The Clue · Character

Cicely Dupuy

A secretary whose handwriting eerily mirrors her mistress's and whose hopeless love for the groom makes her the last person to see Madeleine Van Norman alive.

supporting

Also known as Cicely, Cicely Dupuy, Miss Dupuy, Poor Miss Dupuy, Dupuy

First appearance: i the van normans

As a supporting figure in The Clue, Cicely Dupuy is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Madeleine's private secretary, who takes final wedding lists and is then dismissed for the night.

In the storyMiss Morton ArrivesOpen this moment free

Cicely Dupuy moves through the Van Norman household as a quiet, overlooked presence, yet she is the last known witness to Madeleine alive and the first to reach the scene of the crime. Her secret infatuation with Schuyler Carleton, exposed through a slip of paper she desperately tried to reclaim, places her at the center of a jealousy triangle no one suspected. Her uncanny ability to imitate Madeleine's hand raises unsettling questions about forged notes and hidden motives, making her a figure the investigators cannot afford to dismiss.

See Cicely Dupuy in Miss Morton Arrives Book page

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

Character Web

13 connections

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

Relationship types

Friendship
Social
Other

Character groups

Central suspects and investigators
Protagonist

+8 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
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it represents the emotional and psychological peak of the chara…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Madeleine Van Norman
friendship · positive
Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings. How this plays out →
Rob Fessenden
friendship · positive
Schuyler Carleton
social · positive
Madeleine Van Norman
friendship · positive
Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings. How this plays out →
Rob Fessenden
friendship · positive
Schuyler Carleton
social · positive
Rob Fessenden
friendship · positive
Madeleine Van Norman
friendship · positive
Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings. How this plays out →
Schuyler Carleton
social · positive

Madeleine Van Norman
Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings.
Rob Fessenden
Cicely and Rob are friendly acquaintances, often interacting within their mutual social circle.
Schuyler Carleton
Cicely and Schuyler are polite acquaintances, with no significant personal bond.
Madeleine Van Norman
Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings.
Rob Fessenden
Cicely and Rob are friendly acquaintances, often interacting within their mutual social circle.
Schuyler Carleton
Cicely and Schuyler are polite acquaintances, with no significant personal bond.
Rob Fessenden
Cicely and Rob are friendly acquaintances, often interacting within their mutual social circle.
Madeleine Van Norman
Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings.
Schuyler Carleton
Cicely and Schuyler are polite acquaintances, with no significant personal bond.

Relationship notes

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

See Cicely Dupuy in i the van normans

In the story

Cicely Dupuy appears across 16 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Miss Morton Arrives
Madeleine's private secretary, who takes final wedding lists and is then dismissed for the night.
III: A Cry in the Night
First to respond to the cry; stares intently at Carleton and later at the suicide note, showing bewilderment and suspicion.
Suicide or ⸻?
Comforts Miss Morton and leads her away, showing loyalty and concern.
VI: Fessenden Comes
Greets Fessenden and informs him of the tragedy.
VII: Mr. Benson’s Questions
Flies into violent hysterics upon hearing the coroner's statements and is taken from the room.
A Soft Lead Pencil
Confesses to writing the suicide note, refuses to explain why, and displays a defiant attitude.
IX: The Will
Testifies about her last conversation with Madeleine and becomes agitated when noting the absence of notes Madeleine intended to write.
X: Some Testimony
Confesses to writing the suicide note but refuses to explain the 'S.' in it; becomes emotionally distressed during testimony.
XI: “I Decline to Say”
Contradicts Hunt's timing, glares at Carleton, and is forced to rewrite the suicide note, proving she authored it.
XII: Dorothy Burt
Mentioned as a person of interest; Fessenden and Kitty plan to interview her for information.
An Interview with Cicely
Reveals her secret love for Schuyler Carleton, admits writing the suicide note, and faints when confronted about timeline inconsistencies.
XV: Fessenden’s Detective Work
Reported to be ill and rambling, suggesting a guilty conscience.
Carleton Is Frank
Her later evidence contradicts her earlier statements; she often faints in the witness chair, and no one is sure whether these attacks are real or assumed.
The Truth About Miss Burt
Suspected by Carleton and Fessenden of writing deceptive notes to Carleton pretending to be Madeleine.
XX: Cicely's Flight
Flees Mapleton suddenly, leaving behind evidence that suggests her possible guilt.
A Successful Pursuit
Found by Fessenden at Grand Central Station; confesses she lied about the time Carleton entered and fled because she feared he was the murderer, not because she was guilty.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Cicely Dupuy unlock in the free preview.

See Cicely Dupuy in i the van normans

See Cicely Dupuy in Miss Morton Arrives