# Felix Rolleston — The Mystery of a Hansom Cab character guide

> Felix Rolleston in The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Felix Rolleston, Rolleston, Felix, Mr. Rolleston, the ingenuous Felix

**First appearance:** 0001-the-mystery-of-a-hansom-cab

## Snapshot

A champagne-fond Melbourne dandy whose cheerful frivolity and social connections make him both a comic relief and an unwitting conduit of gossip.

## Who they are

Felix Rolleston is the kind of young man who plays Offenbach galops after dinner, dismisses poetry as mystical nonsense, and considers a song without a moral perfectly satisfactory. He moves easily through Melbourne's drawing rooms, which makes him a useful friend to Brian Fitzgerald and an unwitting carrier of the talk that swirls around the murder. His lightness contrasts sharply with the darkness closing in on his circle, and his social access means he hears things that more serious men miss.

## In the story

### [VII: The Wool King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/vii-the-wool-king)

A well-known young man about Melbourne who brings the news that the murdered man has been identified as Oliver Whyte; he is talkative and enjoys being the center of attention.

### [XI: Counsel for the Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xi-counsel-for-the-prisoner)

Mentioned as traveling with Brian in the train to the Club.

### [She Was a True Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xii-she-was-a-true-woman)

Enjoys the social excitement of the murder case, speculating on Fitzgerald's guilt.

### [Madge Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xiii-madge-makes-a-discovery)

Provides information about the letter's delivery at the Club.

### [The Verdict of the Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xix-the-verdict-of-the-jury)

Friend of Fitzgerald, testifies about his aversion to rings; proposes to Julia Featherweight.

### [Three Months Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxi-three-months-afterwards)

Recently married to Julia Featherweight; studying politics under his wife's direction.

### [Across the Walnuts and the Wine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxiii-across-the-walnuts-and-the-wine)

Engages in political talk, sings a song called 'Somewhere,' and plays Offenbach on the piano. He is bold after drinking champagne.

### [What Dr. Chinston Said](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxv-what-dr-chinston-said)

Plays lawn tennis with Peterson and engages in light banter with the group.

### [The Love That Lives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxv-the-love-that-lives)

Becomes a member of Parliament, known for amusing if not deep speeches.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/felix_rolleston
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters