# Kitty French — The Clue character guide > Kitty French in The Clue by Carolyn Wells. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss French, Kitty, Miss Kitty French, little Kitty, bewitching little Kitty, wise little Kitty **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-van-normans ## Snapshot Winsome, impetuous, and sure of herself, Kitty French turns amateur sleuth the moment her friend Madeleine is found dead. ## Who they are Kitty is the lively, curly-haired counterpoint to Madeleine's magnificence — the sort of girl who scrambles under tables hunting clues and confides her theories only to herself. She is convinced Schuyler Carleton is guilty and says so plainly, even as she grows closer to Rob Fessenden and lets his doubts complicate her certainty. Her blend of loyalty, nerve, and romantic distraction gives the investigation its human texture. ## Relationships ### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden) _romantic_ Kitty is infatuated with Rob, pursuing him romantically despite his focus on Madeleine. ### [Madeleine Van Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/madeleine_van_norman) _friendship_ Kitty and Madeleine are close friends, though Kitty's jealousy over Rob creates underlying tension. ### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton) _social_ Kitty and Schuyler are acquaintances within the same social set, with no deep personal connection. ### [Molly Gardner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/molly_gardner) _friendship_ Kitty and Molly are friends within the same social circle, sharing gossip and outings. ### [Madeleine Van Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/madeleine_van_norman) _friendship_ Kitty and Madeleine are close friends, though Kitty's jealousy over Rob creates underlying tension. ### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton) _social_ Kitty and Schuyler are acquaintances within the same social set, with no deep personal connection. ### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden) _romantic_ Kitty is infatuated with Rob, pursuing him romantically despite his focus on Madeleine. ### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden) _romantic_ Kitty is infatuated with Rob, pursuing him romantically despite his focus on Madeleine. ### [Molly Gardner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/molly_gardner) _friendship_ Kitty and Molly are friends within the same social circle, sharing gossip and outings. ### [Molly Gardner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/molly_gardner) _friendship_ Kitty and Molly are friends within the same social circle, sharing gossip and outings. ### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton) _social_ Kitty and Schuyler are acquaintances within the same social set, with no deep personal connection. ### [Madeleine Van Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/madeleine_van_norman) _friendship_ Kitty and Madeleine are close friends, though Kitty's jealousy over Rob creates underlying tension. ## In the story ### [The Van Normans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/i-the-van-normans) A bridesmaid from New York, perceptive and questioning the household's constraint. ### [Miss Morton Arrives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/ii-miss-morton-arrives) A house guest who quotes 'Lochinvar' and expresses concern about Madeleine's happiness with Carleton. ### [A Case for the Coroner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/v-a-case-for-the-coroner) Insists Madeleine did not commit suicide; suggests Carleton's lack of love and another woman as motives. ### [VI: Fessenden Comes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/vi-fessenden-comes) Convinced Madeleine did not kill herself; persuades Fessenden to help prove it. ### [VII: Mr. Benson’s Questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/vii-mr-benson-s-questions) Examines the dagger, asserts that Madeleine meant every word of the note, shows anxious interest. ### [A Soft Lead Pencil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/viii-a-soft-lead-pencil) Explains that Madeleine trained Cicely to write like her for secretarial duties, confirming the handwriting similarity. ### [X: Some Testimony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/x-some-testimony) Testifies she heard the cry and commotion but was sent to her room; feels defrauded of an opportunity to give evidence. ### [XII: Dorothy Burt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xii-dorothy-burt) Shares her theories about Carleton's motive involving another woman, Dorothy Burt, and agrees to help Fessenden interview Cicely Dupuy. ### [An Interview with Cicely](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xiii-an-interview-with-cicely) Assists in arranging the interview, provides emotional support, and begins to attract Fessenden's romantic interest. ### [XV: Fessenden’s Detective Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xv-fessenden-s-detective-work) Assists Fessenden and shares her concerns about Cicely Dupuy's guilty behavior. ### [XVI: Searching for Clues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xvi-searching-for-clues) Accompanies Fessenden, insists Schuyler Carleton is guilty, and helps search the library and drawing-room for clues. ### [Carleton Is Frank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xviii-carleton-is-frank) Suggests that Fessenden openly assure Carleton of his belief in his innocence; she remains at the Van Norman house as Miss Morton's guest, hoping to learn the truth. ### [XX: Cicely's Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xx-cicely-s-flight) Assists Fessenden by locating Cicely's address in New York via telegram. ### [A Successful Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xxi-a-successful-pursuit) Present in the library when Fessenden returns; quickly grasps that Cicely's suspicion of Carleton proves Cicely's innocence. ### [A Talk with Miss Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xxii-a-talk-with-miss-morton) Accompanies Fessenden to Miss Morton's, helps coax the truth from her, and receives preliminary congratulations on her romance with Rob. ### [XXIII: Fleming Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xxiii-fleming-stone) Acts as Stone's guide through the house; recalls the cachou found by Fessenden and shares this information with Stone. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/kitty_french - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters