The Eye of Osiris · Character

Arthur Jellicoe

A guarded solicitor who barricades himself behind bolts and sherry, he knows more about the Bellingham family's tangled affairs than he will willingly say.

major

Also known as Mr. Jellicoe, Jellicoe, Arthur Jellicoe

First appearance: The Vanishing Man

As a major figure in The Eye of Osiris, Arthur Jellicoe is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Solicitor and confidential agent of John Bellingham; discovers the scarab near the library.

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Jellicoe is the confidential agent and lawyer for the Bellingham family, a man so cautious he negotiates his own surrender through a window before admitting visitors. He receives Thorndyke and Inspector Badger with stiff courtesy, offering sherry and cigarettes while coolly announcing he has expected this visit since spotting the detective at the Inner Temple gate. His composure and his evident foreknowledge make him a pivotal, unsettling presence in the early investigation, a man whose silences are as telling as his words.

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See Arthur Jellicoe in The Vanishing Man

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how Arthur Jellicoe sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Family
Rivalry

Character groups

Central Investigation Characters
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological nadir of the narrator's d…

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Relationships

John Thorndyke
professional · positive
Arthur Jellicoe is a client of the detective John Thorndyke, seeking his help in a… How this plays out →
Inspector Badger
professional · ambivalent
Ruth Bellingham
family · positive
George Hurst
rivalry · negative
Miss Bellingham
family · positive
John Thorndyke
professional · positive
Arthur Jellicoe is a client of the detective John Thorndyke, seeking his help in a… How this plays out →
John Thorndyke
professional · positive
Arthur Jellicoe is a client of the detective John Thorndyke, seeking his help in a… How this plays out →
Ruth Bellingham
family · positive
Inspector Badger
professional · ambivalent
George Hurst
rivalry · negative
Ruth Bellingham
family · positive
Inspector Badger
professional · ambivalent

John Thorndyke
Arthur Jellicoe is a client of the detective John Thorndyke, seeking his help in a complex case.
Inspector Badger
Arthur Jellicoe interacts with Inspector Badger as part of the official police investigation into the case.
Ruth Bellingham
Arthur Jellicoe is Ruth Bellingham's uncle, and he is deeply concerned for her welfare and inheritance.
George Hurst
Arthur Jellicoe and George Hurst are at odds over family matters and the disappearance of the Bellingham fortune.
Miss Bellingham
Arthur Jellicoe and Miss Bellingham are siblings, united in their concern for their niece Ruth.
John Thorndyke
Arthur Jellicoe is a client of the detective John Thorndyke, seeking his help in a complex case.
John Thorndyke
Arthur Jellicoe is a client of the detective John Thorndyke, seeking his help in a complex case.
Ruth Bellingham
Arthur Jellicoe is Ruth Bellingham's uncle, and he is deeply concerned for her welfare and inheritance.
Inspector Badger
Arthur Jellicoe interacts with Inspector Badger as part of the official police investigation into the case.
George Hurst
Arthur Jellicoe and George Hurst are at odds over family matters and the disappearance of the Bellingham fortune.
Ruth Bellingham
Arthur Jellicoe is Ruth Bellingham's uncle, and he is deeply concerned for her welfare and inheritance.
Inspector Badger
Arthur Jellicoe interacts with Inspector Badger as part of the official police investigation into the case.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Arthur Jellicoe in The Vanishing Man

In the story

Arthur Jellicoe appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Vanishing Man
Solicitor and confidential agent of John Bellingham; discovers the scarab near the library.
Legal Complications and a Jackal
The cautious solicitor involved in the estate and will administration.
VI: Sidelights
Mentioned as the solicitor and Egyptologist who inherits part of John Bellingham's collection and is described as discreet and cautious.
The Sphynx of Lincoln’s Inn
Engages in a legal debate with Paul about the significance of the human remains and the presumption of death.
XV: Circumstantial Evidence
Seen copying epitaphs in the churchyard near the Bellingham family tombstones.
XVI: O Artemidorus, Farewell!
Discusses the bitumen coating on John Bellingham's mummy with Paul and Ruth, then departs.
XVII: The Accusing Finger
Jellicoe is seen passing Paul and his friends in the Lane, noted with surprise.
A Strange Symposium
Listens to Thorndyke's accusations with calm, professional interest, then prepares to give his own narrative.
The End of the Case
Confesses to murder and concealment of John Bellingham's body, then dies by cyanide poisoning.

Chapter companion notes

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