# Merriman — The Pit-Prop Syndicate character guide > Merriman in The Pit-Prop Syndicate by Freeman Wills Crofts. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Seymour Merriman, Mr. Merriman, Edwards **First appearance:** 0001-i-the-sawmill-on-the-lesque ## Who they are A stranded English cyclist whose chance glimpse of a repainted lorry number turns an idle roadside stop into a private war on a secretive French sawmill. ## Relationships ### [Madeleine Coburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/madeleine_coburn) _romantic_ Madeleine Coburn and Merriman share a close, possibly romantic relationship, given their high interaction frequency and emotional undertones. ### [Ferriby Manager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/ferriby_manager) _professional_ The Ferriby Manager and Merriman are business colleagues, likely involved in the syndicate's timber operations. ### [Madeleine Coburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/madeleine_coburn) _romantic_ Madeleine Coburn and Merriman share a close, possibly romantic relationship, given their high interaction frequency and emotional undertones. ### [Madeleine Coburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/madeleine_coburn) _romantic_ Madeleine Coburn and Merriman share a close, possibly romantic relationship, given their high interaction frequency and emotional undertones. ### [Ferriby Manager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/ferriby_manager) _professional_ The Ferriby Manager and Merriman are business colleagues, likely involved in the syndicate's timber operations. ### [Ferriby Manager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/ferriby_manager) _professional_ The Ferriby Manager and Merriman are business colleagues, likely involved in the syndicate's timber operations. ## In the story ### [Part I: The Amateurs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/part-i-the-amateurs) Amateur investigator and protagonist; notices the changed number plate and leads the investigation. ### [The Sawmill on the Lesque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/i-the-sawmill-on-the-lesque) Junior partner in a wine firm, on a business tour; tired from cycling, he stops at a bridge and later follows a lorry into the forest. ### [An Interesting Suggestion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/ii-an-interesting-suggestion) Reluctantly shares his observations about the lorry and Miss Coburn; agrees to Hilliard's cruise proposal, secretly hoping to visit the Coburns. ### [The Start of the Cruise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/iii-the-start-of-the-cruise) Travels from London to Bordeaux, reflects on the trip and Hilliard's smuggling theory, and agrees to investigate only to ensure Miss Coburn's safety. ### [A Commercial Proposition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/iv-a-commercial-proposition) Grows increasingly conflicted, torn between suspicion and his growing feelings for Madeleine Coburn; agrees to Hilliard's plan to spy on the loading. ### [The Visit of the Girondin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/v-the-visit-of-the-girondin) Preoccupied with his growing feelings for Madeleine Coburn; resists Hilliard's plan to spy on the syndicate. ### [A Change of Venue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/vi-a-change-of-venue) Merriman agrees to leave, confesses his desire to marry Madeleine, and reluctantly supports continuing the investigation without police involvement. ### [VII: The Ferriby Depot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/vii-the-ferriby-depot) Leads the investigation, proposes the barrel hiding scheme, motivated by freeing Madeleine Coburn. ### [The Unloading of the Girondin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/viii-the-unloading-of-the-girondin) Endures a long, uncomfortable vigil inside the barrel, overhears Beamish and Bulla discussing the syndicate's suspicion of him and Hilliard, and reflects on their investigative mistakes. ### [IX: The Second Cargo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/ix-the-second-cargo) Awakened by Hilliard's theory; agrees to delay police involvement for a month to protect Madeleine. ### [X: Merriman Becomes Desperate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/x-merriman-becomes-desperate) Desperate and driven by love, he abandons investigation to propose to Madeleine, but is refused and left heartbroken. ### [An Unexpected Ally](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xi-an-unexpected-ally) Sick at heart and shaken, he remains in Bordeaux brooding over Madeleine's refusal. He later spies on the clearing and witnesses Mr. Coburn's nightly visits to the shed. ### [Part II: The Professionals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/part-ii-the-professionals) Continues his undercover investigation, posing as Edwards. ### [A Promising Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiii-a-promising-clue) Confesses to Willis about his and Hilliard's investigation into the syndicate, expresses guilt over Coburn's death, and seeks to protect Madeleine. ### [XIV: A Mystifying Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xiv-a-mystifying-discovery) Mentioned as having previously reached conclusions about the syndicate; his newspaper clue is referenced. ### [The Bordeaux Lorries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xviii-the-bordeaux-lorries) Referenced indirectly as having conducted similar surveillance at Lesque seven weeks earlier. ### [XIX: Willis Spreads His Net](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xix-willis-spreads-his-net) Anxious about the case and Madeleine's refusal to marry until it is solved; agrees to help Willis despite safety concerns. ### [XX: The Double Cross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/chapters/xx-the-double-cross) Marries Madeleine Coburn after the trial; his friend Hilliard serves as best man. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters/merriman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pit_prop_syndicate_se/characters