# Mr. Burton — The Dead Letter character guide > Mr. Burton in The Dead Letter by Metta Victor. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Burton **First appearance:** 0004-part-i-v-mr-burton-the-detective ## Snapshot A detective whose genial warmth and penetrating insight make him both beloved protector and marked target, he reads guilt in handwriting and danger in faces. ## Who they are Mr. Burton moves through the Argyll household as investigator, confidant, and friend, the kind of man who promises a dying woman peace and keeps his word. He is relentless in pursuit of the guilty, a trait that has raised up enemies who fear what he might uncover next. His presence in the early chapters sets the machinery of revelation in motion, and his eventual fate shadows everything that follows. ## In the story ### [Moreland Villa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-iv-moreland-villa) Investigates Leesy Sullivan, visits her aunt, and later confronts Leesy at the Moreland villa. ### [Mr. Burton, the Detective](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-v-mr-burton-the-detective) The detective; intelligent, educated, and perceptive, he wins the narrator's confidence and discusses the case, including suspicions about Leesy Sullivan. ### [Two Links in the Chain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-vi-two-links-in-the-chain) Accompanies Richard to Blankville, examines the broken chain link, and shows emotional sensitivity upon seeing Mary's grief. ### [VIII: The Haunted Grave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-viii-the-haunted-grave) Hosts the narrator, shares investigation updates, proposes using his clairvoyant daughter Lenore in an experiment. ### [IX: The Spider and the Fly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-ix-the-spider-and-the-fly) Leads Redfield to the gambling den; reveals he has been keeping something back; his manner alternately reassures and alarms Redfield. ### [X: The Anniversary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-x-the-anniversary) Narrator; feels like an intruder in the Argyll household, suspects James of slander, and is deeply affected by Eleanor's grief. ### [The Night in Moreland Villa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-xii-the-night-in-moreland-villa) Leads the investigation, shares insights about the case and his daughter Lenore, and accompanies the narrator to the villa. ### [The Shadow Assumes Shape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-the-shadow-assumes-shape) Reveals his theory that Leesy Sullivan is hiding in Moreland Villa; plans to interview her alone and hints that Richard is suspected of murder. ### [I: The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-letter) Detective and old friend; he receives the letter, shares updates on the case, and deduces the writer's appearance. ### [Our Visits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-our-visits) Examines the broken knife, identifies it as a surgical instrument, and plans further investigation with Richard. ### [III: The Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-the-confession) Gently extracts the confession from Miss Sullivan, promises to protect Nora, and hints at the nearing triumph of his investigation. ### [Embarked for California](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-embarked-for-california) Detective traveling under assumed name; restless and anxious during voyage; disembarks at Acapulco to pursue a lead, leaving Redfield in charge of Lenore. ### [On the Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-v-on-the-trail) Returns from Acapulco with promising news; speaks of justice and bringing down the wicked in high places. ### [At Last—At Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-vi-at-last-at-last) Detective who travels to Acapulco, confronts and coerces Thorley into confessing the murder of Henry Moreland. ### [Now for Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-now-for-home-again) Returns from the mountain, reveals Dr. Seltzer's guilt to Don Miguel, survives a poisoning attempt, and returns to New York with Richard, expressing intense anxiety about Leesy Sullivan. ### [VIII: The Ripe Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-the-ripe-hour) Leads the investigation, locks the doors, and reveals the murderer of Henry Moreland with proof. ### [Joining the Missing Links](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-joining-the-missing-links) Presents the final evidence and confession; orchestrates the resolution and offers James a chance to flee unpunished. ### [X: The New Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-x-the-new-life) Poisoned by enemies; his death is a great loss; Lenore is his daughter. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/characters/mr_burton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/characters