# Mr. Playmore — The Law and the Lady character guide > Mr. Playmore in The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** wise and prudent Mr. Playmore, Even Mr. Playmore, good Mr. Playmore **First appearance:** 0018-xv-the-story-of-the-trial-the-preliminaries ## Snapshot The prudent family lawyer who weighs Valeria's discoveries against the unborn children's claim to a father's cleared name. ## Who they are Mr. Playmore serves as Eustace's confidential adviser and, later, as Valeria's cautious ally in the legal machinery surrounding the case. He is acutely aware that any document vindicating Eustace must be handled with care, both to spare the husband's distress and to protect the interests of any children of the second marriage. His proposal to seal the first wife's confession and leave its opening to Eustace's discretion shows a lawyer's instinct for managing truth rather than simply revealing it. ## Relationships ### [Miserrimus Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/miserrimus_dexter) _rivalry_ Dexter and Mr. Playmore are adversaries in the legal and investigative battle over the poisoning case. ### [Benjamin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/benjamin) _professional_ Benjamin and Mr. Playmore are colleagues in the legal profession, collaborating on the case. ### [Eustace Macallan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/eustace_macallan) _professional_ Mr. Playmore is Eustace's lawyer, defending him in the poisoning case. ### [Eustace Macallan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/eustace_macallan) _professional_ Mr. Playmore is Eustace's lawyer, defending him in the poisoning case. ### [Benjamin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/benjamin) _professional_ Benjamin and Mr. Playmore are colleagues in the legal profession, collaborating on the case. ### [Miserrimus Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/miserrimus_dexter) _rivalry_ Dexter and Mr. Playmore are adversaries in the legal and investigative battle over the poisoning case. ### [Benjamin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/benjamin) _professional_ Benjamin and Mr. Playmore are colleagues in the legal profession, collaborating on the case. ### [Miserrimus Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/miserrimus_dexter) _rivalry_ Dexter and Mr. Playmore are adversaries in the legal and investigative battle over the poisoning case. ### [Eustace Macallan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/eustace_macallan) _professional_ Mr. Playmore is Eustace's lawyer, defending him in the poisoning case. ## In the story ### [The Law and the Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/the-law-and-the-lady) A legal advisor who provides insight into the case and the law's limitations. ### [Part II: Paradise Regained](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/part-ii-paradise-regained) A legal advisor who assists Valeria in her quest. ### [XV: The Story of the Trial. The Preliminaries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xv-the-story-of-the-trial-the-preliminaries) Listed as an agent for the panel (the prisoner) in the trial. ### [Second Question—Who Poisoned Her?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xvii-second-question-who-poisoned-her) The agent who protested the seizure of Eustace's papers; Valeria's second choice for advice. ### [A Specimen of My Wisdom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxii-a-specimen-of-my-wisdom) The solicitor Valeria intends to consult; he is described as a friend who assisted Eustace and is acquainted with Dexter. ### [A Specimen of My Folly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxiii-a-specimen-of-my-folly) Listens to Valeria's account, becomes convinced that Miserrimus Dexter is the poisoner, and shares his reasoning through written notes, revealing Dexter's past love for the late Mrs. Macallan. ### [Gleninch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxiv-gleninch) Arranges the visit to Gleninch, warns Valeria about Dexter, and advises her to bring a companion. ### [Mr. Playmore’s Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxv-mr-playmore-s-prophecy) Referenced through his prophecy that Dexter would show no astonishment and would try to mislead Valeria; Valeria reflects on how Dexter falsified the prediction. ### [Ariel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxvi-ariel) Valeria writes to him a full account of recent events and asks for his advice regarding the missing key and Dexter's confession. ### [At the Bedside](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxvii-at-the-bedside) Sends a letter to Valeria confirming that Miserrimus Dexter entered the study on the night of the first Mrs. Macallan's death, supporting her theory that Dexter had the missing key. ### [On the Journey Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxviii-on-the-journey-back) Valeria writes to him, warning that she intends to make a last effort to penetrate the mystery at Gleninch. ### [On the Way to Dexter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xxxix-on-the-way-to-dexter) Writes a letter to Valeria advising her on the visit, warning of Dexter's deterioration and suggesting she steer the conversation toward the late Mrs. Eustace Macallan. ### [XLI: Mr. Playmore in a New Character](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xli-mr-playmore-in-a-new-character) Visits Valeria, provides a new interpretation of Dexter's words, reveals the story of the torn letter at Gleninch, and insists on financial prudence. ### [XLII: More Surprises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlii-more-surprises) Sends the abstract of expenses, reports on Miserrimus Dexter's condition, and suggests a subscription for Ariel; later sends the bewildering telegram from America. ### [At Last!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xliii-at-last) Sends a telegram and letter suggesting the torn letter fragments may be on the dust-heap; Valeria writes to withdraw from the investigation. ### [Our New Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xliv-our-new-honeymoon) Writes confidentially to Benjamin about reassembling torn documents; his interest in the letter is intense, though he conceals it from Valeria. ### [XLV: The Dust-Heap Disturbed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlv-the-dust-heap-disturbed) Assists in identifying the handwriting of Eustace's first wife and warns Valeria to keep the reconstruction secret from Eustace. ### [XLVI: The Crisis Deferred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlvi-the-crisis-deferred) Provides legal analysis in a postscript; confirms the letter vindicates Eustace and suggests a possible new trial. ### [XLVIII: What Else Could I Do?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlviii-what-else-could-i-do) Referenced as supervising the excavations at Gleninch and as someone Valeria plans to consult. ### [Past and Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/xlix-past-and-future) Referenced as the lawyer who proposes sealing the confession and adding a statement for future discretion. ### [The Last of the Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/l-the-last-of-the-story) Mentioned as a godfather; his authority supports the possibility of public vindication; his letters contributed to the disclosure. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/chapters/endnotes) Provides editorial notes on the reconstruction of the torn letter. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters/mr_playmore - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_law_and_the_lady_se/characters