# Ronald Breton — The Middle Temple Murder character guide > Ronald Breton in The Middle Temple Murder by J. S. Fletcher. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Breton, young Mr. Breton, Mr. Ronald Breton **First appearance:** 0001-ii-his-first-brief ## Snapshot A young barrister whose comfortable Temple life shatters when a journalist proves the murdered stranger at his doorstep was his own father. ## Who they are Breton moves easily through Middle Temple society — he knows Cardlestone, he visits Elphick, he has a guardian and a fiancée and a settled future. That world tilts when Spargo tells him his real name is Maitland and the dead man is his father, and he absorbs the blow with hard, methodical calm rather than collapse. His composure under revelation, and his loyalty to the guardian who may be complicit, make him the story's emotional anchor. ## Relationships ### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo) _friendship_ Frank and Ronald are close friends and allies, working together to solve the murder mystery. ### [Septimus Elphick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/septimus_elphick) _professional_ Ronald Breton interacts with Septimus Elphick in a legal or journalistic context regarding the case. ### [Nicholas Cardlestone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/nicholas_cardlestone) _social_ Nicholas Cardlestone and Ronald Breton are acquaintances, possibly through legal or social circles. ### [John Marbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/john_marbury) _professional_ John Marbury is a senior colleague to Ronald Breton at the newspaper. ### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo) _friendship_ Frank and Ronald are close friends and allies, working together to solve the murder mystery. ### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo) _friendship_ Frank and Ronald are close friends and allies, working together to solve the murder mystery. ### [Nicholas Cardlestone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/nicholas_cardlestone) _social_ Nicholas Cardlestone and Ronald Breton are acquaintances, possibly through legal or social circles. ### [Septimus Elphick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/septimus_elphick) _professional_ Ronald Breton interacts with Septimus Elphick in a legal or journalistic context regarding the case. ### [John Marbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/john_marbury) _professional_ John Marbury is a senior colleague to Ronald Breton at the newspaper. ### [Nicholas Cardlestone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/nicholas_cardlestone) _social_ Nicholas Cardlestone and Ronald Breton are acquaintances, possibly through legal or social circles. ### [Septimus Elphick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/septimus_elphick) _professional_ Ronald Breton interacts with Septimus Elphick in a legal or journalistic context regarding the case. ## In the story ### [I: The Scrap of Grey Paper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/i-the-scrap-of-grey-paper) A barrister whose address is found on the scrap of paper in the victim's pocket. ### [His First Brief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/ii-his-first-brief) Young barrister whose name and address were found on the victim; denies knowing the man and views the body without recognition. ### [III: The Clue of the Cap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/iii-the-clue-of-the-cap) Breton wins his first case at the Law Courts, introduces Spargo to the Aylmore sisters and Mr. Elphick, and accompanies Spargo and Rathbury to investigate the cap clue. ### [IV: The Anglo-Orient Hotel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/iv-the-anglo-orient-hotel) Present at the hotel; notes a familiarity in Marbury's handwriting in the register. ### [V: Spargo Wishes to Specialize](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/v-spargo-wishes-to-specialize) Accompanies Spargo, expresses keen interest in the case, and introduces him to Mr. Cardlestone. ### [VI: Witness to a Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/vi-witness-to-a-meeting) Breton visits Spargo to praise his article, discusses the case, and is present when Webster arrives with his testimony. ### [Mr. Aylmore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/vii-mr-aylmore) Accompanies Spargo to meet Aylmore; reveals Aylmore is his prospective father-in-law. ### [The Man from the Safe Deposit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/viii-the-man-from-the-safe-deposit) Mentioned as being engaged to Aylmore's daughter and as the person whose address Marbury wrote down. ### [X: The Leather Box](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/x-the-leather-box) Visits Spargo, discusses the case, and plans to take Miss Aylmore and her sister to the adjourned inquest. ### [Mr. Aylmore Is Questioned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xi-mr-aylmore-is-questioned) Attends the inquest with the Aylmore sisters, having arranged Spargo's earlier interview with Aylmore. ### [XII: The New Witness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xii-the-new-witness) Breton is present in court, nervously tapping his hat as the testimony unfolds. ### [XXII: The Blank Past](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxii-the-blank-past) Acts as intermediary between Spargo and Aylmore; reports Aylmore's continued silence. ### [XXVI: Still Silent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxvi-still-silent) Reveals his guardian is Septimus Elphick; provides Spargo with an introduction to Elphick. ### [XXVII: Mr. Elphick's Chambers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxvii-mr-elphick-s-chambers) Revealed to be the son of John Maitland and engaged to Stephen Aylmore's daughter. ### [XXVIII: Of Proved Identity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxviii-of-proved-identity) Revealed to be the son of John Maitland; Spargo promises not to tell him until after meeting Elphick. ### [XXIX: The Closed Doors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxix-the-closed-doors) Meets Spargo at the stairs, enters Elphick's chambers with his key, and is horrified by the evidence of a hasty departure. ### [XXX: Revelation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxx-revelation) Learns his true identity as John Maitland's son; listens intently to Spargo's story. ### [XXXI: The Penitent Window-Cleaner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxi-the-penitent-window-cleaner) Visits Spargo, expresses skepticism about the reward, and agrees to accompany him to Market Milcaster, promising to reveal something if the grave is empty. ### [XXXII: The Contents of the Coffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxii-the-contents-of-the-coffin) Accompanies Spargo to Market Milcaster; reveals he knows where Elphick and Cardlestone are hiding; identified as John Maitland's son. ### [XXXIII: Forestalled](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxiii-forestalled) Guides Spargo through the darkness, recognizes the landlord at the 'Moor Cock,' and scouts the cottage to identify the stranger inside. ### [The Whip Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-whip-hand) Leads the confrontation, disarms Myerst with a revolver, and interrogates Elphick and Cardlestone. ### [Myerst Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxv-myerst-explains) Confronts Myerst, examines the power of attorney, and learns that Maitland is his father. ### [The Final Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxvi-the-final-telegram) Listens to Myerst's confession and Elphick's account, witnesses Cardlestone's death. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/ronald_breton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters