# Bill Beverley — The Red House Mystery character guide > Bill Beverley in The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Bill, Good old Bill, Bill Beverly, Beverley, Dear old Bill, William Beverley, William **First appearance:** 0003-ii-mr-gillingham-gets-out-at-the-wrong-station ## Snapshot Cheerful, loyal Bill Beverley is Antony's old friend and eager sidekick, a blazer-wearing golfer whose warmth makes him a useful, if trusting, partner in the hunt. ## Who they are Bill is a guest at the Red House, friendly with everyone from the Major to Cayley, and he instinctively assumes the best of people he has shared breakfast and billiards with. That very openness makes him a foil to Antony's suspicions, and his inside knowledge of the house and its routines becomes quietly valuable. His readiness to believe Cayley innocent is exactly the kind of assumption the mystery keeps testing. ## Relationships ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _friendship_ Close friends and companions, with Bill often assisting Antony in his amateur detective work. ### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley) _rivalry_ Bill is suspicious of Matthew and often clashes with him over the investigation. ### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett) _friendship_ Bill is a loyal friend to Mark, though he becomes troubled by Mark's possible guilt. ### [Robert Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/robert_ablett) _social_ Bill meets Robert only once, finding him unpleasant and confrontational. ### [Miss Norris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/miss_norris) _social_ Bill interacts with Miss Norris as a fellow guest and witness, with no strong bond. ### [Betty Calladine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/betty_calladine) _romantic_ Betty is Bill's love interest, and their interactions are flirtatious and affectionate. ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _friendship_ Close friends and companions, with Bill often assisting Antony in his amateur detective work. ### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley) _rivalry_ Bill is suspicious of Matthew and often clashes with him over the investigation. ### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett) _friendship_ Bill is a loyal friend to Mark, though he becomes troubled by Mark's possible guilt. ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _friendship_ Close friends and companions, with Bill often assisting Antony in his amateur detective work. ### [Robert Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/robert_ablett) _social_ Bill meets Robert only once, finding him unpleasant and confrontational. ### [Miss Norris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/miss_norris) _social_ Bill interacts with Miss Norris as a fellow guest and witness, with no strong bond. ## In the story ### [The Red House Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/the-red-house-mystery) Antony's friend who is staying at the Red House and accompanies him during the investigation. ### [Mr. Gillingham Gets Out at the Wrong Station](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/ii-mr-gillingham-gets-out-at-the-wrong-station) A cheerful young guest at the Red House; jokes with the Major and comments on the news about Robert. ### [III: Two Men and a Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iii-two-men-and-a-body) Antony's old friend; out playing golf at the time of the incident; expected to return shortly. ### [IV: The Brother from Australia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iv-the-brother-from-australia) Returns with the golf party and is greeted by Antony, who informs him of the tragedy. ### [VI: Outside or Inside?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/vi-outside-or-inside) Joins Antony on the garden seat, asks about the murder, and accompanies Antony to the inn. ### [VII: Portrait of a Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/vii-portrait-of-a-gentleman) Bill provides insights into Mark's controlling nature and Cayley's quiet demeanor, revealing his own discomfort with Mark's arrangements. ### [VIII: “Do You Follow Me, Watson?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/viii-do-you-follow-me-watson) Bill is Antony's friend and sounding board, initially reluctant to suspect Cayley but gradually following Antony's logic. ### [IX: Possibilities of a Croquet Set](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/ix-possibilities-of-a-croquet-set) Accompanies Antony, shares details about the ghost sighting, and expresses excitement about secret passages. ### [X: Mr. Gillingham Talks Nonsense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/x-mr-gillingham-talks-nonsense) Enters noisily, excited about the investigation; accompanies Antony to the pond and discusses the secret passage. ### [XI: The Reverend Theodore Ussher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xi-the-reverend-theodore-ussher) Assists Antony in the search, expresses eagerness to explore the passage, and struggles with the moral implications of finding Mark. ### [XII: A Shadow on the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xii-a-shadow-on-the-wall) Assists Antony in the reenactment and agrees to watch Cayley with him. ### [XIII: The Open Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-the-open-window) Listens to Antony's theory with excitement, then eagerly agrees to stalk Cayley near the pond. He finds the whole investigation 'glorious fun' and looks forward to exploring the secret passage. ### [Mr. Beverley Qualifies for the Stage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-mr-beverley-qualifies-for-the-stage) Covers for Antony by pretending to read and tapping a warning on the shelves when Cayley returns. ### [XV: Mrs. Norbury Confides in Dear Mr. Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xv-mrs-norbury-confides-in-dear-mr-gillingham) Accompanies Antony to Jallands and delivers Cayley's letter to Miss Norbury. ### [XVI: Getting Ready for the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-getting-ready-for-the-night) Listens to Antony's theory, agrees to the plan, and offers to create a dummy figure in his bed. ### [Mr. Beverley Takes the Water](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-mr-beverley-takes-the-water) Proposes alternative theories about Mark's escape, prepares a dummy in his bed, and waits in hiding to observe Cayley. ### [XVIII: Guesswork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-guesswork) Engages in the guesswork, initially disappointed but then excited by the collar clue. ### [XIX: The Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-inquest) Gives evidence about Mark's letter and his reaction; provides whispered commentary to Antony. ### [Mr. Beverley Is Tactful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xx-mr-beverley-is-tactful) Tactfully investigates at the Plough and Horses; reports a woman stayed Monday night; is enthusiastic but kept in suspense. ### [XXI: Cayley's Apology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-cayley-s-apology) Mentioned as a good fellow whom Cayley asks Antony to look after. ### [XXII: Mr. Beverley Moves On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-mr-beverley-moves-on) Listens to Antony's explanation, expresses surprise, and asks about the Plough and Horses ruse. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters