic between them.

### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes)

_rivalry_

Arnold and Halsey are antagonists, with Arnold's hostility toward Halsey stemming from jealousy and suspicion over Louise.

### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes)

_rivalry_

Arnold is rude and threatening toward Gertrude, creating a tense and hostile dynamic between them.

### [Gertrude Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/gertrude_innes)

_rivalry_

Arnold is rude and threatening toward Gertrude, creating a tense and hostile dynamic between them.

### [Halsey Innes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/halsey_innes)

_rivalry_

Arnold and Halsey are antagonists, with Arnold's hostility toward Halsey stemming from jealousy and suspicion over Louise.

## In the story

### [Where Is Halsey?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/iv-where-is-halsey)

Murder victim; his body discovered in the cardroom.

### [V: Gertrude's Engagement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/v-gertrude-s-engagement)

The murder victim; his body is examined by the coroner and detectives. The chapter discusses his possible reasons for entering the house.

### [VI: In the East Corridor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/vi-in-the-east-corridor)

The murder victim. His body is viewed by Rachel and Mr. Harton before being taken away. His effects include the two scraps of paper.

### [XXXII: Anne Watson’s Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/chapters/xxxii-anne-watson-s-story)

Revealed as Lucien's father and the man who blackmailed Mrs. Watson; she confesses to killing him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters/arnold_armstrong
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_circular_staircase_se/characters