John Egerton

Stephen Byrne

John and Stephen are locked in a bitter, obsessive rivalry over Margery and control of the household, with John's jealousy driving much of the conflict.

Muriel Tarrant

John and Muriel are acquaintances, with John using his knowledge of her affair with Stephen to further his own schemes.

Margery Byrne

John is a close friend and confidant to Margery, but his motives are complicated by his own romantic interest in her.

Emily Gaunt

Emily and John share a dark, manipulative alliance, each using the other to achieve their own ends against Stephen.

Mrs. Bantam

John and Mrs. Bantam have a cordial but wary relationship, as she is aware of his disruptive influence in the household.

Reverend Peter Tarrant

John and Reverend Tarrant are acquaintances, with John occasionally seeking the reverend's counsel or using him as a social pawn.

Stephen Byrne

John and Stephen are locked in a bitter, obsessive rivalry over Margery and control of the household, with John's jealousy driving much of the conflict.

Stephen Byrne

John and Stephen are locked in a bitter, obsessive rivalry over Margery and control of the household, with John's jealousy driving much of the conflict.

Reverend Peter Tarrant

John and Reverend Tarrant are acquaintances, with John occasionally seeking the reverend's counsel or using him as a social pawn.

Margery Byrne

John is a close friend and confidant to Margery, but his motives are complicated by his own romantic interest in her.

Muriel Tarrant

John and Muriel are acquaintances, with John using his knowledge of her affair with Stephen to further his own schemes.

Emily Gaunt

Emily and John share a dark, manipulative alliance, each using the other to achieve their own ends against Stephen.

I

A Civil Servant and resident of The Chase, about twenty-seven, who arrives with the Reverend Peter Tarrant.

II

Stephen's neighbor and good friend, mentioned as not being in his garden when Stephen looks over the wall.

III

Shocked and disgusted by the sight of Emily's body, but reluctantly agrees to help Stephen for Margery's sake, despite his own moral sensitivity.

V

Returns home in a dark mood after a terrible day at work, lies about the sack, and is irritated by Mrs. Bantam's gossip and phone calls.

Chapter VI

John is the primary focus of the chapter, reluctantly agreeing to search for Emily's body. He struggles with his conscience, the physical discomfort of the rain, and the futility of the task.

VII

Confronted by Stephen by the river; he is anxious and agrees to maintain the false story about losing the sack.

After the Inquest

Subject of suspicion; his testimony about borrowing and losing the sack is portrayed as evasive and damaging.

Chapter IX

Hopes Stephen will confess and clear his name; finds comfort in Mrs. Bantam's loyalty; avoids society due to local gossip and suspicion.

Chapter X

Visits the Byrnes despite his isolation; decides to endure suspicion and the Gaunts' demands to protect Margery.

Chapter XI

Feels inferior and jealous of Stephen, awkwardly tries to dance with Muriel but is rebuffed, leaves the dance alone and heartbroken.

XII

Mentioned as having gone away to Devonshire with a fellow Civil Servant.

XIV

Faces public suspicion and pressure to sue over a newspaper article; resolves to do nothing to protect Margery.

Chapter XV

John is discussed as having taken no action, leading to local suspicion falling on him. Stephen feels contemptuous pity for John's quixotic virtue.

XVI

Referenced in Stephen's confession as innocent of Emily Gaunt's murder; Stephen wavers between clearing John's name and protecting himself.

XVII

Returns home weary, reads Stephen's poem, confronts the Gaunts, rescues Stephen from the river, and struggles with anger and pity.

XVIII

Opposes the statue plan, revolted by the idea of a stone figure in sight of his and Margery's windows; later hoped to be treated more kindly.