# Mr. Eltham — The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu character guide

> Mr. Eltham in The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Eltham

**First appearance:** 0003-iv

## Snapshot

A refined English clergyman at Redmoat whose household is stalked by Fu-Manchu, he summons Nayland Smith when quiet burglaries turn into something far worse.

## Who they are

The Rev. J. D. Eltham presides over Redmoat, a country rectory whose rural peace has been poisoned by a series of eerie intrusions and a drugging on the train home from London with his daughter Greba. Sensitive and nervous, he coughs and second-guesses himself even as he hands Smith the first real clue in weeks, torn between paternal protectiveness and the fear that he has endangered his own child. His household becomes the stage on which Fu-Manchu's reach into ordinary English life is first made terrifyingly plain.

## Relationships

### [Nayland Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters/nayland_smith)

_professional_

Eltham is a colleague or associate who assists Smith in his investigations, likely within the colonial or diplomatic sphere.

### [Dr. Fu-Manchu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters/dr_fu_manchu)

_rivalry_

Fu-Manchu views Mr. Eltham as a minor but irritating enemy working against his plans.

### [Nayland Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters/nayland_smith)

_professional_

Eltham is a colleague or associate who assists Smith in his investigations, likely within the colonial or diplomatic sphere.

### [Nayland Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters/nayland_smith)

_professional_

Eltham is a colleague or associate who assists Smith in his investigations, likely within the colonial or diplomatic sphere.

### [Dr. Fu-Manchu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters/dr_fu_manchu)

_rivalry_

Fu-Manchu views Mr. Eltham as a minor but irritating enemy working against his plans.

### [Dr. Fu-Manchu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters/dr_fu_manchu)

_rivalry_

Fu-Manchu views Mr. Eltham as a minor but irritating enemy working against his plans.

## In the story

### [The Shrubbery Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/chapters/ix)

Frantically searches for Denby and expresses guilt over the events.

### [The Web of the Yellow Peril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/chapters/x)

Mentioned in a personal column; Smith comments on his abandoned visit.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters/mr_eltham
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/characters