# Miss Spencer — The Grand Babylon Hotel character guide

> Miss Spencer in The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Spencer

**First appearance:** 0015-xvi-the-woman-with-the-red-hat

## Snapshot

The Grand Babylon's black-robed information clerk, unrivalled on timetables and theatres she never visits, and quietly loyal to Jules against any upstart guest.

## Who they are

Miss Spencer presides over the hotel's official lair, dispensing Bradshaw knowledge and telephone calls while never travelling or going to a music-hall herself. She shares Jules's contempt for Theodore Racksole's 'Angel Kiss' and ranges herself instantly on the waiter's side, hinting at alliances deeper than her post suggests. One of the hotel's three gods, she is the still, watchful centre from which much of the early intrigue radiates.

## In the story

### [I: The Millionaire and the Waiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/i-the-millionaire-and-the-waiter)

The bureau clerk of the Grand Babylon, who discusses Racksole with Jules and manages guest assignments.

### [How Mr. Racksole Obtained His Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/ii-how-mr-racksole-obtained-his-dinner)

The hotel employee who attempts to discourage Racksole from seeing Mr. Babylon but is overridden.

### [Entrance of the Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/iv-entrance-of-the-prince)

Miss Spencer has mysteriously vanished from the hotel, leaving her room empty and her boxes gone.

### [Arrival and Departure of the Baroness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/viii-arrival-and-departure-of-the-baroness)

Disguises herself as Baroness Zerlinski, retrieves a hidden paper from a cream puff, and flees to Ostend where Nella confronts her.

### [Two Women and the Revolver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/ix-two-women-and-the-revolver)

Reveals she is married to Jules (Tom Jackson), admits to spying on Prince Eugen in Ostend, and ultimately tricks Nella by feigning a faint and seizing the revolver.

### [At Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/x-at-sea)

Mentioned by Jules as not being on board; Nella recalls her claim of being Jules's wife.

### [The Release of Prince Eugen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xvii-the-release-of-prince-eugen)

Guards the cellar with a bread-knife, stabs Racksole, but is overpowered and locked in a bedroom.

### [XVIII: In the Nighttime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-nighttime)

Kept prisoner in the attic; vanishes mysteriously during the night.

### [The Night Chase and the Mudlark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxvi-the-night-chase-and-the-mudlark)

Mentioned as possibly being the woman aboard the launch that Hazell searches.

### [The Confession of Mr. Tom Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/chapters/xxvii-the-confession-of-mr-tom-jackson)

Revealed by Jules as an accomplice; sent to Ostend with instructions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters/miss_spencer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_grand_babylon_hotel_se/characters