# Nigel Burtell — The Footsteps at the Lock character guide > Nigel Burtell in The Footsteps at the Lock by Ronald A. Knox. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Nigel, Mr. Burtell, Nigel Burtell, Mr. Nigel Burtell, young Nigel, Master Nigel **First appearance:** 0002-i-two-cousins ## Who they are The younger cousin who paddles away from the lock with a suspiciously precise alibi, leaving his cousin's canoe adrift and a trail of too-careful timing behind him. ## Relationships ### [Derek Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/derek_burtell) _family_ Derek and Nigel are brothers, likely with a complex dynamic involving rivalry and loyalty. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Mr. Leyland appears to be a colleague or superior to Nigel, possibly in a business or investigative context. ### [Miles Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/miles_bredon) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Nigel Burtell are likely professional associates, possibly working on the same case or investigation. ### [Mr. Erasmus Quirk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_erasmus_quirk) _rivalry_ Erasmus Quirk and Nigel Burtell are likely antagonists, with Quirk possibly opposing Nigel's interests. ### [Sir John Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/sir_john_burtell) _family_ Nigel Burtell and Sir John Burtell are likely father and son, with a formal or strained dynamic. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Mr. Leyland appears to be a colleague or superior to Nigel, possibly in a business or investigative context. ### [Miles Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/miles_bredon) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Nigel Burtell are likely professional associates, possibly working on the same case or investigation. ### [Derek Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/derek_burtell) _family_ Derek and Nigel are brothers, likely with a complex dynamic involving rivalry and loyalty. ### [Miles Bredon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/miles_bredon) _professional_ Miles Bredon and Nigel Burtell are likely professional associates, possibly working on the same case or investigation. ### [Mr. Leyland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_leyland) _professional_ Mr. Leyland appears to be a colleague or superior to Nigel, possibly in a business or investigative context. ### [Mr. Erasmus Quirk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/mr_erasmus_quirk) _rivalry_ Erasmus Quirk and Nigel Burtell are likely antagonists, with Quirk possibly opposing Nigel's interests. ### [Derek Burtell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/derek_burtell) _family_ Derek and Nigel are brothers, likely with a complex dynamic involving rivalry and loyalty. ## In the story ### [I: Two Cousins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/i-two-cousins) The younger cousin, an affected aesthete who delights in shocking others and harbors resentment toward Derek. ### [II: Shipcote Lock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/ii-shipcote-lock) Paddling in the stern, dressed as a 'river-man', takes a photograph of the lock-keeper, then disembarks at Shipcote Lock to catch a train. ### [III: The Canoe Adrift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/iii-the-canoe-adrift) Waits at the Gudgeon Inn for Derek, grows anxious, and organizes the search along the river. ### [IV: The Indescribable Has Its Doubts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/iv-the-indescribable-has-its-doubts) Derek's cousin, who accompanied him on the canoe trip and is considered a potential suspect. ### [VI: The Archimedes Touch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/vi-the-archimedes-touch) Subject of suspicion due to his overly sound alibi and motive as residuary legatee. ### [VII: The Camera Cannot Lie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/vii-the-camera-cannot-lie) Implied as the photographer and possible perpetrator; Bredon plans to confront him with a deceptive story about finding the photos. ### [A Common-Room Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/viii-a-common-room-dinner) Found in his chaotic digs; receives the photographs from Bredon with affected nonchalance but shows a moment of unease when the camera is mentioned. ### [IX: Nigel Goes Down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/ix-nigel-goes-down) Suspected of murdering his cousin; discussed as having a possible alibi and as having performed a clever train evasion. ### [X: Discordant Notes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/x-discordant-notes) His alibi is discussed in detail; witnesses confirm his movements at Shipcote Station, Oxford, and the Gudgeon. ### [Mr. Erasmus Quirk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xi-mr-erasmus-quirk) Described by the landlady as a nice-looking young gentleman with a slow, drawling voice; suspected of being the first guest at Millington Bridge. ### [XII: The Secret of the Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xii-the-secret-of-the-island) Suspect; his fingerprints match those on the decanters; he is believed to have murdered Derek and staged the disappearance. ### [XIII: Pursued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xiii-pursued) Discussed as the younger cousin who disappeared after the canoe trip, possibly a victim or accomplice. ### [XIV: The Man in the Punt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xiv-the-man-in-the-punt) Suspected of collusion with Wallace; his movements are central to the reconstruction. ### [XV: A New Legacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xv-a-new-legacy) Cleared of primary suspicion due to the new will; his motive is reduced. ### [XVI: Bredon Plays Patience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xvi-bredon-plays-patience) The cipher postcard is addressed to his Oxford lodgings. ### [XVII: Mr. Quirk Disappears](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xvii-mr-quirk-disappears) Implied to have written the White Bracton letter and possibly sent the cipher post card to mislead the police. ### [XVIII: In Undisguise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xviii-in-undisguise) Exposed as Mr. Quirk; faints upon discovery. His undergraduate disguise is revealed as artificial. ### [XIX: The Story Nigel Told](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xix-the-story-nigel-told) Narrates the entire scheme from his sickbed, revealing his complicity and motives. ### [XX: A Reconstruction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xx-a-reconstruction) Discussed as a suspect; his alibi is questioned and his story analyzed. ### [XXI: A Walk in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxi-a-walk-in-the-dark) Asleep upstairs at the Gudgeon; the doctor says he can get up a bit tomorrow. ### [XXII: Another Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxii-another-story) Suspected by Farris of making away with Derek; Bredon investigates his shoe size in Oxford. ### [XXIII: Bredon Plays Patience Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxiii-bredon-plays-patience-again) Sits up for the first time, debates morality of murder with Angela, admits he would have killed Derek if he could avoid hanging. ### [XXIV: Backed Both Ways](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxiv-backed-both-ways) His account is confirmed as truthful; he was kept in the dark about parts of Derek's plan. ### [XXV: A Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/chapters/xxv-a-postscript) Narrates the chapter via a letter to Mrs. Bredon, detailing his internal conflict and decision not to give Derek the drugs. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters/nigel_burtell - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_footsteps_at_the_lock_se/characters