# Lord Selford — The Door with Seven Locks character guide

> Lord Selford in The Door with Seven Locks by Edgar Wallace.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the late Lord Selford, Selford, the absent Lord Selford, the new Lord Selford, Young Lord Selford

**First appearance:** 0001-the-door-with-seven-locks

## Snapshot

The absent lord whose letters arrive from abroad and whose fortune drains away in half a million pounds of unexplained estate purchases.

## Who they are

Lord Selford exists in the novel mostly as handwriting, a birthmark, and a lisp — a thin-faced man who writes faithfully to his solicitor and never quite comes home. Havelock has seen him at intervals and swears the letters are genuine, yet deeds never arrive and the money keeps flowing out. Whether he is a wandering eccentric or something far worse is the question the whole plot is built to answer.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Havelock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/mr_havelock)

_rivalry_

Lord Selford and Mr. Havelock are antagonists, likely opposing each other in the mystery's central conflict.

### [Dick Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/dick_martin)

_rivalry_

Dick Martin and Lord Selford are adversaries, with Martin investigating Selford's suspicious activities.

### [Antonio Stalletti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/antonio_stalletti)

_professional_

Antonio Stalletti and Lord Selford are criminal associates, working together in illicit activities.

### [Dick Martin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/dick_martin)

_rivalry_

Dick Martin and Lord Selford are adversaries, with Martin investigating Selford's suspicious activities.

### [Mr. Havelock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/mr_havelock)

_rivalry_

Lord Selford and Mr. Havelock are antagonists, likely opposing each other in the mystery's central conflict.

### [Mr. Havelock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/mr_havelock)

_rivalry_

Lord Selford and Mr. Havelock are antagonists, likely opposing each other in the mystery's central conflict.

### [Antonio Stalletti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/antonio_stalletti)

_professional_

Antonio Stalletti and Lord Selford are criminal associates, working together in illicit activities.

## In the story

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/vi)

Mentioned as the relative whose former servant Silva left the key; Dick describes him as 'like the letter O, only dimmer'.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xi)

His movements are recorded in the pocketbook; he is in communication with Cody and owns the land where Gallows Cottage is located.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xii)

Discussed as Sybil's cousin and the only other relative; described as a difficult man with a scandalous past.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xiv)

Mentioned as the absent owner of Selford Hall; Havelock reports his travel delay.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/chapters/xxxii)

The late Lord Selford; his deathbed accusation and will set the conspiracy in motion.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters/lord_selford
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_door_with_seven_locks_se/characters