# Sandy Arbuthnot — The Courts of the Morning character guide > Sandy Arbuthnot in The Courts of the Morning by John Buchan. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sandy, Lord Clanroyden, the old Lord Clanroyden, Clanroyden **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot A master of disguise with a seraph's temper and a ruined reputation, he vanishes into South America under a cloud of drink-and-drugs gossip that his friends refuse to believe. ## Who they are Sandy's name is dragged through a circumstantial slander he never bothers to deny, and his long absences let the worst version of the story stand. Behind the gossip he is the agent Blenkiron's warnings point toward, the man whose face can be anyone's and whose movements the Gobernador's police keep just failing to trace. He is the hinge between the drawing-room intrigue of Olifa and the harder work waiting up in the Gran Seco. ## Relationships ### [Janet Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/janet_roylance) _friendship_ Close friends and trusted allies, sharing a bond of mutual respect and shared missions. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _rivalry_ Antagonistic adversaries, with Castor as a cunning villain opposing Sandy's heroic efforts. ### [Archie Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/archie_roylance) _friendship_ Lifelong friends and comrades-in-arms, sharing a strong bond of loyalty and adventure. ### [Tim Lariarty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/tim_lariarty) _friendship_ Trusted friend and ally, with Tim serving as a loyal companion in dangerous missions. ### [Luis de Marzaniga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/luis_de_marzaniga) _friendship_ Close friends and co-conspirators, united by a shared cause and deep mutual respect. ### [Barbara Dasent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/barbara_dasent) _romantic_ Lovers with a passionate and complicated relationship, marked by tension and devotion. ### [Janet Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/janet_roylance) _friendship_ Close friends and trusted allies, sharing a bond of mutual respect and shared missions. ### [Archie Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/archie_roylance) _friendship_ Lifelong friends and comrades-in-arms, sharing a strong bond of loyalty and adventure. ### [Archie Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/archie_roylance) _friendship_ Lifelong friends and comrades-in-arms, sharing a strong bond of loyalty and adventure. ### [Luis de Marzaniga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/luis_de_marzaniga) _friendship_ Close friends and co-conspirators, united by a shared cause and deep mutual respect. ### [Castor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/castor) _rivalry_ Antagonistic adversaries, with Castor as a cunning villain opposing Sandy's heroic efforts. ### [Janet Roylance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/janet_roylance) _friendship_ Close friends and trusted allies, sharing a bond of mutual respect and shared missions. ## In the story ### [The Courts of the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/the-courts-of-the-morning) Masterminds the plan to overthrow Castor and liberate the Gran Seco. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the person Hannay plans to consult about Blenkiron's disappearance. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Now Lord Clanroyden, Sandy is hosting at Laverlaw but seems subdued and restless, expressing a sense of displacement and discouraging travel plans. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iii) Sandy is observed in disguise at Cowes and later working as a waiter in a Paris restaurant, suggesting he is on a secret mission. Hannay is anxious about his erratic behavior and the rumors circulating about him. ### [Book I: The Gran Seco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/book-i-the-gran-seco) A key ally who reveals his identity and a strategic plan to support the rebellion. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/vii) Disguised as the waiter Miguel and later as police recruit Black; infiltrates the Gran Seco, fakes his death, and scouts the Indian territory. ### [The Poison Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/viii) Referred to as 'Lord Clanroyden'; he is the peon in disguise, and Barbara warns him not to sleep in the house. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ix) Reveals the secrets of Castor's drug empire and the rebel plan to use Castor as a figurehead. ### [The Trap in the Old Quarter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xiii) The prisoner who narrowly escapes execution by using his charm and quick thinking, revealing his identity as Arbuthnot. ### [Book II: The Courts of the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/book-ii-the-courts-of-the-morning) Reveals his identity and the plan to overthrow the regime, playing a key role in the rebellion. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/i) Leads the debate with the Gobernador, outlining the rebel strategy of using Indian fighters and guerrilla tactics. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Discusses Castor's character and the strategic situation with Janet. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iv) Absent from the base; has begun the offensive and left Castor behind with a choice. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ix) Previously drew a map of the Poison Country for Archie; is worrying the Universum sector. ### [The Threat to the Courts of the Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xi) Sandy is at Pacheco, studying a paper when the Gobernador arrives to take command. ### [The Pass Through the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/xii) Reveals the secret pass through the mountains and debates strategy with Castor and Blenkiron. ### [Book III: Olifa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/book-iii-olifa) Mentioned as a friend of Archie, later revealed to be involved in the rebellion. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/ii) Shows signs of weariness and moral discomfort with the conventional war; goes off to verify figures with Blenkiron and Castor. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iii) Anxious and weary, Sandy confides in Janet about the precarious state of the revolution, feeling out of his element in conventional warfare. He prepares to lead a Thermopylae-style defense against Lossberg's advancing column. ### [The Avalanche at the Saddle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/iv) Leads the night expedition, survives the avalanche, and later releases Tim Lariarty. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/v) Leads the rebel staff, proposes to take his Indians to delay Lossberg's advance on Santa Ana. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/vii) Leads a desperate march through the western mountains to exploit the gap between Lossberg and Olivarez, ultimately commanding the surprise attack that forces Olivarez's surrender. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/viii) Struggles to sleep after the victory; receives Lariarty's warning and leads a desperate ride to Veiro. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/chapters/epilogue) Sandy is offered the governorship of the Gran Seco by Luis but declines, expressing homesickness for his native Scotland and a desire to return to a simpler life. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters/sandy_arbuthnot - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_courts_of_the_morning_se/characters