# John Stevens — The Midnight Guest character guide > John Stevens in The Midnight Guest by Fred M. White. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Stevens, John **First appearance:** 0001-ii-no-1-fitzjohn-square ## Snapshot A servant-like witness whose courtroom testimony about a tall woman in black turns the Delahay inquest upside down, though his pluck is as questionable as his memory. ## Who they are Stevens moves through the household world as a man who sees and sells things he shouldn't — he admits to Perks that he's been quietly fencing household items. His damning identification of Maria Delahay as the woman seen with her husband on the fatal night carries the weight of an accusation, yet his own credibility is shaky, and he never bears malice for long because he lacks the nerve for it. His testimony is the hinge on which the inquest's suspicion of Mrs. Delahay first swings. ## Relationships ### [Inspector Dallas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/inspector_dallas) _professional_ Inspector Dallas and John Stevens work together as law enforcement partners investigating a case. ### [Walter Lance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/walter_lance) _friendship_ John Stevens is a loyal friend and ally to Walter Lance, often assisting him in dangerous situations. ### [Inspector Dallas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/inspector_dallas) _professional_ Inspector Dallas and John Stevens work together as law enforcement partners investigating a case. ### [Walter Lance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/walter_lance) _friendship_ John Stevens is a loyal friend and ally to Walter Lance, often assisting him in dangerous situations. ### [Walter Lance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/walter_lance) _friendship_ John Stevens is a loyal friend and ally to Walter Lance, often assisting him in dangerous situations. ### [Inspector Dallas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/inspector_dallas) _professional_ Inspector Dallas and John Stevens work together as law enforcement partners investigating a case. ## In the story ### [IX: The Confidential Agent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/ix-the-confidential-agent) A private inquiry agent who testifies that he saw Mrs. Delahay with her husband shortly before the murder, contradicting her story. ### [X: Ropes of Sand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/x-ropes-of-sand) Testifies at the inquest that he saw Mrs. Delahay with Mr. Delahay at 1:15 AM on the night of the murder, creating a sensation. ### [The Express Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xi-the-express-letter) His evidence about Mrs. Delahay's whereabouts is corroborated by the hotel clerk. ### [XII: A Speaking Likeness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xii-a-speaking-likeness) Found at a theatre, visibly drunk and better dressed; argues with Valdo and agrees to share information from his diary for money. ### [A Striking Likeness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xiii-a-striking-likness) Former landlord of Silva; reveals the portrait's origin and accepts a bribe to cooperate with Lance and Venables. ### [XIV: Retrospection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xiv-retrospection) Mentioned as the man who had the stolen painting in his lodgings, left there by Silva; provided Silva's name to Walter. ### [Valdo in a New Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xx-valdo-in-a-new-light) Seen speaking with Silva; Mrs. Delahay hides to avoid being seen with him. ### [Flight!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxvii-flight) A shabby figure who receives a note from the blind man (spy) to deliver at half-past twelve for a reward of fifty pounds. ### [In the Dead of Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxvi-in-the-dead-of-night) Silva's accomplice, tasked with waiting by the gate and giving a signal. ### [An Unexpected Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xxxvii-an-unexpected-friend) Caught by Bruno while spying for Valdo; bound and left on the common by Perks. ### [Run to Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xlii-run-to-earth) Found tied up on the common, later followed to a public-house where Dallas confronts him about the Delahay murder. ### [XLIII: The Whole Truth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/chapters/xliii-the-whole-truth) Confronted by Dallas, reveals his fear and involvement in disposing of stolen goods from Delahay's studio. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters/john_stevens - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_midnight_guest_se/characters