# Stephen Chamberlayne — The Middle Temple Murder character guide

> Stephen Chamberlayne in The Middle Temple Murder by J. S. Fletcher.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Chamberlayne, the Chamberlayne, Stephen

**First appearance:** 0018-xix-the-chamberlayne-story

## Snapshot

The nephew who arrived in Market Milcaster just in time to bury his uncle, settle the estate, and then quietly leave England for parts unknown.

## Who they are

Stephen Chamberlayne was the young man who summoned doctors and solicitors when his uncle died suddenly at the Cosmopolitan, saw the death certified as a diseased heart, and buried the body without an inquest. Within a year he had vanished abroad, along with the solicitor and the doctor, leaving Market Milcaster to gossip that the coffin might hold lead rather than a man. His convenient disappearance is the loose thread Spargo pulls when he begins to suspect the whole Chamberlayne story was staged.

## Relationships

### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo)

_professional_

Stephen Chamberlayne is a figure connected to the murder, and Frank investigates him.

### [Frank Spargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/frank_spargo)

_professional_

Stephen Chamberlayne is a figure connected to the murder, and Frank investigates him.

## In the story

### [XVIII: An Old Newspaper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xviii-an-old-newspaper)

Stockbroker who allegedly induced Maitland to embezzle funds; died mysteriously before trial.

### [XIX: The Chamberlayne Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xix-the-chamberlayne-story)

Stockbroker who fled after Maitland's arrest and allegedly died suddenly in London.

### [XX: Maitland Alias Marbury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xx-maitland-alias-marbury)

Nephew of the original Chamberlayne; left England after the burial, raising suspicion.

### [XXXII: The Contents of the Coffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/chapters/xxxii-the-contents-of-the-coffin)

The stockbroker whose grave is exhumed; the coffin is found empty, confirming he faked his death and is likely the real culprit in the Cloudhampton scandal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters/stephen_chamberlayne
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_middle_temple_murder_se/characters