# Matthew Cayley — The Red House Mystery character guide > Matthew Cayley in The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Cayley, Cayley, Matthew Cayley, Faithful Cayley, Cay, Mr. Matthew Cay **First appearance:** 0002-i-mrs-stevens-is-frightened ## Snapshot Solid, dependable Matthew Cayley runs Mark Ablett's affairs and the Red House itself, a heavy-jawed, unchatty cousin whose composure after the murder is almost too good. ## Who they are Cayley is cousin, secretary, land-agent, and companion rolled into one, the man Mark leans on and calls 'Cay'—and the first person on the scene when Robert's body is found. He is practical, discreet, and visibly shaken, yet his calm explanations and his habit of steering the conversation away from awkward questions make Antony watch him closely. As the household's fixer, he sits at the center of everything the investigation must untangle. ## Relationships ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _rivalry_ Antony suspects Matthew of involvement in the murder, leading to a tense adversarial dynamic. ### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley) _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) _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) _rivalry_ Matthew and Robert are antagonists, with Matthew possibly involved in Robert's murder. ### [Inspector Birch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/inspector_birch) _professional_ Inspector Birch questions Matthew as a suspect, maintaining a formal but suspicious tone. ### [Miss Norris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/miss_norris) _professional_ Matthew and Miss Norris interact as fellow staff members in Mark's household. ### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley) _rivalry_ Bill is suspicious of Matthew and often clashes with him over the investigation. ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _rivalry_ Antony suspects Matthew of involvement in the murder, leading to a tense adversarial dynamic. ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _rivalry_ Antony suspects Matthew of involvement in the murder, leading to a tense adversarial dynamic. ### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett) _professional_ Matthew is Mark's secretary and business manager, but their relationship is strained by distrust. ### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley) _rivalry_ Bill is suspicious of Matthew and often clashes with him over the investigation. ### [Robert Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/robert_ablett) _rivalry_ Matthew and Robert are antagonists, with Matthew possibly involved in Robert's murder. ## In the story ### [The Red House Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/the-red-house-mystery) Mark's cousin and secretary, present at the scene and later involved in the cover-up. ### [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) Mark's dependable cousin and assistant; present at breakfast and involved in the discussion about Robert's arrival. ### [III: Two Men and a Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iii-two-men-and-a-body) Mark Ablett's cousin and resident at the Red House; hears a shot from the locked office; discovers the body of Robert Ablett; initially fears the victim is Mark; telephones the police. ### [IV: The Brother from Australia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iv-the-brother-from-australia) Provides detailed account of the afternoon's events to Inspector Birch, including the letter from Robert, Mark's reaction, and the sequence leading to the shot. ### [Mr. Gillingham Chooses a New Profession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/v-mr-gillingham-chooses-a-new-profession) Shows suspicious behavior by taking the longest route to the office windows, which Antony analyzes in detail. ### [VI: Outside or Inside?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/vi-outside-or-inside) Informs Antony and Bill about the warrant for Mark's arrest, discusses the accidental killing theory, and arranges for luggage transport. ### [VII: Portrait of a Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/vii-portrait-of-a-gentleman) Portrayed as heavy, quiet, and protective of Mark; Antony suspects he knows more than he admits and may have been an accessory after the fact. ### [VIII: “Do You Follow Me, Watson?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/viii-do-you-follow-me-watson) Cayley is the prime suspect in Antony's eyes; he altered the keys to cover up his knowledge of Robert's death. ### [IX: Possibilities of a Croquet Set](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/ix-possibilities-of-a-croquet-set) Seen approaching the shed after Antony's discovery; Antony suspects him of villainy and of hiding something in the croquet box. ### [X: Mr. Gillingham Talks Nonsense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/x-mr-gillingham-talks-nonsense) At breakfast, mentions the inspector's plan to drag the pond; Antony observes his calm demeanor and hidden feelings. ### [XI: The Reverend Theodore Ussher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xi-the-reverend-theodore-ussher) Mentioned as a potential obstacle; Antony notes they cannot search his bedroom or risk being caught by him. ### [XII: A Shadow on the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xii-a-shadow-on-the-wall) Implied to have closed the door quietly to hide his actions; suggested the pond drag to the inspector. ### [XIII: The Open Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-the-open-window) Portrayed as the orchestrator of the cover-up: he locked the office door, ran ahead to open the window, and has been manipulating evidence. Antony suspects he may have hidden Mark's clothes in the pond. ### [Mr. Beverley Qualifies for the Stage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-mr-beverley-qualifies-for-the-stage) Returns to the library while Antony is in the passage; writes a letter and asks Bill to deliver it to Jallands. ### [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) Suspected by Antony of using their absence for secret activities; his letter to Miss Norbury is delivered. ### [XVI: Getting Ready for the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-getting-ready-for-the-night) Is the subject of Antony's theory; suspected of killing Mark and planning to dispose of the body; interacts with Bill and Antony in the hall. ### [Mr. Beverley Takes the Water](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-mr-beverley-takes-the-water) Suggests a stroll after dinner, plays billiards, and later rows to the middle of the pond to sink a small bag. ### [XVIII: Guesswork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-guesswork) Implied to have hidden the clothes, but the missing collar complicates the theory. ### [XIX: The Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-inquest) Gives careful, unemotional testimony at the inquest, mixing lies with truth; Antony notes his odd attractiveness. ### [Mr. Beverley Is Tactful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xx-mr-beverley-is-tactful) Mentioned as having acted in the play; Antony confirms he did not kill Robert. ### [XXI: Cayley's Apology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-cayley-s-apology) Writes a full confession letter to Antony, detailing his motive and method for murdering Mark Ablett. ### [XXII: Mr. Beverley Moves On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-mr-beverley-moves-on) Implied to have committed suicide; his plot and manipulation of events are analyzed. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters