# The Girl — The Man Who Knew character guide > The Girl in The Man Who Knew by Edgar Wallace. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the girl **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-man-in-the-laboratory ## Snapshot May Nuttall, twenty-one and unprepared for her own heart, weighs a comfortable engagement to Frank against a deeper pull toward Jasper Cole. ## Who they are May is the young woman at the hinge of the novel's romantic and investigative tensions, adopted niece to John Minute and practically housekeeper at Weald Lodge since sixteen. She wears Frank's ring without being sure she loves him, resents her own dependence, and feels a frightening magnetism in Jasper that she cannot reason away. Her divided loyalties make every warning about Jasper land on deaf ears and drive the story's central conflict. ## Relationships ### [Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/frank_merrill) _romantic_ Frank is deeply infatuated with the mysterious Girl, who seems to be a central figure in his emotional turmoil and the plot. ### [John Minute](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/john_minute) _psychological_ John Minute is obsessed with the Girl, who appears to be a figure from his past with a hold over him. ### [Jasper Cole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/jasper_cole) _psychological_ Jasper and the Girl share a manipulative, secretive connection, possibly involving blackmail or conspiracy. ### [May Nuttall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/may_nuttall) _rivalry_ May Nuttall is jealous and suspicious of the Girl, seeing her as a rival for Frank's attention. ### [Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/frank_merrill) _romantic_ Frank is deeply infatuated with the mysterious Girl, who seems to be a central figure in his emotional turmoil and the plot. ### [Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/frank_merrill) _romantic_ Frank is deeply infatuated with the mysterious Girl, who seems to be a central figure in his emotional turmoil and the plot. ### [Jasper Cole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/jasper_cole) _psychological_ Jasper and the Girl share a manipulative, secretive connection, possibly involving blackmail or conspiracy. ### [John Minute](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/john_minute) _psychological_ John Minute is obsessed with the Girl, who appears to be a figure from his past with a hold over him. ### [John Minute](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/john_minute) _psychological_ John Minute is obsessed with the Girl, who appears to be a figure from his past with a hold over him. ### [Jasper Cole](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/jasper_cole) _psychological_ Jasper and the Girl share a manipulative, secretive connection, possibly involving blackmail or conspiracy. ### [May Nuttall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/may_nuttall) _rivalry_ May Nuttall is jealous and suspicious of the Girl, seeing her as a rival for Frank's attention. ## In the story ### [The Girl Who Cried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/ii-the-girl-who-cried) A young, timid girl of about eighteen, struggling with parcels and bullied by her husband; she is left weeping in the cold dining room. ### [Introducing Mr. Rex Holland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/vii-introducing-mr-rex-holland) Referred to as May Nuttall; Frank proposes to her, and she is conflicted, thinking of Jasper Cole. ### [Sergeant Smith Calls](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/viii-sergeant-smith-calls) Overhears Jasper Cole's accusation against Frank Merrill and confronts them, defending Frank. ### [The Trial of Frank Merrill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/xii-the-trial-of-frank-merrill) Present in the courtroom, her eyes meet Frank Merrill's during the trial. ### [XIV: The Man Who Looked Like Frank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/xiv-the-man-who-looked-like-frank) A pale, pretty girl seen pleading with the man who looks like Frank Merrill; she is struck by him and pushed back into the house. ### [A Letter in the Grate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/xv-a-letter-in-the-grate) Identified as Sergeant Smith's daughter via photograph; has fled 69 Flowerton Road; her relationship with Jasper Cole is noted. ### [The Man Called "Merrill"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/chapters/xvii-the-man-called-merrill) Claims to be married to Frank Merrill; reveals she ran away from a cruel husband who used the name Merrill. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters/the_girl - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_knew_se/characters