# Robert Ablett — The Red House Mystery character guide > Robert Ablett in The Red House Mystery by A. A. Milne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Stanton, Robert Ablett, Robert, brother Robert, Stanton Robert Ablett, Mr. Robert Ab, Mr. Robert **First appearance:** 0005-iv-the-brother-from-australia ## Snapshot Robert Ablett, Mark's rough-mannered brother from Australia, arrives at the Red House demanding to see 'dear brother Mark'—and is shot between the eyes before the tea things are cleared. ## Who they are Robert is the estranged brother whose unexpected return from Australia, announced by a letter at breakfast, throws the household into unease. He is coarse, mocking, and clearly after money, and his exchange with the lodge-keeper Amos shows a man spoiling for a confrontation. His corpse in the office is the crime that sets everything in motion, and the question of who wanted him dead—and why—hangs over every conversation that follows. ## Relationships ### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_ablett) _family_ Mark and Robert are brothers, with a history of bitter rivalry and animosity. ### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley) _rivalry_ Matthew and Robert are antagonists, with Matthew possibly involved in Robert's murder. ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _social_ Antony only briefly encounters Robert before his death, having no significant relationship. ### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley) _social_ Bill meets Robert only once, finding him unpleasant and confrontational. ### [Bill Beverley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/bill_beverley) _social_ Bill meets Robert only once, finding him unpleasant and confrontational. ### [Antony Gillingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/antony_gillingham) _social_ Antony only briefly encounters Robert before his death, having no significant relationship. ### [Matthew Cayley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/matthew_cayley) _rivalry_ Matthew and Robert are antagonists, with Matthew possibly involved in Robert's murder. ### [Mark Ablett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/mark_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) Mark's brother, who is found dead in the locked office. ### [I: Mrs. Stevens Is Frightened](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/i-mrs-stevens-is-frightened) Mark's brother from Australia, who arrives at the Red House and is described as rude and poorly dressed. ### [III: Two Men and a Body](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iii-two-men-and-a-body) Found dead in the locked office, shot between the eyes; identified by Cayley as Mark Ablett's brother. ### [IV: The Brother from Australia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/iv-the-brother-from-australia) The deceased brother from Australia; his arrival and the letter he sent are discussed, and his death is the focus of the investigation. ### [VIII: “Do You Follow Me, Watson?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/viii-do-you-follow-me-watson) Robert is the victim whose death in the office is the central mystery. ### [X: Mr. Gillingham Talks Nonsense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/x-mr-gillingham-talks-nonsense) Referenced in Antony's analysis of Elsie's overheard conversation and the possible connection to the secret passage. ### [XII: A Shadow on the Wall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xii-a-shadow-on-the-wall) Mentioned as having arrived by the 2:10 train; his body's stain remains in the office. ### [XVI: Getting Ready for the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-getting-ready-for-the-night) His death is a known fact; Antony's theory involves Cayley using Robert's arrival to frame Mark. ### [XVIII: Guesswork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-guesswork) His arrival and letter are central to the timeline being questioned. ### [XIX: The Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-inquest) Deceased; identified as the victim and brother of Mark Ablett. ### [Mr. Beverley Is Tactful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xx-mr-beverley-is-tactful) His inquest and burial are mentioned; Bill initially assumes the visitor was Robert. ### [XXI: Cayley's Apology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-cayley-s-apology) The brother Mark impersonated; his identity was used as a disguise for the murder plot. ### [XXII: Mr. Beverley Moves On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-mr-beverley-moves-on) Revealed to be Mark in disguise; his arrival and actions are part of Cayley's scheme. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_house_mystery_se/characters/robert_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