The Man in Lower Ten · Character

Mr. Blakeley

A lawyer who trades his own freedom for a friend's, Blakeley chases scattered threads of evidence across trains and boardinghouses while the real murderer walks free.

supporting

Also known as Blakeley, Lawrence Blakeley

First appearance: v the woman in the next car

As a supporting figure in The Man in Lower Ten, Mr. Blakeley is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The narrator and protagonist; a lawyer traveling to Pittsburg on business, carrying forged notes in the Bronson case.

In the storyI Go to PittsburgOpen this moment free

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Blakeley narrates the unraveling case from the uneasy position of a man who has surrendered himself and yet keeps investigating. He spars with the self-important Hotchkiss, withholds half-confidences he later regrets,…

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See Mr. Blakeley in v the woman in the next car

Character Web

9 connections

A slice of how Mr. Blakeley sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Key investigation figures
Victim, suspects, witnesses, and allies
Protagonist
Official and comic investigators

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it forces the protagonist to confront the emotional peak of his je…

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In the story

Mr. Blakeley appears across 19 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I Go to Pittsburg
The narrator and protagonist; a lawyer traveling to Pittsburg on business, carrying forged notes in the Bronson case.
Numbers Seven and Nine
Implied as the narrator; he is the one who woke in the wrong berth and is now caught up in the murder investigation.
The Girl in Blue
Reveals his identity as Lawrence Blakeley, an attorney from Washington, and explains he has been occupying the wrong berth after a bag switch.
VII: A Fine Gold Chain
Blakeley is the narrator in this chapter; he is confronted with the wallet and the gold chain, and his glasses are noted missing.
VIII: The Second Section
Narrator and protagonist; suffers a broken arm and is rescued from the burning wreck by Alison West.
Miss West's Request
Narrator and protagonist; accompanies Alison West after the wreck, feels protective and confused by her behavior.
The Name Was Sullivan
Returns home injured, recounts the theft and his suspicions, and discusses the case with McKnight.
The Gold Bag
Mentioned as the patient from the wreck; the doctor operated on a woman from the same accident.
XIII: Faded Roses
Recovering at home with a broken arm, composing letters to Miss West, and growing increasingly anxious as the murder investigation reopens.
XIV: The Trapdoor
Referred to as 'Mr. Blakeley' by Johnson at the end; the narrator is addressed by this name, confirming his identity.
The Shadow of a Girl
Narrates the dinner party, is distracted by Alison West, and later reveals he still has her purse and the significance of the lost valise.
At the Farmhouse Again
Mentioned as the possible recipient of Sullivan's telegram; his hat size and clothing details are noted by Hotchkiss.
A New World
Stays behind to question Mrs. Carter, discovers Alison West, and confesses his impending arrest to her.
The Notes and a Bargain
Blakeley negotiates with Mrs. Conway, refusing her offer to suppress testimony in exchange for the notes.
At the Boardinghouse
Returns home late, receives Hotchkiss's report, and shares his own findings about Bronson and Mrs. Conway.
XXVI: On to Richmond
Narrator; prepares for arrest, clears up affairs, and endures the failed trap with weary patience.
The Sea, the Sand, the Stars
Travels to the Forbes' home, searches for Alison, and shares a private moment with her on the beach.
XXX: Finer Details
Arrives at his office to face arrest; negotiates with detectives and offers cigars.
And Only One Arm
Freed from suspicion, he prepares for a romantic evening with Alison and proposes to her.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mr. Blakeley unlock in the free preview.

See Mr. Blakeley in v the woman in the next car

See Mr. Blakeley in I Go to Pittsburg