# Tommy Beresford — The Secret Adversary character guide > Tommy Beresford in The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lieutenant Thomas Beresford, Thomas Beresford, Beresford, Tommy Beresford, young Beresford, Mr. Beresford, Mr. T. Beresford **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-young-adventurers-ltd ## Snapshot A demobbed subaltern with more nerve than prospects, Tommy stumbles into a conspiracy of masked men and answers an ad that changes everything. ## Who they are Fresh out of the army and short on cash, Tommy is the steadier half of the accidental partnership Young Adventurers, Ltd., the one who recognizes faces and keeps his head while hiding behind curtains at a clandestine meeting. What he overhears there — a roomful of uneasy men, a leader who never shows his face, the whispered name Mr. Brown — turns a lark into something far more dangerous. His willingness to trust the right stranger, and his quiet instinct for when to speak and when to keep still, make him the story's unlikely hinge. ## Relationships ### [Tuppence Cowley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tuppence_cowley) _friendship_ Childhood friends and adventurous partners who work together as amateur detectives. ### [Mr. Carter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mr_carter) _professional_ Intelligence handler who gives Tommy missions and provides resources for the investigation. ### [Janet Vandemeyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/janet_vandemeyer) _rivalry_ Dangerous femme fatale who captures and threatens Tommy to extract secrets. ### [Conrad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/conrad) _rivalry_ German agent who physically confronts and attempts to kill Tommy. ### [Sir James Peel Edgerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/sir_james_peel_edgerton) _professional_ Prominent lawyer who provides legal advice and strategic support to Tommy. ### [Mr. Whittington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mr_whittington) _rivalry_ Criminal contact who tries to eliminate Tommy to protect the conspiracy. ### [Mr. Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mr_brown) _rivalry_ Shadowy antagonist who orchestrates threats and traps against Tommy. ### [Boris Ivanovitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/boris_ivanovitch) _rivalry_ Brutal enemy agent who physically attacks and interrogates Tommy. ### [Mrs. Vandemeyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/mrs_vandemeyer) _rivalry_ Cold and manipulative captor who tries to break Tommy's will. ### [Tuppence Cowley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tuppence_cowley) _friendship_ Childhood friends and adventurous partners who work together as amateur detectives. ### [Tuppence Cowley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tuppence_cowley) _friendship_ Childhood friends and adventurous partners who work together as amateur detectives. ### [Sir James Peel Edgerton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/sir_james_peel_edgerton) _professional_ Prominent lawyer who provides legal advice and strategic support to Tommy. ## In the story ### [The Secret Adversary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/the-secret-adversary) Reunites with Tuppence in London; agrees to form a partnership for adventure. ### [The Young Adventurers, Ltd.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/i-the-young-adventurers-ltd) Reunites with Tuppence at Dover Street Tube exit; admits to being 'stony' after his gratuity is spent; agrees to form the Young Adventurers, Ltd. ### [II: Mr. Whittington's Offer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/ii-mr-whittington-s-offer) Tommy is mentioned as the recipient of Tuppence's telegram and is later surprised by her arrival in a taxi. ### [A Set Back](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/iii-a-set-back) Tommy is surprised by Tuppence's windfall and recalls that he originally told her the name Jane Finn. He expresses concern about the risks of their scheme and agrees to help sleuth Mr. Whittington. ### [IV: Who Is Jane Finn?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/iv-who-is-jane-finn) Tommy recognizes Mr. Carter from his Intelligence work in France and defers to him, showing his respect for authority. ### [Mr. Julius P. Hersheimmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/v-mr-julius-p-hersheimmer) Accompanies Tuppence to meet Julius Hersheimmer and later to see Mr. Carter; acts as the more cautious partner. ### [VI: A Plan of Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/vi-a-plan-of-campaign) Collaborates with Tuppence and Julius, devises a clever ruse to gather information, and follows Whittington after spotting him. ### [VII: The House in Soho](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/vii-the-house-in-soho) Follows Whittington and Boris, overhears conversation about Mr. Brown, enlists Julius, and impulsively enters the Soho house. ### [VIII: The Adventures of Tommy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/viii-the-adventures-of-tommy) Tommy audaciously enters the house, hides in a recess, and observes the secret meeting, deducing the password system and the identities of the conspirators. ### [IX: Tuppence Enters Domestic Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/ix-tuppence-enters-domestic-service) Tommy is absent for most of the chapter, having set off to follow the two men; he sends a postcard with the message 'It's OK'. ### [XI: Julius Tells a Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xi-julius-tells-a-story) Mentioned as missing; last seen at Waterloo station trailing a crook. ### [A Friend in Need](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xii-a-friend-in-need) Missing; Tuppence is deeply worried about him and seeks Sir James's aid to find him. ### [A Consultation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xiv-a-consultation) Not present in this chapter. ### [XV: Tuppence Receives a Proposal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xv-tuppence-receives-a-proposal) Mentioned in Tuppence's thoughts and photograph; a telegram from him arrives at the end of the chapter. ### [XVI: Further Adventures of Tommy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xvi-further-adventures-of-tommy) Recovers from a blow to the head, bluffing his way out of immediate execution by claiming knowledge of the papers and demanding to see Jane Finn. ### [Annette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xvii-annette) Imprisoned and hungry, he plans an escape, is helped by Annette, and later escapes the house. ### [The Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xviii-the-telegram) Reacts with jealousy and resentment upon learning of Julius's proposal to Tuppence, then shifts to admiration after reading her refusal note. Takes charge of investigating Tuppence's disappearance. ### [XIX: Jane Finn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xix-jane-finn) Relieved Jane Finn is found but anxious about Tuppence's disappearance; impressed by Sir James's competence. ### [XX: Too Late](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xx-too-late) Travels with Julius to retrieve the packet; experiences unease and doubt; suggests using heat to reveal hidden ink. ### [Tommy Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxi-tommy-makes-a-discovery) Grieves Tuppence's apparent death, confesses his love for her, and confronts Julius before discovering the photograph of Annette. ### [In Downing Street](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxii-in-downing-street) Writes a letter to Mr. Carter outlining his deductions about the Manchester plant, his knowledge of the real Jane Finn, and his plan to recover the papers. ### [XXIII: A Race Against Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxiii-a-race-against-time) Leads the investigation, enlists Albert, and deduces the traitor's identity. ### [Julius Takes a Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxiv-julius-takes-a-hand) Forces Tuppence and Jane out of the car at a station, then disappears; Julius believes he has fled to the Argentine. ### [Mr. Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxvi-mr-brown) Appears at the climax with the real Julius Hersheimmer to capture Sir James, having outwitted Mr. Brown's plan to eliminate him. ### [XXVII: A Supper Party at the Savoy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxvii-a-supper-party-at-the-savoy) Explains his deduction of Sir James's guilt, revealing his cleverness and growth as a secret agent. ### [XXVIII: And After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/chapters/xxviii-and-after) Tommy declares his love for Tuppence and insists she not marry Julius, then discusses his future career plans. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters/tommy_beresford - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_secret_adversary_se/characters