# Penelope Noelson — The Lazy Detective character guide > Penelope Noelson in The Lazy Detective by George Dilnot. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Penelope Noelson, Miss Noelson, Pen, Donna Quixote Penelope **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot Curious, quick-witted Penelope Noelson finds herself Larry Hughes's captive guest, watching her friend Adèle unravel and reading every silence for what it might mean. ## Who they are Penelope has been spirited into Larry's country retreat, where she and the newly arrived Adèle Gertstein are told they are allies in a common cause — their own safety. Her curiosity is all aflame as she weighs whether Adèle's arrival bodes good or evil for her own case, and she dares not ask the questions burning in her. She is the reader's eyes inside the enemy's house, alert to every shift in Larry's bland, threatening hospitality. ## Relationships ### [Harry Labar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/harry_labar) _friendship_ Harry and Penelope are close friends and allies, often working together on cases or socializing. ### [Larry Hughes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/larry_hughes) _friendship_ Larry and Penelope are good friends, frequently interacting as part of the same social and investigative circle. ### [Sophie Lengholm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/sophie_lengholm) _friendship_ Penelope and Sophie are close friends, often interacting socially or supporting each other. ### [Adèle Gertstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/adele_gertstein) _friendship_ Adèle and Penelope are friends, often interacting as part of the same social circle. ### [Tom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/tom) _friendship_ Penelope and Tom are friends, often interacting socially or as part of the same group. ### [Harry Labar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/harry_labar) _friendship_ Harry and Penelope are close friends and allies, often working together on cases or socializing. ### [Larry Hughes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/larry_hughes) _friendship_ Larry and Penelope are good friends, frequently interacting as part of the same social and investigative circle. ### [Larry Hughes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/larry_hughes) _friendship_ Larry and Penelope are good friends, frequently interacting as part of the same social and investigative circle. ### [Adèle Gertstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/adele_gertstein) _friendship_ Adèle and Penelope are friends, often interacting as part of the same social circle. ### [Tom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/tom) _friendship_ Penelope and Tom are friends, often interacting socially or as part of the same group. ### [Sophie Lengholm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/sophie_lengholm) _friendship_ Penelope and Sophie are close friends, often interacting socially or supporting each other. ### [Harry Labar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/harry_labar) _friendship_ Harry and Penelope are close friends and allies, often working together on cases or socializing. ## In the story ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/iii) Companion to Mrs. Gertstein, interviewed by Labar; denies knowing Larry Hughes and faints when accused of giving Labar a hundred-pound note. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/iv) Under suspicion; Labar has her watched after she fainted during interrogation; he believes she is involved in the robbery. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as the subject of the photograph; Labar claims she tried to bribe him, changed a forged cheque, and attempted to sandbag him; Larry insists she is innocent. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/vi) Visits Labar voluntarily, admits to being 'almost innocent' and involved in the crime, but refuses to name the person she is shielding. Later abducted by Larry Hughes. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/vii) Feels unfairly victimized and trapped; wrestles with suspicion of Labar and Hughes; deduces Hughes is the blackmailer; refuses his marriage proposal and is abducted. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/viii) Abducted by Larry; Labar fears she may be forced into marriage to prevent her testimony. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/x) Held prisoner by Larry, tries to bribe Sophie and later attempts to escape by stealing Larry's pistol. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as having disappeared after the robbery; Adèle is worried but distracted. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xiii) Mentioned as having helped Adèle Gertstein deliver a note to Labar, though unaware of the full details. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xv) Labar believes she is being held under coercion by Larry. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xvi) Penelope is implied to be under Larry's control, used as leverage against Labar. Her safety is a primary concern for Labar. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xix) Desperate prisoner attempting escape; confronts Sophie with a poker but fails; later receives Adèle Gertstein as a fellow captive. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xx) Confronts Adèle about her crimes, urges her to give herself up, and struggles with her sense of loyalty while being trapped with Larry Hughes. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xxi) Penelope is mentioned by Winter as a 'nice girl,' implying Labar's personal feelings toward her, though Labar denies any distraction from duty. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xxii) Escapes from captivity during the dog alarm and flees with Labar. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xxiii) Recounts her abduction and the threats from Adèle and Larry; reveals Adèle's attempt to stab her in the night; accepts Labar's proposal and agrees to cooperate with the investigation. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xxiv) Entrusted to the constable's wife for rest; she worries for Labar's safety and clings to his hand before he leaves. ### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xxix) Lured to the train station by a fake note from Larry, she is forcibly abducted into a train carriage. ### [The Final Reckoning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/chapters/xxx) Accompanies Labar during the capture; discusses marriage and inheritance from Solly Gertstein's will. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters/penelope_noelson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lazy_detective_se/characters