# Madeleine Coburn — The Pit-Prop Syndicate character guide

> Madeleine Coburn in The Pit-Prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Coburn, Madeleine

**First appearance:** 0005-v-the-visit-of-the-girondin

## Who they are

The sawmill manager's daughter, caught between a suitor she cannot accept and a father whose business she cannot quite defend.

## Relationships

### [Merriman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/merriman)

_romantic_

Madeleine Coburn and Merriman share a close, possibly romantic relationship, given their high interaction frequency and emotional undertones.

### [Merriman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/merriman)

_romantic_

Madeleine Coburn and Merriman share a close, possibly romantic relationship, given their high interaction frequency and emotional undertones.

### [Merriman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/merriman)

_romantic_

Madeleine Coburn and Merriman share a close, possibly romantic relationship, given their high interaction frequency and emotional undertones.

## In the story

### [Part I: The Amateurs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/part-i-the-amateurs)

Met by Merriman during the cruise; becomes a romantic interest and later refuses his proposal.

### [The Sawmill on the Lesque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/i-the-sawmill-on-the-lesque)

A young woman living near the sawmill; she assists Merriman with petrol and deflects questions about the lorry driver's behavior.

### [An Interesting Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/ii-an-interesting-suggestion)

Mentioned by Merriman; her clear eyes and embarrassed behavior when questioned about the driver suggest she knows something about the incident.

### [The Start of the Cruise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/iii-the-start-of-the-cruise)

Mentioned in Merriman's thoughts and in the discussion; Hilliard suggests she may be in danger due to her knowledge of the lorry affair.

### [A Commercial Proposition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/iv-a-commercial-proposition)

Shows anxiety and constraint despite her composure; exchanges warning glances with her father and the driver.

### [The Visit of the Girondin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/v-the-visit-of-the-girondin)

Joins the friends and her father on excursions; Merriman's romantic interest in her deepens.

### [A Change of Venue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/vi-a-change-of-venue)

Madeleine is suspected of being involved in the plot to distract the friends; Merriman's affection for her complicates the investigation.

### [IX: The Second Cargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/ix-the-second-cargo)

Referenced as the reason Merriman wants to avoid police involvement.

### [X: Merriman Becomes Desperate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/x-merriman-becomes-desperate)

Reveals her love for Merriman but refuses his proposal due to her father's peril; shares her theory about forged notes.

### [An Unexpected Ally](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xi-an-unexpected-ally)

Meets Merriman in the lane, admits she loves him but refuses him due to fear of disgrace from her father's syndicate involvement. She flees when a lorry approaches.

### [XII: Murder!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xii-murder)

Mentioned indirectly via the photograph found in the victim's pocketbook; Willis seeks to trace her.

### [A Promising Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiii-a-promising-clue)

Provides details about her father's financial troubles and his role in the syndicate; is grieving and staying with an aunt in Eastbourne.

### [XIV: A Mystifying Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiv-a-mystifying-discovery)

Her surmise about her father's employment is confirmed by Willis's inquiries.

### [XIX: Willis Spreads His Net](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xix-willis-spreads-his-net)

Recovering from her father's death; reluctantly agrees to write a deceptive letter to Captain Beamish to expose the syndicate.

### [XX: The Double Cross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xx-the-double-cross)

Marries Merriman at Holy Trinity Church, Eastbourne, following the conclusion of the case.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/madeleine_coburn
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters