# Mark Frettlby — The Mystery of a Hansom Cab character guide > Mark Frettlby in The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Frettlby, the late Mark Frettlby, poor Mark Frettlby, Mr. Frettlby **First appearance:** 0001-the-mystery-of-a-hansom-cab ## Snapshot A wealthy wool king and devoted father whose comfortable Melbourne life rests on foundations he would rather no one excavated. ## Who they are Frettlby reads the Age at his club, indulges Madge, and dismisses Whyte as 'not a very desirable companion' — a remark that lands oddly given his own past connection to the dead man. His ease and his evasions sit side by side: he warns Brian off the subject, yet the murder keeps circling back to his family. He is the respectable surface of the story, and the early arc keeps tapping at it to hear what's hollow. ## Relationships ### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald) _family_ Mark Frettlby is Madge's father and Brian's prospective father-in-law, with a tense but respectful relationship. ### [Madge Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/madge_frettlby) _family_ Madge is Mark's devoted daughter, though their relationship is strained by the murder investigation and her love for Brian. ### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald) _family_ Mark Frettlby is Madge's father and Brian's prospective father-in-law, with a tense but respectful relationship. ### [Brian Fitzgerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/brian_fitzgerald) _family_ Mark Frettlby is Madge's father and Brian's prospective father-in-law, with a tense but respectful relationship. ### [Madge Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/madge_frettlby) _family_ Madge is Mark's devoted daughter, though their relationship is strained by the murder investigation and her love for Brian. ### [Madge Frettlby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/madge_frettlby) _family_ Madge is Mark's devoted daughter, though their relationship is strained by the murder investigation and her love for Brian. ## In the story ### [VII: The Wool King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/vii-the-wool-king) The wealthy and lucky 'Wool King' who hosts a dinner party for his daughter's birthday; he is surprised to learn that Oliver Whyte was the murder victim. ### [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) Mark Frettlby bids Brian goodnight at the gate, unaware of Gorby's surveillance and the suspicion surrounding Brian. ### [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) Madge's father; mentioned as accompanying Madge to tea at Brian's. ### [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) Joins Brian and Madge for tea; warns Madge to stay away from Brian after the arrest. ### [XI: Counsel for the Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xi-counsel-for-the-prisoner) Hires Calton to defend Brian; expresses doubt about Brian's innocence. ### [XVII: The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xvii-the-trial) Offers a reward for Sal Rawlins; refuses to attend the trial but remains supportive of Brian. ### [Three Months Afterwards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxi-three-months-afterwards) Hosts the party at Yabba Yallook; initially opposed to Sal Rawlins being near Madge but relented. ### [XXII: A Daughter of Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxii-a-daughter-of-eve) Appears aged and stooped, though his eyes remain keen; initially refuses Brian's request to marry Madge at once, then relents and offers a yachting honeymoon on the 'Rosanna'; flushes when Brian notes the name. ### [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) The host, known for his excellent dinners. He shows strong emotion when the dancer Rosanna is mentioned and later takes old Valpy to his study. ### [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 him with dread, referring to him as 'her father' and feeling haunted by the secret involving him. ### [What Dr. Chinston Said](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxv-what-dr-chinston-said) Appears restless and plans to leave at week's end; undergoes a medical examination by Dr. Chinston, who hides the true severity of his heart condition; senses that Brian knows about Rosanna Moore. ### [Mother Guttersnipe Joins the Majority](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxvii-mother-guttersnipe-joins-the-majority) Revealed posthumously as Rosanna Moore's lover and the father of Sal Rawlins. ### [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; has a visitor in his study; cries out, alarming Madge; later reassures her. ### [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) Revealed to have been secretly married to Rosanna Moore and to have murdered Oliver Whyte to retrieve the marriage certificate. ### [Nemesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxx-nemesis) Writes his confession, sleepwalks into the drawing-room with the marriage papers, and dies of shock when Madge discovers the truth. ### [XXXI: Hush-Money](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxi-hush-money) Died of heart disease after being awakened from sleepwalking; his confession and marriage certificate are discovered posthumously. ### [XXXIII: The Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-confession) The author of the confession, revealing his secret marriage and blackmail. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_a_hansom_cab_se/characters/mark_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