Character guide

Polly Burton

major

Also known as Miss Burton, Miss Mary J. Burton, Miss Polly Burton, Miss Polly

A sharp-eyed young journalist for the Evening Observer who trades her lunch hour for the Old Man's uncanny theories, and finds herself caught between a jealous suitor and a stranger's genius.

The Old Man in the Corner

major

Also known as Unknown

A pale, string-fidgeting stranger in an A.B.C. teashop who insists no crime is a mystery once intelligence is applied, and unravels Scotland Yard's failures knot by knot.

Percival Brooks

major

Also known as Percival, Percival Gordon Brooks, Brooks, Mr. Percival Brooks, Mr. Brooks, old Brooks

The wealthy son whose name surfaces on a forged will after his father's death, and whose acquittal leaves a fortune and a family name under a cloud.

Mr. Francis Morton

supporting

Also known as Mr. Morton, Morton

A prosperous Brighton businessman of clockwork habits whose sudden disappearance and refusal to prosecute his attacker turn a scandal into something far stranger.

Lord Arthur Skelmerton

supporting

Also known as Lord Arthur, Skelmerton

A titled gentleman cornered by a blackmailer over a forged signature, whose quiet threats on a racecourse lawn echo long after the tea grows cold.

Lady Donaldson

supporting

Also known as Poor Lady Donaldson

An elderly society woman found dead behind a locked bedroom door, whose promised diamonds and tangled family affections leave a household under suspicion.

William Kershaw

supporting

Also known as Kershaw

A blackmailer whose unrecognizable corpse drags a Siberian millionaire into the dock, leaving the amateur in the corner to wonder if the police have arrested the wrong man entirely.

Mr. Schwarz

supporting

Also known as young Schwarz, Young Schwarz, Schwarz, poor young Schwarz, young Mr. Schwarz

A young jeweller whose bag of banknotes vanishes into the hands of a man posing as a Russian police officer, teaching him the price of trusting a title.

Mrs. Owen

minor

Also known as Owen

A woman whose husband's death raises suspicion.

David Graham

supporting

Also known as Graham, Mr. Graham, David, Mr. David Graham, Mr. David

A morose Edinburgh younger son transformed by an arranged marriage worth £50,000, until a ball, a necklace, and a murder drag his bride into the dock.

Robert Ireland

minor

Also known as Mr. Ireland, Mr. Robert Ireland, young Robert Ireland

A man involved in a forgery case.

Charles Lavender

minor

Also known as Lavender, old Lavender

An old man whose death is investigated.

John Ashley

minor

Also known as young Mr. Ashley, young Ashley, Mr. John Ashley, Ashley, Mr. Ashley, Young John Ashley

A young man suspected in a mysterious death.

Edith Crawford

minor

Also known as Miss Edith Crawford, Miss Crawford

A woman whose father's death is a mystery.

Lewis Ireland

minor

Also known as Lewis, Mr. Ireland, Mr. Lewis Ireland

A man involved in a financial crime.

James Fairbairn

minor

A man accused of murdering his wife.

Timothy Beddingfield

minor

Also known as Timothy, Beddingfield, Mr. Timothy Beddingfield, Mr. Beddingfield

A man suspected of a brutal murder.

Mr. Knopf

minor

Also known as Mr. Ferdinand Knopf, Knopf, Mr. Knopf⁠

A businessman involved in a theft case.

Aaron Cohen

minor

Also known as Mr. Aaron Cohen, Mr. Cohen, Cohen

A jeweler involved in a robbery case.

Mr. Winslow

minor

Also known as Winslow, Messrs. Winslow

A lawyer involved in several cases.

Francis Smethurst

minor

Also known as Smethurst, Mr. Francis Smethurst, Mr. Smethurst

A man suspected of poisoning his wife.

Robertson

minor

Also known as Poor Robertson, poor old Robertson, Poor old Robertson

An old man who dies under suspicious circumstances.

Murray Brooks

minor

Also known as young Murray Brooks, Mr. Murray Brooks, Mr. Brooks, Murray Brooks, the late Mr. Brooks, Mr. Murray

The murdered millionaire father of Percival Brooks.

Mr. Vassall

minor

Also known as Vassall

A man involved in a mysterious disappearance.

John O'Neill

minor

Also known as John

A man accused of a crime in Dublin.

Mr. Shipman

minor

Also known as Mr. Arthur Shipman

A man involved in a forgery case.

Emile Knopf

minor

Also known as Mr. Emile Knopf, Mr. Knopf, Emile

A relative of Mr. Knopf involved in a robbery.

Edward Skinner

minor

Also known as Mr. Edward Skinner, Skinner, Mr. Skinner

A man suspected of murdering his wife.

Earl of Brockelsby

minor

Also known as The young Earl of Brockelsby, Brockelsby, the Earl of Brockelsby, Earl of Brockelsby, The Earl of Brockelsby, Lord Brockelsby, young Lord Brockelsby

A young nobleman involved in a scandal.

Constable D 21

minor

Also known as D 21, D 15

A police constable who gives evidence in a case.

Sir Arthur Inglewood

minor

Also known as Sir Arthur, Arthur

A baronet whose death is investigated.

Mrs. Ireland

minor

The wife of Robert Ireland, involved in a forgery case.

Mrs. Morton

minor

The wife of Francis Morton, involved in a death mystery.

Edward Hazeldene

minor

Also known as Mr. Hazeldene, Mr. Edward Sholto Hazeldene, Edward Hazeldene

A man whose wife is suspected of murder.

Prince Semionicz

minor

Also known as Prince, The Prince

A Russian prince involved in a theft case.

Patrick Wethered

minor

Also known as Mr. Patrick Wethered, Mr. Wethered, Wethered

A man accused of murdering his uncle.

Richard Frobisher

minor

Also known as Mr. Richard Frobisher

A man whose mysterious death is investigated.

Sir James Fenwick

minor

Also known as Sir James

A baronet whose death is a mystery.

Lady Arthur Skelmerton

minor

Also known as Lady Arthur

The wife of Lord Arthur Skelmerton.

Walter Hatherell

minor

Also known as Mr. Walter Hatherell, Mr. Hatherell, young Hatherell, Hatherell

A young man suspected of murder.

Mr. Francis Howard

minor

Also known as the indefatigable Mr. Howard, Mr. Howard

A detective involved in several investigations.

Mrs. Hazeldene

minor

Also known as the Hazeldene

The wife of Edward Hazeldene, suspected of murder.

Karl Müller

minor

Also known as Müller

A German man suspected of a crime.

George Higgins

minor

Also known as Mr. George Higgins, Higgins

A man involved in a robbery case.

Robert Ingram de Genneville

minor

Also known as the Hon . Robert, the Hon . Robert Ingram de Genneville, the Hon . Robert de Genneville, Robert, Robert de Genneville, the Hon . Mr. de Genneville

A claimant to a peerage involved in a legal battle.

Henry Oranmore

minor

Also known as Mr. Henry Oranmore, Mr. Oranmore, Oranmore

A man suspected of murder in Ireland.

Mrs. Kershaw

minor

Also known as Kershaw

The wife of William Kershaw.

Comte Armand de la Tremouille

minor

Also known as Armand de la Tremouille, the Comte de la Tremouille, Comte de la Tremouille, The real Comte de la Tremouille

A French count involved in a peerage case.

Dr. Mulligan

minor

A doctor involved in a murder case.

Tremlett

minor

Also known as the maid Tremlett, Mr. Tremlett

A maid involved in a murder case.

Constable James Funnell

minor

Also known as James Funnell

A police constable who gives evidence.

Arthur Greenhill

minor

Also known as young Greenhill, Greenhill, Mr. Greenhill, Arthur, Mr. Greenhill senior, young Arthur Greenhill

A young man whose intimacy with a woman leads to scandal.

Frank Errington

minor

Also known as Errington, Mr. Frank Errington, Mr. Errington

A man whose mysterious death is investigated.

Andrew Campbell

minor

Also known as Campbell, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Andrew Campbell

A man suspected of murder in Scotland.

Mary Sullivan

minor

Also known as Mary, Polly

A woman involved in a mysterious death.

Mr. Chipps

minor

Also known as Chipps

A butler involved in a murder case.

Mr. James Verner

minor

Also known as Mr. Verner

A man whose death is investigated.

Mr. Reginald Pepys

minor

Also known as Mr. Pepys

A man involved in a financial scandal.

James Terry

minor

Also known as Terry

A man suspected of murder.

Mr. Buchanan

minor

A man involved in a mysterious death.

Sir John Etty

minor

Also known as old Sir John Etty, Sir John

An old baronet whose death is investigated.

Sir Marmaduke Ingersoll

minor

Also known as Sir Marmaduke

A baronet involved in a scandal.

Walter Hibbert

minor

Also known as Mr. Walter Hibbert, Mr. Hibbert

A man suspected of murder.

Mrs. Hall

minor

A landlady involved in a mystery.

Mr. Pettitt

minor

A man involved in a theft case.

Mr. Macfarlane

minor

A lawyer involved in a Scottish case.

Mrs. Chapman

minor

A woman involved in a murder case.

Signor Torriani

minor

Also known as Torriani

An Italian restaurateur involved in a case.

Peter Tyrrell

minor

A man suspected of murder.

Mr. Charles Pitt

minor

Also known as Mr. Pitt

A man involved in a forgery case.

James Buckland

minor

A man suspected of murder.

Barker

minor

A servant involved in a murder case.

Colonel McIntosh

minor

Also known as Colonel McIntosh , R.A., Colonel

A military officer involved in a case.

Dr. Mellish

minor

A doctor involved in a murder case.

Mrs. Higgins

minor

The wife of George Higgins.

Mr. Allman

minor

A man involved in a theft case.

Miss Bedford

minor

A woman involved in a mysterious death.

Emma Funnel

minor

Also known as Emma

A woman involved in a murder case.