# Madge Frettlby — The Mystery of a Hansom Cab character guide > Madge Frettlby in The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Frettlby, Madge, Frettlby, Miss Madge Frettlby, Gretchen **First appearance:** 0001-the-mystery-of-a-hansom-cab ## Snapshot Mark Frettlby's spirited, quick-witted daughter, whose shopping trips and light banter conceal how much she stands to lose. ## Who they are Madge is Melbourne's golden girl — charming, teasing, adored by Brian, and utterly at home in the city's social round of ribbons, carriages, and afternoon tea. Her lightness is genuine, but it brushes against the murder when she idly wonders who the gentleman in the light coat could have been, not knowing how close the question cuts. She is the emotional stake of the early arc: the love Brian stands to keep or lose, and the daughter whose happiness her father guards with secrets. ## Relationships ### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald) _romantic_ Brian and Madge are deeply in love, with Brian courting Madge despite the shadow of Oliver Whyte's murder. ### [Mark Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mark_frettlby) _family_ Madge is Mark's devoted daughter, though their relationship is strained by the murder investigation and her love for Brian. ### [Sal Rawlins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/sal_rawlins) _social_ Madge encounters Sal Rawlins as a mysterious figure from the lower classes who knows secrets about her family. ### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald) _romantic_ Brian and Madge are deeply in love, with Brian courting Madge despite the shadow of Oliver Whyte's murder. ### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald) _romantic_ Brian and Madge are deeply in love, with Brian courting Madge despite the shadow of Oliver Whyte's murder. ### [Mark Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mark_frettlby) _family_ Madge is Mark's devoted daughter, though their relationship is strained by the murder investigation and her love for Brian. ### [Sal Rawlins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/sal_rawlins) _social_ Madge encounters Sal Rawlins as a mysterious figure from the lower classes who knows secrets about her family. ### [Mark Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mark_frettlby) _family_ Madge is Mark's devoted daughter, though their relationship is strained by the murder investigation and her love for Brian. ### [Sal Rawlins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/sal_rawlins) _social_ Madge encounters Sal Rawlins as a mysterious figure from the lower classes who knows secrets about her family. ## In the story ### [VI: Mr. Gorby Makes Further Discoveries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/vi-mr-gorby-makes-further-discoveries) Subject of Whyte's affection; engaged to Brian Fitzgerald, which led to quarrels between the two men. ### [VII: The Wool King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/vii-the-wool-king) Frettlby's charming daughter, now engaged to Brian Fitzgerald; she is present at the birthday dinner and exchanges banter with Felix Rolleston. ### [Brian Takes a Walk and a Drive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/viii-brian-takes-a-walk-and-a-drive) Madge appears briefly, kissing Brian goodnight and inviting him to return tomorrow, while Gorby watches from the shadows. ### [Mr. Gorby Is Satisfied at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/ix-mr-gorby-is-satisfied-at-last) Brian's fiancée; mentioned as the one who made an arrangement for tea at Brian's lodgings. ### [X: In the Queen's Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/x-in-the-queen-s-name) Spends the morning shopping with Brian; defends him after his arrest, declaring her love. ### [XI: Counsel for the Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xi-counsel-for-the-prisoner) Defends Brian's innocence and refuses to leave Melbourne despite her father's urging. ### [She Was a True Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xii-she-was-a-true-woman) Visits Brian in prison against her father's wishes, determined to save his life. ### [Madge Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xiii-madge-makes-a-discovery) Determined to save Brian, she leads the search for the letter and finds it. ### [Missing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvi-missing) Mentioned as being very ill due to worry over Fitzgerald's situation. ### [XVII: The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvii-the-trial) Attends the trial veiled against her father's wishes; prays for Brian's acquittal. ### [Sal Rawlins Tells All She Knows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xviii-sal-rawlins-tells-all-she-knows) Receives the news of Sal's appearance with gratitude and prays for her lover's safety. ### [The Verdict of the Jury](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xix-the-verdict-of-the-jury) Waits anxiously in court; embraces Brian after his acquittal. ### [Three Months Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxi-three-months-afterwards) Recovering from the trial, now grave and beautiful; hosts guests at Yabba Yallook; questions Sal about the mysterious woman. ### [XXII: A Daughter of Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxii-a-daughter-of-eve) Persists in questioning Brian about the secret, but ultimately chooses love over curiosity; agrees to marry him at once and leave Australia; delighted by her father's yachting proposal. ### [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) Hosts the dinner party with her father, plays Mendelssohn on the piano, and later walks with Brian in the garden, discussing a haunted house. ### [XXIV: Brian Receives a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxiv-brian-receives-a-letter) Brian thinks of her lovingly during his ride and later fears the impact of the secret on her. ### [What Dr. Chinston Said](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxv-what-dr-chinston-said) Hosts a lawn-tennis party; learns from Dr. Chinston that her father's heart is dangerously affected and that a sudden shock could kill him. ### [Mark Frettlby Has a Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxviii-mark-frettlby-has-a-visitor) Returns to Melbourne and invites Brian to dinner; sings and talks with him; becomes alarmed by a cry from her father's study. ### [XXIX: Mr. Calton’s Curiosity Is Satisfied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxix-mr-calton-s-curiosity-is-satisfied) Discussed as the illegitimate daughter of Mark Frettlby, whose position is now threatened by the revelation. ### [Nemesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxx-nemesis) Sees the marriage certificate, realizes her father murdered Whyte, screams, and faints beside her father's corpse. ### [XXXI: Hush-Money](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxi-hush-money) Lies ill with brain fever after seeing the marriage certificate and her father's death; her ravings may reveal the truth. ### [XXXII: De Mortuis Nil Nisi Bonum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxii-de-mortuis-nil-nisi-bonum) Lies delirious, raving about her father's guilt and Brian's innocence. ### [XXXIII: The Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-confession) Frettlby's daughter, whose legitimacy and marriage are central to the conflict. ### [The Love That Lives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxv-the-love-that-lives) Recovers from illness, learns of her father's early marriage, marries Brian, and leaves Australia, placing her estate management in Calton's hands. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/madge_frettlby - 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