# Richard Redfield — The Dead Letter character guide

> Richard Redfield in The Dead Letter by Metta Victor.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Richard, Redfield, Mr. Redfield, Poor Richard, Mr. Richard

**First appearance:** 0014-part-ii-ii-our-visits

## Snapshot

A young law student drawn into a murder investigation by love and conscience, whose devotion to Eleanor makes him the story's relentless seeker of truth.

## Who they are

Richard Redfield studies law in Mr. Argyll's office and loves Eleanor with an ardor that survives every shock the case delivers. When Henry Moreland is murdered, he consecrates himself to finding the killer, vowing in Eleanor's name never to rest while the murderer goes free. His suspicions, his sleepless nights, and his willingness to face the whole world in her behalf make him the engine of the investigation and the reader's guide through its darkest turns.

## In the story

### [The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-i-the-letter)

The narrator and protagonist, working in the Dead Letter office, who becomes fixated on a mysterious letter.

### [Events of a Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-ii-events-of-a-night)

Narrator and law student; close to the Argyll family; tasked with informing Eleanor of Henry's murder.

### [Mr. Burton, the Detective](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-v-mr-burton-the-detective)

The narrator; accompanies Burton and James, shares his inner thoughts and suspicions.

### [Two Links in the Chain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-vi-two-links-in-the-chain)

Narrator; returns to Blankville, feels deep anxiety for Eleanor, and observes the tension with James.

### [VII: Eleanor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-vii-eleanor)

Narrator; exhausted and emotionally strained from the investigation; deeply devoted to Eleanor.

### [IX: The Spider and the Fly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-ix-the-spider-and-the-fly)

Narrator; struggles with secret relief at finding James Argyll gambling, recalls startling James at the desk, and fears Mr. Burton may suspect him of the murder.

### [The Little Guest and the Apparition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-xi-the-little-guest-and-the-apparition)

Narrator; observes Eleanor's spiritual state, arranges Lenore's visit, and investigates ghostly phenomena at Moreland Villa.

### [The Shadow Assumes Shape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-the-shadow-assumes-shape)

Rejected by Eleanor Argyll, comforted by Mary, and dismissed from his position; leaves town feeling betrayed and heartbroken.

### [I: The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-letter)

Narrator and protagonist; now a clerk in the dead-letter office, he discovers the letter and resigns to pursue the mystery.

### [Our Visits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-our-visits)

Narrates the chapter, accompanies Burton, and proposes the trip to Peekskill and California.

### [III: The Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-the-confession)

Narrator who accompanies Burton, initially suspicious of Miss Sullivan but moved by her story.

### [Embarked for California](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-embarked-for-california)

Narrator and assistant to Mr. Burton; reflects on his past love for Eleanor and his concern for Mary's marriage; experiences a sea-change in outlook.

### [On the Trail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-v-on-the-trail)

Narrates the chapter; conducts a desperate search in San Francisco and waits anxiously for Burton's return.

### [Now for Home Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-now-for-home-again)

The narrator, who listens to Burton's narrative, struggles with anxiety and suspicion about Leesy Sullivan's connection to the murder, and returns to New York with Burton.

### [VIII: The Ripe Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-the-ripe-hour)

Narrator and suspect; feels betrayed by Burton and terrified of being implicated in the murder.

### [Joining the Missing Links](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-joining-the-missing-links)

Fully exonerated; accepts partnership offer from Mr. Argyll.

### [X: The New Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/chapters/part-ii-x-the-new-life)

Narrator; works in the office, falls in love with Mary, marries her, and later reflects on Mr. Burton's death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/characters/richard_redfield
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dead_letter_se/characters