# Sir Arthur Digby-Coates — The Rasp character guide > Sir Arthur Digby-Coates in The Rasp by Philip MacDonald. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sir Arthur, Arthur Digby, Digby-Coates **First appearance:** 0003-i-tolling-the-bell ## Snapshot A kindly, furious Cabinet Minister who wants the killer of his oldest friend caught and tortured, and whose grief makes him a difficult man to read. ## Who they are Sir Arthur is the deceased's closest friend and a guest at Abbotshall, and he throws himself into the investigation with a rage that startles even Gethryn — he speaks of torture, of sleepless nights, of getting his hands on the animal who did it. He also quietly arranges books, cigars, and Marshall, K.C. for the man accused of the crime, a generosity that sits oddly beside his fury. His grief and his interventions keep the reader guessing where his loyalties truly lie. ## Relationships ### [Anthony Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/anthony_gethryn) _professional_ Anthony Gethryn works as a detective investigating the murder of Sir Arthur Digby-Coates, with frequent interactions driven by the case. ### [Colonel Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/colonel_gethryn) _social_ Colonel Gethryn and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates are acquaintances or friends, with interactions suggesting a social connection. ### [Mr. Deacon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/mr_deacon) _professional_ Mr. Deacon and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates have a professional relationship, likely as colleagues or business associates. ### [John Hoode](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/john_hoode) _professional_ John Hoode and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates have a professional relationship, possibly as employer-employee or colleagues. ### [Mr. Belford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/mr_belford) _professional_ Mr. Belford and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates have a professional relationship, possibly as business partners or colleagues. ### [Miss Margaret Warren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/miss_margaret_warren) _social_ Miss Margaret Warren and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates are social acquaintances, with interactions suggesting a formal social connection. ### [Anthony Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/anthony_gethryn) _professional_ Anthony Gethryn works as a detective investigating the murder of Sir Arthur Digby-Coates, with frequent interactions driven by the case. ### [Colonel Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/colonel_gethryn) _social_ Colonel Gethryn and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates are acquaintances or friends, with interactions suggesting a social connection. ### [Anthony Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/anthony_gethryn) _professional_ Anthony Gethryn works as a detective investigating the murder of Sir Arthur Digby-Coates, with frequent interactions driven by the case. ### [John Hoode](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/john_hoode) _professional_ John Hoode and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates have a professional relationship, possibly as employer-employee or colleagues. ### [Mr. Deacon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/mr_deacon) _professional_ Mr. Deacon and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates have a professional relationship, likely as colleagues or business associates. ### [Colonel Gethryn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/colonel_gethryn) _social_ Colonel Gethryn and Sir Arthur Digby-Coates are acquaintances or friends, with interactions suggesting a social connection. ## In the story ### [Tolling the Bell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/i-tolling-the-bell) Guest and close friend of John Hoode; mentioned in the dictated article. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as a guest and close friend of John Hoode. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii) Meets Anthony by coincidence; expresses shock and desire for Anthony's help in the Hoode case. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iii) Present at the dinner and bridge game; has an alibi and is not suspected. ### [The Lady of the Sandal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/v-the-lady-of-the-sandal) Meets Anthony near the Lemesurier house and invites him to lunch; expresses grief over John Hoode's murder. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii) Visits Lucia's house with Anthony; informs Dora and Lucia about John Hoode's death; invites Anthony to lunch. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iii) A guest at the lunch, initially gloomy but cheered by Anthony's stories. He helps minister to Lucia after she faints and leaves with Anthony. ### [Secretary and the Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/vi-secretary-and-the-sister) Walks with Anthony, buys newspapers, and vents his desire for vengeance. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/i) A friend of the deceased who provides information about the missing banknotes and is visibly affected by the tragedy. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii) Finds Anthony exhausted and prescribes a drink. ### [X: Birds of the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/x-birds-of-the-air) Agitatedly informs Anthony of Deacon's arrest and expresses guilt over his own testimony. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/i) Agitated and guilt-ridden, he tells Anthony about Deacon's arrest and his own damaging testimony. ### [The Bow and Arrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xi-the-bow-and-arrow) Interacts with Anthony in the study, expresses distress about the murder, and later realizes he was sitting by the window above the study during the crime. ### [Exhibits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xii-exhibits) Mentioned as having provided Deacon with books, cigars, and legal arrangements. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/iii) Discusses the wood-rasp with Anthony, confirming it does not belong to Abbotshall. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as having engaged solicitor Crabbe for Deacon's defense. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii) Found in his sitting-room with notes on the case; directs Anthony to the reference library. ### [Revelation and the Sparrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xvi-revelation-and-the-sparrow) Confronted by Anthony with the revelation that the body is not John Hoode's; later arrested and found with a toupee, confirming Anthony's theory. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/ii) Confronted by Anthony; initially disbelieving, later revealed to be the murderer, now mad. ### [XVII: By The Owl’s Commissioner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/xvii-by-the-owl-s-commissioner) Identified by Anthony as the murderer; his alibi is disproven. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/chapters/i) Revealed by Anthony as the real perpetrator; Lucia expresses lack of surprise. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters/sir_arthur_digby_coates - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rasp_se/characters