# Reuben Hornby — The Red Thumbmark character guide > Reuben Hornby in The Red Thumbmark by R. Austin Freeman. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Reuben Hornby, Mr. Hornby, Reuben **First appearance:** 0001-the-red-thumbmark ## Snapshot A young man whose left thumbprint matches the mark found in his uncle's plundered safe, Reuben faces ruin not from proof of guilt but from the impossibility of explaining it. ## Who they are Reuben is the nephew and trusted employee of John Hornby, a diamond merchant whose safe was opened and whose gems vanished, leaving behind a thumbprint that Mrs. Hornby's own Thumbograph confirmed as Reuben's. His own solicitor urges him to plead guilty and beg for mercy, a recommendation that leaves Reuben flushed and silent, and even his fiancée's devotion meets his cool, unappreciative stoicism. He matters because the story's central question is not whether the print is his but how it came to be there, and his refusal to accept the easy narrative of his own guilt keeps the case alive. ## Relationships ### [Juliet Gibson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/juliet_gibson) _romantic_ Juliet is Reuben's fiancée, deeply in love with him and fiercely loyal despite his legal troubles. ### [Walter Hornby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/walter_hornby) _family_ Reuben and Walter are brothers, but their relationship is marked by suspicion and rivalry over the family business. ### [Mrs. Hornby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/mrs_hornby) _family_ Mrs. Hornby is Reuben's devoted mother, who believes in his innocence and fights to clear his name. ### [Juliet Gibson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/juliet_gibson) _romantic_ Juliet is Reuben's fiancée, deeply in love with him and fiercely loyal despite his legal troubles. ### [Mrs. Hornby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/mrs_hornby) _family_ Mrs. Hornby is Reuben's devoted mother, who believes in his innocence and fights to clear his name. ### [Mrs. Hornby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/mrs_hornby) _family_ Mrs. Hornby is Reuben's devoted mother, who believes in his innocence and fights to clear his name. ### [Walter Hornby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/walter_hornby) _family_ Reuben and Walter are brothers, but their relationship is marked by suspicion and rivalry over the family business. ### [Juliet Gibson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/juliet_gibson) _romantic_ Juliet is Reuben's fiancée, deeply in love with him and fiercely loyal despite his legal troubles. ### [Walter Hornby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/walter_hornby) _family_ Reuben and Walter are brothers, but their relationship is marked by suspicion and rivalry over the family business. ## In the story ### [The Red Thumbmark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/the-red-thumbmark) The accused, whose thumbprint is the key piece of evidence against him. ### [My Learned Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/i-my-learned-brother) A young man in distress; client of Mr. Lawley seeking Thorndyke's help. ### [II: The Suspect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/ii-the-suspect) The accused, maintains his innocence and asks Thorndyke to defend him on that assumption. ### [III: A Lady in the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/iii-a-lady-in-the-case) Subject of the case; Miss Gibson expresses firm belief in his innocence and praises his character. ### [IV: Confidences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/iv-confidences) Referenced as the accused; Mrs. Hornby and Juliet express their belief in his innocence and concern for his peril. ### [Committed for Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/vi-committed-for-trial) Committed for trial; discussed as a man of honour facing a bewildering accusation. ### [Shoals and Quicksands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/vii-shoals-and-quicksands) Has been committed for trial and is detained in Holloway prison; the central figure of the case. ### [A Suspicious Accident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/viii-a-suspicious-accident) Discussed as the accused; Thorndyke expresses conviction of his innocence. ### [IX: The Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/ix-the-prisoner) Imprisoned in Holloway, speaks with Jervis through a double grating, shows calm acceptance of his situation. ### [X: Polton Is Mystified](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/x-polton-is-mystified) Mentioned as having helped bandage Juliet's finger, leaving bloody fingerprints on papers in Mr. Hornby's study. ### [XII: It Might Have Been](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/xii-it-might-have-been) Awaiting trial; Jervis and Juliet visit him in prison. ### [XV: The Fingerprint Experts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/xv-the-fingerprint-experts) The prisoner, appears calm and self-possessed in the dock, pleads not guilty. ### [XVI: Thorndyke Plays His Card](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/xvi-thorndyke-plays-his-card) The defendant, who is acquitted after Thorndyke's evidence proves the thumbprint is a forgery. ### [At Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/chapters/xvii-at-last) Acquitted and celebrating with family and friends; asks Jervis to escort Juliet. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters/reuben_hornby - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_red_thumbmark_se/characters