# Captain Doodles — The Claverings character guide

> Captain Doodles in The Claverings by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Doodles, the sagacious Doodles

**First appearance:** 0029-xxx-doodles-in-mount-street

## Snapshot

A bullet-headed naval captain with a doosed small property near Leamington, sent to pry information from Sophie Gordeloup and thoroughly out of his depth.

## Who they are

Captain Doodles — or Boodle, as he is variously called — is a short-haired, tight-trousered man of the world who arrives at Sophie's door on delicate business and is promptly taken for a housebreaker. He knits his brows and nods his head as though he is not easy to get on the soft side of, yet Sophie reads him in an instant and runs circles around him. His comic interview matters because it shows how the novel's schemers — Sophie, Archie, the count — are matched against amateurs, and how money and information pass through the most unlikely hands.

## In the story

### [Captain Clavering Makes His First Attempt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xviii-captain-clavering-makes-his-first-attempt)

Referenced as the friend who gave Archie advice on courting Lady Ongar.

### [XIX: The Blue Posts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xix-the-blue-posts)

Present at the Blue Posts dinner, claims acquaintance with Archie and Sir Hugh Clavering, and leaves early.

### [The Russian Spy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xxiv-the-russian-spy)

Doodles advises Archie on his scheme, identifies Madame Gordeloup as a Russian spy, and discusses the bribery plan.

### [Doodles in Mount Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xxx-doodles-in-mount-street)

Doodles takes over the suit for Lady Ongar, visits Sophie Gordeloup, and is thoroughly outmatched by her wit and evasion.

### [Captain Clavering Makes His Last Attempt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xxxvi-captain-clavering-makes-his-last-attempt)

Archie's friend, present at the military club dinners where Archie discusses his matrimonial plans.

### [Farewell to Doodles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xxxix-farewell-to-doodles)

Bids farewell to Archie, expressing concern about the yachting trip and sympathy over Archie's rejection by Lady Ongar.

### [Madame Gordeloup Retires from British Diplomacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/chapters/xlvi-madame-gordeloup-retires-from-british-diplomacy)

Accompanies Sophie on the steamer to Boulogne, paying her passage and carrying her bandbox.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/characters/doodles
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_claverings_se/characters