# Smooth Sam Fisher — The Little Nugget character guide > Smooth Sam Fisher in The Little Nugget by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sam, Sam Fisher, Smooth Sam, Sammy, Fisher, Samuel, Mr. Fisher **First appearance:** 0001-i ## Snapshot A college-educated cracksman whose brains set him apart from the sandbag-and-pistol crowd, and who may already be closer to the Little Nugget than anyone suspects. ## Who they are Among the professional kidnappers circling Ogden Ford, Sam Fisher is the one the hotel detective White genuinely admires — a man with brains who can use them, and who has chased the Nugget before without success. Buck MacGinnis, by contrast, is all bluster and sandbags, and the running joke is that Peter Burns gets mistaken for Sam simply because Buck has never laid eyes on his rival. Sam's unseen, patient menace hangs over the early chapters, promising that the real attempt on the boy is still to come. ## Relationships ### [Buck MacGinnis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/buck_macginnis) _rivalry_ They are rival criminals competing to kidnap Ogden Ford for ransom. ### [Ogden Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/ogden_ford) _psychological_ Sam Fisher manipulates and pursues Ogden as a target for kidnapping, while Ogden is a cunning and resistant victim. ### [White](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/white) _professional_ White is an associate of Sam Fisher, assisting in the kidnapping operation. ### [Audrey Blake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/audrey_blake) _psychological_ Audrey is manipulated by Sam Fisher, who uses her as a pawn in his schemes. ### [Peter Burns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/peter_burns) _rivalry_ Peter and Sam are adversaries, with Peter trying to thwart Sam's kidnapping plan. ### [Buck MacGinnis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/buck_macginnis) _rivalry_ They are rival criminals competing to kidnap Ogden Ford for ransom. ### [Buck MacGinnis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/buck_macginnis) _rivalry_ They are rival criminals competing to kidnap Ogden Ford for ransom. ### [Peter Burns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/peter_burns) _rivalry_ Peter and Sam are adversaries, with Peter trying to thwart Sam's kidnapping plan. ### [Ogden Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/ogden_ford) _psychological_ Sam Fisher manipulates and pursues Ogden as a target for kidnapping, while Ogden is a cunning and resistant victim. ### [Ogden Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/ogden_ford) _psychological_ Sam Fisher manipulates and pursues Ogden as a target for kidnapping, while Ogden is a cunning and resistant victim. ### [White](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/white) _professional_ White is an associate of Sam Fisher, assisting in the kidnapping operation. ### [Audrey Blake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/audrey_blake) _psychological_ Audrey is manipulated by Sam Fisher, who uses her as a pawn in his schemes. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as a professional kidnapper who attempted to kidnap Ogden in 1906. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ii) A trade rival also making plans for the Nugget's future. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/iii) Implied to be the genial visitor 'Arthur Gordon' who inspects the school and Ogden's room, gathering information for a kidnapping plot. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/vi) A mysterious figure whose presence is hinted at, involved in schemes regarding Ogden. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the rival kidnapper Buck believes Peter to be; not physically present in the chapter. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ii) Sam is described as an educated, brainy rival after the Little Nugget, expected to arrive soon. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/viii) Revealed to be at Sanstead House under the alias Mr. Arnold Abney; orchestrating the plot to kidnap Ogden Ford. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ix) Reveals his true identity as a professional crook and outlines his plan to kidnap Ogden Ford for ransom. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/i) Reveals himself to Peter on the train, having posed as White the Pinkerton detective; proposes a fifty-fifty partnership. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ii) Attempts to ally with Peter Burns, reveals his past and his plan to retire after kidnapping Ogden Ford. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/x) Visits Peter at his rooms, reveals he saw Peter with Ogden, proposes partnership but is refused. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned in Peter's self-criticism as treating him like a child. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/xii) Reveals his true identity to Peter and proposes a joint scheme to kidnap Ogden Ford. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/i) Disguised as a butler; attempts to drug the coffee and kidnap the Little Nugget, but is thwarted by Peter's abstention. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ii) Sam is revealed as a Pinkerton detective hired by Mr. Ford. He accuses Peter of kidnapping intentions and produces Cynthia's letter as evidence, leading to Peter's downfall. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/xiii) Revealed to be posing as White, a Pinkerton detective; Peter warns Audrey of his true identity as a kidnapper. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/i) Forced to leave the house by Peter, but returns later with Buck MacGinnis for a parley. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ii) Leads the negotiation with Peter, proposing a partnership with Buck and offering a commission. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/xv) Reveals his true identity to Peter and proposes a kidnapping plot. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/i) Revealed as the butler 'White,' orchestrates the siege with Buck MacGinnis. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/ii) Implied to be involved in the attack; Peter suspects his hand in the use of the automobile headlamp. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/xvii) Reveals himself in disguise, proposes a reconciliation between the Fords and a job as guardian, admits to double-crossing Buck. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/chapters/xviii) Sam is seen waving farewell from the departing automobile. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters/smooth_sam_fisher - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_little_nugget_se/characters