# Mark Ablett — The Red House Mystery character guide > Mark Ablett in The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Mark Ablett, Mr. Mark, Dapper little Mark, Mark, Mark Ablett, Mr. Ablett, kind Cousin Mark, Mister Mark Ablett **First appearance:** 0002-i-mrs-stevens-is-frightened ## Snapshot Dapper, theatrical Mark Ablett owns the Red House and its odd collection of guests, a host whose charm and vanity make his sudden disappearance the mystery's beating heart. ## Who they are Mark is the wealthy cousin whose hospitality draws artists, actors, and hangers-on to the Red House, and whose unwelcome brother Robert arrives from Australia demanding money. He is generous and self-absorbed in equal measure, a man who likes to do the talking and to be admired. His vanishing the same afternoon Robert is shot turns a country-house weekend into a manhunt and forces everyone to reconsider how well they knew their host. ## Relationships ### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley) _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) _psychological_ Antony is fascinated by Mark's behavior and suspects him of being a manipulator or murderer. ### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley) _professional_ Matthew is Mark's secretary and business manager, but their relationship is strained by distrust. ### [Robert Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/robert_ablett) _family_ Mark and Robert are brothers, with a history of bitter rivalry and animosity. ### [Miss Norris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/miss_norris) _professional_ Miss Norris is Mark's housekeeper, and their interactions are formal and businesslike. ### [Inspector Birch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/inspector_birch) _professional_ Inspector Birch interrogates Mark as a primary suspect in the murder investigation. ### [Mrs. Stevens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mrs_stevens) _professional_ Mrs. Stevens works as Mark's cook, and their relationship is strictly employer-employee. ### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley) _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) _psychological_ Antony is fascinated by Mark's behavior and suspects him of being a manipulator or murderer. ### [Inspector Birch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/inspector_birch) _professional_ Inspector Birch interrogates Mark as a primary suspect in the murder investigation. ### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley) _professional_ Matthew is Mark's secretary and business manager, but their relationship is strained by distrust. ### [Robert Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/robert_ablett) _family_ Mark and Robert are brothers, with a history of bitter rivalry and animosity. ## In the story ### [The Red House Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/the-red-house-mystery) Owner of the Red House, whose brother Robert is the murder victim. ### [I: Mrs. Stevens Is Frightened](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/i-mrs-stevens-is-frightened) The master of the Red House, who announced his brother's visit at breakfast and is not found in the office or Temple. ### [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) Host at the Red House; receives a letter announcing his brother Robert's impending visit, which visibly upsets him. ### [III: Two Men and a Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iii-two-men-and-a-body) Mentioned as the brother of the victim and cousin of Cayley; absent from the scene; implied to have been the last person with Robert before the shot. ### [IV: The Brother from Australia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iv-the-brother-from-australia) Mentioned as having received the letter from Robert, coming downstairs, entering the office, and being absent after the shot; his whereabouts and actions are central to the inquiry. ### [Mr. Gillingham Chooses a New Profession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/v-mr-gillingham-chooses-a-new-profession) Missing and presumed by the Inspector to have shot his brother Robert. ### [VII: Portrait of a Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/vii-portrait-of-a-gentleman) Described as vain, self-important, and a meticulous host who arranges his guests' activities, leaving them feeling constrained. ### [VIII: “Do You Follow Me, Watson?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/viii-do-you-follow-me-watson) Mark is discussed as the possible shooter, but Antony questions whether he would commit such a foolish murder. ### [X: Mr. Gillingham Talks Nonsense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/x-mr-gillingham-talks-nonsense) Discussed as possibly having drowned himself or escaped via the secret passage; Antony theorizes he discovered the passage a year ago. ### [XI: The Reverend Theodore Ussher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xi-the-reverend-theodore-ussher) Referenced as the one who rearranged the library and discovered the secret passage a year ago; his potential hiding place is the focus of the chapter. ### [XII: A Shadow on the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xii-a-shadow-on-the-wall) Suspected of catching the 4:20 train to London; described as well-to-do and volatile. ### [XIII: The Open Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-the-open-window) Discussed as the shooter of Robert and as having a distinctive high-pitched voice. Antony theorizes that Mark consulted Cayley after the shooting and then hid in the secret passage. ### [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) Discussed by Mrs. Norbury as the intended husband for Angela; his whereabouts remain unknown. ### [XVI: Getting Ready for the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-getting-ready-for-the-night) Believed by Antony to be dead, his body hidden in the secret passage. ### [Mr. Beverley Takes the Water](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-mr-beverley-takes-the-water) Discussed as possibly having escaped with Cayley's help or having been killed by Cayley. ### [XVIII: Guesswork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-guesswork) Subject of suspicion; Antony argues he knew about Robert's visit earlier than claimed. ### [Mr. Beverley Is Tactful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xx-mr-beverley-is-tactful) Discussed in Antony's questions; known to love acting, visit dentist Cartwright, and hate swimming. ### [XXI: Cayley's Apology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-cayley-s-apology) Described as vain, artistic, and a heavy drinker; Cayley manipulated him into impersonating Robert before killing him. ### [XXII: Mr. Beverley Moves On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-mr-beverley-moves-on) Revealed to have disguised himself as Robert; his finicky habits and acting background are discussed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters