# Inspector Dallas — The Midnight Guest character guide

> Inspector Dallas in The Midnight Guest by Fred M. White.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Dallas, Inspector

**First appearance:** 0001-ii-no-1-fitzjohn-square

## Snapshot

The methodical Scotland Yard detective whose quiet legwork uncovers the fact that Mrs. Delahay was absent from her hotel for two hours on the fatal night.

## Who they are

Dallas works the Delahay case with patient, unglamorous diligence — tracing the express letter, interviewing hotel staff, and corroborating Stevens' evidence with two independent witnesses. His discovery that Maria Delahay slipped out between twelve and two shakes Ravenspur's certainty and forces the widow into a corner she refuses to explain. He is the story's steady investigative spine, converting rumor into fact and pressing the mystery forward even as the family tries to look away.

## Relationships

### [John Stevens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/john_stevens)

_professional_

Inspector Dallas and John Stevens work together as law enforcement partners investigating a case.

### [Mrs. Delahay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/mrs_delahay)

_professional_

Inspector Dallas questions or collaborates with Mrs. Delahay as part of his investigation.

### [John Stevens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/john_stevens)

_professional_

Inspector Dallas and John Stevens work together as law enforcement partners investigating a case.

### [Mrs. Delahay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/mrs_delahay)

_professional_

Inspector Dallas questions or collaborates with Mrs. Delahay as part of his investigation.

### [John Stevens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/john_stevens)

_professional_

Inspector Dallas and John Stevens work together as law enforcement partners investigating a case.

## In the story

### [No. 1 Fitzjohn Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/ii-no-1-fitzjohn-square)

Leads the investigation at Fitzjohn Square, shows Ravenspur the cut cable and the torn photograph found in Delahay's hand.

### [III: The Mark of the Beast](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/iii-the-mark-of-the-beast)

Accompanies Ravenspur at the crime scene and observes his reactions.

### [IX: The Confidential Agent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/ix-the-confidential-agent)

Interrupts the inquest to note that Delahay's movements from the Grand Hotel to Fitzjohn Square remain untraced.

### [X: Ropes of Sand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/x-ropes-of-sand)

Investigates the case; questions Stevens and the hotel staff, and discovers from a chambermaid that Mrs. Delahay's room was empty and the key left in the door.

### [The Express Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xi-the-express-letter)

Investigates the hotel staff and learns about Mrs. Delahay's two-hour absence and the express letter to Delahay.

### [XV: Dallas Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xv-dallas-makes-a-discovery)

Meets Walter and reveals that detective Berti has identified Mrs. Delahay as the Countess Flavio, linking her to the Flavio poisoning case.

### [XVI: Strong Measures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xvi-strong-measures)

Confirms Mrs. Delahay's absence on the night of the murder; discusses the case with Lance.

### [XLIII: The Whole Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xliii-the-whole-truth)

Leads the investigation, uses psychological pressure on Stevens, and orchestrates the arrest of Cooney.

### [The Story of a Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xliv-the-story-of-a-crime)

Interrogates Cooney, realizes the cut cable was deliberate, and deduces the real culprit is at Cannon Green.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/inspector_dallas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters