# Mr. Marchmont — The Mystery of 31, New Inn character guide

> Mr. Marchmont in The Mystery of 31, New Inn by R. Austin Freeman.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Marchmont, C. F. Marchmont

**First appearance:** 0002-the-mystery-of-31-new-inn

## Snapshot

The Blackmore family solicitor, cautious and professional, who must decide whether to act on Thorndyke's astonishing claim that the second will is a forgery.

## Who they are

Marchmont is the legal conscience of the case — the man who recites the porter's evidence, the surgeon's deposition, and the circumstances of Jeffrey's death with the flat precision of a solicitor reading from a file. When Thorndyke's letter arrives calling the will a forgery, Marchmont is caught between his partner Winwood's fury and his own reluctant respect for Thorndyke's record. His willingness to bring Stephen Blackmore to the chambers meeting is what lets the investigation proceed at all.

## In the story

### [Jeffrey Blackmore's Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/v-jeffrey-blackmore-s-will)

Solicitor for Stephen Blackmore; skeptical of Thorndyke's involvement but presents the case.

### [VI: Jeffrey Blackmore, Deceased](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/vi-jeffrey-blackmore-deceased)

Presents the evidence and depositions regarding Jeffrey Blackmore's death, including the surgeon's report and porter's testimony.

### [VII: The Cuneiform Inscription](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/vii-the-cuneiform-inscription)

Referenced by Stephen Blackmore as having expressed the view that there is nothing to investigate.

### [Thorndyke Lays the Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xiv-thorndyke-lays-the-mine)

Visits with his partner Winwood, skeptical of Thorndyke's letter but agrees to attend the evening meeting.

### [Thorndyke Explodes the Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xv-thorndyke-explodes-the-mine)

One of the solicitors; flurried and uneasy, he listens to Thorndyke's evidence and tries to keep his partner Winwood calm.

### [An Exposition and a Tragedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/chapters/xvi-an-exposition-and-a-tragedy)

Solicitor for Stephen Blackmore, engages with Thorndyke's evidence and raises questions about the porter's identification.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters/marchmont
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_31_new_inn_se/characters