# Polly Burton — The Old Man in the Corner character guide > Polly Burton in The Old Man in the Corner by Baroness Orczy. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Burton, Miss Mary J. Burton, Miss Polly Burton, Miss Polly **First appearance:** 0001-the-old-man-in-the-corner ## Who they are 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. ## Relationships ### [Lady Donaldson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/lady_donaldson) _social_ Lady Donaldson and Polly Burton interact as acquaintances within the social circles of the stories. ### [Richard Frobisher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/richard_frobisher) _romantic_ Polly Burton and Richard Frobisher are engaged or romantically involved, with Richard being a supportive partner. ### [David Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/david_graham) _social_ David Graham and Polly Burton are acquaintances who meet through social or investigative circumstances. ### [Lady Donaldson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/lady_donaldson) _social_ Lady Donaldson and Polly Burton interact as acquaintances within the social circles of the stories. ### [Richard Frobisher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/richard_frobisher) _romantic_ Polly Burton and Richard Frobisher are engaged or romantically involved, with Richard being a supportive partner. ### [Richard Frobisher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/richard_frobisher) _romantic_ Polly Burton and Richard Frobisher are engaged or romantically involved, with Richard being a supportive partner. ### [David Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/david_graham) _social_ David Graham and Polly Burton are acquaintances who meet through social or investigative circumstances. ### [Lady Donaldson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/lady_donaldson) _social_ Lady Donaldson and Polly Burton interact as acquaintances within the social circles of the stories. ## In the story ### [The Old Man in the Corner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/the-old-man-in-the-corner) The journalist who meets the old man and listens to his explanations of unsolved mysteries. ### [I: The Fenchurch Street Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/i-the-fenchurch-street-mystery) A journalist for the Evening Observer, she is initially skeptical of the Old Man in the Corner but becomes fascinated by his account of the Fenchurch Street mystery. ### [II: A Millionaire in the Dock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/ii-a-millionaire-in-the-dock) Eagerly listens to the Old Man's account of the Smethurst case. ### [III: His Deduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/iii-his-deduction) Listens to the Old Man's deduction, expressing disbelief and bewilderment. ### [IV: The Robbery in Phillimore Terrace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/iv-the-robbery-in-phillimore-terrace) Returns to the A.B.C. shop and listens to the Old Man in the Corner's account of the Phillimore Terrace robbery. ### [A Night’s Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/v-a-night-s-adventure) Listener to the Old Man's story; noted for her look at the bit of string. ### [VI: All He Knew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/vi-all-he-knew) Listens to the Old Man's explanation and interjects with questions about Mr. Knopf. ### [VII: The York Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/vii-the-york-mystery) Listener to the Old Man's story, shown photographs of Lady Arthur Skelmerton. ### [VIII: The Capital Charge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/viii-the-capital-charge) Listener to the Old Man's narrative. ### [IX: A Brokenhearted Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/ix-a-brokenhearted-woman) Listens to the Old Man's reasoning and expresses bewilderment, but ultimately feels thankful the case remained a mystery. ### [X: The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/x-the-mysterious-death-on-the-underground-railway) The listener to the Old Man in the Corner's narrative; she is addressed directly as 'Polly' and is the audience for the recounting of the case. ### [XI: Mr. Errington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xi-mr-errington) The listener to the Old Man's explanation, who misses her appointment with Mr. Richard Frobisher. ### [XII: The Liverpool Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xii-the-liverpool-mystery) Listener to the Old Man's story; engages in discussion about foreign swindlers. ### [A Cunning Rascal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xiii-a-cunning-rascal) Listens to the Old Man's account and questions his conclusions. ### [XIV: The Edinburgh Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xiv-the-edinburgh-mystery) The journalist listening to the Old Man's account; she expresses skepticism and sympathy for the accused. ### [XVII: Undeniable Facts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xvii-undeniable-facts) Engages in debate with the Old Man, initially convinced of Edith Crawford's guilt but challenged by his reasoning. ### [XVIII: The Theft at the English Provident Bank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xviii-the-theft-at-the-english-provident-bank) Listens to the Old Man's account and offers him a piece of string to aid his storytelling. ### [An Alibi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xx-an-alibi) Listener to the old man's explanation of the bank theft case. ### [XXI: The Dublin Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxi-the-dublin-mystery) Listens to the Old Man's account and engages with his insights on the case. ### [XXIII: A Memorable Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxiii-a-memorable-day) The listener, who engages in discussion about the case and the axiom of seeking whom the crime benefits. ### [The Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xv-the-prisoner) The listener to whom the Old Man recounts the story. ### [XXVII: Two Blackguards](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxvii-two-blackguards) Polly listens to the Old Man's analysis of the case, initially skeptical but eventually convinced by his reasoning. ### [XXVIII: The Regent's Park Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxviii-the-regent-s-park-murder) Listener to the Old Man's account of the Regent's Park murder. ### [The Motive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxix-the-motive) Listener to the Old Man's story; her reactions are implied by his sarcastic smiles. ### [XXX: Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxx-friends) Engages with the Old Man's theory about the Regent's Park murder, showing her own acumen but ultimately being convinced by his explanation. ### [The de Genneville Peerage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxxi-the-de-genneville-peerage) Listens to the Old Man's account and offers a comment on the technical knowledge required for peerage cases. ### [XXXIII: The Living and the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-living-and-the-dead) Polly listens to the Old Man's explanation and is left puzzled and doubtful. ### [The Mysterious Death in Percy Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-mysterious-death-in-percy-street) Visits the A.B.C. shop with the fixed purpose of hearing the old man's views on Mrs. Owen's death; she is annoyed by his evasiveness and tries to nettle his vanity. ### [XXXV: Suicide or Murder?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxxv-suicide-or-murder) Polly listens to the old man's explanation of the case and asks questions about the nephew. ### [XXXVI: The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/chapters/xxxvi-the-end) Has a sudden flash of insight connecting the Old Man's string-tying habit to the murder scene. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters/polly_burton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_man_in_the_corner_se/characters