# Marion D'Arblay — The D’Arblay Mystery character guide > Marion D'Arblay in The D’Arblay Mystery by R. Austin Freeman. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss D'Arblay, Miss Boler—Marion D'Arblay, D'Arblay, Marion **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-pool-in-the-wood ## Snapshot A young woman whose studio becomes the mystery's haunted center, stalked by a killer who seems to know her every hiding place. ## Who they are Marion D'Arblay is a working woman whose livelihood depends on the very studio where murder and burglary keep intruding. After a scuffling attacker vanishes into the fog and a shriek echoes through her lobby, she must balance professional necessity against mortal fear. Her courage and vulnerability anchor the story's middle stretch, and her safety becomes the measure by which Thorndyke's stratagems are judged. ## Relationships ### [Dr. Thorndyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/dr_thorndyke) _professional_ Dr. Thorndyke is the legal and investigative advisor to Marion D'Arblay, guiding her through a complex mystery. ### [Polton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/polton) _social_ Marion D'Arblay interacts with Polton as a helpful intermediary in her dealings with Dr. Thorndyke. ### [Stephen Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/stephen_gray) _romantic_ Marion D'Arblay and Stephen Gray share a romantic relationship, with Gray being her suitor. ### [Mr. Bendelow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/mr_bendelow) _professional_ Marion D'Arblay consults Mr. Bendelow as her family solicitor regarding legal matters. ### [Arabella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/arabella) _family_ Arabella is likely a relative or close household member of Marion D'Arblay, possibly a sister or cousin. ### [Dr. Thorndyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/dr_thorndyke) _professional_ Dr. Thorndyke is the legal and investigative advisor to Marion D'Arblay, guiding her through a complex mystery. ### [Stephen Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/stephen_gray) _romantic_ Marion D'Arblay and Stephen Gray share a romantic relationship, with Gray being her suitor. ### [Polton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/polton) _social_ Marion D'Arblay interacts with Polton as a helpful intermediary in her dealings with Dr. Thorndyke. ### [Dr. Thorndyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/dr_thorndyke) _professional_ Dr. Thorndyke is the legal and investigative advisor to Marion D'Arblay, guiding her through a complex mystery. ### [Arabella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/arabella) _family_ Arabella is likely a relative or close household member of Marion D'Arblay, possibly a sister or cousin. ### [Polton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/polton) _social_ Marion D'Arblay interacts with Polton as a helpful intermediary in her dealings with Dr. Thorndyke. ### [Mr. Bendelow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/mr_bendelow) _professional_ Marion D'Arblay consults Mr. Bendelow as her family solicitor regarding legal matters. ## In the story ### [The Pool in the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/i-the-pool-in-the-wood) The daughter of the deceased, found searching the wood for her father. ### [A Conference with Dr. Thorndyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/ii-a-conference-with-dr-thorndyke) Daughter of the deceased; Gray feels a strong sense of duty to protect her and seeks Thorndyke's help on her behalf. ### [III: The Doctor's Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/iii-the-doctor-s-revelations) Testifies at the inquest, identifies her father's body, and recounts her search for him. ### [Inspector Follett’s Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/v-inspector-follett-s-discovery) Mentioned as the recipient of a letter from Gray; Gray plans to visit her on Sunday. ### [Marion D'Arblay at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/vi-marion-d-arblay-at-home) Hosts tea at Ivy Cottage; shows Gray a self-portrait bust of her father; recounts the bicycle accident where the brake wire was cut; expresses grief and determination to see justice done. ### [Enlarging Thorndyke's Knowledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/vii-enlarging-thorndyke-s-knowledge) Mentioned as someone who might be told of Thorndyke's involvement, with caution about secrecy. ### [A Strange Misadventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/ix-a-strange-misadventure) Mentioned as the daughter; Gray visits her regularly at Highgate. ### [Marion's Peril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/x-marion-s-peril) Studio owner; attacked by a knife-wielding intruder, wounded on the arm, comforted by Stephen. ### [XI: Arms and the Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xi-arms-and-the-man) Survived an attempted murder at her studio; her safety is the primary concern. ### [A Dramatic Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xii-a-dramatic-discovery) Recovering from the attack; instructs Stephen and Polton in plaster work; is surprised by the unknown mask. ### [A Narrow Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-a-narrow-escape) Referenced as the one Gray and Polton are protecting; she insists on alternating guard duties. ### [The Haunted Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-the-haunted-man) Working on a plaster case, identifies the man in the photograph as her attacker, expresses anxiety about Stephen's safety. ### [The Last Act](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-the-last-act) Anxious about the arrest and the identity of the attacker; stays at the studio with Miss Boler. ### [Thorndyke Disentangles the Threads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/chapters/xix-thorndyke-disentangles-the-threads) Nurses Stephen and expresses deep gratitude to both him and Thorndyke for their protection and kindness. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters/marion_d_arblay - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_d_arblay_mystery_se/characters