# Mr. Pawle — The Middle of Things character guide > Mr. Pawle in The Middle of Things by J. S. Fletcher. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Pawle **First appearance:** 0000-i-faced-with-reality ## Snapshot A sharp-eyed solicitor who trusts his own instincts about the case and is not shy about saying so to more cautious colleagues. ## Who they are Pawle is the late Ashton's lawyer, and he arrives at the case already convinced that a girl's claim to a great name is genuine. Where his fellow solicitor Carless counsels investigation and delay, Pawle presses forward with triumphant certainty, insisting the dead man held papers that would settle everything. His confidence is both his strength and his risk: he reads conspiracies into convenient claimants, and his hunches drive the inquiry even when the evidence lags behind. ## Relationships ### [Richard Viner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/richard_viner) _professional_ Mr. Pawle is likely a legal advisor or investigator working closely with Richard Viner on a case. ### [Armitstead Ashton Armitstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/armitstead_ashton_armitstead) _rivalry_ Armitstead Ashton Armitstead and Mr. Pawle are locked in a legal or personal conflict, opposing each other's interests. ### [Mr. Carless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_carless) _professional_ Mr. Carless and Mr. Pawle work together professionally, likely as legal partners or co-investigators. ### [Miss Wickham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/miss_wickham) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Pawle share a friendly, supportive relationship, possibly with Mr. Pawle acting as a protector or confidant. ### [Armitstead Ashton Armitstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/armitstead_ashton_armitstead) _rivalry_ Armitstead Ashton Armitstead and Mr. Pawle are locked in a legal or personal conflict, opposing each other's interests. ### [Richard Viner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/richard_viner) _professional_ Mr. Pawle is likely a legal advisor or investigator working closely with Richard Viner on a case. ### [Mr. Carless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_carless) _professional_ Mr. Carless and Mr. Pawle work together professionally, likely as legal partners or co-investigators. ### [Miss Wickham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/miss_wickham) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Pawle share a friendly, supportive relationship, possibly with Mr. Pawle acting as a protector or confidant. ### [Richard Viner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/richard_viner) _professional_ Mr. Pawle is likely a legal advisor or investigator working closely with Richard Viner on a case. ### [Mr. Carless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_carless) _professional_ Mr. Carless and Mr. Pawle work together professionally, likely as legal partners or co-investigators. ### [Miss Wickham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/miss_wickham) _friendship_ Miss Wickham and Mr. Pawle share a friendly, supportive relationship, possibly with Mr. Pawle acting as a protector or confidant. ### [Armitstead Ashton Armitstead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/armitstead_ashton_armitstead) _rivalry_ Armitstead Ashton Armitstead and Mr. Pawle are locked in a legal or personal conflict, opposing each other's interests. ## In the story ### [V: Look for That Man!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/v-look-for-that-man) Introduced as Mr. Ashton's solicitor; present at Miss Wickham's house when Viner calls. ### [VI: Speculations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/vi-speculations) Ashton's solicitor; leads the investigation into Ashton's past; receives a cablegram from Melbourne and interviews Fosdick and Stephens. ### [VII: What Was the Secret?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/vii-what-was-the-secret) Hosts the Australians, receives their testimony, and advises Viner on legal strategy to help Hyde. ### [News from Arcadia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/viii-news-from-arcadia) Receives the message from Lucy Summers and arranges the trip to Marketstoke with Viner. ### [IX: Looking Backward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/ix-looking-backward) Dines with Viner and eagerly questions Mrs. Summers about the history of Marketstoke and the disappearance of Lord Marketstoke, drawing parallels to the Tichborne case. ### [X: The Parish Register](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/x-the-parish-register) Discovers the Wickham-Cave-Gray connection in the parish register, interviews Mrs. Summers about Ashton's resemblance to Lord Marketstoke, and speculates on the legal implications if Ashton was the missing earl. ### [XI: What Happened in Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xi-what-happened-in-paris) Receives Armitstead and Van Hoeren, discusses the Ashton case and the importance of finding the muffled man. ### [XII: The Grey Mare Inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xii-the-grey-mare-inn) Plans to search Ashton's house; discusses the diamond's implications with Viner and Armitstead. ### [The Japanese Cabinet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiii-the-japanese-cabinet) Assists Viner in searching Ashton's effects and examines the Japanese cabinet. ### [XIV: The Ellingham Motto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xiv-the-ellingham-motto) Discovers the letters linking Ashton to the missing Lord Marketstoke and identifies the locket's device and motto. ### [The Present Holder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xv-the-present-holder) Leads the conversation with Lord Ellingham, presents the letters found in Ashton's cabinet, and speculates about the clean-shaven man's identity. ### [The Outhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvi-the-outhouse) Not present in this chapter. ### [XVII: The Claimant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xvii-the-claimant) Reveals his discovery that Ashton had been investigating the Cave-Gray family and that Avice Wickham is the daughter of the lost Lord Marketstoke. ### [XVIII: Let Him Appear!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xviii-let-him-appear) Actively questions the claimant's solicitors, pointing out inconsistencies and expressing strong disbelief in the claim. ### [XIX: Under Examination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xix-under-examination) Proposes his theory that Wickham was Lord Marketstoke and arranges the meeting with Miss Wickham. ### [XX: Surprising Readiness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xx-surprising-readiness) Confident in his theory about Avice's claim and the conspiracy behind the claimant. ### [XXI: The Marseilles Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxi-the-marseilles-meeting) Old lawyer who receives Perkwite's information and agrees to the plan for the inquest. ### [On Remand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxii-on-remand) Present in court, whispering with Mr. Carless and reacting with surprise when Hyde identifies the claimant. ### [XXIII: Is This Man Right?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiii-is-this-man-right) Whispers to Viner that the witness's story is the most extraordinary he has ever heard. ### [XXIV: The Broken Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxiv-the-broken-letter) Excited about tracing the mysterious woman and emphasizes the need for speed in the investigation. ### [XXV: Through the Telephone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxv-through-the-telephone) Not directly present in this chapter. ### [XXIX: Who Is to Tell Her?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/chapters/xxix-who-is-to-tell-her) Agrees with Viner's plan, examines the papers, and confirms Avice's identity. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters/mr_pawle - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_of_things_se/characters